Last summer — a few months before we decided to try for another baby — we cleared out the last of our baby gear. I donated 2 cribs, a toddler bed, a full maternity wardrobe, and a pile of strollers. Ahh, what a nice feeling to purge the closets and shed of unused stuff.
Until I got knocked up and totally need want all that stuff again. Wah.
Digging a little deeper into my storage nooks, I found few random odds and ends. So, here’s a short list of what I kept — even when I thought I gave it all away — and why:
1. Pack n play: I love the idea of little babies visiting with their tired parents so we can share dinner or the evening playing games. We kept the pack-n-play to give those visiting tiny people a place to rest. Times used for that purpose, zero.
Since we have not yet decided if we’re going to pony up for a real crib this time around, it may serve a big job as primary sleep place.
2. My brest friend: I kept this baby’s-first-month-lifesaver nestled in a closet on a hanger for more than six years. It was right between the bridesmaid dress I wore at Whitney’s wedding and a suit my mom had in the seventies. No wonder I never found it during the big cleanup. I’ll be happy to wear it around for a few weeks and then pass it on.
3. Dwarfland: This adorable playmat seemed to have such future potential for big kids and their little toy vehicles, but it was smooshed behind our living room chair so it never fulfilled that destiny. I’m looking forward to giving it a third life with a drooling-tummy-time-needing bambino.
4. Our fancy glider: Whitney might find them overrated, but I like the glider. I got it as a hand-me-down six years ago so the price was perfect. After its primary role in breastfeeding support, I enjoyed it for reading goodnight stories. Just recently, we moved story time to the bunk beds when my sons got too wide and the books got too narrow for my arms.
5. Breast pump: The same awesome chick who gave me her glider gave me a second-hand Medela Pump in Style. Still in the shed. Need some new bottles and tubing and I’ll be good to go.
6. Snoogle: As one of my few big splurges for Pregnancy #2, I did not want to part with my comfy pregnancy pillow. The Snoogle kicks butt for getting in a decent sleep position (even if husbands HATE it). I loaned it out to Stefania when she was pregnant, and she returned it. Bless her.
Do you cling to any baby or maternity things even though you’re “totally done” just in case you aren’t? Or have you discovered any hidden treasures that you assumed were long gone?
Totally holding on to my nursing pillow. It’s a Billow Pillow – a C-shaped beanbag that you can smoosh into just the right shape for whatever position you prefer.
I used one for the first time when I went to the lactation consultant, and it kicked my Boppy’s …! So I bought one from her on the spot (which says a lot because I’m not an impulse buyer), and I LURVE it. I still use it for my nursling (he’s 16 months now). Sometimes, I just use it for my head cause it’s so comfy.
We are going through the clearing out process right now and I am shocked at how sad I am about getting rid of the most ridiculous things, like the ball popper toy or my Hooter Hider. It’s crazy. I am 99.9% sure we won’t be having any more babies, but that stuff sure holds a lot of memories.
I am actually anxious to have it all gone though so I can focus on the new stuff and stop wallowing in baby land.
It’s funny. I’m so ready to move this stuff on to a new home once I’m done with it.
It’s so funny that you mentioned the Snoogle. My fiance and I were registering a couple weekends ago and came across the Snoogle for the first time. He is obsessed with body pillows, so he really wanted to put the Snoogle on the registry but was way too embarrassed. Guess I’ll have to buy him one for his birthday.
If you deliver at Alta Bates, the breastfeeding class teacher will give you a set of new tubes and bottles for your pump if you ask her for some.
Congrats!
I’m pretty done with the baby making and still have a couple things, too. The pump is just another electronic that I don’t know how to dispose of. It doesn’t work, so it’s no good to anyone. I have a couple slings/wraps, a Pack n Play for the same reason you have (also number of times used: ZERO), and a couple other things to surprise you with at your hand-me-down shower.
wow, i’m impressed by your stash. i have zero trace of baby left in our house. i had an extreme desire to purge after baby #2 and found myself giving stuff away like nobody’s business. i guess that’s a sign, huh.
Some of the older nursing pillows, including my Brest Friend, from pre-2009 have some pretty serious flame retardants in the foam. I emailed the company and they offered to send me a free replacement.
@Ghanimatrix, Ooh, thanks for the reminder, I think they did that for me last time.
@Whitney, there is free recycling of bizarre electronics this month in Berkeley, perhaps they’ll take a breast pump?
@Nell, thanks for the tip! I’ll email them.
Love My Brest Friend. Bought one on a tip seven years ago when I had my daughter and I am sure I would not have been successful nursing without it. Still using it with No. 3 now.
I’m not getting rid of anything yet. but wanted to add to the whole ‘snoogle is awesome’ conversation. Hubby calls it the ‘spouse separater’ but I’m not a cuddler when I’m sleeping anyways, so I don’t know what he thought he was missing.
Honestly, I won’t get rid of ANY wooden toys. They are so hard to get or so expensive that they will always be keepers.