Wipes
There are disposable wipes, and non-disposable wipes (washcloths).
The little washcloths I have used for diaper-changing are bamboo Warmies. They are soft, thick, and just the right size for baby bottoms. I love these. When Dory was newborn I used the warmer, too. Let me tell you, warm wipes make newborn diaper changing easier because there’s no cold against the baby. Hence, less crying. In order to keep mold from growing on your warm, moist wipes, you have to use an “ever-fresh pillow” in the bottom of the warmer. The downside is that if you don’t have much surface space in your baby room, this gets in the way. It also has to be plugged in, of course. I don’t use it now for these reasons. Plus, Dory is old enough that she doesn’t cry if there’s cold against her bottom.
As for disposable wipes, I don’t like Costco Kirkland wipes. Unfortunately I had to find this out by buying a HUGE box. I can’t bring myself to throw them out, but they have a slight chemical smell to them that I don’t like. Additionally, they are a little harsh on my dry skin so I imagine they are a little harsh on Dory when I clean her. I do like Pampers Sensitive wipes, Huggies Gentle Care Sensitive wipes, Seventh Generation wipes, and Earth’s Best Tendercare wipes. I try to avoid scents, alcohol, and chlorine.
Warmies Warmer, Amazon, $25
Warmies Bamboo Cloths, Amazon, $10 for 8 cloths
Warmies Ever-fresh Pillows, Amazon, $10 for 2 (each lasts 3 months)
Pampers Sensitive wipes, Amazon, $28 for 768 wipes (3.6 cents each)
Huggies Gentle Care Sensitive wipes, Amazon, $18 for 184 wipes (10 cents each)
Seventh Generation wipes, Amazon, $42 for 840 wipes (5 cents each)
Earth’s Best Tendercare wipes, Amazon, $40 for 960 wipes (4.2 cents each)
Blankets
There are all sorts of blankets out there in all sizes and all sorts of fabrics. I’m going to mention my favorites and least favorites here.
Receiving blankets of the normal size are useful for two or three weeks when your baby still fits in them. Or if your baby is big, they are too small immediately. Avoid these unless you want to make a quilt out of them. However, Big receiving blankets work well for swaddling. I prefer the flannel ones best because they are soft and warm.
Another flop is the Moby blanket. The material is the same as that used to make the Moby wrap. It makes a terrible blanket. It isn’t very breathable, it’s stretchy in a useless way, it’s too thick and isn’t soft or particularly warm. Save your $18 for something else. (Note that I haven’t tried the organic version.)
What I DO like is the big cotton muslin blanket. Babies R Us doesn’t appear to carry these (as of their current website), but I’m sure it’s just a matter of time. I bought one Aden & Anais muslin blanket at a local baby boutique and loved it so much I returned the next day and bought another. Later I bought a third. Three is the minimum number of these I would suggest a new mother own. They work great for swaddling, as nursing covers, as car seat blankets, and all the way unfolded to cover your baby in her stroller. It’s an all-in-one travel blanket. There are other brands, too.
My other favorite blankets are handmade ones from family. My mother made a large blanket simply of single crochet stitches with a shell border. It is so soft and warm and folds in a very luxurious way. My mother-in-law made a baby quilt that is perfect for Dory to play on. I made Dory a few blankets as well. My favorite is a plain knit/pearl pattern with a hood and contrast edging. By the way, my favorite yarn for baby blankets right now is Lion Brand Cotton Ease. It’s thick and soft without being fluffy. Plus it’s easily washable and dry-able.
Large flannel blankets, Babies R’ Us, $15
Large muslin blankets, Amazon, $14 for 1 to $60 for 4
Non-disposable Diapers
I found three diapers in the non-disposable diaper category worth mentioning.
One. The old standby my parents used: flat rectangular cloth diapers. There are two types: thin and large, and small and thick. The thin large diapers soak through quickly. I use mine for burp cloths, light blankets, and changing table liners. The small thick diapers also soak through pretty quickly, but the built in thickness means you get a little while longer. I use mine for burp cloths. The organic ones are SO soft. They make the best burp cloths.
Two. Cloth versions of the disposable. These usually have velcro or snaps to close them and you can buy them in a single set size version or an adjustable version. Some, the pocket type, can hold additional padding for night-time use or for older children. After looking around and reading reviews, I opted for the adjustable Swaddlebees pocket diaper. They have the diaper and cover in one, and come with an insert. The inside is soft velour. They are nice. However, they don’t fit small babies well, and are bulky when configured to be small. Also, they are very expensive at $26 per diaper.
