What baby stuff is essential?

foreversomeday

mum2one wrote: »

Another thought re Breast pumps, I was told not to breast feed to start off with and not to express for at least 3 weeks, by the midwifes (I do appriciate that this was back in 2002, so times may change), there reasoning was you'd express more than u need, and would end up with boobs the size of Dolly Partons. x

I wouldn't call myself an expert on the subject but from what I do know about breastfeeding this sounds like very odd advice.

Breast milk is produced on a supply and demand basis, if you don't breastfeed to start off with your milk is likely to stop being produced at all.

Expressing is not recommended until baby is 8 weeks or so - I think - as babies can become confused with the different sucking technique required from a bottle, however I've been advised by an NCT teacher that expressing when engorged in the early days is the best way of relieving it as it won't adversely affect your supply. But you are supposed to discard the milk, or freeze it for later use.

Fritha_2

foreversomeday wrote: »

Expressing is not recommended until baby is 8 weeks or so - I think - as babies can become confused with the different sucking technique required from a bottle, however I've been advised by an NCT teacher that expressing when engorged in the early days is the best way of relieving it as it won't adversely affect your supply. But you are supposed to discard the milk, or freeze it for later use.

Crikey, and they wonder why we're confused, the advice I was given (by the midwife and the nhs magazine on breastfeeding) was that you could start expressing at 7-10 days as there's loads of milk around then and then give expressed milk in a bottle from around 4 weeks, when breast feeding has been established. (So you'd have to freeze the early stuff if you wanted to use it)

They said that your supply settles into the demand of the baby but right at the beginning goes completely barking so women tend to find it easier to express early on but it gets much harder once your suuply has settled down!

zowoods

With regards to Bra's - bravissimo do a great range of those who are particularly well endowed (even before pgt!). They are available online or have own stores too where the staff are really helpful.

Laughed at the Dolly Parton comment as mine are already like that so dreading later down the line! Think my boobs are bigger than my bump lol!

We had great tips from friend who had baby recently:
BABY SHOPPING LISTEssentials:NOTESCar SeatPush chair Changing Bag
Baby carrier/slingPersonal choice - great for babies that don’t like to be put down, or if you'd prefer to carry baby for first few months instead of a pushchair
Moses Basket/Crib4 x fitted sheets for Moses basket/CribChanging MatYou may want to get 2 - one for upstairs & one for downstairs
Baby MonitorLooking back should've got one with a camera to save going in & out all the time to check on him. But it's a personal choice.
Dresser/Chest of drawsDon't necessarily need one with a changer on top - easier to change them on the floor/sofa/bed etc, especially once they start rolling!!Cot/CotbedThis can be bought after babys here as they'll be in the moses basket your room for a few months at least
Cot/Cotbed MatressAs aboveCot/Cotbed Bedding (quilt & bumper)As above4 x fitted sheetsAs above
Flannelette SheetDon't actually know what this is? Pretty pointless I think!!
4 x Cot BlanketsNever used them but depends on baby - most kick them off then wake up crying as they're cold!
2 x Sleeping BagsThese are fab! Grobags are best, used them from 3 months when we stopped swaddling.
Nappy StackerPointless - never actually used it, it was more for decoration.
Cot MobileOurs never sent ethan to sleep, in fact we had to take it off at night! Depends on baby.
Night LightPointless - most baby monitors come with a built in night light
Room ThermometerPointless in my opinion but personal choice.
Nappy BinWas told not to buy one & glad I didn't - nappies went straight in bin
Travel CotDepends in if you're planning on going away and where (most places provide them anyway!)
Nappies
Nappy Sacks
Essentials for baby:
SleepsuitsProbably about 10 minimum - they pretty much live in these to begin with
Body suits (long & short sleeved)As above
Scratch MittsPointless - they just pull them off. Mothercare & Next sleepsuits have turn over scratch mits on the sleeves which are fab.
HatsCardigan(s)
Padders or pram shoesPointless in my opinion, a newborn doesn’t need shoes!!Socks or tights (girl)(Gap socks stay on well)Other clothesSpent a fortune on cute outfits but he never wore them as they were awkward to put on, looked uncomfy & silly as he was all squished up & he grew so quick. Sleepsuits are best for first month or so at least.
Bath Time:
Baby BathPointless - much easier to use main bath with a lay back bath support seat, or use the sink!
Bath SupportOne of our best buys!!
Top & Tail BowlThe most pointless thing ever invented… why would you need this on top of a bath??
Nursery/Toiletries boxNever really used ours - everything was always 'to hand' for ease.
2 x hooded bath towelsNever bought these - just used our towels which actually dry babies too can you believe??!!
3 x wash clothsNot exactly sure what they mean here! Im sure a flannel or sponge will do fine!
Nail ScissorsThe scissors are better than the clippers in my opinion
Brush & CombNot essential
SpongesAlready mentioned above!! (do they expect you to use a flannel & sponge at the same time or what?!)
Baby ShampooPointless - they don’t exactly get greasy hair - just use bath water!
Baby LotionWhat?!
Baby MoisturiserPointless - was always told to use olive oil on dry skin, especially on newborns.
Baby BathJohnsons bedtime bath is a good one
Bath ThermometerPersonal choice - bought one but hardly used it

