Alternitives to "Baby" Products Please?

smashandgrab

I got a tommee Tippee microwave steriliser from Wilkinsons (based somewhere in Notts i think with branches all over the north) I researched to the end of the earth for it and got it for £15. It includes four bottles, brush, tongs etc. Also a tip for all the superfluous clothes you will end up with. Don't be tempted to let baby wear an outfit a day and take them all back to the stores with their labels still intact. Most of the big stores will give you vouchers which you can spend at a later date. I did that at Next, Asda, Marks and Spencer. To be honest as I am not an M and S person, I then sold all the M and S vouhers on E bay an had lots of cash to spend on baby in a less expensive retail outlet (or back on Ebay!). I used the Asda nes for groceries and put the cash in a savings account for baby. Mercenary or what. first time I've joined the fun so hope I've not gaffed.

smashandgrab

Asda had them for ten pounds a few weeks ago but they were very thin

jellyhead

i think the asda sleeping bags are summer ones. i've not used them so don't take this as gospel but i think for warm weather it's 1 tog and cold weather it's 2 tog.

spendless, i'd be decanting into johnsons bottles, or something else because each bottle is a different colour, easy to tell what's in the bottle lol! the tesco value bottles are identical, the only difference is in one word or so. i'm too scatty to get it right ... i often use the wrong products because i've misread labels, when i'm given bath sets as gifts etc. i've been known to rub bubble bath onto my skin instead of body lotion, etc. etc. - i can be very dopey, wouldn't want to make the same mistakes with baby lol! i grabbed some of tescos 98p baby lotion in a pink bottle, didn't notice their other non-value products but maybe they're more distinguishable than the value ones, if so i can use them instead.

the bathtime bubble bath wasn't out when mine was little, it was just camomile but it soothed his eczema, i first noticed the effect when he had urticaria. i don't think it helped with sleep at all but it was great for skin conditions. if a baby with sore skin gets camomile on it they'll sleep better. i think camomile teabags could be used instead of bubble bath though.

kidtechnical

jellyhead wrote:

if they have a sleeping bag - they seem to cost between 25-30 but i got one half price in the studio catalogue sale, then saw them in argos additions for only £6 each! asda also have a pink or a blue one for £10.

I used a GroBag, it was great but I thought it very expensive, as they grow out of them & need to be replaced with the next sized, equally expensive GroBag. A few months ago I saw a GroBag style sleeping bag in a catalogue for 0-18 months & it was 15 pounds, but I can't for the life of me remember where I saw it. I hope I remember cos my sister is having a baby & it'll save her having to buy different sizes if she can get this one and use it for 18 months.

Moose_2

Hi, Just wanted to add that maternity towles are essential as you can be sore afterwards and need the padding (graphic I know, don't want to panic you but especially if you have stiches, use Witch Hazel from the fridge on the pad, a cool godsend).

Biggest waste of money would have to be a nappy bin, buy value nappy sacks, half the price and smell sweet.
Also Metanium is one of the best nappy creams in the world, has worked wonders on my two and cleared up a very sore behind in two days or less!
A bottle warmer is great too for night feeds, saves you going downstairs to get a bottle.
Hope all goes well, take care

(Replying to the original post, only read first page)

scooper

hi i was reading with intrest through this post, i am due my second in may, with my first i used all the gimmicky things and baby bath products and such, my son now hasnt got problem skin but has dry patches and is sensitive.
with this one i am having a change of heart,and prepared to give other methods a go.
does anyone know of any products that doesnt contain lanolin, i would be very interested in this.
what i would say to the lady who started this post, is do what is the easiest for you, you will find that anyway, but it is hard enough anyway without feeling guilty or feeling that you are not doing things in a certain way that people have told you.
good luck

jellyhead

i had a good browse around boots yesterday and their maternity pads really don't look as good as the kotex night-time towels. they have a promotion on at the moment where you get 500 advantage card points (equivalent of £5) when spending £25 on baby products. they only had a small baby section but i noticed a tommy tippee steriliser reduced to £15, it included 3 bottles, a brush, 4 tablets etc. it was microwave (with just water) but could also be used as a cold water steriliser (hence the tablets). the johnsons wipes, shampoo, baby bath etc. were all on 2 for 1. they had some basic white baby clothes (available cheaper elsewhere though), i assume nappies would also be included in the offer. tommy tippee nuby teat bottles were also a third off a pack of 3. cotton wool balls weren't too expensive. i was shocked at the price of breast pads though, i had no idea they were so expensive! between 5 and 10 p each pad depending on brand - how much does it cost a day in breast pads i wonder, i'm going to shop around for washable ones i think! anyway, boots also had all in one washable nappies for £7 each, they looked good but they only had the big size in my bootsa, they do sell a smaller size elsewhere though, they also sold terries, plastic pants, liners etc. so if you have an advantage card it might be worth buying a few essentials while they're on special while you can get the extra advantage card points :-)

filigree_2

When my son had sore dry skin I took him to the doctors and we got prescribed gallons of bath oil and skin cream, and it was free because it was a child's prescription. I'm not suggesting that anyone should rip off the NHS, but if your child has problem skin then it might be worth asking your GP for help.

