A few questions about baby/new mum items

chickywiggle

muslins (any idea how many and where is a good price to buy them?)

I'd say 8-10. Poundland did have some in but they were quite small and TBH I'd avoid them

Do I need bibs as well as muslins?
YES!

maternity pads (heard boots are quite good, again any idea how many?)
I bought 1 pack but was advised (if you normally get light periods) to buy super night time sanitry towels with wings. So I did. I think I used 1 maternity towel then went straght onto these as I HATED the feeling of the maternity one. Felt like I had a rolled up towel between my legs!!!

For baby toiletries I've only got cotton wool at the minute as I know they're not supposed to have anything else when they're born, is there anything else that would be useful?
Perosnally from the monent I was allowed to change my DS out the way of a nurse I used baby wipes. cotton wool is farrr to fiddly IMO - esp in a tiny toilet in public with a screaming baby.

Have you got baby nail clippers??

any other toiletries for me that might be useful? (already have lansinoh and breast pads)
I can't think of anything.

Also for a changing mat, is it best to get one with a towel on?
You can buy ones with towles on (ohh yea just seen them in mothercare)????? we just had a plain boring plastic one.

And finally, are the baby bath support things any good? Most people seem to say just use a washing up bowl and then into the big bath later on, but I'm a terrified first-time mum and scared I'll drop a slippery baby!
My DS used his baby bath once and hated every minute of it. But put him in the big bath and he loved it.
We had one of these but then from about 3 months went on to this one. then once he was a confident sitter we used a similar one to this (but without the mat attached).

Hope that helps, you'll be fine, good luck.

got-it-spend-it

chickaroonee wrote: »

I'm just putting together a list of things I still need to buy and hoping people can help with a few questions about things I might need:

• muslins (any idea how many and where is a good price to buy them?) We have about 20 in use and have never run out even though H is quite sicky and dribbly. I've got them from Mothercare, Tesco and Sainsburys and they're all okay, but the Mothercare ones wash noticably better
• Do I need bibs as well as muslins? We do, saves so many clothes changes
• maternity pads (heard boots are quite good, again any idea how many?) I used Boots, about three packs then moved onto night-time towels. I know some people say that you can just use night-time towels but I do think you need the thickness of the maternity ones at first
• For baby toiletries I've only got cotton wool at the minute as I know they're not supposed to have anything else when they're born, is there anything else that would be useful?We've used wipes pretty much from the start with no ill effects. The only other thing we've used is olive oil on his dry skin (H was 15 days late so very over-baked), Sudocreme on slight nappy rash and Johnsons top to toe in the bath (only used this from about two months old)
• any other toiletries for me that might be useful? (already have lansinoh and breast pads)Someone suggested taking babywash into hospital to wash your delicate bits for the first couple of washes and I must say it was very gentle.

Also for a changing mat, is it best to get one with a towel on? We just have a bog standard one as I would be forever washing a towel one.

And finally, are the baby bath support things any good? Most people seem to say just use a washing up bowl and then into the big bath later on, but I'm a terrified first-time mum and scared I'll drop a slippery baby!

Good luck with your new arrival!

jackomdj

Isn't it funny how everyone's views are different....

chickaroonee wrote: »

I'm just putting together a list of things I still need to buy and hoping people can help with a few questions about things I might need:

• muslins (any idea how many and where is a good price to buy them?) used all the time. Had about 10 I think. Used to also use in moses basket incase LO was sick, saved changing whole sheet.
• Do I need bibs as well as muslins? we never did, except the full on ones (arms in) when eating messy food or "catching bibs" with the lip when starting to self feed to stop so much dropping on floor
• maternity pads (heard boots are quite good, again any idea how many?) too much info, but when my waters broke I was changing these every 20 mins from 7:30pm till about 3am, then it slowed to only having to change once an hour till 4pm....luckily the hospital had spare for me!....think weeing yourself constantly for a whole night! But on our first I think I used the same number in total...till I was OK to change to ordinary pads.
• For baby toiletries I've only got cotton wool at the minute as I know they're not supposed to have anything else when they're born, is there anything else that would be useful? wipes (I see you already have some), for dry skin use olive oil (HV told us to do this), DD2 did so many yucky poos on her 2nd night in hospital & I wish I had bought some proper nappy liners as I could have just changed this rather than the full nappy.
• any other toiletries for me that might be useful? (already have lansinoh and breast pads) not toiletries but remember you could be in hospital 5 mins or 5 days, before/after baby. I was kept in after the first as she would not feed, so with the 2nd I did a spare hospital bag which we left in the car so OH did not have to hunt for spares. It came in useful as I was kept in with her too! Also I spent a day in hospital with virtually no pain so ended up reading a book/mag etc as did OH, so worth having something in the car just in case.

