Baby 'Essential' Recommendations

savagelyric · 1 June 2008 at 6:00PM

Hi all
I am due to have our first baby in July :j and whilst our situation has and will have an impact on money we spend (see my previous posts), we do have some savings for buying baby things.

However, as well as being money saving, I also want to do this simply and in an environmentally friendly way so we don't get too drawn into the consumerist way of thinking we need to buy lots of things, but at the same time, not scrimping too much to the point of making life awkward for ourselves, if that makes sense.

So, today I've done a quick list of what we have got so far, what I intend to get and what I am thinking of getting - I would appreciate thoughts, comments and advice from the wiser (i.e. anyone but me!). Also starting to get asked by family and friends what we would like which is lovely so we would like to use these gifts wisely!

Already got:
80 baby wipes X 4 Sainsburys
40 breast pads X 1 Sainsburys
Moses basket X 1 Preloved
Cot X 1 Preloved (by baby me!)
Travel system X 1 Preloved
Sleeping bags - 3.0 tog – 6-12 mths X 2 Ebay
Crochet blanket – cot sized? X 1 Made with love
Knitted blanket – Moses basket sized? X 1 Made with love
Knitted cardigans – 0-6 mths approx X 4 Made with love
Long sleeved sleepsuit (with feet) – 0-3 mths X 3 Primark
Long sleeved sleepsuit (no feet) – 3-6 mths X 2 Preloved
Long sleeved sleepsuit (with feet) – 3-6 mths X 1 Preloved
Short sleeved bodysuits – 0-3 mths X 16 Preloved/Primark
Short sleeved bodysuits – 3-6 mths X 1 Preloved
Bibs X 3 Primark
Set comprising t-shirt, hat, booties, rattle & towel X 1 Charity shop
Sleeping bags – long sleeved cotton – 0-3 mths X 2 Ebay
Bag of cotton wool balls X 1 Gift
Set comprising bib & bottle X 1 Gift
Socks X 3 Gift
Scratch mitts X 2 Primark
Knitted mittens X 4 Made with love
Knitted hats X 2 Made with love
V pillow X 1 Gift
Breast pump X 1 TKMaxx
4 bottle microwave/cold water steraliser (includes 2 bottles) X 1 TKMaxx
Newborn disposable nappies -pack of 27 X 1 Boots
Changing bag X 1 Gift (from Boots with nappies)
Tommee Tipee reusable try-out set – 6 nappy pads and 2 nappy covers – size 2: 8-17lbs X 1 TKMaxx
Stairgate (more for the dog to start with!) X 1 Preloved
Baby bath X 1 Preloved
Muslin cloths (carrier bag of) X 1 Preloved

Need to buy:
Moses basket mattress – looking at babymattresses online – any other suggestions?
Moses basket bedding – I think I've read somewhere about using pillow cases? How many would you suggest?
Cot mattress – looking at babymattresses online – any other suggestions?
Cot bedding – roughly how much required? Planning to use sleeping bags so just fitted sheets?
Sleeping bags - how many do I need of any particular size/tog?
Reusable nappies – still wading through the wealth of information out there and watching on ebay and usednappies.co.uk to get a feel for prices...
Nursing bras – seen new on ebay for about £21 for 3 – good price?
Reusable breast pads – if we take to breastfeeding OK
Maternity pads
Reusable wipes – would like to use these at home but not sure how to make them?
Travel system accessories – parasol, footmuff, blankets etc
Foam Bath Support thingie

Thinking about buying – mainly nice to haves that I can put on a gift list?
Swing chair
Carrier
Monitor
Changing mat
Clothes dryer for all the washing to use as an alternative to the dryer http://www.amazon.co.uk/DELUXE-FOLDING-ELECTRIC-CLOTHES-HEATED/dp/B001526A9M/ref=wl_it_dp?ie=UTF8&coliid=IBKF6VQ44QJEV&colid=2A7J9EZCURVK5
TENS machine (perhaps not on the gift list!) – thinking of buying new from ebay and then selling...

Phew - long post. And it'll probably format all squiffy too but hey ho!

Thanks for reading!

MRS_TO_BE_2 · 1 June 2008 at 6:17PM

Have a look a the thread entitled what did you buy for baby and never used. I can't find it though so maybe some generous poster will put up link!

In respect of sleeping bags you will prob find you only want a 0.5 or 1tog one for the summer...I wouldn't go buying them just yet as might be easier to just use a sheet while very little and weather hot. You will have plenty for 6mths plus so maybe sleep bag is one for list.

Reusable nappies...recommend a mix of motherease one size, terries and motherease wraps. See if you have a nappy trial scheme in your area...gives you a chance to try out all the different sorts. As first baby prob best to check reuseables out after about a month. In meanwhile try Tescos newborn nappies....gives pampers/huggies a run for there money.

