Bibs -- The Best Ever Invention

Types of bibs, buttoned, lace to be knotted, velcro...

When feeding started, my problems started...

**like if it is one thing to make her eat something, it is another task altogether to clean up the clothes after eating.
**stains like apple/banana just wont go away.
**If i feed her nude and clean her up and put clothes, okay, it is fine but then whatif she gets used to it :((((... so, it is with full clothing on that I feed the kiddo. I dont run around, but it does take some effort and she grows up there is a need to self-feed, so the problems are intensified.

Bibs are of good use when a kid is drooling. Believe me the drool although just water stinks :(, so it is better to use a bib.

Then comes a stage where the kids start pulling it out, then come the buttoned ones, once they get the hang of pulling them out, then come the laced one to tie the knot.

But once they start attempts at self feeding nothing stops.. i was kind of dreading those cleaning up sessions after feeding.. Yes, I have a maid, but it is tough to clean up for her as well.. so, if the kiddo is learning yanking fast.. momma has the last laugh.. I got plastic, shirt type ones which are sooooooooooooooo very useful and God sent :)... i am like hehahehaaaaa now yank it off :).

The God-send bib with table soft plastic outer lining, spoon holder, etc.

Just put this on like a shirt, clean the face and mouth, wipe the mouth with the cloth napkin behind and once done wipe it up and keep it for next feed and wash it at the end of the day, easy to clean, easy to dry.. if you keep about 3 to 4 such bibs your life will be a lot more easier :). It covers the whole body and so no matter even if the kid drops the entire contents on the body, we have the last laugh :).

the inside of the bib, soft on the skin and kids cant pull it off as it has sleeves and covers the whole body.

It is easy on baby's skin too because of the very soft napkin material on the inside.. absolutely love this invention and yeah the price is affordable too, just 50/- each.

I got them from Besant Road, Vijayawada, in a shop called MONALISA, a fancy shop with a variety of bibs..

If any of you happen to know any other localities, do update in the comments column please.

Dummies/Pacifiers

Playtex Ortho-Pro BPA free pacifiers -- twin pack.

Doctors in India do not usually recommend a pacifier because of hygiene issues and I personally was against it for a while as well but as the kid completed 3 months of age and was reasonably kind of used to the outside belly environment, I went ahead with giving pacifier once in a while, this way she did not get used to it but chews on it for a while out of curiosity and sucks it for a moment. Just a momentary distraction but of good use to quieten her when extremely fussy.

Coming to an argument if pacifier is a better alternative than thumb sucking.. I am not aware. All I need is a moment's distraction to soothe her which serves the purpose.

The pros of pacifier I got to gather
**Soothing/comforting
**Distracting
**Satisfies the non-nutritional urge to suck and thereby avoid overfeeding in bottle-fed kids.

The Cons..
**Germ harbors.
**addictive.
**speech delays.
**Teeth issues.
**excess use might cause ear infections.
etc..

So, I have it handy with me, but I hardly use it.. I just like it to give me a moment's peace between the chaos. She eventually spits it out or just picks it up in hand and starts playing with it but serves the purpose, to divert her attention.

I had chosen an orthodontic pacifier, BPO-free from Playtex, which has this unique design which is easy to clean, easy to store, comes in good eye-soothing colors, which is also supposed to be dentists recommended due to its shape thereby putting less pressure on the gums and not interfere with teething or in crooked teething. It has a thin and unique shaped nipple which

I personally decided against a pacifier in the initial stages because of hygiene issues more than anything. Also, the doctor said something about relation to earaches which I am not really sure of now.

The best thing about it is the cover in which it comes for a germophobe mom like me.

It is a purely personal choice to go or not with it.. I personally, rarely use it but more than LO, it is my pacifier ;).

There have been some models which have been recalled from Playtex, so check out before buying.

Getting Rid of Pacifier Habit
Pacifiers are something which are not advisable for children, because of increased risk of infections many folds, esp. in hot weather. They don’t have anything to do with teeth eruption, infect they are known to deform the teeth if used persistently after a particular age.
I feel u need to be smart enough to stop that in one go, as early as possible. No option. We should be careful in starting new habits to our children, cos, many times it’s really difficult to get rid of them.

