My Baby Gear 101

I am still here! Still pregnant! I am 38 weeks and 6 days. Tomorrow (Wednesday) I clock 39 weeks and head in for my weekly doctor's appointment. Plus, our crib will *finally* be delivered tomorrow! Yay!

So, in honor of our crib being delivered, I decided to blog today about baby gear. I admit, I became a little bit obsessed about researching and selecting the best baby gear ever. But, it wasn't me. It was the crazy nesting instinct taking over! I swear!

First, a few good resources:

• Baby Bargains. Buy it. (On Amazon for the best deal.) It was my Bible. But don't be afraid to disagree with it. And check out their blog also. Good recall and industry info. Make sure you get the latest edition of the book. The 2009 one has a green cover.
• I have heard good things about Consumer Reports, signing up for an account and also their baby gear book. I kept meaning to check that out but never did. It also came out in 2009 though, so it'd be worth checking out. If you do buy it, let us know what you think!
• Also, love this Baby Gear 101 site that Shopasaur turned me onto. But be careful, if you are like me, when I read about cool baby stuff, I Must Buy It. It's a crazy urge. I blame not being able to shop for cute shoes right now.
• And if you like coupons and daily temptations, sign up for e-mails from BabySteals.com and GreenBabyBargains.com. I discovered these sites only a few weeks ago and I am already one of their beeeeeeest customers.
• Also, my name is Politisaur and I am an Etsy addict. Browse the baby gift guide. Or baby toys. Or do a search for anything "Amy Butler." I swear I have decorated my entire nursery on Etsy. Oh, and yes by all means JEWELRY counts as maternity clothes. When you are feeling fat, a new necklace can really brighten your day. Or take the attention off your belly.
• Finally, I am all about a good deal. So you should know a few things: Buy Buy Baby takes Bed, Bath & Beyond unexpired coupons. Score! But most items (baby monitors, breast pumps, Baby Bjorn, etc.) are MUCH cheaper on Amazon than at BBB or Babies 'R Us. You can also find great deals at Target, Walmart, Diapers.com and BabyCatalog.com. Plus, just Google the product name and check out the Shopping Results. Oh, and don't forget Craigslist! You can also check out this coupon article from Parenting magazine.

Whew! And I am just getting started!

Here, now, are our baby gear choices -- and a random assortment of other purchases and gifts. You will find that moms are very opinionated on what they chose and why. We each like to believe that we chose the BEST in every category for the BEST reasons. So just be careful about asking moms for advice. And know that if you disagree with any of my choices, that's OK. Just don't tell me because I might freak out and go into labor.

Big Ticket baby gear items first, grouped in random but sort of organized order:

• Munire Urban Crib in Espresso -- $700, incl tax & delivery, from Great Beginnings (gift)
• Eco-Friendly Sealy Posturepedic Springfree Crib Mattress -- $119, from Walmart (gift)
• (and mattress pad, ultimate crib sheets, other sheets, breathable bumper -- BBB) (gift)
• Eddie Bauer Bassinet -- $75, from Craigslist
• Moses Basket -- $20, from Craigslist
• Graco Pack 'n Play Playard Modurne Zurich (and sheets, changing pads) -- $160 (saved 20% off $199 with coupon at BBB; also can order from Walmart with free shipping site to store for a good deal.) (gift)

• Best Chairs Upholstered Glider Rocker in espresso -- $700, from BBB (gift)
• Nursing stool -- $15, from Craigslist ($34.99 at BBB)

• Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP Moka car seat (and mirror and sunshade) -- $247 from Diapers.com (listed as $274.99 at BBB) (gift)
• Baby Jogger City Classic in black and tan (and tons and tons and tons and tons of accessories) -- $273 for stroller from Amazon (listed as $399 at BBB) (gift)

• Summer Infant Best View Handheld Color Video Monitor -- $184 from BBB with 20% off coupon (usually $229 at BBB and $194 on Amazon, although I've seen it slip down in the $140s on Amazon but unfortunately didn't buy it then.) Arg.

