Are you a new parent or about to be one?
Here is some information we've gathered for you from our own experience!

Mothers need to have...

• a Boppy (especially if you are breastfeeding)

• If you are breastfeeding I would look into a good nursing bra and pads. I was leaking all over the place (sorry if this is too graphic!)  Along with this, I would get a good breastpump. Even if you think you will be home most of the time, it's good to get a breastpump to extract your milk and refrigerate/freeze for when you are gone and won't be able to feed them yourself.

• a massage

Fathers need to have...

• a garage sale, to get rid of those expensive toys

• a digital camera

• patience

Babies need to have...

• Fighting Illini clothes

• Diaper Genie (this is really more for the parents, but we did not know if we should put it under the 'Mothers' or 'Fathers' section - didn't want to discriminate)

• Books, books, books!

• Laurie Berkner:  Buzz Buzz CD (go to www.bigkidsvideo.com)

• Infant Seat Car Huggie, especially if the baby is born in or around the time of cold weather. It was awesome because we didn't have to put a coat on Brenden every time we had to transport him somewhere. They are elastic, so you could just put it around the car seat, and then there was a zipper in the front that you just zipped up. The inside was made of this warm fuzzy stuff, so it kept Brenden plenty warm without a coat.

• Lots of onesies.  These are the best invention ever made as far as baby clothes go.  And, when you register, get all different sizes or else you'll have a gazillion 3-6 month clothes and once Delaney is 6 months old, she'll have nothing to wear.  So get onesies of every size.

• Brenden really likes his Fisher Price Ocean Wonders Aquarium.  The bubble sounds would lull him to sleep when he was really little.  Even now, we turn it on before he goes to bed, but he is older and wiser and can reach it now, so he plays with it a little before going to sleep.

• A&D Ointment and Desitin.  For diaper rash.

• Get a bouncy seat.  These keep babies occupied for a while while you are cleaning, eating, etc.  Brenden has outgrown his so we haven't used it in a while, so I almost forgot!

• Don't forget a baby monitor.  Ours is okay.  We have a Safety1st model.  It has one main component (that we leave in Brenden's room) and then two receivers.  That way, we have one in the bedroom and one in the kitchen.

Recommended Reading...

• The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy by Vicki Iovine

• Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems by Richard Ferber

Online Baby Stores and Sites...

• www.hannaanderson.com (baby clothes)

• www.babiesrus.com (baby stuff)

• www.babycenter.com (baby info)

• www.ebabybanz.com (baby sunglasses)

• www.bigkidsvideo.com (non-violent and educational video/audio)

PLEASE EMAIL US... if you have something you'd like to share with new parents!

• steve at dieterfamily.com

• joyce at dieterfamily.com