Having a baby Old Style???

donnajt

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

Don't forget you will get your £190 pregnancy grant at 25 weeks, you can also apply for the SureStart Maternity Grant which I believe is £500 (but I could be wrong), there is also a Fruit & Veg allowance for pregnant ladies on low incomes - check out the entitled to section at gov.uk

I would strongly suggest you ask for items you need on freecycle - moses basket, nappies, steriliser etc - I am sure you would get a good response, I requested something today and 3 people offered me the item within 2 hours!

ebay:
I bought my moses basket from ebay locally so there was no delivery charge, however, it was filthy but washed up beautifully but I ended up buying a new mattress which cost me £27 in mothercare - might as well have bought a new one
I also bought babygrows etc but found that once i had paid postage I could have gone to Matalan and bought multipacks

sign up for all the baby websites like emmasdiary, bounty, pampers, huggies, cow & gate etc they all send samples and money off coupons

again carboots - I never used this option but i know friends have picked up nearly new stuff for pennies

good luck, hope you are feeling well! donna x

moneybunnybabe

Thanks for that list Penelope. I have put it in my favourites so I can read them at my leisure. There are some great ideas on there! x x

Hi Olliebeak. I didn't know you could email companies directly but when I told Huggies I was expecting and I asked did they have any coupons? - they have promised to send me a voucher for a few baby products to try when Bubs is born. So thanks for the idea. x x

I may have to go to Kiddicare, a lot of you have recommended it. TY. x x

Congrats on the LO Glamazon...how lovely a new baby boy. x x
And thanks for the advice, some great info there. xx

Does anybody know how you find out when Asda is having one of it's BabyEvents? I don't want to miss the next one.

Thanks Gracie x x

mummysaver

Congratulations hun! Most important thing you need when you have a babe is friends and family to support you! Other basics would be plain babygros, enough so that you aren't washing every waking moment, vests, nappies, cardies, hat, outdoor all in one, somewhere for babe to sleep and bedding (btw pillow cases fit the mattresses of most moses baskets and are much cheaper and reusable!), a buggy that lies flat for taking babe out (make sure it's light and easy to fold one handed though, unless your buses have the easy push on steps), a sling is very handy if you are going on public transport too, car seat is useful even if you don't have a car, means that if you are offered lifts then babe will be safe and also doubles as a baby seat in the house.

Most useless things in my opinion are enormous buggies, those nappy disposal systems, monitors that do everything (how many people have a big enough house to require pictures/motion sensors/transmission over 10 miles!), baby bath and bathing seats (hold babe in bath with you or use the sink), baby towels, rocking electric swing chairs, basically all the expensive stuff that has been invented in the past 20 years!

Oh and a decent changing bag is a must, but it doesn't have to be a special baby change bag, a rucksack that has lots of pockets and is comfy to carry is excellent and often a whole lot cheaper.

I'm sure that you will find that lots of people will give you stuff, and freecycle is great as are NCT sales (though try not to go mad on the baby clothes!). Accept everything with thanks, as whilst you may not really need that lime green baby blanket, you may be offered something else that you do need, even if it's just someone to pop round and make you a cuppa when you're knackered!

Something else that is handy is lots of simple meal ideas, so cans of beans at the ready and bread in freezer, hm ready meals frozen in single portions for when you are too worn out to cook.

btw breast feeding is great, I did it cos the idea of sterilizing bottles and heating them up at night and even just remembering to take them when I went out was too much, but do be prepared for it not to be easy at first - my midwife told me "the first 3 days are hell, the first 3 weeks are bloody hard, and after 3 months it'll be second nature!" But it can be wise to grab a can of milk powder (can always be used when weaning mixed with food if you don't need it), a couple of bottles (handy for water when it's hot anyway) and some sterilising tablets and a large ice cream tub (temp sterilizing system).

Good luck with everything and we look forward to seeing some pics when babe arrives xx

moneybunnybabe

Wow RadioHelen, thank you for that HUGE list. It has certainly given me something to think about. x x

" never had a baby monitor, my 'Mummy' ears heard every squeek right up until they left home to get married." I love that quote Jackie. :T
"Don't forget we are all here as virtual grannies aunts/uncles /big sis/brothers /family to listen to you when things get tough, and if we can, to help with advice and hugs for you too." Awww thank you Jackie, I have a big tear in my eye. x x x x

"I dreaded the weekends and my extra, tantrum-throwing child." I know exactly what you mean Laurel, my ex really is spoilt. In his late twenties and his mum still does his washing, shopping and ironing. When I didn't jump fast enough to a whim, he had a paddy. In the long term I know I am better off.
Thank you for the advice. x x

And thank you everyone else, I hope I haven't missed anyone out...but if I have... a HUGE thank you for your "virtual" support and advice. x x :smileyhea

moneybunnybabe

Thank you Mummysaver, I had totally forgotton about a changing bag...that has gone on my list. x x

mummysaver

moneybunnybabe wrote: »

Thank you Mummysaver, I had totally forgotton about a changing bag...that has gone on my list. x x

Join the Boots baby club, they used to give away a free Huggies bag, not as strong as it could be, but handy when babe is tiny and you don't have too much other than spare sleep suits and nappies and wipes. They also used to give away a voucher for some Avent bits and other assorted stuff. The Tesco baby club is good too, they are just changing so that you get a Pampers baby change bag as a free gift (well not quite free, you have to buy a small pack of nappies and hand over a voucher that you get sent!). I think Sainsbury have a baby club too, if not there was something somewhere on mse about some kind of freebie that they do I'm certain!

