What is essential to buy for a newborn

esio_trot

My absoulute essentials were:

Somewhere to sleep (cot-bed and Moses for downstairs)

Nappies and wipes (we use cloth, no more investment required)

Nutrition - boobs and Lansinoh if BF, bottles, bottle brush, steriliser, teats, formula if FF.

Dummies were a lifesaver for my comfort sucking baby

Seasonal clothing - lots of babygrows and vests (long or short sleeved depending on the season) for the first 3-6 months then soft, comfortable clothes afterwards for daytime. Snowsuit and hat for a winter baby, sun hat and high factor suncream for a summer baby.

Bedding - 3 sets of sheets/blankets or sleeping bags if preferred. Swaddling blanket or 2 if you use that method (I found it incredibly useful)

Transport - car seat if you intend going in a car, pushchair which lies flat or has a carrycot attachment - NOT a car seat for trips longer than half an hour or so and/or sling (I have a big pushchair and used sling for around the house/nipping to shops/public transport)

Hygiene - muslins, lots of them as burping cloths/emergency nappies/replacement bibs/nappy boosters/sun shade in the buggy/endless uses!

I liked the changing table and baby bath as a 'nice to have' by no means essential but they did make my life easier.

Don't worry about baby toiletries, you'll get enough samples in the bounty pack to last the first year! We only use baby bath once a week. Plain water the rest of the time

Lastly, I find a baby monitor useful once napping/sleeping alone. I'd never hear baby in this house without one.



I think that's my list, everyone will be different though.

Bumpmakesfour

Ravenlady wrote: »

I am having number 4 in March, I too bought the jeep system (with carrycot) and yes, its a bit of a tank, I bought a petite start zia when baby outgrew the carrycot at 6 months and wish I went for the maclaren. Its too rickety and the handle broke after a week.

The baby bath got used as a washing basket, the top and tail bowl is really good for holding nuts and bolts in the shed and we only just bought a bath themomitor as it came with the birth pool.

Sheets. I keep forgetting how much babies can be sick, pillowcases are better and cheaper for moses baskets as they can be flipped over rather than having to change the whole sheet

Our baby bath was used once maybe twice then ended up being lobbed on a shelf in the garage.We bought the foamy spongey insert for the bath and used it for the next two aswell...plus just bought a new one for number four~would deffo recommend one of these instead.We did try a bath sling/hammock but found you had to fill the bath quite deep to get any kind of water near the baby.
Re the buggies..I honestly cannot recommend a decent maclaren enough.I'm a very non MSE buggyholic and have spent hundreds and hundreds on buggies for my three.I've had Jeep system,Jane slalom system,M&P pramette,Quinny buzz,M&P stroller,Silver cross blah blah but EVERY time once bubs was at the sitting up stage I've gone back to my trusty maclaren,just so easy.

Hubby just sat down and said "when are we buying more baby stuff??" as bubs has been attempting to arrive early the past few weeks and been in n out of hosp,so trying to get prepared.He's absolutely gobsmacked how different I am each time round..the buying frenzy decreases with each bump :rotfl:With number one I bought EVERYTHING I could lay my hands on,had far too many babygrows/newborn outfits and daft things like nappy wrapper bin things then saw how many outfits got worn once(if that!! before baby grew out of them and realised nappy sacks were 30p compared to £10 for a new bin cartridge pack or whatever.Still it's a pleasant change to have husband actually WANT to buy baby things!!
Literally this time round I have a very pared down list..

Cot,sheets,blankets,cot mobile.
Moses basket & stand for downstairs.
Baby bouncer..was invaluable for the first three.
Car seat and buggy.
2 packs n/b baby grows,2 packs 0-3.
2 packs n/b bodysuits,2 packs 0-3.
2 snow suits..one new from next plus "spare" from e-bay.
Few hats,scratchmitts..bought in mothercare sale.
First teddy..blue doggy hubby chose,all 3 have their first bear still now so is a tradition.

Monitors..new but in sale on amazon,spent £150 on video ones first time round but 20 quid'll do this time!

