Alternitives to "Baby" Products Please?

Lillibet_2

Hi Everyone

I'm a first time expectant mum (a few of us around at the mo!), I'm only 4 months gone but am slowly starting to stock up on things I'll need when Spud arrives.
It seems that every consumable "baby" product is at a premium price, even stores own brands. Can anyone tell me what I can get away with buying as regular stuff & what I need to get in the real "Baby" product line? For example, I assume baby soap isn't really that different to ordinary (unscented?) soap? Do I need to use baby bath too or is just soap & water OK? What about talc? In fact, why do babies need talc? I'm intrguied to know! Do I have to use baby shampoo because of chemical differences or would an ordinary mild shampoo or soap be OK?
I hope to breast feed but if for any reason this doesn't come about (please, no arguments!) do I need to buy steraliser unit or is it safe to steralise bottles etc in a boiling pan of water?
Sorry to any guys reading this but what about maternity sanitary pads? Would regular ones be OK?
I guess what I am really asking is for a de-bunking of the "baby products" marketing myths & to get back to basics?

Any & all advice appreciated.
Thanks
Lillibet

MATH

Nearly all detergent products ie Shampoo/shower gel have a Laureth Sulfate base whether it's a baby product, expensive line or own brand cheepo. I used generic products on all my three kidz as babies and never did buy baby products cos they are sooo expensive. Stick to gentle, fragrance free stuff and avoid things heavily loaded with essential oils which can be a prob with infants and anti-wrinkle products may be a bit premature too. heheheh.

jo_b_2

For newborns, current medical advice is to avoid the use of any cleaning products as much as you can. Basically, you are advised to use warm water and cotton wool for most of the cleaning (including nappy changing.) All those expensive products are totally unnecessary and can do more harm to baby's delicate skin than good.

As for maternity towels, without going into too much icky details you will definitely need the product designed for the purpose!!!! Sanitary towels just aren't up to the job, believe me! And get loads - you will probably use more than you expect. Gross! Those disposable pants are also a godsend.

Dormouse

I found that the night-time sanitary pads (bodyform ones, I think...) were really good, too, as they're quite large and absorbent (maybe not in the first couple of days after the birth, though!). And yes, you will need loads!

I have never understood the point of talc, either, and have therefore never bought it or used it in the last 19 months (having said that, my little boy's never had any problems with his skin).

HTH

FranDan

I had my 3rd child not that long ago. I too didn't buy specific maternity towels as they are not shaped as well as the night-time alternatives you can buy. However, do bear in mind that if you are going to use disposable pants in hospital, (which are good for less washing!) removing stickybacked towels may rip them. The hospital may provide you with a few towels to start with and they tend not to have any sticky backing - as they are so huge they ain't going nowhere!!!:eek:

I would say that a sterilizer is a MUST. You will find it alot less hassle in the long run to wash and stick the bottles in either an electric unit or a microwave one, rather than watching a pan of boiling water. Not only that, but bottles can easily be left in a sterilizing unit for a little while until you are ready to make them up, where as if you boil them in a pan you've nowhere to leave them. People are selling them on ebay for as little as £3. I think it's a piece of kit you'll use again and again until the child is at least one, whereas something like a baby bath is only used for a few weeks - and how those weeks fly!

I've had my microwave sterilzier for 8 years now, and it was my sister-in-laws before that - prob well over 10 years old but still going strong!;)

Becles

Lillibet wrote:

Can anyone tell me what I can get away with buying as regular stuff & what I need to get in the real "Baby" product line?

Any mild products should be fine for a babies skin. My son has eczema and I managed with supermarket own brand lines. As long as you give it a good sniff and make sure it isn't highly scented, it should be fine. Most ranges will have a fragrance free or sensitive skin option these days.

You don't really need soap or baby bath at first as they don't really get dirty! A good wash in warm water should be sufficient, although mine liked bubbles from a few months old to play with! If you tip your head back and put bubbles on your mouth then blow a raspberry, the bubbles scatter all over the bathroom which is a great source of amusement. They still find that funny at 8 and 6 years old

I found cotton wool branded as a baby line is more expensive than cotton wool branded for first aid or cosmetic use. It's the same stuff after all.

