We're having an OS baby, any advice?

Hardup_Hester

Hi Melt
My DD has big boobs & she breastfed her baby in the rugbytackle position, one that is often suggested if you are trying to feed twins. She cradled the baby backwards, with his body under her arm on a pillow.

Also, most babywipes contain alcohol which can sting. Try using old cut up tshirts & warm water, very OS, if you are using washable nappies clean the wipes along with the nappies.
Hester

Bettyboop

Nothing to add to what's already been said. A big CONGRATULATIONS. Another possibility is to ask your mom, family member or friend to arrange a baby shower for you. A friend held one for me and I got so many useful things that I would have otherwise had to buy. All the best. X

heavenleigh

Hi Melt,

Firstly a huge congratulations.

Secondly did you not read my warning a few weeks ago about pregnancy being in the boards water???

It may not sound your cup of tea but when i was pregnant with ds 2 years ago i used to go to alot of car boot sales, i picked up his moses basket (a mamas and papas one) brand new with wooden stand for a fiver.
and lots of other bits and bobs.
I bought his pram from the local sunday market, it was brand new in mother care for £175 and i got it brand new and boxed for £90.

There is actually not that many essentials you need for a new born and i left the buying of clothes toiletries etc until he was here, which i think saved me a fortune.

This time i havent bought anything yet and think i will be running at the last minute again. (i didnt even buy maternity pads or breast pads until the fortnight before i was due last time)

As long as you have the basics, A moses basket or cot, bottles and steriliser if not breastfeeding, a pram and a car seat, the rest can come later.

The second child is actually cheaper than the first as by then you have usually worked out how much you bought for the first and never used!

Trust me i'm on my 4th.

Leigh xx

howskint?

How exciting!

Register with all of the baby websites eg bounty and babyworld and enter every competition going.

I also used to give my babies lots of nappy free time (put a towel on top of the changing mat) they loved it and it saved on nappies.

I also found I saved money by using flannels instead of babywipes whenever possible for faces and bums - though not at the same time!! and just bunging them in the washing machine.

Feeling very broody now!!:rolleyes:

good luck X

debtfreehopeful_2

Hi melt and anyone else thinking of breastfeeding, i just want to say if you are struggling at all or just want a moan about the joys and bad bits of breastfeeding and cant find a local peer supporter feel free to pm me as im a peer supporter and currently feeding my second baby.

ikea has started doing normal sized cots and their cot mattresses are much cheaper than most places £12 i think for the cheapest.

if youre planning cloth and struggle to find second hand, now ebay has decided they are a fettish item (?) try buying one nappy a week, £7 here or there hardly gets noticed but £250 in one go does! also i have to recomend motherease one size, you buy nappies that are one size and fit from birth to potty training, seriously both my kids are in them, and just get wraps of different sizes. try going onto https://www.thenappylady.co.uk and asking for a personalised recomendation, its no obligation and they dont bug you but will suggest nappies to work with your lifestyle.

when weaning, cook your food without salt, blend a small portion down and put into ice cubes, when frozen shove into a labelled freezer bag and no need for jars.

dont know how much of that is preaching to the converted but i hope something is useful or jogs a memory

good luck

sloth

Our DS is now 8 months old. I found that we used hardly any toiletries for the first few months as just washed him with water and cotton wool. We bought all our baby wipes (and still do) as BOGOFs - saves a small fortune. DH tears wipes into halves or thirds when using them to make them last longer. Sometimes I wouldn't recommend that!!!! Hee!;)

Now DS is eating solids we make most of his food ourselves. As he progresses to each stage, we buy a couple of jars just to see how big the lumps are in the food and then make ours the same. We did buy a food processor to do this but got it on offer using store points that we had saved a while before he was born. Overall still works out cheaper than feeding DS baby jars and we know exactly what he is eating.

My friends all say they get through masses of kitchen roll whilst preparing bottles, baby food etc. Kitchen roll is recommended for hygeine reasons but I have loads of tea towels instead, which I use once for bottles baby pots etc, then use for general kitchen use (but not baby stuff), then I wait till I have a load, bung them in the machine and they dry pretty sharpish. I just found I was getting through rolls and rolls and rolls of the stuff.......

hope this helps.....

Niftythrifty

Hi Melt
I'm also a trained breastfeeding supporter and would suggest that if you want to breastfeed, you should make sure you know where to go for help and support. Not all Midwives and Health Visitors have up to date breastfeeding training and will not always give the right information or refer, but there are many volunteers who can help. You will almost certainly have enough milk for your baby, you might just need help to make sure the baby is getting enough. If you can read up before, I would recommend Breast is Best by Dr Penny Stanway - try the library and if you have the option, choose a UNICEF Baby Friendly hospital as they follow procedures to aid breastfeeding.

If your baby sleeps in bed with you, you don't need a cot! It's not recommended if bottlefeeding, but will help with the breastfeeding. We used a moses basket as well as co-sleeping and never had a cot. My son had his own bed next to ours from 10 months. UNICEF has a PDF leaflet with more information here: http://www.babyfriendly.org.uk/items/research_detail.asp?item=28

I've never used baby bath/bubbles/wash or lotion on my son. He's now two and a half and only sees the soap if he's got paint or dirt on him. Babies have sensitive skin and don't need any of this stuff, water is fine. You can add a bit of olive oil and lavender essential oil if you want scent (although some don't recommend this on infants). We use washable wipes which are baby face cloths from Poundland, fold in half stack together, roll up and soak in a mug of chamomile tea with a splosh of olive oil. They can be stored in a plastic baby wipe box.

We have not yet got to potty training and are still using washable nappies. Most of ours are home-made and I have just made a few more, one bright fluffy bath towel will make two to three shaped nappies. If you sew, or know someone who does this might be an option to consider. It take around half an hour to make a nappy from start to finish. Old towels are great, if they're worn throw, cut round the worn bits and use smaller bits for booster pads to go in the nappies. Fleece liners can be made from cutting fleece fabric to shape - no sewing needed.

Hope this helps