Having a baby Old Style???

Olliebeak

'Back in my day - in the mists of prehistory -' we used to use cotton-wool balls dipped in warm water (with a little baby soap if preferred) for 'topping and tailing' - no babywipes back then! Sometimes I couldn't afford the cotton-wool balls though so used to just buy a bag of cotton-wool pleats (or rolls) and tear a small amount off. Nothing wrong with re-using cotton flannels (or squares of old winceyette sheets cut up/hemmed) to really keep down the costs.

I used to use old pillow cases for covering the pram/carry-cot mattress. At least if baby was 'pukey' while you were out, you could just turn the thing over.

Baby Lists always recommended having a minimum of 3 of everything (one clean, one on and one in the wash) i.e. 3 baby vests, 3 nighties (yes nighties not babygros lol), 3 cardigans, 3 matinee coats; a minimum of 24 terry squares per baby; when my daughter had her eldest, I bought three stretch-terry cot sheets - but if you're able to get hold of some winceyette sheets to cut up, you could make your own to fit the matress - same for pram/moses basket sheets.

I agree with the towel on the floor for changing - changing mats had just 'come out' when I had my eldest, but I couldn't see the point of them - I always used my knee for changing babies and STILL do.

I would recommend only having a couple of things in 'firstsize' - they don't last long at all (unless you have a very small baby); and if asked what you would like, make a mental list of what you have and then ask for something in a specific size for future use. I often buy 6-9mths size for somebody for their first baby, cos I know they'll get to the point (at about 5mths) where they suddenly don't have anything to fit the baby.

Check out supermarkets 'baby sections' for bargains. Sometimes our ASDA has packs of baby stuff with one or two items missing (maybe a mitt/sock missing) and reduces the whole pack by 'silly money' because they are aimed at 'gift giving' and lots of people won't buy them then.

Even if you're using re-usable nappies, I would recommend using disposables in hospital and keep some in for at least the first month - until you get your home routine well established.

Nappy liners were absolute 'godsends' (you can make your own from old sheets/pillowcases) - I used to wash them if they'd only been wee'd on. Only ever flushed No.2's. I would wipe the poop off the bum as best I could with the liner and then use a piece of cotton wool with baby lotion to really clean the bottom (or water if baby's skin is sensitive to lotion).

Petroleum jelly (vaseline equivalent) or Zinc and Castor oil cream were always good enough for bottoms before folks started using sudocreme/bepanthen.

If bottoms became sore - I was recommended to use egg white as a waterproof barrier but not so sure this is acceptable now - something to do with possible egg allergies these days (so would need checking out).

Not sure if those are the kind of things that you wanted to know - but flipping heck, they brought back some deep memories for me .

For first month though: pack of baby wipes (sensitive skin just in case!); couple of packs of disposable nappies; nappy bags (don't have to be expensive ones but they come in handy if you're out); cotton wool balls; baby lotion; bar of baby soap; baby bath liquid; jar of whatever 'bum cream' you want to use; a few small bibs (amazing how many of these you can get through!); from what I can gather, baby talc is very frowned upon these days!; then there is the 'd' word - controversial I know BUT very useful - dummies (couple of them ); whatever sterilising system you're going to use - I got through 2 of mine (now aged 36 and 30) by using my pressure cooker - no nasty chemicals for them; even if you breast feed there are things that will need sterilising (though you CAN use a pan of boiling water!); I would also recommend one of those small hand-sterilising sprays to keep in your baby bag - you don't always have hand-washing facilities, especially if you're out somewhere.

2cats1kid

I would recommend a wipeable changing mat TBH. There won't be too many, but I can guarantee there will be a few nappy explosions where you look at the vest/bodysuit and seriously consider cutting it off rather than trying to get it over his head! (Just go with me on this one - they are the ones where you give up on wipes and just sluice them off in the bath!) I wouldn't have liked to have been doing that on a towel.

I'd recommend a mattress protector too, for similar reasons.

Old sheets instead of wipes/muslins.

Hospital bag - depends how long you are likely to be in. I'd take in 3 or 4 disposables and get OH to bring more in each day you are in and then use terries after if you want. Learning to change a disposable is way easier than learning to change a terry. Our hospital said you are bound to want to dress baby in your newest nicest clothes, but they recommended bringing in old/hand me down as in the ward you are open to the odd light fingered mum, unfortunately.

If you drive, you must have a first stage car seat. Ours won't let babies out of the door without a car seat that they will check for suitability. Practice fitting it beforehand as not all car seats fit all cars. They always say to buy new incase of any cracks etc. in second hand ones.

You will probably need breast pads. I don't know if you can reasonably improvise comfy ones (if you are sore, you'll want comfy rather than cheap!) so it's probably worth having a pack in just in case.

TBH new babies are easy - don't need toys etc. Basic clothes and bedding and you are sorted.

TrixieB

Get yourself an old fleecy blanket ( or buy one from cheap/charity shop) and cut it up to use as washable wipes - you won't need to hem them.

For hosp bag you'll be advised to get paper knickers but I really wouldn't bother, they are expensive and blooming uncomfortable! Just take your oldest pants in that you don't mind if they get wrecked and either bring home to wash/bleach or throw them if really bad.
Pads - you'll likely flood them very quickly, so don't bother with expensive ones, a pack of MrT or Boots cheapo ones ( around 40p?) will be fine as you'll be changing so often.
Bibs - lots of bibs, it's far easier to change bibs and wash them than have to do a whole clothes change!
Good luck!

knithappens

i would not bother with a changing table, a towel under there bottom , i always changed mine on my knee, or the leather couch, with a towel under there bum.

