Not reading the responses, so apologize in advance if this is duplicative. I had 3 winter babies very close in age and the Bundle Me was the single biggest lifesaver .... eliminates the need for snowsuits/buntings, etc. Can change a diaper, toss them in the carseat & go. Unzip it so they aren't too warm in the car, etc. and zip it back up to go outside. Love that product. And, one size fits all! As far as sizing, look at the weight range, because a Gap 6 month (runs big) is not the same as a Ralph Lauren 6 month (runs small), at least in my experience. Babies gain roughly 2 to 4 pounds on average in the first 3 months. I loved getting gifts in bigger sizes as it seems like everyone gives the 3 months size. Something else to consider .... you mention that it is someone very dear to you - a sweet gift that is also a keepsake, unlike most clothes, might be appreciated .... some thoughts are your favorite child's book paired with a stuffed animal or blanket (Good Night Moon is always good), a personalized name stool (something kids will use for many years), bookends or something else for the room, a sweet piggy bank, etc. Happy Shopping!

For a long time with my old TL (that's supposed to be so inferior to European-style FL), I get excellent results with all my laundry and stain removal by soaking in oxygen bleach (OxiClean). This required active participation: I would start the hot water flow into the machine, add the oxi, add detergent (enzyme-based Kirkland Free & Clear), switch to warm if required to be easier on fabrics (stayed with hot for whites). Then I'd let the clothes soak for at least 60 minutes, sometimes several hours or overnight. This soak eliminated most stains without pretreating. One important exception is oily/greasy stains. Oxi doesn't do well with those. Straight detergent on the stain, Shout Advanced, or citrus degreaser pretreatment is needed for oily stains. I learned about the soak technique from Cook's Illustrated when they did their test of stain removers. Any organic, plant-based color stain, I think of oxi soak to remove it. Over the years, though, my favorite white towels and tank tops harbor faint stain residues that accumulate till the items don't look good. Inspired by the book "Home Comforts" by Cheryl Mendelson, I soaked my beloved Champion tanks in Clorox, at the correct dilution, then hung them in the sun. They looked like new. Lesson learned: there is nothing like true bleach. A few days ago, I bought a FL and tried the "Sanitize" cycle on stained white towels and T-shirts, and after nearly 3 hours was highly disappointed that many stains remained. So I still think soaking in oxi is more effective than a long, hot wash cycle in FL. A long warm oxi soak is also gentler on the spandex fabric than either super-high temperature or chlorine bleach. So my overall strategy is to oxi soak every wash in warm/hot water, chlorine bleach soak occasionally as needed. My detergent contains no optical brighteners, but those certainly make a huge difference in making whites look white. I read where people talk about how they're not "really" white because it's just an "illusion." This is nonsense. The only thing that MATTERS is how the color LOOKS to your eye/brain perceptual system. Garments that have lots of optical brighteners look great. Old garments whose optical brighteners have deteriorated look lousy, no matter how clean they are. I can see the amount of optical brighteners using a UV light. So to the OP's problem, removing stains without pretreating, soaking in oxygen bleach is the best solution I know, but if the stain has an oily component, you must either pretreat with enzyme/surfactant or use a very strong detergent. If skin can't tolerate those cleaners, I can't see any way to have stain-free clothes, because I have tried tons of different things. I would therefore recommend diet/supplements to improve skin's barrier function. I have friends with reactive skin like this, that improved greatly with more protein and EFAs (fish oil) in their diets, plus B vitamins and chelated minerals. A formula of chelated magnesium, zinc, selenium, chronium, and vanadium, makes a HUGE difference in skin and nail health. I have seen it personally in many different people. And 3-5 grams of fish oil daily is a must for healthy skin.