I hope to breast feed but if for any reason this doesn't come about (please, no arguments!) do I need to buy steraliser unit or is it safe to steralise bottles etc in a boiling pan of water?

Have you thought about a steam steriliser? I did breast feed but you will still need a sterliser from 4 months onwards for bowls and spoons when they start solids. If you buy a steam one, it doesn't need any additional expenses like sterlising liquid. You just put a cup of tap water in, switch it on and that's it!

Sorry to any guys reading this but what about maternity sanitary pads? Would regular ones be OK?

I used ordinary thin pads after having my first baby, and was horrified to wake up after a short nap and find my nightie was soaked :eek: Trust me - buy the thickest maternity pads you can find! Don't worry though, it's only heavy for the first 24-48 hours, then it settles to more like a normal period.

There are loads of baby clubs out there run by manufacturers - Heinz, Cow & Gate, Huggies, Pampers and supermarket 'clubs'. Make sure you join them all and look forward to a plentiful supply of free samples and money off coupons.

Hope all goes well

Spendless

I boiled bottles up in pan on a few occassions when we were away and i didn't want to take steriliser with me, but i beleive it can be quite heavy on the teats if used long term. I had a steam steriliser that you just put water in and plug in.

Wipes were frowned on by my hospital, cotton wool and water was used.

What do they tell you nowadays about cutting their nails? When i had son in 2000 i was told to bite his fingernails (sorry couldn't do it- i don't bite my own!).

Talc i've found one good use for, i've had to have surgical stockings on after the birth to stop any potential blood clot. After a shower they're hard to get back on but if you talc your legs b4 they go on easier. (wouldn't buy it though- if you haven't got any - bet an elderly relative will have!).

I got a little pot of sudocream (for nappy rash) in one of the bounty packs.

Either buy maternity towels or the very absorbant pads!!

kidtechnical

Congratulations

Most of the 'baby' stuff is a gimick IMO. Take a walk round any dept store & you'll find a heap of junk that's over priced, the people who make this stuff know that it's big business & parents will pay over the odds for a product, believing the more they pay the better it is.

Nappies - use washables, everyone thinks it'll be a hassle, but all that's required is washing them at 60 every 2 days, you'll never run out & babies look (even more) gorgeous in them.

Disposable care mats - I'm sure you'll figure out their uselessness for yourself!
Wipes - they cost a fortune & are full of chemicals. Use a facecloth & water & when you're out just take a damp cloth in a bag. Creams aren't necessary unless they have a sore bottom, but even then I've heard of people washing sore baby bottoms with camomile tea

Toiletries - the only difference IMO is that the shampoo has 'no tears' formulation, but own brands are no different to the expensive ones. Also, the advice nowadays is not to use these products for at least a few weeks, to keep the baby skin healthy (keep it's natural flora). I tended to think that if I'd just come into the world & had never really experienced smell before I woulndn't want my new world overpowered by J&J baby bath. You know the ad '8 out of 10 midwives recommend J&J"? Well, I know midwives who say that's the sign of a bad midwife! I still have half a tub of talc I bought for DS2, I'll post it on if you like I used it to keep his little folds dry (under the chin & arms!) I used a baby bath with both mines, but used the kitchen sink more with DS2 (of course this requires the sink being empty when you need it & leaker nappies requiring a bath don't usually give advance warning to enable you to empty the sink!)

Breastfeeding - I did it & do peer support to help new mums do it. PM me & I'll give you details of a really good e group that helped me through. Swat up before baby comes so you know what to expect & how to deal with any difficulties that MAY arise. NCT is a great source of info, as are LLL, ABM & BfN (not necessarily in that order), I got a brand new Avent Isis breast pump on ebay for 7 quid, it's ok to buy second hand so long as ALL the bits can be cleaned & sterilised. Yes you can boil up in a pan, I think you have to boil for at least 10 mins & probably use a pan reserved for the job. I know of people who use the cold water method in an old icecream tub (it's what I used if babe stayed over at nanna's with EBM). You can also get washable breast pads (I now use mines to take my makeup off instead of buying cotton wool!) You'll notice as BF rates go up, more & more gimicky BF stuff comes on the market, like Breastfeeding Starter Kits - uh hum, women were born with their starter kits, KWIM?!