I woudl nto buy a baby bath either, use a bowl in the sink, or on the table better on your back and just the right size for baby.

My newest addition is due in July, so far have got alot off friends, was not going to bother with moses basket but got one given.

I am havign a home birth, but still having to prepare, buying cheapo pads from tesco instead of maternity pads, using old knickers instead of disposables, will be buying breat pads, as will be breat feeding, but there sell them cheaper in Home bargains so pickign some up from there.

Dont bother with all the fancy creams for baby, warm water and cotton wool is all they need, for top and tailing, and washing.

For baby i have bought 12 body suits, 8 all in ones, 2 cardigans, one newborn one next size up, got lots of socks free with the huggies new born packs, lotsof bibs and muslin squares during the sales, woudl have made them out of a sheet otherwise, but really cheap in the sales.

For the first month you dont need much,

if bottle feeding, steriliser, bottles, a place for baby to sleep,
if breast feeding, nursing bras, nursing tops/or scarlfs to cover you discretely, breast pads disposable or reuseable.
whether that be a cot, moses basket etc
bibs/burb squares
napppies ( cloth or disposable)
if you have a car a car seat
mode of transport for baby, sling/pram/
clothes, dont buy too many as you will get lots as gifts

thats all i can think of just now

ogh just in case, Hemroid cream, just one of the casualties of war sometimes. But if you want to be old style, ice, frozen peas etc, or ice in a tea towel and sit on it.

dougierobino

wrote a massive reply and it's disappeared into thin air......rats!

most things I wanted to say have been covered so very quickly (I have a screaming baby!) ..

Didn't use anysort of soap on them until they were about 6 months old, found water sufficient for cleaning until food and crawling came into the equation.

When the time comes for weaning (and it will, no matter what you think when he's screaming at silly o clock and you think the sleepless nights will go on for ever) - look up baby led weaning. Lots of blogs on the subject and the "ideas lady" behind it is Gill Rapley - google her. Basic theory is that if you can put off weaning til about 6 months (which is current advice anyway) then you can go straight into giving small one finger foods and completely miss out the "messy, fussy, hard work, teach them to suck puree but then have to teach them to deal with lumps after" puree stage... Oops, bit biased there but I found BLW FANTASTIC and it seemed so much easier than the people around me who were pureeing and following well known baby weaning puree plan type things.... but I'm just lazy!

weezl74

Thanks guys,

really helpful thoughts!

In my hospital bag I have so far:

old dressing gown, husbands shirt, knickers I don't like and an outfit to come home in, baggy and comfy!

Maternity pads 25 of them

1 nappy for baby! Obviously i need more...

some sudocrem (got it for free!)

pack of baby wipes, 20 of these, again free

some shampoo that can double up as shower gel

our camera

old towel

would anyone add anything else?

Love Weezl x

Pink.

Hi weezl,

This thread might give you some more ideas:

OS list of what you REALLY need for a first baby

I'll add your thread to that one later to keep the ideas together.

Pink

Edit: Found these older threads on the marriages and families board that may give you some ideas too:

What to pack in Labour Bag?

blokes hospital bag

pavlovs_dog

if you head over to the families board and search 'labour bag' there is a very detailed thread about the do's and dont's of what to pack.

hope it all goes smoothly for you xx

knithappens

weezl74 wrote: »

Thanks guys,

really helpful thoughts!

In my hospital bag I have so far:

old dressing gown, husbands shirt, knickers I don't like and an outfit to come home in, baggy and comfy!

Maternity pads 25 of them

1 nappy for baby! Obviously i need more...

some sudocrem (got it for free!)

pack of baby wipes, 20 of these, again free

some shampoo that can double up as shower gel

our camera

old towel

would anyone add anything else?

Love Weezl x

slippers floors can be cold, something to enterntain yoruself during and after delivery MP3 player magazines. Babies sleep alot when first born, and if you are kept awake at night by other cryign babies it can pass the time.

Pre packaged Snacks.

OrkneyStar

weezl74 wrote: »

Thanks guys,

really helpful thoughts!

In my hospital bag I have so far:

old dressing gown, husbands shirt, knickers I don't like and an outfit to come home in, baggy and comfy!

Maternity pads 25 of them

1 nappy for baby! Obviously i need more...

some sudocrem (got it for free!)

pack of baby wipes, 20 of these, again free

some shampoo that can double up as shower gel

our camera

old towel

would anyone add anything else?

Love Weezl x

- clothes for baby- few babygros/vests/a cardi/lots of bibs and/or muslins
- change for phone
- more wipes possibly if a longer stay
- more nappies
- old spray bottle of water (for cooling in labour and also hosp very warm normally!).
- arnica in case you have a wound of any sort (c-sect etc)
- note book (they kept asking me when I had fed DS and I kept forgetting due to morphine after c-sec, so started to write down time of feed/change etc! You may not need pain relief like that but you never know!).

All the best for the event!
We took loads of stuff (a suitcase or so worth) as we had to go 100 miles away so all in all were away for 7 days (2 induction, 5 with bubs!).
x