Diapers - Size 1

Natalie no longer fits (comfortably) into newborn diapers after almost 6 weeks old. From all the advice I got from people pre-Natalie, lots said don't get a lot of newborn diapers because they outgrow them so fast! Well, we went through all of the newborn diapers except for 1 pack of 60 and that was even going to the store to buy 2 additional packages of about 40 in each pack! I really didn't buy many newborn diapers due to the advice I had gotten, but luckily my work had thrown me a surprise diaper shower and I got many, many newborn diapers! Now I have LOTS of size 1 diapers, some from friends that they didn't use the whole box because their kid outgrew them or because they didn't work for their child. Plus, I have the humongous boxes of 200+ diapers in each, so we are definitely well stocked on size 1! I should count to see just how many size 1 I have right now (I'm going to check right now)...we have about 1,600 size 1 diapers! I have no idea how many we will go through since they go up to 14lb, but at least if we don't use them all, stores will allow you to return unopened packages and exchange for another size.

We don't really have a strong brand preference over others, but we did think when she was just a few weeks old that Huggies were making her bottom red. However, I have put some Huggies on her since and we don't seem to have much of a problem. She has been in Pampers, Luvs, Huggies, Dollar General, and Parents' Choice. Overall, I have to say the Dollar General diapers were very comparable to Pampers Dry Max diapers and we were quite impressed (we had received these as a gift). Parents' Choice from Walmart, which are comparable to Pampers Baby Dry were pretty good too. So, once we run out of all the name brand diapers we had bought or received as gifts, I will probably just get the off brands because they are so comparable or get Pampers over Huggies and Luvs.

Although she is now in size 1 diapers, mainly because they were getting too short (torso-wise), she continues to not fit in 0/3 pants. She is still wearing newborn sized pants, but they appear to be getting a little shorter on her, but the waist in all larger sizes just don't fit her. I have been able to find just a couple of 0/3 pants to fit her, but not many at all! Also, 0/3 onesies are still pretty big on her and some of her newborn onesies are getting a little short in the arms. Trying to get clothes to fit on her is a chore sometimes!

Natalie has been more alert lately and it is so much fun to just watch her take everything in. Sometimes I would just like to know what she is thinking about or looking at. She does a pretty good job at holding her head up, but still much of a bobblehead! I have noticed she is an occasional thumb sucker (just like I was) and she will not take a pacifier; however, she really doesn't need a pacifier because she really only cries/fusses when she needs changed or is hungry. I love watching her when she sleeps, especially when she is just falling asleep because sometimes she smiles, gets mad, or even laughs (sorta) as if she is having dreams. It's just so cute to watch! She prefers to sleep on her stomach, but is only allowed to do that if she is supervised, so usually I allow this during the day when I am close by. She can sleep for hours on her stomach! At night, we have tried the SwaddleMe and she does alright, but she really prefers to sleep with both arms over her head, like "Stick 'em up" or "Praise the Lord."  She is also now smiling more when she is awake and makes occasional cooing sounds as well.

Sleeping good on her stomach

Can't really tell from this picture, but she was sucking her thumb :)

She continues to be stuffed up and we had been using the nasal aspirator, which she hates! Today, I got the NoseFrida aspirator (aka 'Snotsucker') from Amazon. It's really quite a gross concept because you stick the one part in her nose and then you suck out the snot by your mouth. Ick! I have to say, I have only used it once today so far, but it got a lot of snot out, she didn't cry like she does with the regular aspirator, and it's not as gross as I had imagined because it has a very long tube that separates you from the compartment the snot gets sucked into, plus there is a filter. It got a TON of great reviews on several sites and I had registered for it, but just never picked it up!

Before I had Natalie, I had posted online for friends to give suggestions of items that were a complete waste of money or you couldn't live without. You have to take any suggestion/recommendation with a grain of salt because everyone is different and everyone has opinions. So, now that Natalie is here and we have been doing this thing called "parenting" for a few weeks now, I thought I would share my list of must-haves for Natalie:

1. Changing Table

2. Changing table plastic organizer that holds wipes, powder, etc (I didn't think I needed one of these because our changing table has storage compartments, but we received this from a guy my dad works with and it has been so great/convenient)

3. Bottle warmer (Bobby's sister got this for us after Natalie was a week old, we didn't register for it, but it is so nice to have since she is very particular about the temperature of her milk!)

4. SwaddleMe (at least for the first few weeks they worked wonders)

5. Newborn diapers (who cares if you buy TOO many, you can exchange them at the store)

6. Glider/rocker (we spend lots of time in this for breastfeeding and pumping)

7. Mamaroo (modernized version of a swing or boucy seat...she loves this thing and will fall asleep almost always)

8. Tommee Tippee bottles (because I have had so many problems, especially at the beginning, with breastfeeding, these bottles have caused NO nipple confusion as the experts say happens if you give a baby a bottle too soon if you are trying to breastfeed. Natalie has used these since probably week 1 or 2 and will still latch onto me, but I do think the bottle is still easier than breastfeeding, at least for me!)

9. Double breast pump (I don't know what I would do without this thing! Easier on me than the breastfeeding, but yet Natalie is still getting all that good milk she needs. Other than taking at least 30 minutes each time I pump, it is so much more convenient, then I know just how much Natalie is getting as well.)

10. Mommy bear with womb sound or Cloud B plush sound machine (have been great for soothing her or keeping her sleeping for naps and at night, especially early on)

11. Cloth diapers to be used as burp clothsa

12. Diaper Genie (didn't think we wanted/needed, but someone Bobby works with let us use theirs and I love having it)

13. Activity mat/gym (see previous post)

Here are the things that I haven't found much use for (at least not yet):

1. Baby bathtub (I think, at least right now, it is more difficult to give her a bath in her tub in the bath than just giving a sponge bath to her)

2. Wipe warmer (we don't have one and I'm sure Natalie would prefer one at times, but don't find it necessary at least for us)

3. Bottle sterilizer (we have one and I use it maybe once a week, but I don't think it is necessary)

4. Crib (not required right away anyway, we have one and the reason I got one before she was here was because I wanted the whole nursery put together before she was born, but if your budget is tight, no need to get one right away because she still sleeps in her cradle next to our bed)

5. Receiving blankets (I have a TON of these, but hardly if ever, use them. Actually thinking of returning 2 bundles that are unopened and unused that I received at my showers)

6. Bibs (at least for right now while she is so young, I never use these, but I do have plenty for when she starts drooling and eating baby food)

7. BundleMe for the carseat (a blanket placed over the carseat will do the exact same thing!)

8.  Pacifiers (Natalie will not take these whatsoever, but she really only cries when she is hungry and needs changed)