Three. The partially-disposable. There are probably other brands, but the only ones I’m currently aware of are the gDiapers. I should say right up front that there are both disposable and washable absorbent inserts. These are light, relatively non-bulky cloth diapers with plastic inserts that snap in, so you can wash them separately and reuse the outer cloth shell if it isn’t soiled. The disposable pad is completely flush-able! The cloth pad is, of course, washable. These are my favorite eco-friendly diapers by far.
Thin large diapers, Babies R Us, $15 for 12
Thick, small, organic diapers (BURP CLOTHS), Babies R Us, $11 for 6
Swaddlebees all-in-one adjustable pocket diaper, Amazon, $26 for 1
gDiapers outer shell and snap-in plastic liner, Amazon, $30 for 2 in sm & med, $38 for 2 in lg
gDiapers disposable inserts, Amazon, $52 for 40 sm or 32 med/lg
gDiapers washable inserts, Amazon, $20 for 6 sm, $23 for 6 med/lg
Disposable Diapers
Whether or not to use disposable diapers is a decision you’ll have to make. I researched both and planned to use cloth diapers. I bought disposables when Dory was newborn because my cloth diapers were too big and I wanted to protect her umbilical cord. However, I had (and still have) so much trouble just getting other tasks done I just kept buying disposables. My cloth diapers sit unused in a wicker basket in Dory’s room.
Since I’m buying disposable diapers, I’ve experimented with brands and have discovered that there are basically four quality levels in disposable diapers. The best are the “gentle” types, such as Huggies Pure and Natural and Pampers Swaddlers Sensitive. These don’t have any rough edges, the diapers are cotton-ball soft, and the absorbent material isn’t stiff. Second in quality are the regular Huggies, Pampers, Seventh Generation, etc. These are stiffer, rougher, and the velcro tabs can have hard corners. Third are the ones you can get in huge quantities at Costo or Sams Club. They do the job but are stiff and have hard corners on the velcro tabs. Finally, the worst diapers I’ve found are the generic store brands I’ve tried, which are cheaply made and, in my experience, leak.
My favorites are the Pampers Swaddlers Sensitives. They are so soft and don’t get in the way of Dory moving. She can put her legs all the way together easily when the diaper isn’t wet. Plus, and this is just plain fun, there is a stripe up the center of the diaper that turns blue when it’s wet. But I don’t buy these diapers. They are way too expensive for everyday use. However, these are the ones I would recommend for newborns, since newborns are so tiny and their skin is so sensitive. Plus, newborns don’t stay newborns very long and you’ll be off to the races in a size 1 in no time. Therefore, you won’t spend much money on newborn diapers no matter which brand you choose.
My least favorite diapers are the generic brands, particularly Target’s store brand. I bought one bag of Target diapers and so many of them leaked I swore never to buy those again. I’m sure I used up any money I saved by using more diapers to change Dory out of leaky ones. Not worth it.
I am happy with the large boxes of diapers at Costco. Costco’s Kirkland brand and the Huggies diapers sold at Costco seem pretty much interchangeable as far as quality goes. Sometimes a hard corner on a velcro tab makes a red spot on Dory’s tummy, but she doesn’t seem to notice or care.
Amazon Pampers Swaddlers Sensitive, $19 for 60 diapers in newborn
Costco Kirkland Diapers, $36 for 216 in sizes 1 and 2, $46 for boxes in bigger sizes (the number of diapers per box decreases as size increases)
Costco Huggies Diapers, $50 per box, sizes 2 and up (the number of diapers per box decreases and size increases)
Bathtubs
So the low down on the tubs. I did a lot of research before Dory was born, and chose The First Years Infant to Toddler Tub With Sling. It has 842 reviews on Amazon and 722 of them are 4 or 5 star reviews (584 5-star). For full disclosure, one of them may be mine; I can’t remember.
This is a great tub, bottom to top. The base fits safely in either basin of my 2-basin sink. The sling is a must, because nothing is slipperier than a soapy newborn, particularly in the hands of brand new parents. The sling is mesh and allows you to rinse your baby without trying to hold her at the same time. AWESOME.
The tub’s insides are shaped like two seats facing each other. One seat is reclined and is designed for newborns and the other set is vertical and designed for toddlers. There is a foam no-slip surface to keep baby from sliding down as she sits. I was very pleased to find that the foam didn’t peel off at all, and that the plug is easy to open and close with one hand.
You can find this tub on Amazon for about $18. It comes in blue and pink.
BATHING TIP: I’ve discovered that I much prefer to get in a regular tub with Dory and bathe her that way, because it saves my back and I think it’s safer since I can keep a much better grip on her when she’s soapy. Still, I put the baby tub next to the regular tub, lined it with towels, and put towel-wrapped Dory in it after she was clean. She would fall asleep there and I would enjoy a little bath time of my own.