Basically join and sign up for every baby thing poss, vouchers are always handy, and keep an eye on the freebie boards and voucher code boards too.

As for the baby events, they come round once a year usually, but often stuff pops up later in the year on offer or heavily reduced as it is ex promo stock, just keep an eye open, and the boards here are great for keeping you informed (have a look on grabbit now).

cyclingyorkie

we didn't have a moses basket we picked up a second hand old fashioned carry cot with pram wheels which they slept in before they moved to the cot.

i had 2 changing mats...but never a changing table - always used bathroom floor upstairs.

when little we bathed them in a new washing up bowl.....

i breastfed - couldn't face the hassle of bottles - but if you can't don't beat yourself up over it!

second hand clothes are fine.

good luck!

and before you have the baby - do some batch cooking and fill up the freezer...

mummysaver

Oh yes, forgot about a changing mat - though a folded towel works just as well, and eventually you will end up just changing them on your lap! Worth keeping changing stuff in your sitting room and the bedroom for the first few months, saves much rushing around!

pudding06

Congratulations:T

Just some thoughts. Two of my sons are having babies at the moment, one is happy to get anything given, and the other's GF wants to buy everything new..

Congrats on your deciding to breast feed.:T I breastfed all of my 4 sons, I had to as they were allergic to milk. I know its not the easy option, and some people find it difficult, but raraely is it impossible, but if you persevere then you will be doing the best for your baby.I know many gove up after a day or two thinking their baby isnt getting enough but it takes time to get your milk through, and its perfectly natural for your baby to cry and be fed more frequently at first. Its also much easier feeding at night as you dont have to warm the bottle, etc. and during the day it saves more time for you to spend as you wish rather than having to sterilise bottles etc:jI also never gave mine water out of a bottle, as I felt it affected my milk supply. Also babies have to xuck quite hard at the breast, and much less so from a bottle, so sometimes they are reluctant to go back to the breast as its too hard work.:mad:

When you get noticeably preggers, let everyone know you are on the look out for baby stuff, its amazing how much you get given,. they have been given 3 moses baskets., 2 first size car seats, baby bath set, baby box, numerous beautiful baby clothes sets. bouncie chairs, baby alarm ( brand new but not ever used) etc etc etc.

we still have 2 cots in storage, but have been given another cot. ( as grannie I will keep our 2 for when they are both being babysat) I just cant wait, but still have 2 months to go til no1 and 5 months til no 2.

good luck hun.
nicola

angelpye

Hi,

Just to say that i was in a similar situation to you when I was 17 and my partner who was older than me decided that 'he didn't want to be a dad'. We eventually got back together later in the pregnancy and had two years of sulky tantrums (from him not the baby) until eventually I left him. Best thing I did for myself and DD. Because he was what he was, I was left to buy everything during pregnancy and after and as a student it was hard. But I did it and thats what counts.

I found carboot sales a god send as found really lovely nearly new stuff for extremely cheap prices ( I find charity shops can be quite expensive). She had a basic car seat, sling and sturdy pram/ pushchair (worth getting the best you can afford and putting most your money there as in it for up to 3/4 years). I cooked from scratch always (taking particular care to be healthy when breast feeding to help produce the milk) and walked most places. She wore mostly plain white for 3 months (I asked clothes to be bought some in 3-6 mths and others 6-9 mths) and she looked divine - all pure and clean!

She is now 11 years old, hasn't seen her dad for 9 years, but is the most confident, kind and happy child. She is also 2 yrs ahead at school, polite and very socially aware. I know when I look at her that I did that 'all by myself' and the pride I feel is overwhelming.

Now i am pregnant by a lovely guy who she loves 'just like a daddy' and will be the first man to live with us ( and only second man I have dated to have met her). We are also doing the pregnancy and baby purchasing OS this time - and not because we have to but because we want to. I know raising DD to not be too materialistic - to believe that Christmas and birthdays are about who you are with, the board games played, making Christmas pudding, and days out together - has helped her to be the lovely little person she is and want that for this one too. She still has a Nintendo DS and a love of Sylvanian Families and books but doesn't think thats all that counts.

I also managed to build a great career, doing what I love, using childcare that I have complete faith in and has nutured her as I do. It's been tuff at times but I do have it all and worked hard for it! I hope in writing this it gives you hope and belief in yourself - your baby just needs one loving and encouraging person in its life to make it through - better that than two parents unhappily together!

What I will add though is make sure you find out and join mother and baby groups to meet other mums. If you decide to do an NCT course (you can take mum/ friend or find a women's only) you may meet people you will stay in contact with and have babies of very close ages (they discount the courses for low incomes etc). They also provide loads of support and guidance for breast feeding and other issues. When DD was small I thought these groups ridiculous but became very lonely and low as none of my friends had children at the time - started socialising with DD and hey presto I was back up again!

Good luck x