Baby’s napping so let‘s be creative again!
This time, I drew the illustration before the article. I just had a clear idea of a baby floating in the space together with all the baby things that parents think they need. Usually, I write up the text first and during that process, I get an idea of an illustration.
As we are all individuals, we have all different needs and it‘s important to remind ourselves that babies aren’t the same. Babies don‘t follow textbooks and pediatricians’ charts. So sometimes, the advice you get from your friends or family could not apply to your little one. Or some of them could be outdated... I believe you know what I‘m talking about.
So today, I’d like to discuss what baby stuff was/is useful for us. All the products that we liked and those that we didn’t. In the beginning, we didn’t buy many things because we didn’t want to have a house full of things that won’t be used. We wanted to wait for when our baby is born and we will know her needs more.
Here we go... Thing babies (do not) need by Raising Simba <3
Baby essentials
There were some things that we got before Freeda was born. Even if you’re minimalist, you don‘t want to bring a baby home and have nothing for her. During my third trimester, I made a list of newborn essentials, and most of them we used. We’ve gotten most of the small textile things on Shopee. Then we bought a stroller and the car seat set from Facebook, it was second hand. And we got all the clothes from friends, family, and neighbors, some of them were new, some second-hand.
Wraps/carrier
Here in Taiwan, it’s very hard to get appropriate products for ergonomic babywearing. Most of the Taiwanese use non-ergonomic carriers and find something like woven wrap is almost impossible. What I managed to get for the newborn were two stretchy wraps, they were cheap and we used them every day for a few months. Later Freeda got too heavy for them, using them as possible but not comfortable for us. When she was about 1 month, we got Tula Free To Grow carrier. Not the best option when it comes to carriers but at least it’s ergonomic. And frankly, it saved us many times during the period when we didn‘t have a car. In summary, wraps and carriers are a MUST! The best thing ever! Woven wraps and good guilty carriers could be pretty expensive but it’s worth it.
Diapers
Seems like here in Taiwan, it is a habit to bring diapers for the baby. We got boxes of diapers before Freeda was born. From newborn to medium size. When she was tiny, we used them together with reusable cloth diapers (that we got from our friends). When Freeda outgrew the newborn reusable diapers we used only disposable ones. Now we keep only one pack for traveling and we used cloth diapers at home.
Muslin blankets
I love these even now! During the summer we used them as blankets and you can always use them instead of towels, swaddles, bedsheets, or burp cloths. They’re pretty soft and light, great for traveling.
Clothes
I bought only 4 onesies before Freeda was born, and we didn’t even use them. They were kimono types, very favorite here in Taiwan, and I didn‘t like those. Then I bought an onesie with shorts and a hat in H&M just because there was Simba on it. All the clothes we have, we’ve been given too. Taiwanese friends and neighbors are so generous, so Freeda has super girly clothes up to her 2 years. After we started receiving boxes and bags full of baby clothes, I was glad that we didn’t buy anything. Also, tiny babies grow so fast, just buy a few pieces of clothes, it’d be enough.
Towels, burp cloths, and bibs
No discussion is needed. Your baby needs all of these. We have two big towels and two small hand towels that we use in the downstairs bathroom, we use them after washing the baby’s butt. Burp cloths are another necessity, especially at the beginning when the baby spits a lot and milk is everywhere. Same with the bibs. We got the 360 bibs that make your baby looks like a flower. My friend calls them donuts. They go all over the neck so it protects even shoulders.
Waterproof changing mat
Are you sure you need a changing table? Let’s think about it. Yes, it looks cool to have it. Yes, it is practical with all the storage and drawers. But in reality, you will use it just for a few months maybe weeks. Freeda started rolling over when she was about 3 months, at that time I’d probably stop using the changing table. Instead of the table, we used a waterproof changing mat so we could change her anywhere - on the couch, on the bed, on the floor, in the park...
