First Baby: What DO you need?

My first time mom friend said the other day her mom suggested she ask her friends with babies what kind of items they actually needed with their first baby. I noted you can get by with a lot less than you actually think.

For example, we only had a booster chair, strap in type high chair that we used until very recently because it scooted right up to the table. It was portable and super handy.

We also had two bouncers, and Archer hated them. He hated being in them, so I didn't even bother putting him in it. We had a swing however that he loved being in.

I didn't buy a swaddler, had one handed down, but he hated it. I used lots of blankest, so they are a must. We actually still use lots of blankets.

We had a Johnny Jumpup, but it really didn't work at our house and he just kind of sat there.

We had an exersaucer, which he did like a little, but it was HUGE and took up so much space.

I wish I had gotten a wipe warmer, because he still cringes about cold wipes. I wish I had gotten a video monitor, because well, they rock. We didn't use the regular one because our house is so small we could hear him no matter where he was, but a video monitor would still be useful.



What else? What did you LOVE? What did you hate? What did you wish you had bought?