Diaper Bags
This will be short, because I think diaper bags are over-rated. I have a diaper bag and it is big. I use it for car trips. For air travel, I use a pocket of my backpack. For daily errands, I use a small cotton messenger-type bag. When I go into a restaurant, I generally stuff the bare essentials into my purse.
Therefore I don’t have any diaper bag recommendations. Pretty much anything works just fine.
Footie Pajamas
Footie pj’s are a mainstay of Dory’s baby wardrobe. She sleeps in them and occasionally spends the day in them, and they’re so easy that she always goes to the doctor and travels in them. I have two favorite brands, and one least favorite.
The worst first. Luvable Friends Sleep ‘N Play 3-pack. These are inexpensive ($15 per pack), 100% cotton, basket weave footies that I bought through Amazon. However, they shrink so much that Dory at six months couldn’t wear the 6-9month size. You could buy the 3-6month size to use when your child is 0-3months and buy the 6-9month size for when she’s 3-6months, but otherwise, stay away from these footies. They will be a waste of money. Substantively, the pj’s are thin cotton and good for summer or for a bottom layer inside a sleep sack or a thick winter coverall.
My favorites are Zutano and Kicky Pants. Zutano is high quality thick cotton with fun designs. These footies will last through several babies. I find that the sizing for babies is pretty much dead on, although the pj’s are a little big for the first part of the size period. You can find Zutano clothing at boutique baby stores, as well as Amazon. My local boutique normally sells Zutano footies for about $28, but you can get them cheaper on Amazon, some patterns selling for just under $16.
My other favorite footie is made by Kicky Pants. These footies are great because they are made well and the cloth they’re made of is amazing. They are made of a 95% bamboo, 5% Lycra blend that is the softest non-synthetic material I think I’ve ever touched. The material is ideal for summer but I use it in the winter, too, just mostly under a sleepy sack. The fabric roughs up a little in the wash, and while that bothered me at first, I’ve come to realize that this makes it even softer. The details on these footies are also commendable. They are simple, but have small, quality snaps, a little elastic just behind the ankles, and fold-over hand pockets for face protection. While the newborn, 0-3, and 3-6 month sizes have single-layer footie bottoms, the 6-12month size has a thicker sole with thread grip circles on the bottom. I’m not sure why they don’t have 6-9 and 9-12 month sizes instead of 6-12, because the 6-12 was significantly too large for Dory at six months. The sizing of the smaller versions was very good. You can find these on Amazon, but they are sold through Cute Little Clothes Boutique for $28. You can also find Kicky Pants off-season items on good sale at the Kicky Pants website.
Socks
Most of the time Dory prefers accessible toes to inaccessible ones, but when it’s chilly out, she has to wear socks. I have thoughts about socks.
The cute little socks you can get at Babies R Us? Chuck ‘em. They are cuddly but don’t fit well and don’t stay on. And many of the softest ones aren’t warm. The synthetic fabrics tend to make Dory’s feet hot and sweaty in the summer and leave them cold in the winter. So, I prefer cotton because they breathe while retaining heat in the winter. I have found two brands that I like best; one expensive, Trumpette, and one cheap, Gagou Tagou.
If you’re willing to pay $4 to $5 per pair (and buy 6 pairs at once), Trumpette makes great cotton socks in a lot of fun, stylish patterns including my favorites, polka dots and argyle. They stay on pretty well, and have non-slip grips on the bottom that keep new walkers from sliding around as they try to balance. They are made mostly of cotton, with some nylon and spandex. And, at least for the polka dot and argyle versions, the designs are woven in, not printed on. These are socks that will last through several children. The only negative is that Trumpette seems to size their socks small. Unless your baby has little feet, expect your kiddo to outgrow the 0-12mos size and move into the 1-2yrs size around 6 months. You can find Trumpette socks at specialty baby shops and Amazon.
If you don’t want to spend that much, I’ve found a brand called Gagou Tagou at Toys R’ Us for $1.49 per pair. These socks are the best if you’re having trouble keeping socks on your child. They unfold to go halfway up a baby’s calf, with double-thick material above the ankle. The designs vary, from dogs to whales to Christmas trees. The quality isn’t as good as Trumpette, but is quite sufficient. These are made with about 60% cotton, 30% polyester, elastane, and nylon.
SOCK TIP: You will inevitably lose those itty bitty baby socks in the washer and dryer if you try to wash them loose. Instead, safety pin pairs together and wash them that way. Thanks, Mom! I should have followed this advice from the get-go!