I'm pretty new to gardenweb and I was browsing through all of the various topics and stumbled upon this one. I got one of the cutest diaper bags from a lady on Ebay. She uses designer fabrics and they are quite fashionable. It doesn't give you too much room to overpack, but does have room for the essentials. I'm a BF mommy though, so I never had to make room for bottles. My first bag was from Land's End. It had a lot of room, but it was so flimsy that I would get so frustrated when I couldn't keep the thing open. It would always end up disorganized despite all of the neat pockets. I could never get the wipes back in the right pocket when one hand was on the baby while I fumbled with the flimsy bag with the other hand. I would also fight getting the changing pad back in the right spot. The reinforced totes are definitely my favorite. I just keep a gallon size ziploc for the wet stuff, so when it contains something ooky I can throw the item in the wash and the bag in the trash. If nothing else when searching for a good bag, make sure you can take things out and put them back one handed!! :) One of the best things I ever purchased was a ring sling. I didn't like it at first because it felt awkward and uncomfortable, but I finally learned I wasn't wearing it tight enough. Once I figured out that little trick, the baby bucket (aka infant car seat) stayed in the car. The sling was something I could fold and tuck neatly into the diaper bag. At first, I seriously thought I wasted money on my sling. I really hated it in the beginning, but I was determined to figure it out and once I did, it was great! No more straining to see over the carrier sitting on the grocery cart, no more aching back, and the best thing was I could use it handsfree!!! With a colicky little one - this thing was a lifesaver when nothing would do but to be in mommy's arms! Never mastered the discreet nursing thing that so many moms can do with the sling though. Maybe I can with the next one! I bought my sling from the website at the link below (FYI - no affiliation, just a happy customer). The lady that makes them has some really gorgeous ones as well as some nice affordable ones. I found her when I searched through thebabywearer.com website (which is also a really great source). You will definitely figure out pretty quickly what works and what doesn't (and then you will shake your head at all the wasted money on the stuff that didn't work)! Good luck! Here is a link that might be useful: Ring Sling link

If you are breastfeeding, you will not need anything special for diaper disposal as a breastfed baby's diapers do not smell. DD uses a garbage can. I suggest that you will need a crib and a chest of drawers. A changing table is not a necessity. I used a water proof pad I would put under the baby on his bed to do a diaper change, and DD is doing the same, only she is using a disposable water proof pad for less laundry. She buys them at the drug store. It is easy to manage without the changing table. I suggest that you get lots of blankets, sheets, water proof mattress pads and newborn to 3 months onesies with feet and gowns so that you will not have to do laundry too often. You will be doing laundry enough! If you live where winters are cold, buy 6 or so baby undershirts. I like bumpers in a crib too. I like that large sponge pillow to lay the baby on for baths. They cost just a few dollars. Helps you manage their slippery bodies as you learn to bathe them. I do like those baby towels with the triangle of terrycloth at one corner to pull over their heads so you can wrap them warmly after their baths. Get some baby shampoo too and a mild bath soap. I like to make baby washcloths for baths from a little square of cotton flannel. If you have a friend or relative who sews, or you do yourself, ask for a few of them. Also buy a dozen cloth diapers to use as burp cloths. You will go through these quickly. Target sells printed cloth diapers that are cute in packages of all pinks or all blues. You could also ask your crafty friends to crochet or sew some edges on them. Get some Original Desetin for any bad diaper rashes that may develop. You want to get on a rash right away if it develops. You could also have another type of diaper rash cream to use if the rash is milder. Have some kind of wipes to take with you in your diaper bag as well as at home. Keep a receiving blanket in your diaper bag to use under the baby if you have to change him or her in a public place. Of course you want a nice stroller and a car seat. If you will be traveling, Graco's Snap and Go is great--it's a stroller and a car seat all in one. If you will breastfeed, an electric pump would be great. I never had one, but a friend gave DD hers, and it does a great job of offering the mother options. We love the Bumbo seat, which you can use with supervision once the baby can hold up its head well. DGS loves his. DD also valued her Bjorn baby carrier and would even use it around the house if she had lots to do and the baby was fussing for attention. Also great for getting around the big city with a new baby. Hope this helps. Warmest congratulations.