Bathtub
A bathtub was one of the things we’ve been given. And we used it often. We also got an infant insert that supports the baby’s body so it’s easier to wash her. Recently we started taking a shower all together. It’s way too easier than setting up the bathtub and all the other things. We simply all go to the bathroom, one of us takes a shower, the other one washes the baby and then hands her to the first one to do the after-shower routine. We give Freeda a bath or shower every day since she was born. We were not planning to, but the fact that she was born in summer and we were all sweating and milk was everywhere changed everything. Taking shower all together is a lot of fun!
Breastfeeding pillow
I got one as a gift and it was a big help to me when Freeda was a teeny tiny baby. It’s way easier to place the baby on the pillow at the beginning when you’re not that confident in handling her. We brought it with us to the hospital when Freeda was born. Although the NICU, where Freeda was after she was born because of the group B strep, in the hospital provides breastfeeding pillows I always took mine and it helped me to use to it. I stopped using it when she got bigger and it became easier to hold her in my arms.
Sleeping nest
This thing is so cute! I bought it because I knew that for the first months we will sleep in the living room on the couch (our bedroom was not ready to sleep in yet) and before we get used to sleeping with a little human, she would be safer in her small nest. Sadly, we didn’t use it for a long time. Freeda had horrible reflux at the beginning, when she slept on her back she started choking on milk she drunk even an hour ago. After a few scary episodes she started sleeping on my chest and later on her tummy. She sleeps like this until now and it is still the only way how she can get long and peaceful sleep. Some of you might be shocked that we let her sleep on her tummy, but trust me - babies are not that stupid to sleep on their faces and suffocate. After all, our cute lovely sleeping nest found a new owner.
Travel system
First, we didn’t want the stroller at all. Then I found out that here in Taiwan, not only that people are selling barely used things, they like the travel system combination - a stroller and car seat that can be attached to it. Carrycot stroller that we usually get for a newborn in Europe can be found here but they’re not common. I liked the idea that I’d get a car seat and stroller together for a reasonable price. I wanted Britax Agile 3 with a car seat and that’s what we got, second hand for 5000 TWD! We used the stroller a few times in the summer when Freeda was not comfortable in the wrap because of the heat. And we used the whole system (the car seat on the stroller) a few times when she was a newborn and she slept in the car. Now the stroller is not used at all but I believe that its time will come once Freeda sits up and becomes bigger. I really like the stroller, it’s lightweight but big enough. The wheels are solid for our bad roads here in the countryside and the canopy is greatly large to provide enough shade.
Toys
Toys are the same problem as clothes. We wanted just a few easy toys for Freeda to play with. In total, we bought only three black and white toys and one play gym from a second-hand shop which we ended up giving away. Freeda liked it just for few weeks, later she realized that she can‘t reach the toys so we gave her another one(that we got from our neighbor) that has the toys hanged the way that baby can play with them.
Right now, Freeda’s playroom is full! She got stuffed animals, learning toys, soft and hard books, balls, blocks, basically everything that a child needs. She even got a small cashier that I always wanted when I was a child. As I said, we didn’t buy anything. We got all of it from friends and neighbors. Taiwan is great for this. <3 And Sophie Le Giraffe is the most favorite so far.
Overall, these are the things we liked, even though some of them just for a little while. You might think that some of the famous things are missing, like a crib, bassinet or changing table. We don‘t have a crib because we are cosleeping, we don’t even have a baby bed. In our bedroom, we have a double bed and single bed joint together, Freeda sleep on the single that is next to the wall and we sleep on the double. During the night, I can take Freeda to our bed anytime she needs to be fed. But usually, I take her there when she wakes up in the morning and we all cuddle on the bed. However, recently we started thinking about getting the crib and place it in the living room for daily naps. Freeda started moving more and our couch is not that safe for naps as it was before.
In summary, I‘d recommend to all parents to be - don‘t buy everything you see in the baby store, you will most likely not need most of it. Get essentials if you feel like it, you can always get things after your baby is born and you will get to know her needs. Also, people will probably bring you more things after the baby is born.
I know that people always say that having babies is expensive. Honestly, the only challenging thing is the fact that one of the parents stays home and doesn’t make any money. Babies themselves don’t need that many things. They don‘t care whether you dry them with a baby towel or a “normal” towel. The things they need the most are parents, love, and milk. :)
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