Expecting a baby - what NOT to buy.

starjumper

My LO is 20 weeks old now and in those 20 weeks we've learned .....
- Don't buy loads of clothes, you'll be given tonnes of them both new and second hand, just get some plain vests and bodysuits for the first few days and soon you'll be swamped with clothes.
- Don't listen to my mother and buy a baby bath, he grew out of it so quickly and was only really a godsend when the bathroom was being refitted for 3 weeks and when the bathroom radiator conked out for a month in the cold depths of winter.
- Don't waste your money on mitts or bootees, they both fall off quicker than you can put them on and my LO hated them, he's fond of socks though.
- Don't stockpile nappies, they grow out of them (and no one tells you this but when ours went up a nappy size he magically had to go up a vest/bodysuit size too, bigger bum).
- I bought tonnes of flannels, don't think I've used one yet, get muslins instead, though I hardly use those anymore either, but they are handy to have around.
- We were given a bumbo but for the amount it's used I'd rather have been given the cash to put towards uni fees.
- We stocked up an baby toiletries but really wished we hadn't, we've "discovered" the Weleda baby range which is very expensive but fantastic and it's the only thing we use on him, so I'm now slathering myself with Johnsons baby lotion etc to use it up as it won't be used on him. He's not got sensitive skin or anything, I think we just prefer that range.

What we couldn't live without...
- The changing table, it's so much better for your back (especially if you've had an epidural) to change at height, plus I know someone who used to change theirs on the floor who now screams the place down if he's ever put on one, makes life easier to get them used to it I think. Plus I got a wedge changing mat from John Lewis which is fab, worth the money and stops them rolling, even when they are rolling.
- A decent travel system, get something light, easy to use and compatible with your car seat, we've got an icandy cherry and it's ace and idiot proof which is what you need when wrestling with a wiggling baby and all the bags and stuff it needs.
- We've got a lamaze baby gym which he's loved since birth and keeps him happily occupied for about half an hour at a time which is great and means I can sort tea out or do washing or whatever and he's happy, also the lamaze toys that go on buggies are also brilliant, but hold off buying them as we were given loads.
- Phillips microwave steriliser, again brilliant, not particulary expensive and had just been on holiday with us (Center Parcs), if you end up going down the bottle route then worth a look, I think I got mine on offer from Boots.

Hmm think that's it, good luck with it all xxx

(Reading all that back I sound like a real yummy mummy but I'm not, actually I'm generally shunned by the local yummy mummy's which is just fine by me).

EDIT - Just to say ours isn't actually a changing table it's a chest of drawers which I've just put all the changing stuff on, we don't even have room for his full size cot until we move so everything we have has to try and double up as something else.

kate1979

We thought we were being ever so good stocking up on Johnson and Johnson toiletries before the birth of our first. We had enough to fill at least one crate. Then we found out at ante-natal classes that actually plain water was best. To date, out of that mountain of toiletries, we have only ever used the shampoo and the purple baby bath, and occasionally the baby oil. We over estimated how much we would need as well, two years on and we're still working our way through the shampoo. Never touched the talc, baby lotion, fancy baby oil, and used the tope-to-toe wash once I think.

We got given loads of clothes for both children, so just make sure you have the basics in the first couple of sizes. I second the above suggestion for nothing that does up at the back of the neck, such a hassle! Envelope necks work best for us. And babygros are the easiest for the early days.

Congratulations!

sarahevie

Bottles were my worst. Bought 4 in prep for the birth.

Then decided to breast feed and bought a steriliser which had 2 free, manual pump came with two, electric pump (when I decided I really was going to exlusively feed) also came with 2 bottles.

Door bouncer (never used)

Bouncy chair (hated)

Bumbo (rarely used)

Large pram (too cumbersome) but love my phil and teds sport double wish I'd had this from birth with my first.

Moses basket (lasted 12 weeks with my second - should have had a crib or straight to pram)

Babies lotions and potions don't get used.

When I get bought vouchers I buy nappies, wipes, shampoo, etc things that will be used. Rather than a toy etc.

onlyroz

I'd suggest that you buy hardly anything until the baby is born - and then buy something as/when you need it.

