Hellobee Boards

the guides section on hb is really helpful. lucie's list is too for a comprehensive overview on all thigns baby gear!

if you dont plan on building a freezer stash or pumping, you don't need a pump, but i loved having the option when i was on leave! i nurse most days (wohm 3 days and pump those days) ... and even still needed the pump for outings, etc.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2009/02/newborn-necessities-save-money-and-buy-just-the-basics/index.htm

I'm staying home but very glad I have a pump so someone else can feed her occasionally, she can get used to te bottle, and I can leave her for a few hours. Honestly I rarely do leave her but I think I would feel trapped if I didn't have that option. Check what you can get through insurance, but in your case a manual might be enough? My insurance covered a double electric in full

For clothes I still don't know! C was a summer baby and mostly just wore onesies for the first 6 weeks. I leaned heavily on Lucies List for advice!

@Mrs. Blue: there are so many essentials posts on the bee blog someone would go broke trying to follow them!!

We used no onesies until like 5 months. His head was huge and he spit up and needs frequent changes so he lived in the same 5 sleep n plays until he was older

I wish I'd bought less ahead of time. We didn't need nearly that much stuff. Sleep and plays, cheap bouncer, swaddle blankets, burp cloths, books. That would've been fine for a while!

@Mrs. Blue: oh I figured I just think a lot on all of the lists are more wants than needs, but that's my opinion I suppose.

I 100% suggest you IMMEDIATELY buy the book Baby Bargains (http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Bargains-furniture-strollers-maternity/dp/1889392448/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380558955&sr=1-1&keywords=baby+bargains)

It goes through most of the items available for each category of what you need. They give you 3 of the "best" choices for each based on price (like if you can't spend a lot, this one, if you can spend more, this one, etc) and they also have an overview in there of exactly what you will need at the minimum.

I also REALLY liked Lucie's List and subscribed to her emails and checked out the registry list on her site.

@scg00387: funny I feel like sleepers were harder for changes than onesies- I Ike that I can just peak into the diaper from the side in a onesie.

But I should have added get a few long sleeve side snap kimono tops- I didn't want to put anything over her head for the first week or two, an the long sleeve ones have mittens so the little razor nails can't scratch her face. That and a diaper would be enough for c but again, summer baby.

Agree with @sarac. You don't need much, and one person's "need" is another person's "hated it". We found early on that we didn't like messing with onesies, we kept our guy in t shirts (which are kind of hard to find for babies but american apparel makes them) because we didn't want to mess with the snaps. That's just an example - onesies are on everyone's essentials list but we found we didn't need any.

As for a breast pump, I would highly recommend planning to rent a hospital grade one for the first month. This might be covered by your insurance, but regardless, it won't cost a ton. And you never know how breast feeding will go, better to have one right away (they usually rent them from the hospital so you can take them home after you deliver) than to be calling all over town on Christmas eve trying to find a hospital that has someone answering the phone that will rent you one and then driving across town to get it while you are confident you are starving your baby and/or that your supply is drying up after your week old baby is continuing to lose weight. Ha ha or is that just me? Anyway it is worth having one at home.