Madeline’s Later Needs: You Know, For Bigger Babies (does not apply to husbands or significant others)

Baby stores can be a little overwhelming, what with all the stuff and the choices and the necessity of it all.

Not everything is necessary right away, however. here’s a list of what can wait:

• High chair. I know, I know, it’s one of the big items that you need. I felt the same way: our high chair was assembled and waiting in the kitchen when we brought Madeline home from the hospital. And there it sat, until she was 5 months old. There was really no need to take up the space. Once she was five months old, we used it daily. I highly recommend her chair: it’s comfy, easily washable, and the tray snaps right off. As in, after a messy dinner, it can be tossed in the dishwasher. GENIUS.

• Stroller. I know! Another big item! This is obviously dependent on the couple: Michigan’s winter weather prevented us from using ours much until Madeline was about 3 months old, but my girlfriend in Florida used hers within a week of her baby’s birth. I couldn’t be happier with our travel system – it was so convenient to snap the carseat in and out when she was small, and it handles flat surfaces and uneven trails equally well. The seat lays flat, making it a convenient, shaded place for naps outdoors. It’s a bit heavy, but to me the bulk is worth all the storage and options.

• Umbrella stroller. This is so convenient for quick trips to stores, brief walks, and as an extra, secure seat at football and baseball games. However, you can’t use it until the baby is six months old, so it’s no biggie to wait.
• Bowls. Again, not necessary until you decide to introduce cereal or solids, which is 4-6 months dependent on your beliefs and doctor’s advice. These Take & Toss bowls are amazing – they snap tight, are dishwasher safe, and as a bonus – cute. I have never had a spill with these, and am confident in their seal each time I toss them in the diaper bag. Which is often.
• Spoons. These are great (stick with what you know, right?) When you start solids, spoons tend to double as chew toys, and these are inexpensive enough that gnawing will be no biggie.
• Food storage/travel. The Take & Toss containers are perfect, with one catch: I can’t separate food within one container, and they are too roomy to throw several in the diaper bag. This container solved those problems, and was genius for sending Madeline’s early forays into solid food to her dayhome. I got to control her food; her provider had everything in one place. Everyone wins!
• Carseat. Yes, the second carseat you’ll need. There are convertibles out there that will service your child from 5-70lbs; however, I didn’t choose to use them and have no useful reviews. We stuck with Graco for Madeline’s second seat; she rides comfy big-girl seat (we bought two: one for my car and one for my husband’s). It was a bit of a pain to install, but worth the piece of mind. We won’t be turning her to forward-facing until she’s 30lbs, so I was happy to have a seat that more than accomodated her size.