Gold/Silver Items For Infants/Kids

Other than the vital things mentioned in the other post... there are quite a few things which can be bought/kept ready for the kids for use in the first year of life.

This is exclusively my viewpoint and my collection for the kid which I bought way before the kid was born once I knew it was a girl.


Gold/Silver Items
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Uggu Ginne -- this is available in both Gold and Silver but the use is debatable, like if the kid is being fussy the sharp edge might injure the soft flesh in the mouth, so the use is very limited to say use of gripe water or some medicine or something, so no point wasting the gold unless there is one already in the family from generations.
Kakkula Ungaram -- A ring which looks like a coil, usually made of silver, supposedly to reduce vomitings in an infant.. just a belief. We can go for a gold one in this since this is expandable and can use for a long time than normal baby rings.
Silver Powder Box and Puff -- There are a wide variety of them available in the market in silver, I took one as I wanted that to be keepsakes for the kiddo throughout her life :)...
Silver Soap Box -- Same logic as above, keepsake for the kiddo.

powder box, puff, and soapbox

Once they start with foods
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Silver bowl small size for biscuits/cookies/fruit pulp etc.
Silver bowl a little bigger size for rice.
Silver glass -- again 2 different sizes a very small one for water and a normal size one for milk when they start off with the glass.
Silver spoon -- baby size or 0 size available in stores.
Silver fork (be careful with its use, do not ever let the kids use it, only for you to feed) -- baby size or 0 size available.
Silver plate -- when they start off with table foods.

uggu ginne for gripewater and complete feeding set for about a year

Actually, the whole set is available in one theme like mickey or pooh in silver design, so we can pick it up which will be useful for a really long time.

If we can afford, it is better we go with them rather than plastic since I am a strict green parenting supporter and also eating in silver bowls has some medicinal traditional value.

Ornaments
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Common for both boys and girls
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Gold Chain -- This can be used for a really long time, so the design can be chosen with care but if we want to put that always on the kid, then go for a very lightweight short length one for daily use.
Anjaneya Swamy Locket -- This is supposed to be good for kids, bhayam lekunda undataaniki antaaru.. I got a silver one and tied it to her swing.. after 6 months I tied it to her neck with a black thread.
Finger Rings -- Just one or two at the max because they easily outgrow them, so it is better to rotate them among the kids in the family rather than buying them all the time.. waste of money is what i personally feel because they tend to scratch all over with them.
Gold/Silver Molataadu -- Gold one can be used as a chain later on, but considering the danger of letting the kid roam around with so much of gold, I personally preferred a silver one or black molataadu instead.
Bangles/Murugulu -- Murugulu are thin bangle like ornaments which are usually left on the kid's body and they are usually cut once the kid outgrows rather than removing, so it is kind of daily-wear item. Again, I would say the lighter the better. We get expandable bangles again which are good rather than going for changing frequently.

expandable bangle, ring, and black-bead bracelet/anklet

Girl Baby Specific
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Patteelu/Anklets -- we get soft anklets or round anklets for infants, 0 size.. but ideally use them only after 4 to 5 months of age. But we get black beads chains which can be used as anklets which are soft on the skin. (nalla poosala patteelu/bracelets) I actually got them for bracelets but they looked really good as anklets, so kept them as is.

Vanki and Vaddanam -- This is totally hi-fi and depends on whether you want to invest in it so early as a newborn or wait till the kid walks at least.
Lightweight Earrings -- For the time of ear piercing.

WHERE DO WE GET THEM
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The jewelry items can be bought from any gold showroom or can get them done by order by a goldsmith. I personally prefer very lightweight stuff for daily wear because they outgrow them soon and a lot of money lost in exchanging. So, unless you have someone to pass it on to, just stick to bare basics initially is my funda.

Silver items can be found in any silver store, these should be a little heavy and strong because we tend to use them more and if they are delicate they would dent easily, so press it hard with 2 fingers and if not denting then go for it is my rule of thumb.