Also for a changing mat, is it best to get one with a towel on?
without use a towel.
And finally, are the baby bath support things any good? I had one for the first, used it once. Have got friends who have used it all the way till baby was sitting unaided. 1st baby was in a baby bath. 2nd went in once, then she ended up in with her big sister. Most people seem to say just use a washing up bowl and then into the big bath later on, but I'm a terrified first-time mum and scared I'll drop a slippery baby!

You will be fine, instinct is pretty good usually....if not we can help on here.

Remember to enjoy them...it goes quickly, my youngest is 3 tomorrow & it only seems like yesterday!

daska

chickaroonee wrote: »

I'm just putting together a list of things I still need to buy and hoping people can help with a few questions about things I might need:

• muslins (any idea how many and where is a good price to buy them?)
  as many as you can get hold of, they mop, they shade, they swaddle, they double up as a bib, they even make a semi-decent makeshift nappy when you've run out LOL
• Do I need bibs as well as muslins?
  only if your baby dribbles profusely, otherwise muslins do everything a bib does
• maternity pads (heard boots are quite good, again any idea how many?)
  get a few packs and be prepared to get a lot more, you might bleed for a week or two or it might be eight, ordinary STs are not the same
• For baby toiletries I've only got cotton wool at the minute as I know they're not supposed to have anything else when they're born, is there anything else that would be useful?
  wipes - sensitive or pure or somesuch, they may not be PC but you won't care at 3am
  don't bother with babybath or shampoo unless your littl'un has cradle cap, they don't need it
  bepanthen for nappy rash
• any other toiletries for me that might be useful? (already have lansinoh and breast pads)

Also for a changing mat, is it best to get one with a towel on?
no, use a muslin, stick em all in on a non-bio boil wash

And finally, are the baby bath support things any good? Most people seem to say just use a washing up bowl and then into the big bath later on, but I'm a terrified first-time mum and scared I'll drop a slippery baby!

use a bucket on the table at first, it's much easier to support the head above water and little babies like to curl up in the warm water, then the kitchen sink (if you don't like the idea of a household bucket then you can spend lots of money on a specially designed bucket called a tummytub) http://www.tummytub.co.uk/about.html

sweetdaisy

My little Boy is almost 2 years old and I still use Muslin cloths as he gets food everywhere. Also, you can never have enough bibs.

Lansinoh cream is like a miracle cream and can't recommend it enough! I found that Boots own disposbale slim Breast pads were the best to use as they didn't show an outline in your bra.

I still use Cotton wool when changing my Son as he has eczema and use unscented Tesco baby wipes when out and about.

I used to bath my Son in a 'Tummy Tub' - it's a baby bath the shape of a bucket and I found it very useful.

Curious_George_2

JBD wrote: »

Also a drop of baby lotion on a cotton wool pad [think removing makeup] can be a good way of cleaning. It may be gentler than using wipes.

the best "soap" to use is actually aqueous cream,
we use it to clean my DS all the time, as recommended by the doctor we saw about the boys excema spots, he said to use it as a soap and even now when ds has a nasty nappy full i use a dollop of aqueous... its good stuff and very cheap

notsayingaword

I never used muslins and don't even really know what they are! I always used small towels or tea towels to mop us sick. Bibs are an essential! As for a baby bath - for my oldest child I bought a cheap big red plastic storage box and bathed him in that! It was used for his toys when he outgrew it and then he was big enough to go straight into the bath. A cheap changing mat with a normal towel underneath is fine. Babies really don't need fancy equipment .

teacherandmum

just a few things to add
MY STAR TIP - buy non sc ented bath and shower product for you after birth (like simple stuff). I had a shock when i washed my bits with a perfumed shower gel and it stung like hell!!

get some arnica tablets to help reduce bruising post birth

boots maternity pads are good - i got thru 5 packs last time

keep nappies etc downstairs as well as upstairs so you don't habe to trudge upstairs everytime you need something

have you got the free boots change bag? I think there is a changing mat in there if you've not bought one. Obvoiusly if you are not going to use the mat for when you go out!!!!!!

