Essentialnew born baby list?

Becles

Mrs._Irwin wrote: »

Current advice is that breastfed babies don't need to drink anything else, as long as they are being fed on demand. Also I heard that for the first few weeks, it's confusing to feed a breastfed baby with a bottle, even with expressed milk, as the sucking mechanism is so different.

I will 'fess up, I'm due baby number one in April, but I've been reading everything, and listening to all advice and nodding my head, even when I know it's out-of-date ie. as old as I am!

I'm not going to have any bottles or emergency powder in, because it's tempting fate, as far as I'm concerned. I grew up without a car, and know fully well that I can manage without, but now hubby's car is there, it's too tempting to pop to KFC etc. Same reason I've cancelled my credit cards - can't be trusted! As someone else pointed out in another thread, if you've a 24 hour Tesco/Asda within driving distance, baby won't be hungry for too long, and then if you don't need it, you won't have wasted any money.

There is no need to be so dismissive about the advice given by people in this thread.

I'll 'fess up - I haven't read "everything" and I don't follow "current advice" to the book, but I have managed to raise 3 healthy babies. I'm a firm believer that if natural mothering instincts and common sense should play a part in bringing a baby up, rather than rigidly following every piece of current advice to the letter.

You will find times when "guidelines" and "current advice" don't fit your situation. My daughter was breast fed on demand, but there were times when she wanted water mainly as it seemed to help settle her colic. It didn't affect my milk supply nor did she get confused between bottle and teat. Should I have left her to scream with the colic because guidelines say no water and no bottles? No I followed my common sense and gave her a bit of water as that soothed her.

So you have a 24 hour store within driving distance? Add up your return journey time to buy milk, bottles and a steriliser, then add up the time it takes to sterilise the things when you get back home. It may not sound long, but when you have a hungry baby screaming it's head off (and boy do they scream when they are hungry!) then it adds to the pressure of getting milk quick.

It's not "tempting fate", it's being practical and being prepared in case something happens and the mother can't breastfeed. Milk costs around £6 a tin and ready made cartons are about 50p each. IMO it's a small price to pay for peace of mind. It's not as waste as if it isn't used, you can use the milk up when you start to prepare your own baby foods.

You will still need a steriliser for bowls, spoons, cups, teethers, dummies, toys etc. My daughter is 6½ months now, and I still use the steriliser on a regular basis for her things.

benood

We are just expecting No4 and won't need a sterilizer immediately but once you start weaning it might come in handy - we tend to be of the view that the dishwasher sterilizes well enough for spoons & bowls etc or perhaps boiling water over the end of the spoon.

However, my OH would second Mrs Irwins concerns about confusing the baby with bottles vs nipples!

We found a sling was just as important as a travel system - we got on well with the wilkinet and a ring sling, but this time around we've got a baby bjorn for a bit of a change - haven't tried it yet though.

Refund_Queen

Things don't always go to plan!! I had twins 4 years ago and planned to breast feed, I had to give up after 5 days for several reasons and so therefore needed the formula milk. Agree with Becles, screaming babies don't wait for you to pop out to Mr T's, buy milk, sterilizer, correct teats (and boy are there loads) etc.

Baby number 3 is on its way for me and from my previous experience I am going to definately buy a tin of formula / cartons (these are FAB, no need to boil and cool water and make up feed) and also some instant use bottles (no need to sterilize them - great for emergencies/outings).

HTH
x

Gingham_Ribbon

Essentials:

Buggy that lies flat for newborn. Umbrella fold is light and easy to use and baby can be snug with a winter cosytoes and raincover. Pram would have been pointless for us as he'd have outgrown it too quickly as he's very tall. (Tried to put him in a buggaboo one at a friend's house when he was 5 months old and his head and feet touched the top and bottom of it.)

Properly fitted rearward facing car seat (or a light one that is fairly universal if you don't have a car but will use other people's occasionally.)

Vests and babygrows that button at the front and legs. (Ones that button at the back are a nightmare and I dont' see the point in putting newborns in anything fiddly.

Cottonwool, nappies, baby nail scissors, bonjela, terries squares (for burping, changing on, wiping up spills even if you go with disposable nappies.)

Cot and decent, waterproof mattress. Couple of changes of sheets. Grobags if baby won't be in bed with you.

What I didn't use second time round:

breast pump and steriliser. Used it a lot with first but never seem to have the time this time and am still breastfeeding at 9 months. However, I do think they're a worthwhile investment. Second hand ones are good. If you've a dishwasher, I understand a steriliser isn't necessary.

Changing mat (I just used terries and a towel)
Changing table (DH made an over cot one from the top of an old chest of drawers with wood screwed to the back to keep it in place.)
Pram (as explained above)
moses basket (didn't have one first time either - just as well due to having big babies, they'd have grown out of them in weeks.)

Furniture - we have a plastic box under the cot with clothes in and a large holdall with washable nappies in that sits in the understairs cupboard. I love to go into people's nurseries and see all the co-ordinating drawers/changing tables/wardrobes/cots/feeding chairs etc. It looks great and if we had a lot of money I'd have done that in a heartbeat, but none of it is Necessary. (And it would have never been tidy if I'd had all that anyway as I'm a messy pup!)

