Buying for our baby (due oct)

mildred1978

Tina20 wrote: »

I bought too many maternity pads, cheap night time sanitary towels work just as good.

They aren't advised if you have stitches. The plastic backing on normal towels doesn't allow your bits to breathe as they need to to heal.

Gillyx

I loved the maternity pads with my stitches, much more padded and comfortable, I was gutted going to normal pads after, they felt so thin and rubbish :rotfl:

Mrs_Imp

Ooo...yes, I remember the thick pads. For the first couple of weeks I wore them 2 thick for extra cushioning. I had some aloe vera ones for the top which were very nice too.

Aimless

Mrs_Imp wrote: »

You can easily waste a lot of money on tat and useless things that they try to sell you. eg we got a free room thermometer and we've looked at it maybe once. He's a hot little thing so cold has never been a problem.

I've got a hot little thing too, I use my thermometer to make sure he's cool enough! Because he's so warm, he's never worn most of the nice jumpers I bought, or the knitted ones I was given, or the proper snowsuits, despite being a winter baby.

I wouldn't bother with a proper baby bath, I got a decent sized washing up bowl, but he's also washed in the sink or in the bath with one of us, depending on whether it is a nice relaxed planned bath or a speedy 'oh my god' cleanup.

I never had muslins with number 1, but now I think they're great. Try to catch a full stomach chuckup in a bib or flannel!

I find a sleeping bag is handy for using in the travel cot, much easier than trying to tuck blankets under the thin mattress. Supermarket ones are cheaper than the branded ones of course.

Moses basket... I started off without a stand, but because he was quite big and strong, I could never turn my back on it for fear of him bouncing it off anywhere I left it! So I bought a proper stand. You can get them on Ebay.

Most of my first size clothes were secondhand, anything I paid proper money for I bought in 3-6. That way I didn't care what went to waste. Don't count on being given lots of clothes in first sizes though, because I had a big boy, people bought anything from 0-3 to 6-12 month stuff. Oh, and watch the actual sizes of the clothes, not just the one written on the label. I just moved into 3-6, and found some of the stuff barely fits. Debenhams seems to come up particularly small.

On the nappy and wipe front, my little one leaked out of Huggies and Pampers, and grew out of them before the weight range was up. He also decided to be allergic to all wipes except Huggies Pure, even the sensitive varieties. Anything with a barcode on I managed to swap, but I had a couple of open multipacks of wipes that went to waste. I use reusable nappies for daytimes now, but still have disposables at night and when away.

fluffnutter

Your baby needs...

Something to sleep in, e.g. cot, crib, basket or with you;
Bedding - blankets not duvets and get light ones so you can add and take away depending on temperature. Sleeping bags are not great for tiny babies - they get a bit lost.
Clothes - sleepsuits and vests are sufficient for the first month or so. You'll need more than you think!
Carseat;
Pram/pushchair;
Something to enable feeding be it your tit or bottles/formula/steriliser. Even if breastfeeding the latter is needed (but perhaps not straight away) so that you can express and bottle-feed for convenience/to give dad a go;
Nappies.

Other things are very useful - top and tail bowl (anything will do), cotton wool, muslins, washcloths for topping and tailing, wipes.

You might also want to consider a baby sling, baby monitor, more clothing, e.g. hat, cardigan, changing bag.

Things I'm not bothering with - baby bath (washing up bowl/kitchen sink will suffice), changing mat (I'll use a towel), moses basket (I have a cot instead), scratch mitts (sleepsuits have integral ones), thermometers, either for the room or water (I'm not an ignoramus and can tell when something is too hot or cold), baby-sized towel (they can use a small normal towel).

Don't forget yourself too - you'll need superstrength jamrags, nipple pads, nipple cream, nursing bras, tops that are easy to open.

Bluebell1000

Moses baskets seem to be getting mixed reviews, we've found ours really useful. It was only £5 from a car boot sale though No stand, we're using the coffee table.

Nappies - personally I'd say go with disposables for the first couple of weeks at least. You'll have enough to deal with, without having lots of extra washing too.

Muslins - didn't need them for the first couple of weeks but then the vomit quantity has gradually increased...

Sleepsuits / vests - at least 10 of each.

Hat for just after the birth, though if it's a warm October you might not need it again!

Scratch mitts - essential for us. Elliot has a bad habit of scratching his cheek! 2 pairs work fine

Blankets - we bought a £4.99 Dunelm fleece, it cuts into 4 baby size blankets. Useful for swaddling or as general blanket, plus we got about 6 sheets.

Cotton wool - used this with water to start with instead of wipes. We still just use wipes for poos but cotton wool otherwise.

Baby bath - we were given one but it's been very useful

Nappy cream - we still haven't finished the two free Sudocrem pots we got with the bounty packs, don't bother buying more!

Travel system - we got a travel system 2nd hand from ebay, essential for the car seat and very handy for going out anywhere!

Bluebell1000

Oh, and we had to get a changing table as it was too hard on our backs doing floor nappy changes.

RadoJo

One of the things I have found invaluable is a nappy bin - we have a Sangenic, but I think there are others around. Basically it seals the dirty nappies into a plastic sausage and means that we don't have to empty the bin upstairs to get rid of the smell of nappies which is perfect for late night changes especially if you're in your bedroom! They only cost about £20, and replacement cartridges are often on offer, but worth it even at full price!

lizzywig

I did loads of research and put a spreadsheet together gradually marking off what we'd bought so that we didn't end up buying 10 of one thing and nothing of another.