I got the soap box, powder box, etc. from KalaNiketan, Vijayawada and puff from CMR Vijayawada.

The black beads is actually a bracelet which again, I got from KalaNiketan, Vja.

Pricing does vary with fluctuating gold/silver prices.

Newborn Day 1 List..

Items For Newborn
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First time parents have this instinct of wanting to buy everything for the kiddo and doing a lot.. well that is the excitement :).. but spending wisely and spending on what is actually needing and eliminating the wastage is the key.

Every cloth item bought from the shop should be washed and kept aside for use way before. In India, there is a belief that we should not buy anything before the kid is born and it is not good and all that.. but Thanks to people staying in US and parents leaving before the kid is born, the gender known prior and all that there has been quite a big change in the attitude. I wasnt allowed to buy anything until I entered 9th month and then too I had to fight it out because I wanted to everything for the kiddo...

Again, when buying for an infant we need to keep in mind the season in which the kid is born... my kid was a mid-summer baby born in Coastal AP, so we had to rule out a few things and just stick to cottons and that too very see through types... All the dresses, onesies and others sent by friends and brought by her father from US went waste because the climate just did not suit it..

So, rather than wasting just spend wisely...

Essentials For Summer Kids To Keep Ready on Day #1.
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Pure Coconut oil -- this is to clean the kid immediately after the birth.. my baby was not given a bath immediately, they applied coconut oil and wiped the body very clean.. the first bath was given the second day of her life. (depends from doctor to doctor).
Sleeveless Cotton Jubbas -- plain white cotton dresses which are available in the market which come in pairs or dozens... the more the better.. 0 size.. say about a dozen., if they have front open it is all the more better for the first few days until the cord drops off..
Soft baby Towels/very old used cotton sarees/used and clean old towels -- the softer the better for the delicate skin.
Cloth Diapers -- The more the better, the softer the better or home-stitched used cotton cloth langotis.
Holding sheets -- very essential when passing on the baby to others so that the heat transfer from the bodies is minimized.. see to it that they are not made of smelly plastic, there are cloth feel water-proof ones available in market, ask for those.
Rubber Sheets -- To be put on the bed.. again check the material.
Baby Blankets -- Plush/fleece blankets would be good because we need to keep the kid warm.. make sure that they are not heavy.
Cotton balls/Cotton Bundle or Unscented Baby Wipes-- To wipe the bottom clean.. the first few days babies pass dark stools and we cannot wash the bum, just use some lukewarm water and clean the bum up.
Socks and Mittens -- just a couple of pairs of socks and mittens which are not made of wool are available in the market, they would be ideal.
Hooded Towels -- to cover the babies held, used mostly to wrap the baby around and carry in the initial phases.
Caps -- Cotton caps are available so as not to let a lot of air in the ears.. some doctors advise against using them, mine did.. so find out before you go for them.. Elderly people say kid's head would grow out of shape if the cap is not worn and all that.. believe me, it does not... if the baby is summer-born, then no point suffocating the kid.. I was always terrified that the kid would pull it down and suffocate herself if left unattended and almost never used anything until winter.
Burp Cloths -- we need to burp the baby and when we do, the kid will throw up or spit up something, so to protect our clothes keep some cotton, soft clothes handy to put on the shoulder.. a half a dozen should do.
Feeding Bottle -- Just in case your milk does not kick in and in case of emergency it is better to keep a couple of bottles ready rather than rushing... cleaned and sterilized before each use.
Bath soap, bath sponge, powder and puff box, baby medicine spoons

We need to keep lots of clothes, blankets, wipes, etc. handy with the new arrival, so ensure that you have ample of supply so that if you miss one washing also they are plenty to cover it.