Good luck for your pregnancy and birth - i'm sorting thru all our baby stuff as now i'm 18 weeks - can't believe i'm nearly half way thru and DD will be a big sister

gratefulforhelp_2

sweetdaisy wrote: »

Lansinoh cream is like a miracle cream and can't recommend it enough! ditto that. I would say also get in a stock of soluble paracetamol for the afterpains (when your womb goes back to normal).
I used to bath my Son in a 'Tummy Tub' - it's a baby bath the shape of a bucket and I found it very useful.

teacherandmum wrote: »

have you got the free boots change bag? I think there is a changing mat in there if you've not bought one. Obvoiusly if you are not going to use the mat for when you go out!!!!!!
The boots bag does have a little fold up mat, and looks ok, well worth joining baby club.

Forgot to add didn't use bibs really, seems to me too undignified for baby!!!

Katyag

chickaroonee wrote: »

I'm just putting together a list of things I still need to buy and hoping people can help with a few questions about things I might need:

• muslins (any idea how many and where is a good price to buy them?) Each baby different, with DS1 I had some and didnt use them. With DS2 I had some and had to buy loads more, we once went thru every single one in one night as he was such a sicky baby! They are also handy for on the changing mat under the baby as they wash and dry really quickly
• Do I need bibs as well as muslins? I had Tommee Tippee Milk Bibs when we were bottle feeding and they were fab, thicker round the neck area to caught more dribbles. If breast feeding a muslin under babys neck will prob do.
• maternity pads (heard boots are quite good, again any idea how many?) Lots and lots and lots and lots!!! I used to use 2 side by side slightly over lapping at a time for the first few days, maybe even up to the first week. Made me feel more secure as you can bleed quite heavily. Boots once are great. Mothercare not as good. But each woman different. You dont want to have to rush out to get more once you home from hospital. My DH would happily go and buy for me, some DH's not as keen!
• For baby toiletries I've only got cotton wool at the minute as I know they're not supposed to have anything else when they're born, is there anything else that would be useful? Wipes!!!! Cotton wool just doesnt clear up meconium like wipes do! Maybe once youre home you could flannel and tepid water but in hospital the little bowl of water and cotton wool is just a disaster! I use talc at every change and it helped prevent nappy rash, DS1 never had it at all! But didnt use talc when they were tiny in case they inhale some. After 6 weeks or so we did talc at daytime changes and cream on bum before bed (mine were good sleepers so not often changed in night). any other toiletries for me that might be useful? (already have lansinoh and breast pads)One bottle of top to toe wash will do ages, I was told with DS2 not to use anything in their bath for first month or so.

Also for a changing mat, is it best to get one with a towel on? Just buy a cheapie and like mentioned above put a muslin or some new cheap tea towels under baby. My 2 and a half year old still hates the cold feeling of mat on his back now! With one towel you need to wait til its dry and back on where as with other options always more to hand.

And finally, are the baby bath support things any good? Most people seem to say just use a washing up bowl and then into the big bath later on, but I'm a terrified first-time mum and scared I'll drop a slippery baby! My mum always bathed us in the kitchen sink!! With DS1 I had a bath and found it nothing but a hassle, filling, emptying etc so with DS2 we asked someone to buy us a bath support seat.http://http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Summer-Deluxe-Infant-Baby-Bather-Bath-Support-Blue-NEW_W0QQitemZ290410052499QQcategoryZ96772QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp4340.m263QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DDLSL%252BSIC%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BIEW%252BFICS%252BUFI%26otn%3D10%26po%3D%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D8488731902960193687 Not my auction, just searched for a pic. We loved this and DH2 never once cried in the bath while in this and it made it easier for me to bath the boys together and helped DS2 feel involved.

Most of all enjoy it!! Babies are at their best when new!