Maternity Pads - I don't think regular ones would be up to the job, but I do remember the ones I got in Mothercare were very similar to Always pads, maybe if you used Always Super Dooper ones they may do it. I liked the big mad bulky ones, made me feel more secure in the first few days after babe had arrived.

When DS1 came along I opened a Mothercare storecard and bought all my essentials in bulk, I saved 10% (+ more as they had a sale on & were giving an additional % discount for signing up the day I did) then paid the bill in full when it came in. You can then cut it up or keep it for details of special offers available to cardholders.

I'd also recommend making a list of things you want & if anyone wants to buy you something let them see the list, don't be shy otherwise you may get a load of gimicky rubbish anyway and spend all your time in shops exchanging items. Oh and borrow whenever you can, DS1&2 both spend their first few months in a crib that's been used by around 20 different babies in our family & DS2 is currently in the cot that my mum bought for my brother (32 yrs old) with new materesses of course, while DS1 uses a cotbed that my uncle passed to me.

Contact your local NCT branch to see if they hold 'Nearly New' sales. The stuff they sell is checked by the people running it so everything tends to be good quality. That'll also give yourself a chance to meet your local NCT branch, who (OT) are a great support for new mums & dads.

Adele

kidtechnical

If I can add a wee bit to your post too... avoid products that contain lanolin, unless it's pure lanolin, it's more likely to trigger a reaction otherwise.

likabu_2

Congrats on your pregnancy. I've got 2 boys, a 2 yr old and a 4 month old.

I have never used talc, if you dry your little one properly then there is no reason to use it. I also heard (whether it is true or not I don't know) that talc can cause respiratory problems in small children as the fine particles are breathed in.

I buy baby wipes to use when I am out and about. At home I have a "baby" bowl. Basically just a normal bowl dedicated to little one, at nappy time I fill it with warm water, add a drop of baby bath and use cotton wool. Works out cheaper. I don't use plain water because I don't know if it gets rid of all the urine etc. If anyone knows please let me know!!

I planned to breastfeed at 1st, it didn't work out. I use a coldwater steriliser, they all do the same job though.

That is all I have baby product wise I think, oh sudocreme or any equivalent. Its a good idea to have that in the house from the start. Guarenteed you will need it in the middle of the night otherwise!!!


Lisa

jellyhead

i can't remember where but i read recently in baby advice that you shouldn't use talc because it makes babies cough and will worsen asthma. i suppose that's why avent have developed their liquid talc lol!

with my son i used water/baby lotion and cotton wool for cleaning him. i didn't really like wipes. i'd tried them on my face and they felt horrible, really harsh and made my skin feel nasty. i didn't use bubble bath often but when he was sore (he had eczema) then the camomile bubble bath helped a lot. i didn't realise until later that putting a camomile teabag into the water would help even more. camomile tea is probably just as expensive as bubble bath, it's fantastic for sore skin though. somebody bought me a baby bath but if you want to use your own bath i had a big lump of sponge, baby shaped for putting the baby on leaving your hands free for washing the baby. i see you can get plastic ones now. if you have a combi boiler you will always have enough water ready but big baths take longer to fill than baby baths. if i'd taken wet clothes off the baby then while the bath was running i'd wrap him in something warm from the dirty washing basket as i didn't mind if he weed on it lol!

i like kotex night-time pads, i get very heavy periods and they're the best i've tried. i will also be buying disposable underwear for the first couple of days, or maybe just buy a cheap pack of knickers from asda and throw them away instead of washing them, a bit cheaper that way, they do some really cheap pairs, around £3 for a pack of 7.

it's been said about cotton wool being cheaper without the 'baby' logos. i used a mix of cotton wool balls and pleats, balls aren't big enough if you're dealing with a messy nappy. both types are much cheaper in the cosmetic aisle, or cheaper still if you buy them in superdrug/wilkinsons/etc. you might prefer baby wipes to water, they're convenient i suppose but you could always buy washable wipes from ebay and soak them in your own solution e.g. camomile tea.

when i started using shampoo i bought baby no-tears formula but you only need a teeny tiny bit of it, babies don't have much hair.