Moms opinions..baby/kids products...

1)I have yet to purchase a thermometer.
Does anyone have a recommendation ? First I heard that they tushy one was the best reading, and then I heard the underarm was best. I heard that EAR one is not that accurate...

Anyone wanna shed some light ?

2)I also havent purchased a gate. Any good ones that you'd recommend ? I really would rather not make holes in the wall, so i want one that can be easily moved from one doorway to another...

Thanks !

Re: Moms opinions..baby/kids products...

Hi Anna, how are you feeling today?

I wanted to respond to your questions about products...
Re: thermometers - I recommend buying the digital ones that are for use in the tushy. This is really the MOST accurate temp reading you will get for your newborn. Also, I recommend the Safety 1st brand b/c it is not very narrow - it widens about an inch from the tip, which is important so you don't put it in too far. (sorry for too much info, but it's important to the safety of your child).

re: a gate - I haven't purchased one yet either b/c the baby has just now (at almost 5 months) started to become mobile, so I don't have a recommendation. However, since you won't need it right away, you might want to take the time to research more and get more opinions. In the meantime, if I find one that I love, I'll let you know.

And, while we are on the subject of product recommendations - I thought I'd mention the bottles that Paul loved as a newborn - the Evenflo Elite. It has a wide nipple and is recommended by lactation professionals to teach a wide gape and help BF babies learn to latch properly. I know you will attempt BF, but it's important to have a supply of bottles and formula on hand, in case it takes some time for your milk to come in.

Good luck!

Re: Moms opinions..baby/kids products...

I have two boys from a previous marriage and my youngest is two, so I still use a gate. I have two gates. I had bought my first when my oldest started walking. It is a free standing one. There are about five panels and they all click into on another. If you want to make it smaller it is good. Especially around Xmas trees. I forgot the name, but it had cost me about 70.00, at the time. The other gate I have is a fisher price. it has a latch on the top and it is great. You do not have to drill any holes in the walls or anything. It works on a suction system. I will try and find the exact name for you. I love this one because my son cant open it and I feel really safe with it up.

As far as the thermomentor. I was given a pacifer one at my shower and loved it for my oldest, but I also used the rectal. As he got older I thought the ear was much more easier to work. I like the ear, cause I could use it on myself as well. You have to find what you are comfortable using. Like diapers. All the brands, are somewhat the same. Even the store brand. You have to find what you feel comfortable with. But with diapers what makes your child comfortable

Re: Moms opinions..baby/kids products...

Lili is absolutely right about finding the products that are best for your child, as everyone is different, and that goes for newborns too.

I think it's helpful to get many opinions about baby products b/c everyone will say something different. Someone even told me they didn't recommend a Diaper Genie and frankly, I cannot understand this b/c I could not live without ours!

I am all for product recommendations that might make life a bit easier for you. Here's one more for bath time...I'm not sure if you have a bathtub yet, but I highly recommend my Safety 1st 4-in-1 bath station. The tub comes with a cloth bath sling that makes it super comfy and easy to bathe your newborn. I do not know what I would have done without this tub. It 'grows' with the baby and can be placed in a regular tub when the child is a toddler.

Also, I started using Johnson's disposable cleansing cloths at bathtime. They are great for keeping one hand on the baby and one on the washcloth. It was too difficult for me to use separate bath gel and a washcloth. The disposable ones have the soap already on them...you just dunk them in the water and instant lather! Super easy. And, you throw them away after the bath, so that cuts down on how often I have to do laundry (translate = lifesaver!!)

Re: Moms opinions..baby/kids products...

I haven't tested any of my choices yet so I can't give any experienced opinions but on the subject of safety gates, I do know that you are not suppose to use the tension style gate at the top or bottom of stairs. Just an FYI..

Claud -that's the bathtub we got, I'm glad to hear it works for you.

Re: Moms opinions..baby/kids products...

I can tell you now that the Doctors office usually only wants to hear about tempertures that were taken rectally. I had both a digital one for the bum & underarm. The one for the bum went dead on me the time I needed it most. (My son was sick) So I went to CVS, Walgreens & Duanne Reade looking for another rectal thermometer (none of the stores had it) So I went to the pharmicist at D.R. because they had a digital that was supposed to be used for both. The pharmacist told me you can use ANY digital for both. They sell thin plastic covers by the box so the thermometer is always clean.

If you go to Babies R Us web-site they have comments fom parents about most baby products.

Re: Moms opinions..baby/kids products...