These are the things which we bought and found useful:

Travel system (buggy, car seat, carry cot) - wouldn't be without this, best purchase by far!
Footmuff for buggy
Chest of draws with changing table on top
Cot bed
Cot bed bedding
Crib
Crib bedding (suitable for time of year baby was born)
Lots of celular blankets
Baby monitor (we've got a sensor pad one, great but you come reliant)
Night light (most baby monitors come with one)
Changing mat
Breast pump for expressing (bought manual, used once and got an electric!)
Baby bath (you could use the sink!)
Nappies (we bought 6 packs of size 1's and 6 packs of size 2's - as you don't know what size your baby will be don't buy too many 1's in advance)
Baby wipes
Vaseline
Talc
Baby bath wash
Sponges
Bath thermometer
Muslin clothes (x 10)
Towels (x 5)
Baby thermometer
Nail clippers
Medicine dropper/tube/thing
Nappy bags (don't buy Tesco value they do not hide the smell at all)
Bottles & steriliser (if you will be expressing or using formula)
Changing bag
Travel changing mat
2 x toys (she now has about a thousand hardly any of which we bought)
Baby sling (but you don't need this, we found it very useful)
Bibs (for teething!)

Sometimes use:
Baby oil (only when doing baby massage)
Cotton balls (hardly use these)
Baby shampoo
Brush & comb

Bought but don't use:
Nursing pillow for lap (too bulky)
Baby lotion

As for clothes, I wouldn't worry about them, they come in abundance and even if they don't since you're getting a few bits you'll be fine. I would however get 7 or so white bodysuits and 7 or so sleepsuits - that will keep you going for a while.

My big piece of advice is that you think that you won't need to buy anything else for ages because they will be newborn forever. DD is 5 months old and it still feels like she was born yesterday and now we're buying all the next stuff she will need.

So here's a list of all the other bits and pieces that you buy along the way (and some of which we're buying now):
Sun hats
Sun cream
High chair
Feeding bowls (with lids)
Freezer trays
Freezer pots
Spoons
Long sleeve bibs
Feeding floor mat
Stair gate
Baby proofing items
Beaker
Baby sleeping bags
Baby booster seats (for feeding when out)
Swim suit & nappies
Swimming arm bands

As soon as DD was born I bought clothes 3-6 months and now I have all of her 6-9 months and some of her 9 - 12 months. Buying ahead keeps me sane because I know that when she needs something she will have it. No more expensive shoe habbit for me!!!

mildred1978

lizzywig wrote: »

I did loads of research and put a spreadsheet together gradually marking off what we'd bought so that we didn't end up buying 10 of one thing and nothing of another.

These are the things which we bought and found useful:

Travel system (buggy, car seat, carry cot) - wouldn't be without this, best purchase by far!
Footmuff for buggy
Chest of draws with changing table on top
Cot bed
Cot bed bedding
Crib
Crib bedding (suitable for time of year baby was born)
Lots of celular blankets
Baby monitor (we've got a sensor pad one, great but you come reliant)
Night light (most baby monitors come with one)
Changing mat
Breast pump for expressing (bought manual, used once and got an electric!)
Baby bath (you could use the sink!)
Nappies (we bought 6 packs of size 1's and 6 packs of size 2's - as you don't know what size your baby will be don't buy too many 1's in advance)
Baby wipes
Vaseline
Talc
Baby bath wash
Sponges
Bath thermometer
Muslin clothes (x 10)
Towels (x 5)
Baby thermometer
Nail clippers
Medicine dropper/tube/thing
Nappy bags (don't buy Tesco value they do not hide the smell at all)
Bottles & steriliser (if you will be expressing or using formula)
Changing bag
Travel changing mat
2 x toys (she now has about a thousand hardly any of which we bought)
Baby sling (but you don't need this, we found it very useful)
Bibs (for teething!)

Sometimes use:
Baby oil (only when doing baby massage)
Cotton balls (hardly use these)
Baby shampoo
Brush & comb

Bought but don't use:
Nursing pillow for lap (too bulky)
Baby lotion

As for clothes, I wouldn't worry about them, they come in abundance and even if they don't since you're getting a few bits you'll be fine. I would however get 7 or so white bodysuits and 7 or so sleepsuits - that will keep you going for a while.

My big piece of advice is that you think that you won't need to buy anything else for ages because they will be newborn forever. DD is 5 months old and it still feels like she was born yesterday and now we're buying all the next stuff she will need.

So here's a list of all the other bits and pieces that you buy along the way (and some of which we're buying now):
Sun hats
Sun cream
High chair
Feeding bowls (with lids)
Freezer trays
Freezer pots
Spoons
Long sleeve bibs
Feeding floor mat
Stair gate
Baby proofing items
Beaker
Baby sleeping bags
Baby booster seats (for feeding when out)
Swim suit & nappies
Swimming arm bands

As soon as DD was born I bought clothes 3-6 months and now I have all of her 6-9 months and some of her 9 - 12 months. Buying ahead keeps me sane because I know that when she needs something she will have it. No more expensive shoe habbit for me!!!

Just to say that I'd never ever put Vaseline, baby oil or sun cream anywhere near a small child. Horrible substances (full of carcinogenic chemicals for 1, and we get vitamin D from the sun). Organic sunflower oil is perfect for baby massage.

You don't need all the feeding paraphernalia for weaning if you do baby led weaning (they eat what you eat, not pur!es).

Apart from the cupboard under the sink we haven't babyproofed anything. Taught my son to come downstairs on his tummy so that he can do it safely. He's not fallen down the stairs once.