Sensible list of things to buy for a new baby?

kiraroo

I think it's worth stocking up on baby wipes. On offer you can easily get a branded packet for £1, not on offer they are about £2.50. I have the biggest stash of them. I also wait for the Boots 3 for 2 offer and buy nappies in huge quantities, bought about 20 packs last time. I know some people say you won't know what nappies to use, but we went for Nature Babycare from the start and they have been just fine.

We got bought lots of clothes when my son was born and I kept lots aside with the tags on and exchanged them for bigger sizes. We were given a lot of clothes in 0-3, 3-6 but it was when we reached 6-9 we started to buy clothes ourselves. I have a constant list of clothes we already have with me when I go shopping so I have fill in any gaps in sales. All supermarket vest and babygros (Tesco, Sainsburys, Asda) have been really good. Also be aware the different brands' sizes go to different weights; for example in one shop 0-3m might be up to 7lbs, in another shop might be up to 9lbs. M&S always seem to come up big too.

I know it's a minefield out there, I just had my son this year and I didn't have a clue what to buy but you work it out as you go along. Great idea that someone had about buying yourself giftcards whilst you have the cash, just for places like Boots will mean it will spread the cost when you are on mat leave really well.

Aimless

I've been buying vests and babygros from a local charity shop at 4 for a pound, or from car boots, and have been washing and ironing them all ready. Of course I don't know how much use they've had, but of the supermarket ones, Asda and Sainsburys ones seem nicer than Tesco? As they're so cheap secondhand, I've got newborn, 0-3 and 3-6. I've not really bought many outfits, as I'm sure we'll get a few pressies, but have stocked up on basics so baby will be dressed at least!

msflowerfairy

Don't forget to join all of the online baby clubs, Tesco, Asda, Boots, Cow & Gate etc. They will send you freebies in the post, or vouchers that come in very handy.

Bibs have come in very handy for our little one, we use loads, especially with the dribble phase.
Babygrows in larger sizes are handy to have stocked away, as well as vests, it seems that all of a sudden L grew into 6-9 months, and i have to do an emergency shopping spree. She was in tiny baby grows when she was born, and is now a bouncing 6 month old!
Nappies, nappies, and more nappies! Loads of baby wipes, they come in handy for all sorts, and scratch mitts were a God send, their little nails are like weapons of mass destruction!

lizzywig

Our baby is 6 weeks on Thursday and we are doing it all on a budget but you’d never know.

I trawled the internet working out what you’re supposed to buy and also took advice from older relatives and worked out a happy medium, also realised since that there’s things we didn’t need and things we did but it depends on each individual.

We bought, travel system (invaluable and highly recommended), crib (mine from my childhood) with new mattress, steriliser (didn’t think we’d really need this as b’feeding but it’s been invaluable), baby monitor with nightlight (we bought a second hand on ebay, regret this and since bought a new one and splashed out a bit and haven’t looked back), baby bath (but using sink at the moment as easier), 4 fitted crib sheets, 4 top sheets, 4 blankets (inc 2 celular), mobile (again invaluable as the music sends her to sleep), changing mat, nursing pillow (never use), bottles and breast pump.

I was always planning on expressing down the line and so bought a manual pump but had breastfeeding problems which are only now sorting themselves out. Since she’s been born we’ve needed to use formula and I’ve had to express from day 4 so we bought more bottles and the steriliser we thought we’d never use has been in use every day. The manual pump was hopeless and I went and bought an electric one, made a huge difference. I’m not saying buy these things but maybe keep a bit of money aside just in case because you just don’t know what will happen.

Smaller things we bought were, bath thermometer, 20 muslin squares, 4 bath towels, bath sponge, changing bag and mat, brush and comb, nail clippers, baby thermometer, bibs (but don’t use them yet).

Toiletries: cotton balls and buds (hardly use), baby bath oil (never use), baby shampoo (don’t use yet but will soon), baby lotion (do use), Vaseline (not used yet), talcum powder (invaluable), baby bath wash (use this all the time), baby wipes and nappies. A couple of tips I was given was not to buy too many nappies in advance because 1) you don’t know what size your baby will be 2) they could be allergic/not like the type you get. We bought 4 packs of size 1 and 4 packs of size 2 in advance. As it happens she was born 8lb and 8oz so she’s now out of size 1 and we only had to buy another couple of packs of size 1. At the moment we’ve got 6 packs of size 2 and 200 size 3 nappies. Again I would suggest buying some nappies now and stashing some cash to buy more when your baby comes along. BTW I suggest looking on Amazon for nappies, much cheaper than the shops!! Beware though I had some come yesterday and the delivery person left them on the doorstep, didn’t even ring the bell and I was in all day!

Best piece of advice I was given was “don’t buy too many clothes, they will come in abundance” and they do!!! People have given us 0 – 3 months, 3 – 6 months and even 6 – 9 months, I had to go and buy storage boxes at the weekend because her chest of draws are full!! In advance of her birth though we bought: long sleeve baby grows x 7, short sleeve baby grows x 5, short sleeve vests x 4, bottoms x 3, jumper x 1, cardigans x 2, socks x 4, hats x 2, snow suit x 1, jackets x 2 and mittens x 3. We have been given so many clothes and vouchers for clothes that you couldn’t believe. Also bear in mind that you don’t know what size your baby will be so buy the minimum but if you want to stock up then buy 3-6 months as ours will be in that very soon!!