I found the exact names for you. Swing & lock gate approx> $30.00
the big gate is called superyardapprox. $65.00-70.00

the thermometer I LOVE is the thermoscan that is the one Irishtracey I think is talking about. they sell plastic covers so it is always sterile and it is the greatest.

Re: Moms opinions..baby/kids products...

Thanks for the feedback ladies, I have to get shopping !
Its great to have feedback from a first-hand source!

I cant wait to see that cute little tushie ! (thats now lodged under my ribs, LOL)

Re: Moms opinions..baby/kids products...

I agree ... Thermoscan is great and the batteries last a LONG time!!!( I know this because I was always paranoid my son would have a fever!! ) They are great b/c you can take their temp while they are sleeping (in their ear) and they won't wake up! (Mother testedLOL..I told you I was paranoid )That way you can get a reading and peace of mind AND some more sleep cause your babe is till asleep!!

Re: Moms opinions..baby/kids products...

So the thermoscan is an EAR one, right ?
Is there one that is both tushy and underarm ? so i have all options ? (first time mom, can ya tell ??)

Re: Moms opinions..baby/kids products...

Hi there- I am in my 27th week- so my hubby has been doing A LOT Of research on baby products

A good source is epinions.com

Thermometer? rectal is best..digital of course. Iwas stumped w. that one since most of my friends had the ear one- but my baby book and my dr said the same thing

Gates- At the top and at the bottom of the stairs you should not really use the pressure mounted ones. Rather the ones that screw in. Hubby was not happy about that. I figure once we dont need it anymore...we can always spackle!

Diapers? I hear so many variations on this one. All i can figure out is to gather as many coupons as I can that has an expiration date of Jan ( I am due 12/21)

But- I love the John Lennon REal love collection and Walmart carries White Cloud diapers that have the characters from the JL collection. WRite ups indicate it is a good diaper- but it runs a bit smaller.

Monitors- bebe sound & movement. Has a pad that you insert under the mattress. A beeping alram goes off when it senses the baby not moving. With the SIDS scare, I thought the price was worth it.

Car seats- BRITAX ROUNDABOUT. This company makes safety gear for airplanes. A lot of positive feedback on this item..and from moms I spoke with. It is convertible- so it is rear facing for infants and front facing too for when they get a bit older!

Heard Diaper CHAMP is better than Diaper genie...holds the odor in better and uses plastic garbage bags or grocery bags- so no expensive refills to bother with!

Let me know if YOU hear of any tips!!

Phyl-Hope you are feeling well

Phyl-

I was going to ask my SIL in Atlanta to get me some of those JL diapers at Walmart and send them up and then I thought that might be too obsessive...are there any Walmarts around here? LOL How cute are they?! BTW, it's never to early to stock up on diapers. We have about 600 in the house already! (about 100 newborns but mainly size 1 which are 8-14 lbs)

We got a Britax Roundabout too - definitely got top marks.

Just as an FYI on your comment about the Bebe under the baby monitor pad - I heard from a few BTDT moms that that you should spare yourself the paranoia that it will bring you. I can see that. That's just what I heard, not from my experience. [[As an aside, Bebe makes another product that I kind of think would make a pregnant woman paranoid, the heartbeat monitor. I asked my OB about it (back before I was feeling the baby move) and he said that he gets so many calls from women who have one and don't hear the heartbeat and panic. Can a $30 product really do the same thing as the $600 doppler that they have in the office?]] Back on the topic of monitors, keep the box to your monitor just in case you have to bring it back. Alot of times they cross signals with a neighbors monitor. Babies R us and BuyBuy Baby will take items back.



LUV the new icons

Re: Phyl-Hope you are feeling well

I swear by my diaper genie - we've never had an odor problem. I guess everyone hears different things. I heard the Champ is a pain b/c it doesn't keep the odor away as well - b/c it doesn't have scented liner, it just used plain garbage bags.

As far as the refills for the genie - it makes no difference to me to buy the refills b/c if I had a Champ, I'd still have to buy garbage bags, wouldn't I? Same expense if you ask me, and truthfully you don't have to change the liners that often.

Just some perspective from someone who has traveled the road for a few months....

Regarding diapers....we started out stocking up on Huggies and I was very sorry. My son could not use them - they were too small and not very absorbent. We switched to Pampers Swaddlers and have never had a fitting or leaking problem since. They hold alot of moisture! We have already graduated to the Custom Fit Cruisers (size 3) and he's not even cruisin' around much yet!