First baby - what do we need and how much will it cost?!

Blue_Monkey

Some of you may know from my other threads that I'm pregnant with my first baby, due in December. OH and I are living in Australia at the moment, but plan to move back to the UK in September when I'll be around 6 months.

I know people say that babies can be as expensive as you want them to be, but I'm trying to figure out how much we'll need to get set-up baby-wise when we get home. We'll be buying it all in the UK because a) it's cheaper, and b) it saves us spending on shipping it back.

To be honest, I don't even know where to begin in terms of what we'll need let alone roughly how much it will all cost. We've got nothing so far, and though we've got friends with babies back home and might be able to borrow some bits or get some hand-me-downs, I don't want to be presumptious and rely on this. I'm also not adverse to buying second-hand, but for the time-being would like to work on a worst case scenario...

So what do we need?

Cot
Changing trolley/desk thing
Chest of drawers/wardrobe
Moses basket?
Baby-sized bath-tub?
Buggy - no idea where to start with this so recommendations are gratefully received!
Clothes
Nappies
Bottles in case BF doesn't work out

And roughly how much for all this lot - £2k?

Thanks! From a morning-sick-fuelled and clueless Blue Monkey x

System

i wouldnt bother with the moses basket or the changing trolly . if my dd slept during the day she was in her pram and once you get the hang of it its much easier to change nappies on either your knee or a mat on the floor.

go_cat

What you have listed will not cost £2k unless you went for the top brand of everything..!

No need for moses basket.

If you can go for cotbed which will change into junior bed later saves money - always new matress but you can pick yougreat deals on ebay / freecycle

Need a car seat to leave hospital they won't let you without

Don't worry about clothes except for bodysuits/ babysuits you usually will be given loads

Stock up on nappies now while on offer but don't go mad on one size as babies grow quick

Start looking for what buggy you want town walking bus use, how big your front door is how big boot of car is will it fit, do you go dog walking /does it need to be suitable for terraine use etc etc not one buggy will suit everyones needs

There are laods more threads on theis subject if you search to give you more ideas

good luck

slkh

First of all congratulations! Having your first baby can be very daunting, I can remember being exactly the same having my first daughter. I would say the best thing to do is shop around! I made the mistake having my first of thinking buying from all the well known expensive baby shops was the dun thing to do but i grew wise when having my second that all that really does not really matter as long as your baby is comfortable and safe. There are many on-line retailers now that sell baby items at very good prices and have regular sale's along with the well known auction site's where you can get practically new items for a fraction of the price such as cot bed (as already stated a better option as it will last until the child is approx 5yrs old) pushchair, bouncy chair etc and even baby clothes. I realised quickly it's hardly worth buying all new and expensive baby clothes as their not in them for 2 minutes!

I would recommend sitting down and starting a list of the basic items you will need when baby first arrives, everything else you can get as you go along, remembering you will probably receive alot of gifts too, you always do with your first! Also bear in mind the mother and baby clubs you can join with most well known supermarkets, they offer monthly magazines which offer great practical advise and tips and usually come with a number of discount vouchers/offers.

I hope my advise will be of some use to you and best wishes

kingfisherblue

Congratulations!

To start with, as others have said, I wouldn't bother with a changing trolley. I haven't needed one for any of my three kids. An ordinary chest of drawers should be fine for the first few months - you won't need a wardrobe straight away. It will also last longer than the ones designed specifically for children (which tend to be costly and are often too small).

As well as bottles, consider how you are going to sterilise them. I had a chemical steriliser when my daughter was born - she's now 20. It was a pain, time consuming, and inconvenient at times, but back then, electric sterilisers were very expensive and beyond our budget. When my son was born 13 years ago, microwave sterilisers had become available. It was so much better - quicker, easier and cheaper (no sterilising fluid to buy). It was far more convenient, and I could easily carry it with me when I was going to be away overnight (holiday, staying with relatives, etc), as it was lightweight and small.

I wouldn't bother with a Moses basket - you only get a few weeeks out of them, and the baby can sleep in a full size cot straight away. Get a few sheets and blankets for the cot. They don't have to be expensive - Home Bargains and Wilkinsons both have decent stuff. If you are handy with a needle, you could buy a single or double flat sheet and cut it down, then hem the edges. If you get a second hand cot, buy a new mattress. It will be more hygienic - you don't know how often another baby has vomited on a used mattress, or how often a nappy has leaked _pale_

For clothes and nappies, I would be wary about buying first sizes. My daughter didn't get to wear any first size of anything, as she was 9lb 4oz :eek: (I was a size 10 before and after my pregnancy). I always buy second or third sizes if I am buying baby clothes. Besides, everyone you know will get an outfit for the baby and you will probably end up with lots of small stuff that is harrdly worn, but nohting for the little one to grow into.

I did buy a baby bath, but at times I have bathed all three of my children in the kitchen sink (it's the right size and the right height, and there is always a unit at the side to spread a towel on). I was given a hooded towel that was used by all three kids, and that was useful. They used to be quite expensive twenty years ago, but you can get them for less than £5 now.