Gingham_Ribbon

Also, this has been invaluable: The kari me sling. I used to walk around with him sleeping inside it when he was tiny, and could feed him while I was walking. Now he goes in it facing outwards. He's a lump so I don't use it for long distances any more but a walk to the shops is easier with him in it than in the pram.

Ms_Chocaholic

Lots of bibs but get don't buy the tiny ones as they'll be too small when the baby grows.

Also you'll need lots of breast pads.

purplegirluk1

If you are planning on giving birth anywhere other than home you must have a current regulation car seat to take the baby home. You wont be allowed to take the baby in a car without one. Make sure you know how to use it and fit it in the car properly.

I agree with the strealiser, you can clean dummies, teething rings, you may need the odd bottle. Though you can always use a pan of boiling water if your not planning on using it much. Saying that you can pick a decent one up for £20 so its up to you what you decide.

I am due in March and I have a growing mountain of baby grows and vests and some outfits. I have only bought reduced things so its not cost a fourtune. I imagine that most people who buy you presents will buy an outfit so I would buy enough new born baby grows and vests for the birth, probably 10 of each and then see what else you get.

We have a moses basket but aren't getting the cot until he is about 5 months as we plan to co-sleep. The moses basket will be useful for the day time/eveing before we go to bed.

A bouncy chair to pop the baby in when you bathe etc.

If you look in the boots baby catalogue there is a baby check list that is pretty basic, i'd suggest you check that for ideas.

daphne_descends

Just throwing my opinion out there, I did not want to buy steriliser/bottles etc because I planned to breastfeed.

No one tells you that you spend the first two weeks practically glued to your baby as they feed constantly. If we'd had formula and bottles in the house there were several times when I would have given up on a whim without giving it much thought, because I felt trapped in that bloody nursing chair for hours on end... 4 weeks on breastfeeding is well established so I'm glad I didn't have the option to stop without having to go and get everything.

That said DP gives babe 2-3 oz of formula a day while I have a soak in the bath, this is my time and I really value it and DP loves feedling DS so I did obviously end up buying it all.

I'm only echoing what others have said now but you cannot have too many muslin clothes.

A freezer full of food was a lifesaver! Some ready meals (oops ) and some batch cooking, meant we didn't eat too unhealthily but didn't need to cook for the first couple of weeks.

MadDogWoman_2

I did the emergency cartons of formula and bottles, it actually gave me the confidence to keep going!

My lifesaver was dummies - controversial I know - I introduced DD to one at 5 days old as she was/is a huge comfort sucker I didn't sleep the entire time in hospital as as soon as I put her in her cot she woke up. It didn't cause any confusion.

Invest in a Widgey cushion, gets baby to the right height when newborn for breastfeeding, then can be used to help baby learn to sit up. The cushion was a lifesaver for me as I had a c-section and it kept baby of the wound.

Find your local Baby Cafe (www.thebabycafe.co.uk) and visit before baby is born as it normalises public feeding (it did for me anyway) - useful for advice and conversation after birth too.

HTH

MDW

Mrs._Irwin

Becles wrote: »

There is no need to be so dismissive about the advice given by people in this thread.

I'll 'fess up - I haven't read "everything" and I don't follow "current advice" to the book, but I have managed to raise 3 healthy babies. I'm a firm believer that if natural mothering instincts and common sense should play a part in bringing a baby up, rather than rigidly following every piece of current advice to the letter.

You will find times when "guidelines" and "current advice" don't fit your situation. My daughter was breast fed on demand, but there were times when she wanted water mainly as it seemed to help settle her colic. It didn't affect my milk supply nor did she get confused between bottle and teat. Should I have left her to scream with the colic because guidelines say no water and no bottles? No I followed my common sense and gave her a bit of water as that soothed her.

So you have a 24 hour store within driving distance? Add up your return journey time to buy milk, bottles and a steriliser, then add up the time it takes to sterilise the things when you get back home. It may not sound long, but when you have a hungry baby screaming it's head off (and boy do they scream when they are hungry!) then it adds to the pressure of getting milk quick.

It's not "tempting fate", it's being practical and being prepared in case something happens and the mother can't breastfeed. Milk costs around £6 a tin and ready made cartons are about 50p each. IMO it's a small price to pay for peace of mind. It's not as waste as if it isn't used, you can use the milk up when you start to prepare your own baby foods.

You will still need a steriliser for bowls, spoons, cups, teethers, dummies, toys etc. My daughter is 6½ months now, and I still use the steriliser on a regular basis for her things.

I certainly didn't mean to be dismissive, I was concerned only that someone might read that they *must* give their baby water, and worry that they haven't, when it isn't necessary for all babies.

I agree absolutely about making up your own mind, and that is why I am listening to and reading everything, so I have something on which to base my opinions.
My point about 'tempting fate' was not a generalisation - I know that if I've got an easy way out, I take it, and I'm sure other people may be the same.
I am hoping to take every precaution to avoid having to feed my baby products containing cow milk, as both me and my hubby have suffered from asthma and eczema. My mum puts my developing baby eczema down to the midwife giving me formula when I was first born.
Of course that doesn't mean that I wouldn't bottle feed if the situation forced me to, but I personally don't see it as a simple either/or, and, for me, entertaining the thought that I might, in my own eyes, fail, from the start by having the stuff in the house would be very disheartening.

I wouldn't want my personal neuroses to prevent anyone else from being prepared, but everyone's different. And that's why these lists of advice are so interesting!

Mrs. Irwin