Essentials For Winter Kids To Keep Ready on Day #1.
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Pure Coconut oil -- this is to clean the kid immediately after the birth.. my baby was not given a bath immediately, they applied coconut oil and wiped the body very clean.. the first bath was given the second day of her life. (depends from doctor to doctor).
Long sleeve non-cotton thick material Jubbas -- 0 size front open shirts which are a little thick and can retain warmth would be ideal than jubbas.
Sweater and cap -- Sweater made of fleece or some soft material would be ideal so as not to irritate the skin.. cap which is not too loose is important because there is a danger that they might pull it on to their face when sleeping.. if using a cap, ensure that the ends are tied properly and tightly.
Soft baby Towels/very old used cotton sarees/used and clean old towels -- the softer the better for the delicate skin.
Cloth Diapers -- The more the better, the softer the better or home-stitched used cotton cloth langotis.. we need them a lot more than summer babies as they tend to pee more often.
Holding sheets -- very essential when passing on the baby to others so that the heat transfer from the bodies is minimized.. see to it that they are not made of smelly plastic, there are cloth feel water-proof ones available in market, ask for those.
Rubber Sheets -- To be put on the bed.. again check the material.
Baby Blankets -- Plush/fleece blankets would be good because we need to keep the kid really warm.. make sure that they are not heavy but are of nice material to retain the warmth.
Cotton balls/Cotton Bundle or Unscented Baby Wipes-- To wipe the bottom clean.. the first few days babies pass dark stools and we cannot wash the bum, just use some lukewarm water and clean the bum up.
Socks and Mittens -- We need lots of socks and mittens to keep them warm which are made of both fleece and wool which would be really helpful.
Hooded Towels -- to cover the babies held, used mostly to wrap the baby around and carry in the initial phases.
Burp Cloths -- we need to burp the baby and when we do, the kid will throw up or spit up something, so to protect our clothes keep some cotton, soft clothes handy to put on the shoulder.. a half a dozen should do.
Feeding Bottle -- Just in case your milk does not kick in and in case of emergency it is better to keep a couple of bottles ready rather than rushing... cleaned and sterilized before each use.
Bath soap, bath sponge, powder and puff box, baby medicine spoons

For kids in US
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For the kid
Cap- 4 (nenu 4 konna...kaani okati use cheyaldu )
Bibs - 9 (not of use initially...solids start chesaka 9 saripodu...)
Burp cloths - 2- 4pack ( If ur baby is a spiter like mine...these r soooo handy)
Wash cloth- 4 - 6pack (Boy babyki ekuva kavali ..reason..diaper chnge chesappudu tapaka fountain vadulutaaru)
Blanket - Cotton -2, Fleece-2, Thick (plush)-2
Hooded Towel- 2
Receiving Blankets -10
Socks- coupla pairs (make sure u buy wiggleproof socks..lekapothey tani toosesthaaru...)
Mittens - coupla pairs (nenu maali ivi konukuna...winter baby ani)
Side Snap shirts (0-3 months)- 2 - 5 pack(This is an important one. We need to use this as an undershirt tilll the cord falls off..maa vaadu 3 months ai kuda ivi use chestuna...)
New Born sleeper- 2
0-3 sleeper - 10
Lap Pad-6 (i think 3 shd do...initalga diaper leaks avtaadi..appudu idi ideal )
Crib pad- 1
Baby Sleeping Bag -1
Swaddle me-2 (only for winter babies)
Stroller n Car seat - Memu Graco Quattro deluxe konamu..
Crib, Crib set,mattress and mobile- Babies r uslo jardine madison konamu...
Chest cum changing table - I bought an armoire instead...just changing pad konamu)
Bath tub
Feeding bottle - Playtex drop ins konanu....just use and throw...sterlizing gola vundadu)
Diapers - Hospitallo they use a brand....buy the same brand..
Wipes - nenu new born appudu cotton balls use chesedaani..
Diaper dispenser- Nenu Diaper Champ kona
Mylicon
Desitin or vaseline
Boppy Pillow (might consider)- vundi kaani use cheyatledhu...
Swing/bouncer- 3 in 1 graco kona
gym-baby einstein kona
First aid kit-thermometer,nailcutter,scissors, aspiraor ani vuntaadi.
Bottle Sterlizer
Breast pump- THE BEST EVER INVENTION!!!!!! Medela Advanced backpack konnamu...

Courtesy: Sudha/Visa