Car seats vary greatly but you will need a rear facing seat for the first few months. I used one that was suitable for a few years - rear facing at first, then it turned round and became forward facing. It was a bit more expensive than a rear facing seat, but it worked out less expensive in the long term. This is one thing that i would definitely buy new - if you get a second hand seat, you don't know if it has had a bump or been damaged in any way. not all damage will be visible.

I used a Silver Cross pram that converted into a pushchair for all three children, but there is so much choice these days. You can get a buggy that is suitable from birth, which has a car seat included. have a look on websites such as Argos, which include customer reviews as well as prices. I found swivel wheels much easier for navigating round town - I did have a couple of buggies in later years for the two youngest, but the fixed wheels drove me mad. You could have a try around different shops at pushin a buggy around, just to see what you prefer.

If you are likely to walk over rough ground a lot, a three wheeler might be more suitable, but personally I don't like them. They always look a bit unstable to me

Blankets are fine in a pram, but in a buggy, you might find one of those things that looks like a sleeping bag better for keeping baby warm - it doesn't slip off like blankets. Don't buy one that is too thick, as babies can overheat easily. You can always pop a blanket inside the bag to keep a baby warm, then take it off when in shops.

A changing mat and bag is handy - you can get them to match the buggy, but you will pay more. A plain bag that is not obvious as a changing bag can be used for years after. I also still have my original changing box - it is now used for kids craft items and is still as good as new. Well worth the £12 I spent on it in 1991 :rotfl:


You could easily spend less than £1000 - look at https://www.argos.co.uk for an idea of prices.

Good luck with the move and with the baby xx

onlyroz

I would avoid buying everything up front - just wait until you find that you need them (in particular if you're planning on breastfeeding then don't buy the whole bottle kit just yet. One or two bottles and some sterilising tablets will be plenty). The essentials are:

Cot
Buggy (and make sure you get the right one for your needs or you'll end up buying two or three)
Car seat
Few packs of sleep suits (buy the rest of the clothes once you know how big the baby is and when you know how many clones you've been given)
Few packs of size 1 nappies

MrsE_2

Blue_Monkey wrote: »

Cot
Changing trolley/desk thing
Chest of drawers/wardrobe
Moses basket?
Baby-sized bath-tub?
Buggy - no idea where to start with this so recommendations are gratefully received!
Clothes
Nappies
Bottles in case BF doesn't work out

And roughly how much for all this lot - £2k?

Thanks! From a morning-sick-fuelled and clueless Blue Monkey x

My DD is expecting. She has joined the NCT & bought lots of stuff at their nearly new baby sales (mums sell off their little used equiptment & clothes at bargain prices) & other similar baby sales. She got a few bits off ebay, but the baby sales are the way to go:money:

I bought her an expensive pram (bugaboo) & she bought the expensive car seat (maxi cosi).

She got the cot (cot was a gift from other nan & grandad) & furniture from Ikea & its lovely. Its not special baby furniture so will last years.

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/70116002
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/90121762
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/70121763
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/70121758
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/10091453

The storage system above, she got the white & green baskets, its lovely.

I got her some bottles (she is planning to BF, but for water & drinks), steriliser & toilitries at an Asda baby event.

She got a mosses basket as a gift.

supermaiden

Cot - Shop around for a good deal. I got a cot bed, mattress, bedding and changing mat for £199 from babiesrus. A friend paid £175 for just a cot!:eek:
Changing trolley/desk thing - not sure this is needed, I dont have one anyway and not getting one
Chest of drawers/wardrobe - Try and find second hand ones? I got a set of drawers and 2 side cabinets for £40 and they are lovely.
Moses basket? - My mum got mine from babiesrus for around £30 and got the rocking stand on ebay cheap
Baby-sized bath-tub? - My mum got mine from a church auction for £2 but I dont think it is necessarily needed as there are other options
Buggy - no idea where to start with this so recommendations are gratefully received! Most expensive thing to buy Ive found! We are going for the Jane Slalom R but my gran is paying for most of it as she wants us to have new and we would have gone for 2nd hand!
Clothes - Apparently babies only really need to wear sleep suits in the house unless you are going somewhere so you wont need as many outfits at first? Cant help buying them though
Nappies - You should get a coupon for a free pack at your first scan appointment.
Bottles in case BF doesn't work out - Got mine in the asda baby event earlier this year think it was 6 for £15 (Tommee Tippee) though I hope to breastfeed.

I think that covers most of the needed items, though Im panicking myself about what else I need!

Claire_Bear

It's worth having a read through this thread https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/71893 'Having a baby old style', although it's quite old it's really helpful and a lot of people have answered your question and posted lists of the basic things you'll need and the best places to get them from

vroombroom

we kitted our son's nursery out for £290 - furniture from ebay, cot and mattress from Ikea, nursery decoration was a bundle from ebay. We got bags of clothes from friends and relatives, but bought basics like sleep suits and vests from Asda/Tesco etc.

My mum bought us a 3-in-1 travel system that was £349 in Babies R Us, but £189 off Kiddicare.

People say babies are expensive, but I say they are only as expensive as you make them x

onlyroz

By the way, I've got a maxi-cosi isofix base going free, if anybody wants it...