From: Tamara Shaffer <SASTLS@mvs.sas.com>
Subject: Re: Baby Stuff: What are the Essentials?
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 17:19:00 GMT
Organization: SAS Institute Inc.

>From: krages@ohsu.edu
>Message-ID: <1992Dec14.204455.4420@ohsu.edu>
>
>Please help!  I am 36 weeks pregnant and still trying to figure out
>exactly what baby furniture and paraphenalia we really need. Here's my
>problem: we live in a very small house (1200 sq. ft.)...
>...                                                                     a
>So far we have purchased a crib and mattress, a dresser, a car seat and
>a stroller in terms of large size baby stuff.  We are planning to put
>the crib up in the master bedroom with us and have the baby sleep in
>our room for at least the first few months.  The dresser is already up
>in the master bedroom and I have a changing pad that can go on the top
>of that.  We also have a rocking chair on order which will go on the
>main floor in the living room area.
>
>But now that I am getting so close to the birth I am starting to wonder
>if I should be getting more baby stuff, for example, a bassinet or
>cradle, an infant seat, a play pen.  At this point I don't really have
>anywhere on the main floor to put the baby .  I was thinking of using
>the car seat also as an infant seat, but is an infant seat a lot better
>to use?  I was trying to save money and just have a crib and not a
>bassinet but that means there is no place for the baby to sleep on the
>main floor.  And now some people tell me that a crib seems so large for
>a newborn.
 
I *completely* agree that a crib seems huge for a newborn.  We commented
that Melissa was "like a fish in the ocean" in her crib.  Way too big.
We kept her in our room, next to me, for the first 2 months.  She
slept in her stroller, which is Graco that has 3 positions -- sitting,
reclining, and flat.  It worked perfectly while she was little.  And,
after a c-section, I didn't have to get up (or Ferrell) to go get her
when she was hungry.  I'm sure we'll do that again this time.
 
>Here's part two of our problem: we have three dogs, all over 10 years
>old.  My husband doesn't think there will be a problem but I am still
>concerned.  I don't think I can ever put the baby (as a newborn) down
>on the floor because of the dogs.  We haven't gotten a
>playpen/portacrib yet (which I would like to have) because my husband
>thinks the dogs will tear up the mesh netting.
 
I would NEVER leave a baby unattended on the floor, couch, etc. with
dogs in the house.  As for playpens, I think they're okay, but we
*rarely* used ours.
 
>So I guess my questions are:
>1) What baby stuff is really essential and what is optional?  What
>kinds of cheaper things can be substituted for the real McCoy? (For
>example, I have read that you can use a laundry basket or a drawer
>instead of a bassinet - has anyone really done that?)
 
The stroller, as I said earlier, was terrific as a makeshift cradle.
I could also wheel her around the house to be with me without
waking her.
 
We have a Graco Swingomatic (?) battery-operated swing.  What a
great invention!!!  The seat comes off of the swing too, so it
works as a baby seat.  Melissa ate in that seat until she could
sit in her highchair.  GREAT invention.
 
>2) Where and in what kinds of things do people put babies (i.e.,
>newborns/infants) while they are in their general living area - when
>you want to put the child down but he/she isn't sleeping?
 
The swing works wonders with some children, but others don't like
them.  A quilt on the floor (or blanket, whatever) with toys is
terrific.  Can you put a portable gate (expandable kind) up to the
room the baby is in to keep the dogs out of that room?  Gates are
great -- buy two.
 
>3)  Has anyone dealt with dogs and babies and how does that affect
>where you can or can't put the child?
 
Like I said, no matter how sweet and adoring your dogs are, I would
NEVER leave the child unattended around the dogs.  You just never
know, and there have been some real tragedies.  Be there with your
baby.
 
>4) How have people in small houses/apartments managed with babies?
 
Just be warned, your house will probably shrink when your baby
is born! :)
 
>Thanks in advance for any advice.  I really like my house; I just wish
>it were larger.  Sometimes I feel bad because we don't have a "real
>nursery" for the baby but I think it's just peer pressure and
>expectations getting to me.  My mother-in-law is coming to help with
>the baby the first two weeks so we can't turn our extra bedroom into a
>nursery because she needs a place to sleep (and we also don't know
>where to put all the desks/books/filing cabinets that are in there).
 
You'll all be fine in the same room.  Having the mil in a separate
room is a good idea though. :) :) :)  Perhaps when your child needs
their own room (or YOU need your child to have their own room -- they
are noisy sleepers!), you could have a hide-a-bed in the living room
for guests.  Not the Embassy Suites, but very practical.
 
>
>Kathryn Pyle Krages
>Oregon Health Sciences University
>Portland, OR 97201
>krages@ohsu.edu
>4 weeks to go!
>
 
Good luck!!!
TAMARA
mommy to Melissa (5/1/91) and ? (due 5/8/93)