taking stork

Perhaps the nesting instinct is beginning to hit me, or perhaps I'm still just in spring cleaning mode, but whatever the reason, my mind has lately been taking stock of the things we'll need to have on hand for the baby. Since we've done this once before with Garrett, we not only have most of the necessary items already, but I also have an idea of the supplies I particularly liked which we'll need to replenish. Of course, I fully realize that some things on my list either won't apply to this baby for personality reasons, or some things just might change altogether (for example, nursing might actually work this time around) so while the items listed below have been useful in the past, they might not be for Number Two, and I am prepared to adapt and change as required.

But enough intro. Here is what I plan to have ready for Number Two's arrival and early life with us.

Feeding

• Bottles - I'm a big fan of the simple glass bottles that Evenflo makes. They're nothing fancy, but they do the job, and they last a lot longer than plastic bottles do. I buy them in both the 4 oz and 8 oz sizes. As far as nipples go, I like the most basic silicone ones that you can get. Store brands, like Target's, work just fine.
• Cleaning - To clean those narrow-necked bottles, you need a bottle brush. We don't have a dishwasher, so it's especially crucial for us, but I think it's handy to have one around even if you're not washing them by hand. I've tried several brands, but have had the best luck with those made by Munchkin, both the basic and the deluxe.
• Formula - I read somewhere once that, so long as your baby can tolerate it, it really doesn't matter what brand you buy, that since all formulas are government regulated, you should just find the cheapest one available and run with it. This certainly was the case with Garrett, who happily downed both the Target and Costco equivalents of your basic Similac and Enfamil formulas.
• Burp Cloths - You can buy cutesie cloths, if that suits your tastes, but I found that I preferred using your basic prefold cloth diapers.

Diapering

• Diapers - Cost just about always drove me to my choices, and for this reason I liked both Luvs and Costco's Kirkland brand. I've never had problems with leaks, and there have been no complaints from the kid wearing them. When I buy Luv's, I order them from Diapers.com, since it's the easiest way to get them to my car-less self. I buy Kirkland's when I take trips to Costco with my friend.
• Wipes - I'm not picky, so again price is the determining factor. When I pick up diapers at Costco, I'll also pick up a box of their Kirkland baby wipes.
• Disposal - We tried the Diaper Genie II, but it was too expensive to maintain the refills, and, if you want my honest opinion, pretty disgusting. If I didn't live on the third floor of my building, I'd just take the stinky ones outside stat. As it is, though, we've had to find a compromise, and I'm quite happy with what we've figured out. Wet diapers just go straight to the kitchen trash can. Poopy ones get tossed inside a Sassy Scented Diaper Sack first, and then go to the kitchen trash can. Those sacks contain the smell remarkably well until it's time to take the garbage out every two days or so.
• Rashes - I've tried samples of a variety of different diaper rash creams, but my favorite by far is A+D Ointment. It not only heals the sores quicker, it smells nice, too.

Bath

• Soap - I like Johnson's Head-to-Toe Baby Wash. When the baby is small and doesn't have much hair, I use it as a shampoo as well.
• Shampoo - Still a fan of Johnson's, this time it's the No More Tears Baby Shampoo. It really, truly is super gentle. Garrett's opinion of shampoos changed completely when we started using this. He actually looks forward to having the water dumped on his head, and I take that as a good sign.
• Powder - This is just because I like the feel and smell. Nothing says "baby" to me more than your basic white talcum powder after a bath.
• Towels & Washcloths - I used a hooded baby towel for the first few months, but soon graduated to a regular adult-sized towel. As long as it's terry cloth, it's fine with me. My favorite baby washcloths are the ones Gerber makes. They're small, so they work great for washing the baby in the tub, but they also come in handy when wiping little noses during cold season.