Since she’s been born we’ve also bought a bottle warmer which we keep upstairs for night time and also a travel formula dispenser. We really didn’t think we’d be using bottles but they’ve got us through a period where we needed to. We also bought a baby bouncer which she loves, you don’t need one but it’s helpful to be able to get on with things. Also she loves being pushed around the house in the buggy and it sends her to sleep, I can also wheel her around with me sometimes if she doesn’t want to be left alone and she’s as happy as larry!

On another notes, re packing hospital bags I took one being in labour and another for overnight. The labour bag had food & drinks, cd’s, long sleeve baby grow with feet, short sleeve baby grow, hat for baby, nappies x 3 granny pants for me, maternity pads, nighty to wear during labour (access for b’feeding), hot water bottle, tens machine (flipping hopeless!!), hair ties (invaluable), money, camera, book (yeah like I had the chance to read that!). In the overnight bag, going home clothes for me and baby, spare clothes for baby, jogging bottoms for me, maternity pj’s, 5 pairs of knickers (yes you wear them all), more nappies, baby wipes, nappy bags, blanket for baby (although there will be one in hospital you can use), bath towel, shampoo, shower gel, hair brush, deodorant, toothbrush and toothpaste. I took a bottle of savlon and sponge to clean the shower before I got in because my mum picked up an infection in hospital when she had a miscarriage and also when she had my sister (same hospital). I looked like a loon but glad that I did because they were filthy, hairs and blood everywhere!!! Not to put you off but better to be prepared.

lizzywig

Oh and ebay is your friend!!! I'm going to be buying a bundle of second hand clothes for each age (e.g. 0-3, 3-6 etc), add that to the clothes we've been given and we'll only need to buy a couple of bits from the shops if that. They grow so quickly you do not need to spend lots!!

redgrave2009

We gots lots of baby clothes,all in big sizes (0-3,3-6,9-12) but no new baby . Poor husband had to run to mothercare twice as he needed early baby clothes when Iwas stuck in hospital

The best thing to do is save money, I did that instead of stocking up so had enough money to buy items I never thought we would need or want. Baby clothes alsways seem to be on sale in different shops also charity shops have lots of brand new unworn items. My MIL used to work in one and bought us a lot of cheap good quality stuff.

good luck with baby

thrifty-gal26

I am due in June and my list so far looks like this: ( this is for first 3 months )

10x Baby Grows
10X Vests
5x Socks
3X Hats
1X Pram Suit
Lots of muslin clothes
3x Bath Towels
4x Sheets ( for basket )
Moses Basket
Cot
4x Fitted Sheets ( for cot )
3x Blankets
Baby Monitor
Baby Bath
Changing bag
Changing mat
New born nappies ( not sure how many yet )
4x baby wipes
cotton wool
baby sponge
2x cardigans
bath thermometer
steralizer
breast pump
bottles and teats
mittens
nursing bras
maternity pads
nursing pads
nappy bags
play gym
pram
car seat
toys
chest of drawers
nappy rash cream
toys
chair for nursery

Then for the house I plan on having 3/4 weeks of meals in the freezer, lots of UHT milk, toilet roll and washing powder as I dont drive and dont want be up the creek without a paddle in my first few weeks!

Hope this helps xx

Elmo1985

Hi just wanted to pop in!

My daughter is 12 weeks old and already busrting out of 3-6 months sizes. She was 6lb 15oz born and we took 0-3 clothes in hospital bag - i didnt buy any newborn sizes as i thought it would be a waste of money - it would have been! I had roughly:-

10 babygros 0-3
10 short sleeved vests 0-3
1 winter coat
2 cardigans
4 outfits - though depending if you are out and about much / time of year etc probably not essential and babygros are so much easier!
4 moses basket sheets
6 blankets - i bought most of these in asda george - they are pretty good quality and cheap as chips

I joined all the baby clubs and used the vouchers to stock up on nappies. I bottle feed her on Cow and Gate and they have vouchers inside the packs of formula for follow on milk which ive been keeping to one side for when she is a little older.

I wish id stocked up more on the bigger sizes as she had a sudden growth spurt and i literally had her in 3-6 size at 8 weeks and had to go and stock up again.

On the plus side - we received a lot of clothes as gifts from friends and family - its suprising how much you receive! - and ive sold all her 0-3 size things on ebay the other week ad made £30.00 - which has gone towards 6-9 months clothes.

Alibali

Thanks for all of your posts, I've not been on here really to be able to read them all for a while, so this is me just getting caught up. Lots of good hints and tips, especially stashing money on gift cards for nappies etc - my main concern is budget due to the drop in income. When I have time I am actually going to go back through all of the posts with a pen & notepad to hand and do myself a wee list.

I am planning on breastfeeding, but I have bought a bottle/sterilizer set incase that doesn't work out.

Oh I have also joined all of the baby clubs and have all of my money off vouchers in a poly pocket in my handbag!

Thanks for the advice.

newmommyjen

Large flask. To keep cooled water for baby.Very handy to make babys milk feeds , weaning foods (bb rice, bb cereal) and baby drinking water. Its a goddsend, saves having to wait to warm up bottles or cool them. As if you put the water in just at the right temp, its warm enough for each use. I tend to leave boiled water in the kettle for a hour to cool then pour in to the flask.

I have a pump action flask which i u pump the lid and water comes out. I think it was about £12 in Costco. I change the water once a day, for fresh boiled water. The old water i use to make ice cubes.

Poundland i brill for babythings. Recently been lucky enough to pick up Tommee Tippee items there. I found a sippy cup, travel cutley set, and Magic mat (which sticks to all flat surfaces and holds bowls and plates securely in place so less mess) with bowl, and set of 6 spoons.

PS take unwanted gifts asap back to the shops to get gift vouchers before items go in to sale and worth less than when brought.