Can second the waste of money for fancy sterilisers, breast pumps etc. And most toys will never get played with either.

Also DO NOT BUY play-doh, crayons, plasticine, felt pens, pencils - unless you like expressionist art decorating your living room walls...

bylromarha

You need to remember what is a brilliant buy for one mum would be a horrid waste of money for another.

I LOVED my changing table. Not a waste of money for us at all. Had it when DS was born in 2004 and only got rid of it in 2009 when DD was out of nappies. Used daily and shelves gave amazing storage space.

Again, the swing with lights and sounds. Don't know what we would have done without it as it was the only thing to calm DS when he got frantic. DD hated it though and made her frantic!

Moses basket, people said it was a waste, but was invaluable in the early weeks where I wanted baby sleeping in our room.

Biggest wastes of money from this house was baby massage oil, baby lotion, bibs, disposable changing mats. To be fair, I didn't really buy much before the birth, just bought what we needed as we went along. I didn't realise just how many newborn, 0-3, 3-6 month outfits we wold be given when baby was born. DD had 37 0-3 baby grows in total, 39 bibs.

ailuro2

Don't buy too many clothes, you'll be amazed at how much people give you...

for me, our changing unit was the best money we spent, it has been a bookcase in DD's room since she grew out of nappies, saved my back no end of grief and was great for storing nappies, vests etc all in one place.

susiebaby2011

def don't buy clothes. We were given so many that we didn't need too. Also I found that the ones we did buy we didn't use enough to justify the money. We got everything we needed second-hand from ebay or gumtree or similar as well. We looked at what we wanted then found it cheaper on those sites.

If you're still pregnant I did listen to ihypnobirth/ relaxation app on my phone that really helped with calming me for the birth. I can't recommend enough.

gizmodo_2

cat04 wrote: »

Someone mentioned not buying over the head clothes, but also watch out for any sleepsuits that fasten at the back - someone bought me a sleepsuit like this for DD1. I tried to put it on her once and didn't bother again - it's hard to support a newborn's head and fasten poppers/buttons at the same time! I also struggled a bit sometimes (as she got bigger) with the sleepsuits that only unfasten to half way down their bodies etc.

Totally agree with this. We hate over the head clothes - just too much hassle - or maybe I'm just lazy? I love clothes with poppers down the front. Tesco do sleeveless vests with poppers which we got given as a gift and I love them

We also got given a sleepsuit with poppers at the back - she wore it once for a photograph

Loulou2010 wrote: »

if you're using a moses basket then a pillow case will do as a sheet. much cheaper than the bedding sets!

We did this and it worked fine, but then we got given a pack of fitted sheets.

We love our moses basket and luckily DD does too. In the very early weeks when she slept a lot it was useful to bring downstairs. We've got a cotbed so having the moses basket in our bedroom is better than the huge cotbed. The plan is to move her to the cotbed when she outgrows the basket.

I would hold off buying a changing unit and see how you go. We've been changing on the floor, but I'm getting bad knees now so I've caved in a bought a cot top changer.

I wasn't going to get a baby gym, but in the end got one from a carboot for a fiver - so glad I did - DD loves it. But I don't think I could justify spending £40 on one.

ellay864

Shoes... I have friends who get suckered into buy real cute looking little leather shoes for their little ones who are still crawling. They don't need shoes til they're walking, and even then only to protect their feet outdoors or on hard surfaces - they actually do better barefoot or in very soft soled flexible 'pre-shoes'
Disney - huge Disney fan that I am you pay so much more for anything that has Pooh or Tigger on it
Matching stuff - just cos you get the changing mat, doesnt mean you need the nappy bag dispenser(!) and height chart that goes with it!
New baby toys - you'll get given stuff and there's only so many rattles they can hurl out their cot and then scream for!

pigpen

I always changed mine on my lap until they were toilet trained.

I think we need a gag at the moment.. she is squawking for some reason.. and she is SO noisy

We love love love our jumperoo too..

She went in the bumbo 3 times..