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*Bed: The baby wakes up so often at first that you will want him in your room; you won't use the crib for months. Consider
no bed at all until you see how your particular baby sleeps -- for example, if he feeds more frequently, you might want to
share a bed; if he thrashes a lot, he might need to be in another room in order for you to get any sleep at all. At first,
you can just share your bed (add a railing if he won't be sleeping between two parents), or get a small bassinette or cradle
(rocking can be a great feature), or use the Pack n Play bassinette you already have. Consider the Amby Hammock ($225), which
is like a sling suspended on a spring, so it snuggles the baby and bounces when he moves. It also converts to a bouncy-bounce.
This is supposed to be great for fussy babies and babies with acid reflux; I am not sure, though, if it might inhibit their
movement in a negative way, or make it hard for them to transition to a stationary crib or bed later. No-one we know has
tried it. The Arm's Reach Co-Sleeper ($130) isn't all it's cracked up to be, since the mattress is not continuous with the
adult bed as they imply it is. It is, however, a good-quality, non-ugly bassinette.
If and when you do get a crib, make sure that the side-rail latches QUIETLY, because you do not want it to wake up the
baby after you've just laid him down to sleep! I also highly recommend getting a foam mattress instead of an inner-spring.
High-quality models are available and they are so light, it makes frequent sheet changes easier. Safety regulations make
mattresses fit so tightly into the crib these days, you have to pull the whole thing out in order to fit the sheet. [FYI,
the main reason you have to change sheets is not poop or even really pee; it's always spit-up. And: get flannel sheets, because
cold cotton is more likely to wake the baby when you set him down on it.]
If you follow all of the SIDS recommendations, you will end up with a mattress as hard as a door! If I could do it over,
I would not have bought the "extra firm" model. Now whenever we play with him on our own bed he acts like he's
on furlough.
*Changing table: the best arrangement is just to put a curved changing pad on top of a medium-high dresser or table, so
you have extra surface room nearby to set wipes, lotion, dirty diapers, toys, etc. Save your money and don't buy a special
changing table that you will end up having to throw away a year later.
*Diaper pail: I have changed my recommendation from the Diaper Dekor Plus ($40; $20 for 3 refills) to the Diaper Champ
(about $30, no refills required). While the Dekor is very easy to use, has long-lasting refills and has good customer service,
it is too easy for an older baby to break into. As soon as my baby could stand up, he was sticking his hands inside the can,
where his fingers can get pinched. The Diaper Champ is a sealed system that babies might like to play with, but isn't likely
to injure them or give them access to the contents. It's also a bit more smell-proof and requires no refills (uses kitchen
gargbage bags). The only drawback is probably that the chute mechanism can get dirty and/or stuck. Avoid Diaper Genie, another
undeservedly popular invention that everyone hates once they have it.
*Exercise ball ($25): Many moms cannot survive without this, which is just one of those big inflatable rubber balls you
see at the gym. If you have a birthing ball, it's the same thing. You use it to soothe the baby by holding him, sitting
on the ball, and bouncing up and down, as per the Harvey Karp method. The largest size seems to be the easiest on your back.
*Glider ($300-$500): It's vital to have a comfortable chair with padded arms (to protect baby's head) that you are able
to fall asleep in. If you can afford it, invest in a nice glider, because you will use it a lot and it will help the baby
fall asleep, which is basically your solitary goal as a parent. If you can't afford it, just make sure you have a comfortable
chair dedicated for nursing (padded arms, lots of pillows) stationed near the baby's bed.
*Misc.: Get a nice dim bedside lamp or night light so you can feed the baby in the night while maintaining nighttime atmosphere.
This is an important part of teaching the baby to sleep longer at night. Consider a noise machine like the Sound Sleeper
($25).
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