Parenting & Family

Newborn must have products?

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  • Jan 8th, 2014 11:38 am
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Deal Fanatic
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May 25, 2009
9113 posts
2403 upvotes
A good baby thermometer is wonderful and this is probably the best one out there

[IMG]http://www.babycity.co.uk/sysimages/ori ... 4545_5.jpg[/IMG]

Costco has it on sale about twice a year for $40 that includes an additional 40 inserts for a total of 60. It's a bloody steal at the price since most places sells it with just 20 inserts for $80.
"God's in His heaven. All's right with the world." - Robert Browning (1812-1889)
Newbie
Jul 28, 2007
65 posts
10 upvotes
People never really agree on what were necessary items for their infants and what was a waste of money. Besides for things like diapers or wipes but then most people don't agree on what ones are the best to buy.

I LOVE my video monitor and would actually find an audio monitor a waste of money since I can hear my kid throughout the house if he is crying. With the video monitor I am able to tell if something is wrong, or if he is just resettling and going back to sleep.

I am a big fan of sleep sacks and these ones at costco.ca are actually a good deal. http://www.costco.ca/Grobag%C2%AE-Baby- ... 95613.html

[IMG]http://images.costco.ca/image/media/350 ... 894__1.jpg[/IMG]

The ear thermometer is also a good call.
Deal Addict
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Jun 20, 2010
1621 posts
251 upvotes
Newmarket
rocking23nf wrote: I find the diaper genie a waste of money. regular garbage works just fine.
i agree
after two kids, and never getting the diaper genie
Deal Addict
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Jun 20, 2010
1621 posts
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Newmarket
camp1980 wrote: People never really agree on what were necessary items for their infants and what was a waste of money. Besides for things like diapers or wipes but then most people don't agree on what ones are the best to buy.

I LOVE my video monitor and would actually find an audio monitor a waste of money since I can hear my kid throughout the house if he is crying. With the video monitor I am able to tell if something is wrong, or if he is just resettling and going back to sleep.

I am a big fan of sleep sacks and these ones at costco.ca are actually a good deal. http://www.costco.ca/Grobag%C2%AE-Baby- ... 95613.html

[IMG]http://images.costco.ca/image/media/350 ... 894__1.jpg[/IMG]

The ear thermometer is also a good call.
+1 for sleep sacks
and i also agree, tat thermometer is a great buy.......i bought the same one from costco because i wasn't a fan of sticking a thermometer up my babies' bum
Jr. Member
Dec 9, 2008
109 posts
57 upvotes
Victoria
Being a new parent of a 10 week old, I'm not gonna lie, but a lot of the stuff that we got as gifts we've ended up returning and getting it put back onto gift cards.
Things that we haven't returned have been books. Books will be something that we'll be using a ton as our little one gets older.
If you wanna have some fun with the parents, get them the Go the F*** to Sleep book
Member
Jan 3, 2007
230 posts
14 upvotes
a monitor is a great gift! same with the thermometer. i liked getting diapers but not as the main gift, as i think its a bit impersonal.

i would not recommend a sling or carrier, because they are a very personal preference.
Member
Dec 3, 2010
301 posts
51 upvotes
Waterloo
We found these glass bottles that are in an angle and much easier to hold and they don't force your baby to tilt their head up all the time. Got them in Japan and they are under the brand "Doctor Betta". There are a lot of fake ones out there from China and I've seen them sell it in Canada for $80/bottle which is obviously way overpriced (like everything is in Canada). They are only $20 in Japan.

[IMG]http://image.rakuten.co.jp/vicweb/cabin ... 89-842.jpg[/IMG]
Jr. Member
Feb 22, 2006
196 posts
28 upvotes
Ottawa, ON
Winkle wrote: A good baby thermometer is wonderful and this is probably the best one out there

[IMG]http://www.babycity.co.uk/sysimages/ori ... 4545_5.jpg[/IMG]