I have one tip for dry skin: Put a fistful of porridge oats in the toe of an old pair of tights, then tie it under the tap when the bath is running. Give the wet oats a squeeze to get the oaty juice in the water. Oats are soothing for problem skin, and don't usually cause allergies. This tip works for grownups too

I got loads of baby products in those freebie bags - there's Emma's Diary, Bounty and something else. I had so much baby lotion I gave it away! Perhaps you could wait to see what freebies are available before you spend money. As others have said, babies only need a smidgen of soap or shampoo so one bottle should last you ages.

You will probably need some kind of sterilising system, even if you breastfeed. You might want to express milk, or sterilise bowls and spoons for weaning time. If you give the baby a dummy, they need to be sterilised. You could ask your local NCT group when they are having a sale, then you could get pricey equipment second hand.

I sent my husband out to buy more maternity pads, and a kind lady customer advised him to get some Always Super Ultra Night-time (whatever the most absorbent ones are called) for me to try. I much preferred them and I'm very grateful to her! I would suggest buying a pack anyway, if you don't like them as maternity pads you can always use them later for normal periods.

One thing that bothered me about baby equipment is that sometimes you genuinely need it, but baby outgrows it within weeks! We had a hand-me-down bouncy seat that he loved, but he outgrew it very quickly so I'm glad we didn't spend real money on it. Now would be a good time to try and make friends with other mothers, perhaps you could join a NCT group. If you can borrow or trade baby things it would save you buying new all the time.

Congratulations

Tra300_2

I tried the sleeping bag thing for a few months but the washing/drying etc. was so laborious I substituted it for a normal bed sheet that I folded in half, stitched the bottom and ⅔ of the side seem. Then you can use what ever blankets etc that are suitable. I did the same with a small fleece for when she was in her buggy. It worked fabulously and saved the wear and tear on more expensive items like duvets, quilts etc. For the total cost of £1.69 each (plus thread and time) quite the bargain.

As for sterilises I too used the pot method. It worked fine. But did find that the tablets that they use in the chemical ones are a fantastic (and cheaper) alternative to bleach/sanitise sheets, nappies, bibs, face washers, toys etc.

My daughter was overdue and thus after a week or so her skin got really dry and the midwife suggested olive oil rather than the baby stuff – and it was absolutely amazing. Within a day she was all soft again. It worked well on cradle cap too. Mid wife also suggested a baby bath type thing that can also be used as a shampoo and is half the price of those in J&J bottles. I can’t remember the name of it but it was in a white plastic bottle and available from the baby section in ‘savers’ it was just over a £1 for a bottle that lasted a lot longer than the others that I tried.

Arnica tablets, available from most chemists, help with the healing process (another suggestion from the midwife). They were only £2 for a jar – they are only tiny but worked miracles.

I know that you are not really at the stage but also highchairs – I wasn’t comfortable having a second hand one but IKEA have a solid wooden one for about £30 and if you go to mothercare they do a very similar for well over £100. I also found the bedding to be cheaper as well. And we got one of those three in one buggy, car seat etc in toys r us (£30 cheaper than exact same in mothercare).

Good luck!

Savvy_Sue

scooper wrote:

hi i was reading with intrest through this post, i am due my second in may, with my first i used all the gimmicky things and baby bath products and such, my son now hasnt got problem skin but has dry patches and is sensitive.
with this one i am having a change of heart,and prepared to give other methods a go.
does anyone know of any products that doesnt contain lanolin, i would be very interested in this.
what i would say to the lady who started this post, is do what is the easiest for you, you will find that anyway, but it is hard enough anyway without feeling guilty or feeling that you are not doing things in a certain way that people have told you.

Excellent advice. Now, for the products free of lanolin, I agree with filigree that it is worth seeing GP for moisturisers, even just for dry skin before it gets to the dreaded eczema! But good old fashioned vaseline is dirt cheap and the most effective thing I found for dry skin at that age. It won't suit everyone but if you got a tub in your bounty bag I bet you've still got some!

I used cotton wool and plain water to clean bottoms at home, but had travel packs of baby wipes for going out. Keep the small plastic boxes, see below. I did use terry nappies for the eldest, but preferred to ditch the cotton wool for cleaning rather than wash really really disgusting cleaning cloths!

Now, when you get to the real food / high chair stage, may I suggest a large pack of cheap J-cloths? After meals, take a clean one, wet it, clean baby's face and hands, wipe the worst off clothes, and remove baby from seat or scene of devastation. Now take that same J-cloth, rinse it out, and use it to clean the chair, floor, walls, windows, ceiling etc. You may at this stage wish to use some dettox: up to you! Finally, throw J-cloth into washing machine. It may not survive many washes, but I found them softer than flannels on faces. And cheaper!

For going out, a wet J-cloth can be fitted into an empty plastic baby wipe box, the travel size mentioned above. Less slimy than a pastic bag, and greener in the long run ... But you'll need at least one per meal! I was still taking wet J-cloths out until a few years ago ...