Medical:
ThermometerGet a digital one that goes in their ear if possible as it's easiest to use.
CalpolCan't use under 3 months so not essential before babys born
Milton Sterilising tabsDepends what sterilisation method you're using
Nappy CreamSudocreme is good but can't be used with cloth nappies. Savlon can though. (not sure what you're using but thought id mention that)
CalgelGood - but not essential before babies born as it's 3m+
Gripe WaterNever worked for us (supposed to help with trapped wind)
Feeding time:High ChairYou wont need one of these till at least 4-6 months!
Bottles & teatsDepends if you're breast or bottle feeding. If bottle feeding you will probably need about 8-10 bottles. If breast feeding only a few.
Bottle Brush
Bottle WarmerNever used it - took too long to heat up & always used microwave
Support PillowThese are quite good for both breast & bottle feeding
SteriliserLots of different types, tried all of them and prefer good old fashioned cold water method.
Dishwasher BasketReally can't see the need for one of these?
Breast PumpObviously depends on breast/bottle feeding. If breast then electronic ones are best.

Entertainment:
Bouncer/Rocker ChairThese are quite good & can also be used to feed them in when you start weaning.
Baby walkerGreat but can't be used till 6 months!
Baby SwingThese are good for sending baby off to sleep
Baby play gymThis was another one of our best buys - highly recommend the 'Fisher Price - Rainforest' one as it has lights and music and dangly things. Fab for newborns.
Door BouncerGood but can't use till 6 months! (we had the fisher price jumperoo which is better though)Interactive BooksCertainly wont be needing for a while!Cd's/DVD's???
For Hosptial/labour Bag:Birth PlanDressing GownLightweight and dark coloured if possSlippers & socksNightdress/pj's x 2Dark colour if possibleTowelDark colour if possibleCheap pantsDark colour if possibleMaternity padsBreast PadsToiletriesPersonal Stereo/ipodSome places allow these & can be great to help you relaxTens pain relief machineLots of women swear by them - never tried one but going to this time!Support Pillow(s)Essential!!! I took my own pillow from home & so glad I did as it helped me to relax (smelt of home) & the hospital ones arent very nice.BlanketVery glad I took one as the hospital sheets aren't very nice & made me feel more at home.Drinks/SnacksEnergy bars/drinks are great and an essential item for your bag.Going home outfitSomething loose & comfy

For Partner:Change of clothesCameraVery important!Phone numbersI made a small list of people for them to phone & in what order, with all their numbers on, so he could ring round once baby was born.Change for hospital phone cardNot essential as Im sure you own mobile phones!Drinks/SnacksIt's hard work all that watching a woman in labour you know For baby:Newborn NappiesCotton Wool / Baby wipesThey advise you use cotton wool balls & water at first instead of baby wipes.BlanketMuslinsSleepsuits x 4Bodysuits x 4Hats x 2Cardigan

Sorry its so long but really helpful to me and loved Sam's comments and the colour coding but at the end of the day its really personal preference.
I am due 6th Dec, good luck to you all zx

foreversomeday

Fritha wrote: »

Crikey, and they wonder why we're confused, the advice I was given (by the midwife and the nhs magazine on breastfeeding) was that you could start expressing at 7-10 days as there's loads of milk around then and then give expressed milk in a bottle from around 4 weeks, when breast feeding has been established. (So you'd have to freeze the early stuff if you wanted to use it)

They said that your supply settles into the demand of the baby but right at the beginning goes completely barking so women tend to find it easier to express early on but it gets much harder once your suuply has settled down!