• Fisher Price My Little Lamb Infant Seat -- $59.99, BBB (gift)
• Boppy Soothe in Comfort Full Size Swing -- $119.99 with free shipping, Amazon (gift)
• Chicco Polly High Chair -- $149.99, BBB (gift)
• Twist & Fold Gym by Infantino -- $39.99, from Step2

• Avent & Dr. Brown bottles (and bottle brush) -- From BBB (gift) and Diapers.com
• Silicone pacifiers (this, this and this) -- Diapers.com
• Amy Butler Binkie clips -- Etsy

• Baby Bath (and spout guard, temperature floaty, hooded towels & washcloths) -- BBB (gifts)

• gDiapers -- Purchased 6 everyday g's in S, M, L during a promo for $40 each set (usually $70) on the gdiapers.com site; Got starter kit and refills from Amazon with free shipping and 20% off during another promotion
• Seventh Generation newborn diapers, Huggies Pure & Natural newborn diapers -- Diapers.com
• JJ Cole Diaper Caddy in brown -- $29.99, from BBB
• Playtex Diaper Genie Elite II -- $33.99 + free shipping, from Diapers.com ($6 off promotion; listed as $44.99 at BBB)
• And diaper pail refills, disposable bags, Butt Paste, Skip Hop Wipe Case

• Aden & Anais swaddling blankets (4) -- Diapers.com
• Swaddle Designs Ultimate Receiving Blanket in pink and brown circles -- BBB (20% coupon)
• Swaddle Designs blanket in green and brown -- BBB (gift)
• Organic SwaddleMe, Green SwaddleMe, Sleepsack -- BBB (gifts)
• Boppy nursing pillow & organic slipcover -- BBB, $24 (20% off coupon) and $24.99 (gift)
• Organic crib & bassinet sheets in ecru -- BBB and Baby Gap

• Diaper Bags -- Diaper Dude, Eddie Bauer, Skip Hop, Dilly Baby and Kate Spade!!!!!!!!

• Always Ultra Thin Super Long Maxi Pads & Always Overnight Super Heavy Flow with Wings -- Diapers.com
• Breast Pads and more breast pads & Lanolin -- Diapers.com
• Cotton balls & Q-tips -- grocery store
• Seventh Generation baby wipes -- Diapers.com
• Small can of organic Similac infant formula -- grocery store

• Kids Line Ecru Hamper (painted wood dark brown) -- $18 (20% off coupon), BBB
• Burp cloths (plain from BBB and pretty ones from Etsy)
• Waaaaay too many cute baby clothes, socks, mitts, bibs, hats (gifts)
• Wooden hangers -- $39.95 + free shipping, eBay seller
• Closet organizers in pink -- $5.97 + shipping, Amazon

• Exercise ball (for labor) -- $19.99, from Amazon
• Hot/cold packs (for labor) -- $15.95 + shipping, Etsy
• Sleep bras, nursing bra, nursing tops, nursing gowns and robes -- Motherhood Maternity
• House shoes (for hospital) -- $40, Restoration Hardware Outlet

• Baby book from Ruby Love -- $60, Etsy
• Monthly stickers -- Etsy
• For newborn photos, from Etsy: Pixie cap, lima bean cap, cocoon and flower headband

• Sleep sheep -- $29.99, Dawn Price Baby (gift)
• Mobile -- $34.99, Baby Gap
• Colgate changing pad & changing pad covers by Kids Line -- BBB (gifts)

• Gripe water & Saline drops -- BBB
• Lots and Lots of Hand sanitizers -- Diapers.com
• Red Cross Health Care kit & Grooming kit & Mustela gift set -- BBB (gifts)
• Humidifier -- BBB (gift)
• Outlet plugs -- BBB (our house already had a baby gate at top of stairs and lock on cabinet under the sink)
• Seventh Generation Baby Laundry Detergent, Dreft Wipes, Seventh Generation cleaner -- BBB

• 2 Peanut slings & 1 black Hotsling & white Baby Bjorn Synergy carrier (hand-me-downs)
• Polkadot Papoose Baby sling -- $35, GreenBabyBargains (half off)
• Peanut Nursing cover -- $15, GreenBabyBargains
• Udder Covers in pink and blue -- Free but paid $8 shipping
• Baby dishes and bowels, pink bins and other random stuff -- Pottery Barn Outlet & Restoration Hardware Outlet
• Baby toys, all from Etsy: Ribbon ball, soft block, stacking blocks, plush ring stacker, giraffe rattle, organic butterfly rattle, doll rattle
• Nursery Decor, all from Etsy: Bird pillow, Owl pillow, blocks, prints, quilt, decal

Sorry, that was kind of a long list... Hopefully it'll be a good resource. And before you say that I am crazy, obsessed mother to be who has fallen victim to buying everything under the sun, may I point out that I held my ground and did NOT buy a wipe warmer. Or a bottle warmer. Or a pretty bumper. And I am holding off on the breast pump until I know for sure that I'll be pumping when I go back to work.

So there.

Oh, and happy shopping everyone!