2x changing mats..one for upstairs one for downstairs.

Sterilizer set included bottles,warmer,insulated bags,teats etc..half price in mothercare.Intending to breast feed but will still need sterilizer and then bottles for expressed milk.

Muslins(LOVE them).

Bought a sponge bath insert,bought some small bath towels in tescos sale,stocked up on johnsons baby bath whilst half price in tescos~job done ...compared to the all singing all dancing baby bath/stand/thermometer/top n tail bowl/baby bath hooded robes/ baby dressing gown(yes I KNOW!! a total waste!!) that I bought for number one..saved a bundle!

Started buying pampers and wipes when offers are on.

Treated bump to a few bits(going home outfit,cute bootees) I found in various sales but otherwise can't actually think of anything else I either need OR want to buy despite a billion m'care/blooming marvellous etc catalogues telling me otherwise..most odd!!:eek:

xfive71

Travel system with pushchair :
Depends on your lifestyle. My sis had an all-singing all-dancing Graco system which was so heavy; she gave it up and bought a Maclaren stroller instead. I love my Mclaren (now on baby no. 3!). Used a sling for the first few months and then shifted onto a lightweight MacLaren.

Cot bed:
Try and borrow a crib or moses basket for the first few months. They are more snug in there.

Nappies :
Instead of cutesy clothes from well-meaning friends and colleagues, ask for supermarket or boots vouchers. One of my friends turned up at the door with two huge packs of nappies in sz 1 and 2 and I was very grateful. Breastfed babies goes through a lot

Babygrows
Buy them cheap and plenty (somewhere like Primark ,Tesco or Asda). Especially when they move to the weaning stage. Carrots and bananas stain are a nightmare to remove and I chuck them out

Changing mat + changing bag
Join the Boots parenting club for their fab bag that comes with a travel changing mat. About the changing bag, you can use any old bag really. I found backpacks are much easier to use than the normal sling backs

What I would add :

Baby grooming set (safe scissors, nail clippers, soft hairbrush). the hairbrush is indispensable when trying to get rid of cradle cap. Just use mild baby shampoo during bath and whilst baby feeds afterward, just keep brushing and brushing the head gently to get rid of the scruffy flakes

Sudocream (I love the stuff! great for grazes and minor cuts as well)
Infacol or gripe water (after one month)
small bottle of olive oil from the pharmacy (for baby massage and if they are like my babies, have dry skin)

If you are breastfeeding :
a few good breastfeeding bras (H&M do them quite cheaply)
good breastpads (I find the thin, extra absorbent ones, whilst a little more expensive, better than the cheap small ones)
Lansinoh cream for the inevitable cracked nipples if you are a first-time
Avent nipple shields (ditto)

Other stuff you might not think about :

Make lots of lasagne, shepherd pies and stews and freeze them in small portions for a quick meal.

Mummy wellness pack : ( I hope I won't put you off having a baby after this list!) :rotfl:
Paracetamol
Prep H or haemorrhoid cream
Stool softener like Senokot
Plastic beaker for washing the nether regions after using the loo (especially if you have stitches) or the flushable moist wipes from Andrex.
Don't waste money on maternity pads. Use the usual thin, extra-absorbent sanitary towels like Always

esio_trot

I would disagree about not buying maternity pads. I found the extra cushioning really helped my stitches and they didn't feel as irritating with all the chemicals (to be fair, I usually suffer with stay dry pads etc anyway). I also found that the grid like top layer on Alwys snagged my stitches whereas the maternity pads were smoother on top.

OP, just another thing to highlight that all our lists will be different!

Jessikita1983

Wow, not signed in for a few days. Thanks guys I have read all the posts and your feedback has been fabulous. You are scaring me with the stories of stitches! Lol.

Everyone seems pretty much in agreement about most things, especially the clothes (not needing all these outfits)

The biggest differences of opinion seem to be on buggies/prams/travel systems. And whether to have a cotbed/moses/more than one!

I suppose everyone is different and have different style houses, jobs, personal situations etc.

Again thank you everyone!