MSE help needed for first baby

workinmummy

Just had an email from Argos. They have a sale on. Some Nursery items included. Haven't had a proper look yet. But may be something of interest on there.

Fitzio

I just posted about that too WM, but it seems to have gone missing?!

Keep an eye on Hot UK Deals for any baby bargains such as the Loola from Argos.

fernliebee

generally we get by, by using as little as poss, most of the 'must haves' are gimmicks! If a 'need' crops up once little one is here, then you can buy said item, but chances are most of it would sit in the nursery unused. Things that I have found useful/ invaluable-

Re-usable nappies from usednappies.co.uk,

re-useable wipes- pack of 'hot towels' meant for use in a restaurant-50p for 50 at my local scrapstore,

Cot- brand new with mattress from scrapstore donated by Ikea- £20.

Moses basket-kiddicare £25- we looked at second hand but most places sold them without mattress or without the covers and it was hard to find the covers on their own, a mattress was 10-£15 anyway so we just got it new. I did find this useful as you can put them down to sleep anywhere in the house and just carry them through with you, also easier to reach when they wake in the night for milk.

Bouncy chair- someone bought for us and we found it great though some babies don't like them. We would put her up on the dining table in it, while we were eating so she could see what we were doing- she loved it and meant I could eat with both hands- miracle!

Pushchair- really the hardest decision IMO there are a few threads on here about picking the right one for you, just consider your lifestyle and go somewhere like babies r us, try them all out in the flesh, then look on kiddicare and get one for much cheaper!

Same for carseat, we tried them all out then bought on kiddicare saved about £50. Personally our main concern was being able to leave them rear facing as long as poss so went for a britax goes from birth until 4 years.

all our clothes were from freecycle or gifts apart from a couple of bit's that I couldn't resist! Main things are plenty of vests and sleepsuits and blankets.

Personally I was determined to breastfeed and figured that in the small chance that I couldn't then I could send someone out for milk and bottles then- tesco/ asda are 24 hr. I didn't want to spend money on bottles steriliser etc when I didn't want to use them. If you are unsure then prob best to buy them IMO.

Same with dummies etc why buy unless you know you will need them, if they get hard to settle and you have tried everything else send someone out to tesco!

As for toys, I didn't buy any as at first they only want to look at you/ the blank wall/ our flowery curtains anyway and people will buy you toys as presents.

If you get lot's of clothes in newborn size don't be scared to take them back and exchange for a bigger size. Even without receipt you can exchange for same item, I did this with most of our stuff so she had some new things in each size, I just made sure I changed it for exact same item as I felt a bit bad getting something different as people had chosen them for DD.

Don't bother with toiletries, just water and cotton wool at first, and no bubble bath etc at first, plain water works fine and is best for their skin, olive oil as moisturiser.

Phew!! Longest post ever- sorry to ramble- enjoy nesting and getting new things for baby! HTH.

Tigsteroonie

Karen, this may h ave been suggested before but you should join all the baby clubs you can find - Tesco, Asda, Huggies, Pampers, etc etc. You get money-off vouchers that will help towards buying the items you can't get secondhand (like the emergency pack of disp. nappies) .....

got-it-spend-it

On the same note as Tigster, make sure you use the vouchers before they run out. I have various packs of nappies, wipes etc that I have picked up from vouchers that would have expired way before bubs is here.

emlou2009

this might sound obvious but make sure when you buy stuff you think when it will be used - we didnt and ended up with a gorgeous thick snuggly pramsuit in size 0-3 which didnt fit until a month ago so very pointless and he hasnt worn it once as its been too warm! so try and work out roughly how old your LO will be when he will fit the item you buy

HariboJunkie

Plenty of sound advice on here but there are a couple of posts which jump out at me and I wanted to comment.
Please don't rush to potty train your baby just to save money. It's important to wait until a child is ready before toilet training and will result in a much easier and less stressful process for both of you.
If you follow Skintchick's advice about potty training from birth then good luck to you (each to their own and all that) but again, don't have unrealistic expectations and set yourself up for more stress at what is already a hugely life changing and stressful time just to save money on nappies. Make sure it's right for you and most of all...enjoy your baby.

Good luck with it all. x

rozeepozee

skintchick wrote: »

Or have a look at elimination communication http://www.vcn.bc.ca/skippers/

I have more links if you want them.

I'm going to give this a go and it basically means potty training from birth. It's common in other cultures where they don't use nappies.

Would save a fortune I reckon.

My mum did it with me (I'm half asian and it is more common in eastern cultures) but I don't think you're really training the child, it's the parent who is doing the doing if you see what I mean - and you're not teaching a child to get used to sitting in it's own wee/poo. I think it would be great if you can focus totally on the child while you're getting the hang of it and I'm sure it helps that where this is common the climate is often very warm so the kid can go without pants or with crotchless pants! But I just couldn't manage it in the end - my western way of life is just too busy and it's way too cold in Sheffield for a child to have his bum bare for very long.

scottish_lassy

do not bother with baby bath - used mine once and then kept ironing in it! Just get a kitchen basin and will be alot easier while bubs is small and will also save water.

Put aside all the money you save into a college a/c - you'll need it more then!!!!

:T

rozeepozee

HariboJunkie wrote: »

Plenty of sound advice on here but there are a couple of posts which jump out at me and I wanted to comment.
Please don't rush to potty train your baby just to save money. It's important to wait until a child is ready before toilet training and will result in a much easier and less stressful process for both of you.

Good luck with it all. x

I agree - I think the child has to be ready and the parent/carer has ro be ready too - but potty training is getting later and later and all our mothers can't have been wrong having us potty trained at 2 or before. (They were very motivated because of the lack of washing machines and money, I guess). It's about lifestyle and what you are willing to tolerate. If my LO has an accident, I don't make a fuss, just say "oh dear" and change his pants from the many I carry round with me. I'm a full time mum too. I doubt I'd have been able to do this if not as I'd have needed the childminder/nursey on board too. However, one of the main reasons I can afford to be a full time mum is because of my fervent money saving, so it's possibly a little bit circular....