Expecting a baby - what NOT to buy.

Bunii_Hugz

Dont buy a baby carrier utter waste of money ! I learned to my expense

Nicki

pigpen wrote: »

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

I've never managed that even after 3! When they are little their little heads hang alarmingly off my knee as I struggle to get them cleaned up, and by this age (18 months) my little darling is so wriggly that even on a changing mat on the bed, there is poo everywhere by the time I am finished and I am glad of a wipe clean flat surface.

My worst buy was a sanagenic nappy bin (used very briefly for no 1 but ditched within weeks) and we also never bothered with a baby bath or top and tail bowls. If topping and tailing we used the bathroom sink and washed face first, then bum, then emptied the water out and wiped the sink round.

On sleep suits, I don't like the current trend of having poppers to one side instead of up the middle of the front. That always makes nappy changing a bit more diddly IMO. We by luck not judgment never had any that fastened up the back or had to be pulled over the head but I can't imagine we'd have used them more than once either!

snookey

Hi dont buy towels that are only for baby ie, buy normal hand towels and you can use them when you dont need or want seperate baby towels. Buy large bibs as they cover more of the baby and keep clothing clean. Forget baby juice just give baby a teaspon of pure juice in a boiled bottle of water.

sir_monster

Def don't buy many clothes it is tempting as you are probably do excited but we have far too many now.

Bumbos he didn't get on with it either but luckily we were given it from a work colleague, thinks like that try them at a friends/relatives or even children's centre first. Another vote for jumperoo too but are expensive so get one second hand.

We never bothered with a changing table, cheap mat on floor/bed works fine. Never used top/tail bowl for cleaning but I found a useful storage for nappy change things and easy to carry from room to room.

Don't bother buying toys either you will be given so many, if not t is most happy kicking on his changing mat watching me for a long time.

If planning bf don't bother with bottles or steriliser, just get a pump which will have one bottle/teat etc which will be enough then get some sterilizing tablets or can just boil up in pan (also good idea to give you a break). As pp says if you really need /bottles you can get it if need be (that's what DH's are there for at 2am).

Good luck and congrats!

building_with_lego

Bunii_Hugz wrote: »

Dont buy a baby carrier utter waste of money ! I learned to my expense

Unless you buy a really good one (eg Ergo) and you'll have no use for your pram...
My first one (Tomy) was cr @p though.

Edit: one cheap little moneysaver was my pair of Sock-ons
http://www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/sp+Sock-Ons+A7127?tyah=y
DS was in a sling for almost 2 years and we never lost a single sock with these, unlike DD who lost at least one of each pair with startling ease.

anna-marie

Hi there,
I had to google "bumbo" coz I've never heard of it. I managed 3 times without it so I guess it's not vital!
With my 1st baby I was up to my ears in unnecessary stuff, but by the time I got to the 3rd I'd realized you only need a few things to begin with. I breastfed for 6 months so just needed a few nappies/wipes/baby soap, a dozen babygrows/sleepsuits, carseat, sling and cot + a couple of sheets and blankets. I didn't even bother with a pram - just got a buggy when he was big enough to sit in it.
Obviously I had a stack of used baby gear hanging around but that was all I really used. My top tip is to look for the sleepsuits that have scratchmits sewn into the cuffs that you just fold over their hands and they can't pull off. Stops them scratching their face and you're not forever putting them back on:-)) They used to be quite hard to find though - but I think mothercare does them for newborns.
Have a great time!!!

freebiequennie

We have a 7mth old and only things we havent used are a nursing pillow just wasnt comfy and the microwave sterilser - we have used the small sterilser for breast pump.

Baby bath we got given to use and thought we wouldnt use it for long 7mths on he is still in it sits up in it and it fits on the side in our bathroom so better on the back - cheaper to fill than the main bath!!

Nappies and wipes we brought whilst pregnant when on offer with my rule of no more than £1 a pack for branded wipes and no more than 10p a nappy for branded nappies - we tried all brands in size 1 prob used about 8 packs of 26 nappies (baby was 7lb 10oz born), 6 packs of sz 2, 12 packs of sz 3 (all standard size packs) and are in sz 4 are the moment but already have a stock of sz 4+, sz 5 and sz 5+ as we get vouchers for money off quite alot and buy on offer to maximise savings.

We did buy clothes in small baby even though they said upto 7lb he fitted in them for first few weeks and were brought in sales, same with newborn they were worn alot. We did like outfits babygros/sleepsuits are for bedtime and he was dressed in the day.

My best buy in first few days was LANSINOH nipple cream buy it when sainsburys have a 1/3 off baby stuff and its about £6.50!!

def join every baby club going (even all the baby food ones) in both yours and partners name and get double the coupons and freebies (coupons doubled up are great when stuff is on bogof as can then use 2 coupons one for each item and get mega savings!!)

Congratulations

pinkshoes

All a baby NEEDS is food, warmth and love.

So basically, a pair of boobs, and some sleepsuits/babygrows. Oh, and obviously some nappies, and baby wipes.

I'd also just get a cotbed (will last until they're school age - although the free option is co-sleeping), some sort of pushchair, and a car seat.

That's pretty much all I bought at the beginning (mostly due to denial of being pregnant!), then I just bought things as and when I needed them. My best buys were:

*changing table (back hurt changing him on floor)
*baby carrier (stopped him crying and allowed him to sleep whilst I got on with tasks)
*playmat (came with plenty of stuff to amuse DS)

I don't have anything that I don't use, as I only bought what I needed/wanted.

shirlgirl2004

Don't spend hundreds of pounds on a pushchair buy a sling at least you can still cook tea and keep baby calm. I don't mean a baby bjorn type this which will give you back ache but a wrap or mei tai.

You don't need baby shampoo, baby bath or talc all of which are bad for babies' skin. Water is just fine.

Don't buy disposables buy quality cloth nappies which will save a fortune.

You don't need to buy many clothes, with my first child everything I bought was too big (he was tiny) with my last everything was too small (she was huge). Buy a couple of babygrows and wait for the clothes to pour in from friends and relatives.

sock-knitter

i used my baby bath loads when mine were little, also had the bouncy chair which they loved, and a baby gym which kept them occupied while i prepared meals etc
had too many clothes
baby sling i didnt use more than once, as it gave me backache
carry cot was great for when they were tiny and slept in my room