Costco has it on sale about twice a year for $40 that includes an additional 40 inserts for a total of 60. It's a bloody steal at the price since most places sells it with just 20 inserts for $80.
The Canadian Pediatric Society advises that ear thermometers do not provide a fairly accurate temperature reading. The rectal method provides the best readings.
http://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/handout ... ure_taking
Newbie
Jul 28, 2007
65 posts
10 upvotes
uahmed wrote: The Canadian Pediatric Society advises that ear thermometers do not provide a fairly accurate temperature reading. The rectal method provides the best readings.
http://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/handout ... ure_taking
While this may be true I would not use it as a deterrent for buying one. It is a lot easier (usually) to stick something in their ear to get an idea of how high their temperature is vs sticking something in their bum. The hospitals all use ear thermometers, although I would guess they are better quality then the ones most consumers buy.
Deal Guru
Dec 31, 2005
13306 posts
750 upvotes
camp1980 wrote: While this may be true I would not use it as a deterrent for buying one. It is a lot easier (usually) to stick something in their ear to get an idea of how high their temperature is vs sticking something in their bum. The hospitals all use ear thermometers, although I would guess they are better quality then the ones most consumers buy.
I find that even when using such thermometers on myself they can be way off...and therefore not particularly useful. Ours tended to be high...so yes, we might have been worried with a 104 reading...but with a rectal thermometer is was barely over 100...big difference...
Deal Guru
Dec 31, 2005
13306 posts
750 upvotes
Hemiboy wrote: Toys always work. That and good quality accessories (if you are looking to spend more)
Never saw a baby that didnt love this: http://www.petiteposh.com/products/soph ... eether-toy
and after nearly dropping my squirmy baby, I LOVE this: http://www.petiteposh.com/products/keek ... ut-changer
Kid loved Sophie...but we had to toss it. Baby's breath smelled like latex after chewing on the toy. Wife has never liked the smell of condoms...didn't want out kid's breath to smellier one!
Newbie
May 28, 2004
94 posts
6 upvotes
nalababe wrote: Kid loved Sophie...but we had to toss it. Baby's breath smelled like latex after chewing on the toy. Wife has never liked the smell of condoms...didn't want out kid's breath to smellier one!
Really?? thats quite funny actually. I never had that problem with my kids and Sophie. Maybe it was manufactured differently...
Member
Jan 29, 2007
292 posts
66 upvotes
Markham
Rocketo wrote: Diaper Genie ...they will appreciate it
Agreed - unless they already have it.
Deal Guru
Dec 31, 2005
13306 posts
750 upvotes
Hemiboy wrote: Really?? thats quite funny actually. I never had that problem with my kids and Sophie. Maybe it was manufactured differently...
Maybe you are your partner are not that sensitive to the latex smell. We smell it each and every time! When we point it out to others it becomes a major point of amusement for all....
Deal Expert
User avatar
Mar 23, 2009
22529 posts
8939 upvotes
Toronto
Diapers. Or blankets and stuff like that. Or baby wash, etc. Or else something for the parents.
nalababe wrote: To be honest, more than 75% of the things we received were not useful and a waste of money on their part or space on ours.

No you don't need video monitoring...we rarely used the Audio ones. If you are going to be outside (for example) we just have the baby in the car carrier...
After well over a year now, we still use our video monitor every day. The audio ones are fine too though. For our video monitor we just an IP camera though, with our iPhones, iPad, Nexus 7.
Jr. Member
User avatar
Aug 24, 2009
150 posts
208 upvotes
Smithville, Ontario
I have 2 kids myself so I know how useless some of the products are (ie wipe warmer),however it really depends on the nature of the parents. For example, I think video baby monitors are unnecessary but the poster above loves theirs.

Whatever you do, do not buy any stuffed animals! Even if you think to buy a little one as a small addition to your present...do not buy!!! I kid you not, my kids have probably received at least 100 stuffed animals between the 2 of them during their lifetimes (1 year and 4 years). They have their favourites, but the majority do not get played with and end up being donated (they also take up a ridiculous amount of space).

My go-to gift is making a baby first aid kit - infant Advil or Tylenol, gripe water, thermometer, medicine dropper, baby oral gel, boogie wipes, cool mist humidifier, etc. I have given this as a gift multiple times and it always gets rave reviews from both the parents and others ("oh, I never thought of that"). It's useful and I find with a lot of first time parents, they don't think of having medicine on hand until their child falls ill.

I always get something for the mom or both parents. Trash magazines with some nice smelling bubble bath, gift certificate for a restaurant, scheduling a date to take the new mom out for coffee for some 'adult time', scheduling a housekeeper to come once or twice (or offering to do it yourself)....I do believe getting the parents (especially the mom) a gift is key - the mother goes through so much mentally and physically and often gets almost 'forgotten' (ie phone calls to the household are always baby-focused) and if the new mom is going through any degree of 'the 'baby blues', then a small gift or gesture can help.
Deal Expert
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Mar 23, 2009
22529 posts
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Toronto
I have never used a humidifier for the kid. One gift I got that I liked was a diaper cake, inexpensive yet practical:

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