One can go crazy while working on the shopping list for the future baby. Do I really need this gadget? Does my child need this rocking chair? Where to store the baby clothes? Where to change their nappies? Am I totally against bottles or do I need an emergency one?
Once I had answers to the dozens of questions like this, I made a list, checked things out online and then went shopping with my husband Zviad. I'll share with you those items that appeared to be really important and useful for me, but of course, each of us should make their own choice.
While considering this purchase, I thought to save money and get a manual one for one boob only. Then after some research (=reading through a lot of forums) I decided to order an electric one with two bottles, and this was a real life saver.
The day after we came home from the maternity hospital, I was diagnosed with COVID and that was not only the positive test, but a lot of coughing involved, so the next 10 days Daniel and I spent separately: first in another hospital (an experience that deserves a separate post) and then at his Georgian grandparents'. Zviad and my mom were isolating at home, and I was pumping 8 times a day to supply the baby with high-quality fresh milk with COVID antibodies.
With the new electric friend, the lactation started really well and I had some time to read more forums and websites and get anxious about sleep regression, colics and other beautiful things parenthood brings.
Weeeeell, let's start with the fact that I wasn't going to use a bottle at all, but life served me a different start to parenthood. The nurses in the COVID clinic were very nice, but at some point they asked to give them a bottle to feed the baby, because the syringe feeding was too complicated and they had different other things to do. Fair enough.
So the bottle I bought had an asymmetrical nipple, and it didn't change anything for Daniel who spent four days of his life sucking my breast, then 10 days of sucking this gum nipple and then getting back to me. He didn't have a latching problem, and the grandmas' fears that an easier way to get food would have spoiled him, didn't come true. Maybe because my milk flow was almost as fast as the one from the bottle…
I am aware that it doesn't work like this for everyone, and there are children who get used to the bottle and refuse to feed from the breast.
I'm also skeptical about the "anti-colic" nickname for the bottle, because colic came and it was nasty, with the bottle and without it.
Also I should admit that Daniel didn't accept another type of bottle, when his grandma mistakenly gave him a bottle with a regular nipple of the milk pump set. Good boy!
Once I got one, I regretted that I didn’t buy it earlier. Such a relief! Zviad complained that it felt like the Great Wall of China between us, but to me, it felt like a big relief.
This one (see link to the shop) I bought online and it was delivered really fast. The quality was also good.
During his first weeks at home, we struggled with putting Daniel to sleep in his bed. He was twisting around like a Vitruvian child, like a wheel of fortune, or like a little restless newborn. Putting him into the baby nest and placing the nest into the crib saved the day. Or rather the night. God bless the nest, really.
“My brother is fine with changing his son’s diapers on the top of his bed”, said my husband in December, when we went shopping.
“What a great idea it was to buy this drawer”, he admitted in March.
Daniel loves being at the changing table - after changing his nappies, we also play and do massages there. Also, it has plenty of space for his clothes and hygienic stuff, which is appreciated by us. And after all, bending down to bed many times a day would kill your back if it wasn’t killed by the last month of pregnancy. Only if you are a supernatural parent (pun intended: parents who are not using diapers seem really supernatural to me), and Pampers is not your household brand name, ignore my recommendation.
My friends sent me a handful of oils for body treatment, but I was using only this one against the stretch marks (spoiler: it worked well!). It was also a part of the bonding ritual when Zviad was talking to the baby before bedtime and was massaging my belly with oil. The Weleda goods should be available in GPC pharmacies all around Georgia.
I think those are the main things that are actually things. I didn’t get any of them sponsored except of oils that were gifted (thank you, Maite and Martin!), but I’m happy to share the links.
We had a fantastic shopping session in Wishlist in Dighomi around Black Friday - it is a good period to buy things if you really need something. In Georgia, we don’t usually fight over discounted dresses, but there are long queues.
We managed to buy the stroller, bed, drawer, bath tube, weaning chair, and some small things for a bit more than $1000 altogether. Maybe in Lilo it would have been even cheaper, but we are happy with the choice we made, and with the money we spent. Also a huge thanks to Mancho, the consultant of Wishlist in Dighomi, who helped us a lot! Ask for her, if you’re there. This girl knows everything about each piece!
Wish you a happy shopping time! Make conscious choices and enjoy!
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