Sorry, I thought I could have worded that better - I meant it's not recommended to feed expressed milk from a bottle for the first few weeks (I've heard between 4 weeks and 8 weeks depending on who I was asking).

Hell_Dans_Un_Handcart

foreversomeday wrote: »

I wouldn't call myself an expert on the subject but from what I do know about breastfeeding this sounds like very odd advice.

Breast milk is produced on a supply and demand basis, if you don't breastfeed to start off with your milk is likely to stop being produced at all.

Expressing is not recommended until baby is 8 weeks or so - I think - as babies can become confused with the different sucking technique required from a bottle, however I've been advised by an NCT teacher that expressing when engorged in the early days is the best way of relieving it as it won't adversely affect your supply. But you are supposed to discard the milk, or freeze it for later use.

Hmm. It will affect your supply, though. NCT teacher needs to read up a bit there.

If you're very engorged, it's a good trick to express off just a little but no more than that - and that's to soften the breast a little for baby to latch. Whenever your baby feeds or you pump, you're putting in an order for more milk. The idea with not expressing for at least the first few weeks, in hand with feeding on demand, is the best way of establishing a supply that suits your baby and is comfortable for you. If you're expressing a lot in the early weeks your body will be producing milk you don't need and you risk more engorgement - it's this period in which you are most prone to oversupply. Your body is going mad - had baby! Must make milk!

Many women express early on and don't suffer these problems, but you never know if you're prone to engorgement until it strikes, possibly leading to mastitis. Yeuch! And there's also the issue of babies getting confused between bottles and nipples - again, all babies are different but some have latch problems in the first place and bottle feeding just shows them that there's an easier way to feed.

mrssarahh

For moneysaving stuff:

I cut up a very old towelling dressing gown (or an old bath towel) washed it well and never bought muslin squares - it mopped up eveything and used it as bibs too.

Wouldn't bother with nappy wrapper - had one for a bit but it just got clogged up and still smelly and refill thingys cost a fortune - just get cheap nappy bags and put them straight in wheelie bin!

Try Argos clearance bargains shop for buggy/car seat/ pram combo - wish i'd have found ours sooner (one in Corby - not sure where else) - paid over £500 at ToysRUs - same one in clearance bargains for about £90!

Also found lots of people bought us clothes when baby was first born - so don't get too many - just vests/ sleepsuits.

I also used old cut up sheets as cot sheets - make sure they're the right size and tuck them in well so they don't get caught up in them.

A wahing up bowl (new not used!) makes a good first baby bath.

Hope some of this helps - good luck!

peanutpie05

Here are some suggestions people have made re: their best and worst baby buys it may give a few ideas on what things it's not worth buying.

new_mum_5

I agree there are so many things on the market that are a complete waste of money. I realise now that I thought I needed so many things and so many clothes, when really you don't - or you don't need to buy them all beforehand. When friends have babies now I try and buy things that I would have liked or then bought myself. I had so many clothes as presents it would have been nice to have something different. Don't get me wrong - I was very grateful for everything. A few things I bought that would not liked to have been without were - a good steraliser (still using my Advent one now), a good breast pump (Advent again) and probably the one thing I would not like to be without is my Cuddledry towel (I was so afraid of dropping DD when getting her out of the bath). I have just bought 2 for my pregnant friends from here. Very many congrats to you all. Makes me all broody reading this

tirednewdad

You get so many things for free with bounty packs and family and friends

For a mans point of view
1) decorate/paint their bedroom as you might not have the free time to do it for a while
2)Get a car seat- often the prams that you but will come with car seat attachments included
3) You will be physically shocked how much every relative you know is storing things up for your baby. In everyones house there will be atleast 1 wardrobe full of clothes and presents just waiting for the specail day.

Don't bother with baby bins (you get a free one in the form of a voucher in one of the packs_bounty maybe?).

Don't bother with baby baths

Monitors are not essentail, but are good for peice of mind. You can survive easily without them

Changing tables are usefull, but only if there is loads of storage and you thing that you can use it for storage after your baby grows up.

Muslin squares- amazing

Breast pumps- Manual pumpis really hard work to use. In our home my wife finds it easier to express by hand and much much quicker.

Steriliser- get a microwave one. Doesn't neccessarily have to be the biggest one. We now use the travel steriliser more as we only find we need to sterilise very few things at a time.

fsdss

dont know if anyone has mentioned it

you can use pillowcases for fitted sheets on a moses basket