My little fella just woke up so will try and post more ideas later

yummymummy222 · 1 June 2008 at 6:23PM

Buy more nappies I used Boots newborn and found them excellent and good value for money. Sainsbury's have maternity pads, sudocrem, infacol, baby wipes and johnson toiletries half price at moment.

doraexplorer · 1 June 2008 at 6:32PM

your list looks good. i am due my 3rd and starting over afer getting rid of everything.

the only thing i would add is a nice thick comfy play mat or rug for baby when its on the floor. and a play gym to amuse them.

i bought moniters never used them as my 2 had a set of lungs that no one would be able to sleep through.

hth
x

MRS_TO_BE_2 · 1 June 2008 at 6:49PM

http://www.fill-your-pants.com/page/washable-wipes-info

Check out above site for washable wipes solution.

consultant31 · 1 June 2008 at 7:34PM

My first grandchild is due in September and I've just bought a load of fleecey washable wipes and nappy liners from a seller on ebay. We were pleasantly surprised at the quality and the price was good too.

A good recipe for a solution to make up when you want the wipes damp:-
1-2 drops tea tree oil + 1-2 drops lavender oil + 1 cup water.
Mix fresh solution a couple of times a week and keep in a small bottle till needed.

Janepig · 1 June 2008 at 8:33PM

When the time comes for a high chair I would recommend the IKEA Antilop highchair. It only costs about £12 (it's the one they use in the IKEA cafe) and I'm positively evangelical about it. Had a really expensive highchair given to us for DD and it was rubbish and awfully difficult to clean. So we ditched it when we had DS and got an Antilop and it's fantastic, he comes right up to the table and it's dead easy to clean.

Jxx

squashy · 1 June 2008 at 8:49PM

The babywipes I would try and return to the store. You are only supposed to use cotton wool and water on newborns and it sounds like you are going down the washables route anyway. Even the sensitive wipes are very harsh- although they are good for cleaning leather sofas!

I would also suggest you could do with another lot of sleepsuits in each size. You may go through three in the space of a day if baby sicks up a little, as most do after feeds, or has a leaky nappy moment. Bedding for cot and moses basket I would say 2 of each. We decided to co sleep so just going off what i did for my older ones.

Also I would consider looking extensively at baby carriers, not baby bjorn et al as they tend to dangle the baby a little, but something a little comfier for all of you. http://www.thebabywearer.com/
If there is a slingmeet near you, you can usually hire them very cheaply until you know what you are looking for and they give great advice. I carry my little one a fair bit as it makes our life so much easier (but I do feel guilty about how little I have used my expensive pram!)

SuzySu · 1 June 2008 at 8:52PM

Could you not hire the TENS machine? I used them for my last two babies (but this is going back 15 years) and they were brilliant. The hospital hired them out 2 weeks before my due date and I returned them asap after the birth.

Just a thought?

onlyroz · 1 June 2008 at 9:17PM

You're probably best off buying less now, because you'll get bought a lot of stuff anyway, and anything you're missing you can go out and get after the little one is born.

shirlgirl2004 · 1 June 2008 at 9:44PM

I too can recommend www.thebabywearer.com and www.slingmeet.com both a good source of pre loved carriers and even pre owned but not used (buying carriers acan be addictive and not very moneysaving

). My DD is 14 months and been in a pushcair about 5 times, they are expensive and TBH more hassle than they're worth most of the time. If you get through the first 3 or 6 months without a pram then you will be able to go straight for the lightweight and less expensive foldup buggy that most people buy because their expensive pram is just not practicle. You would them not need footmuffs etc for the pram because you and bubs can share body heat and cuddles

.

I'd suggest the cloth nappies that you have bought are probably going to leak like mad and probably put you off cloth for good so if you can take them back and look around for something like Motherease or Bumbles. You should look at paying roughly 50% of the new price of a nappy depending upon condition. You'll need about 18 nappies and 6 wraps. Use fleece as a washable liner if the nappy doesn't have one built in. You could just use muslins as nappies to start with because they are less bulky than terries and many people manage to use these for months.

I agree that if you can take the disposable wipes back, they are full of harsh chemicals and babies have very thin sensitive skin. For reuseable wipes you can use cheap flannels although they are a bit big or cut up and hem an old towel. The ideal size is about 6 x 4 " so about the same size as a standard photo. You could just cut up and old fleece balnket but I don't find fleece works as well. You can buy wipes for roughly £1.40 for 6 which is a bargain when you think how many times you can use them. You don't need a special solution to wipe babies bottom with, the best solution is plain old tap water.

I agree you shouldn't need a monitor unless you live in a large house.

You don't need a foam bath support so I'd wait and see how you feel once bubs arrives because you may find after the first few baths you are happy without.

Sleeping bags you probably only need 2 but you need to decide if you are going to want to swaddle baby when young because if you do you can't really use a sleeping bag. If you use sleeping bags then just the .5 tog will be needed for summer.

God luck and have fun

Baby 'Essential' Recommendations

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