Outings

• Stroller - I am head over heels in love with our Maclaren. It's lightweight and compact and can certainly take the beating of daily use in the city (I only wish I knew how many miles we've put on ours). Right now we have the bare-bones Volo, but we're seriously considering upgrading in the next few months to the Triumph, which can be used with the baby sooner because the seat reclines. And while we're at it, I'd make sure to invest in a raincover. I'm using a generic brand now, and while it does the job, it's bulky and hard to store. I'm told that you can get last year's stroller models pretty cheap new on eBay, which certainly eases the strain on the pocketbook. But seriously, these puppies are worth every penny.
• Infant Carrier - When Garrett was about 6 months old, I discovered the Ergo carrier. I haven't looked back since. The Snugli worked great while he was tiny, but as he grew, so did the strain on my back. I've already invested in a new infant insert so I can use my Ergo to sport Number Two. I'm not an "attachment parenting" devotee," but I'm nonetheless devoted to this carrier if only for practical purposes of life in the city.
• Diaper Bag - I have not yet found a diaper bag that I both love and which suits my life on foot. Lately I've been using a backpack, but I'll use whatever is handiest for the moment. Whatever I tote, though, must be small. I've had to learn to only take with me the absolute essentials because I can physically only carry so much.
• Sunscreen - Genetically speaking, this is a must-have in summer. I'm not picky as to brand, so long as the SPF is high enough. With Garrett I've been using Coppertone WaterBabies, and it works fine enough.
• Carseat - Obviously this is an essential. For those paying attention, I'm adding to this post after its initial publication. I suppose that not having a car helped let it slip from my mind. But rest assured, we do have one, and do use it on those outings when a friend is giving us a ride somewhere.
  

Sleeping & Comfort

• Crib - Obviously we have a crib, mattress, and all the necessary bedding. I personally see no need for bedding sets; all we've done is buy generic brand sheets and coordinating bumper pad to match the adorable baby quilt my sister sewed, and it's worked fantastically.
• Binky - Even though the weaning process can be painful (we're currently in the process of weaning Garrett from his, which I'll post on later), I'm still an advocate of allowing babies to suck. And if that means on a binky, then so be it. I have some new ones tucked away for Number Two.
• Silky Blanket - This was a lifesaver with Garrett -- when he got cranky and it was hot, we'd just strip him down to his diaper and wrap him in the silky side of his blanket. Consequently, he is completely attached to his, and if he didn't already look so much like Charlie Brown, I'd call him Linus. I'm currently on the hunt for one, preferrably both in green and completely silky on one side (not just along the edges), for Number Two. We'll see if I can find one that meets these criteria.
• Boppy Pillow - This is just nice to have for a variety of reasons. They're great for supporting tired arms, for an enclosed area a newborn can sleep in, and for propping them up as they learn to sit.
• Swing - Not a necessity for everyone, including us, but they sure are nice to have. We bought one that plugs into the wall to save money on batteries, and there have been no regrets with that decision.
  

In the Medicine Cabinet

• Thermometer - A basic digital thermometer is, in my opinion, absolutely crucial. In infants, I prefer taking a rectal reading, and for that you'd also need petroleum jelly to use as a lubricant.
• Pain Reliever - I'm a believer in Infant's Tylenol. Actually, I'm more of a believer in the store brand equivalent of Infant's Tylenol, but I'm penny-pinching, so you should expect as much. At any rate, I always always always have plenty on hand.
• Glycerin Suppositories - Constipation was long an issue with Garrett, especially as he adapted to new foods. These, as well as pear juice, I've learned are just good to keep on hand.

Playtime

• Simple Toys - Babies don't need anything extravagent, in my opinion. Some of my personal faves include linking rings and rattles that are easy to hold. As they get older, and especially if they're boys, which mine are, cars and balls are a must.
• Board Books - You just can't go wrong here. Period.

Clothing

• Playclothes - Buy them cheap and accept hand-me-downs when they're offered. That's my philosophy, anyway. Kids clothes, and even baby clothes, can wear out quickly. I need to make sure, too, that the drawers are stocked with seasonally appropriate clothes. This is always the hardest part for me -- keeping up with both my baby's growth and the changing seasons.
  
• Detergents & Stain Remover - Tide has always worked just fine for us, so we didn't even bother with the gentler, baby-focused laundry detergents. I will, however, put in a plug for keeping on hand a good stain remover. From baby spit up to grass stains, I use it often. My favorite is Fels Naptha.

Whew! Is this a long enough list for you? And I'm sure I've left some things off by accident. But now that you know what I like, I'm curious: What baby supplies do you like to stock up on?