Top New-Mom Must-Haves

With my first daughter, I went without most of this and I'm hoping and praying to get the few things I'm sure are going to make my life easier the second time around. (boppy pillow, a *nice* breast pump, and a moby wrap <not the maya>)

I'd also like to get a pack n play but really...You CAN live without one (i've done so for 18 months now, lol.) but they are a help so if we've got extra cash we may wing for one of those too.

Also---The nursing tank tops or nursing sleep bras. No one told me that I would leak at night even without pressure so you need something on top to hold a nursing pad in. I tried my regular nursing bras and they just weren't comfortable for sleep.

I can't say enough what a life saver my Boppy Nursing Pillow was.  I was used one with all 3 of my children.  I now buy them for all my friends that are expecting.

I only co slept with my last child and if I could go back I would of done it with all 4 of my kids. It was such a life saver. I got a lot more sleep at night with my baby by my side. I also used a sling with my last child and wish I would of used one with all of my kids. It was more convienent. If you have a sling you can use it as a cover when you nurse. I just felt more comfortable. Even when sitting in the church and feeding. The only thing about that was my little one was so loud everyone knew what was going on.. LOL

I couldn't live without a pack'n'play because that's all that would fit in our bedroom. A crib would have been too big. But that was the only thing we used it for: as a crib. I loved the Boppy nursing pillow. My daughter plays with it now (she's almost 2) and loves it as well. We had a swing, but it rarely got used, and a bouncy seat, which only got used when she was older and drinking from a bottle. It's amazing how much stuff they have, and yet so much of it really isn't necessary. Some of it is a lot easier, I'll admit, but I still used a lot of it very rarely.

I would have loved a boppy, but they have always been too expensive for me... I got a free hand held breast pump from the hospital and that's the only pump I've used with my son, and I got a lot saved in the freezer from using it. I've worn a nursing bra since I gave birth, I only take it off to take a shower...actually I alternate between 2 nursing bras, I DO wash them. lol.  I love the thicker breast pads, Other than that, I don't really use the rest of the things listed above...

I didn"t nurse but i had a boppy came in handy alot. Also a mirror.... It destracts little ones and gets them quite normally

I couldn't have lived without the swing for my youngest.  Although I did without just about everything with my oldest.  He had a car seat, a crib, a bouncy seat and clothes, and that was about it.  And the bouncy seat was a gift from my sister.  This time I hope to get a sling.  With two toddlers running around, wearing my baby will make things much easier.

So, that was us, but every situation is different.  Our swing, bouncer, pack n play, swing, co-sleeper, bassinet, stroller, exersaucer, and everything else I got at my shower was sold on Craigslist in brand new, unused condition.  Eventually, around 18 months, we started using the high chair and his crib converted to a toddler bed. 

We got a lot of second hand stuff, which was great because my baby was never really into the swing, but we still use the bouncy seat. I rented a hospital-grade breast pump, which was awesome because my health insurance paid for it and it worked great. I loved the pack n play because we have a two story house, and I was able to keep her downstairs with me while she was sleeping as an infant. I bought a sling - baby hated it. Someone gave me a Baby Bjorn and she loved it - so you just have to figure that one out with your baby.