O/S Maternity Leave

MrsSave

This is a fab idea. I'm 22 weeks pregnant with my second and have started stockpiling things like wipes and have a selection of nappies (different makes though in case). It didn't occur to me about stockpiling household products and things that won't go off. I'm definitely going to start this with things like toilet paper, kitchen towel, squash, tins, cling film and foil, and health/beauty items.

Big hugs to the Angel baby mums. I cannot imagine how difficult it must be for you and I'm sure your babies are watching over you xx

Lucy5781

It's true. I need to get in more basics like toilet roll etc. We do now in the new house have the extra storage for it! My biggest problem is actually being able to leave the house, online deliveries every flipping day.

wurley

Always makes me laugh they tell you to just use cotton wool and water at first then tell you to slap heaps of barrier nappy cream on.... full of petrochemicals. Go figure!

Dont stock pile anything baby.... If people want to contribute ask for supermarket vouchers or better still cash.... No waste because you buy when you need... Don't keep milk powder in - you will prob go through a phase of soreness where you might be tempted to give up sooner if you have the powder at home. Dont get the breast pump unless you know you will use it.. Companies will try to make you think you need all sorts of accessories that you really don't.

Good idea on the house hold items!

Good luck

Lucy5781

Glad we didn't stockpile nappies. He went up a size within three weeks!

Emsky*

My little girl is now 6 months old & this is what I've found:

- Don't buy lot's of outfits, people tend to buy you them as gifts & if your baby's anything like mine they won't be in them long so sometimes it's easier & cheaper to put them in sleepsuits/babygrows.

- If your planning on having another baby & have the storage try and keep as many of baby's clothes that you can to save yourself the money in the future.

- I've joined a local mums group on FB that advertises cheap baby groups on. I'm currently on a 5 week baby massage class for £20 for the whole 5 weeks (I was told by another mum she had attended a class that cost £10 per hour).

- Don't stockpile nappies we found our little girl grew out of the first size really quickly.

- Babies don't need lot's of toys, all they need is your love & attention for the first few months but if you are really set on buying toys look on local FB selling groups a lot of people sell good quality second hand toys.

- If your feeling slightly housebound or want to just get out of the house, go for a walk with the pram the fresh air is fantastic for you and for baby, but best of all it's FREE!!

TiredTrophy

I had six....

Pads for boobs and bottom for yourself.
Nipple cream.

Laundry product non bio with no perfume....or double rinse everything....babies have sensitive skin.....

Napisan or equivalent. ..and hang as much as possible in the sun.

You will also need extra pillows for bf ...stay clear of feathers.

Good luck to all first time parents....remember that every baby is different and what works for one might not be good for uour new arrival.....be kind to yourselves and get plenty of rest because you won't get any more for a few years

Pop_Up_Pirate

Emsky* wrote: »

Thank you so much for all your advice & ideas! I apologise already for this long post but I don’t like to just read & run.


Flutterbyuk25 – Thank you &Good Luck to you too!” I bet you’re so excited about meeting your little bundle soon. My hubby agrees with you about only buying loads of nappies once we know which baby will prefer J x


Flipper_72 – Thank you for your advice about the oats helping with breast milk, I’d never heard of that. The cloth nappies are they just the muslin or do you have to have special materials? x


Monnagran – Thank you, I’ll definitely be thinking of putting the things we’ve bought back on eB*y, we managed to get an M*thercare cotbed off there for £41 which I still have to say has been our biggest bargain of the moment. x


Jackyann – Thank you Jackyann, you always hear horror stories of babies not taking very well to breastfeeding but fingers crossed it won’t be the case. Also I’ll start looking into local baby groups to keep me from going insane in the house. x


HOWMUCH – Thank you & Good Luck to your DD, I’ll able to get the SMP up until the last 3 months, but I don’t think we’ll be able to claim anything else due to our combined wages but I will have a look into this. x


Icey77 – Thank you, I’ll keep the NCT in mind I keep trying to talk hubby into buying clothes for next year but he’s not having any of it he thinks she might be a giant baby & not fit in the stuff we buy her for later on lol. x


Cheel – Thank you, I’m hoping a few of our friends who have recently had babies will start to pass things along (Cheeky I know) so we won’t have to start going into baby clothes savings too early. x


ERICS MUM – Thank you, M&S chocolate biscuits will be going on the list I never even thought of buying things like this to stockpile (For visitors of course) x




I have amended my lists to include some of the suggestions which will apply to us


(House) – This weekend the plan is to go through under the sink & use up any half used cleaning products, to make room for stockpiling.


-Toilet Paper
-Washing up Liquid
-Washing Powder
-Bleach
-Bin Bags
-Kitchen Roll
-Spray Bleach

(Food) – Today’s aim is to start printing off recipes & food lists to start a plan for meal planning & bulk freezing meals.

- Beans
- Tinned Tomatoes
- Frozen veg
- Pasta
- Rice
- Cereals (Porridge oats)
- Biscuits
- Tea


(Toiletries) -

- Shampoo & Conditioner
- Shower Gel
- Toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Anti-bacterial hand gel

(Baby) -

- Nappies
- Nappy Bags
- Baby Wipes
- Cotton Wool

Personally, I would stay away from Anti-bacterial anything. Anti-bacterial is not needed in the home and causes more harm than good.
Children, especially babies, need bacteria in order to develop strong immune systems and being over clean, over zealous about it is harmful.
They put things in their mouths all the time to introduce 'germs' so antibodies are made.
Everything sterile interferes with this natural course of action.

Parents do not need to be any 'cleaner' when a baby is born.

And the single most beneficial thing you can do for baby the OS way? Breast feed

carlislelass

If a baby grow is still long enough in the body ,cut off the feet and use socks to keep feet warm

monnagran

Emsky* wrote: »

My little girl is now 6 months old & this is what I've found:

- Don't buy lot's of outfits, people tend to buy you them as gifts & if your baby's anything like mine they won't be in them long so sometimes it's easier & cheaper to put them in sleepsuits/babygrows.

- If your planning on having another baby & have the storage try and keep as many of baby's clothes that you can to save yourself the money in the future.

- I've joined a local mums group on FB that advertises cheap baby groups on. I'm currently on a 5 week baby massage class for £20 for the whole 5 weeks (I was told by another mum she had attended a class that cost £10 per hour).

- Don't stockpile nappies we found our little girl grew out of the first size really quickly.


- Babies don't need lot's of toys, all they need is your love & attention for the first few months but if you are really set on buying toys look on local FB selling groups a lot of people sell good quality second hand toys.

- If your feeling slightly housebound or want to just get out of the house, go for a walk with the pram the fresh air is fantastic for you and for baby, but best of all it's FREE!!

Thanks for the update, I've wondered from time to time how you were getting on.
Isn't it great to be able to give advice based on your own experience?

I think that the community of young mums is one of the strongest communities that there is. The community of dog owners comes close.
You will find that the friends you make at the baby clinic will still be your friends for years to come.

Bringing up a child is no bed of roses but it is the most worthwhile privilege you will ever undertake..
The Prophet (Kahlil Gilbran) said that "children are the arrows that we send into the future" or something like that.
He was not wrong and now you are responsible for part of that future.
Isn't that awesome?

x