Baby & maternity goods

AlderneyAgain

Please keep your eye out for your local branch of the NCT's Nearly New Sales - I help run these in my branch and they are an amazing source of bargains for all things for babies (equipment, prams, clothes, toys) and children.

Our branch run them about 4 times a year, but not all branches are as regular. You can find out what is going on in your area by putting your postcode into http://www.nct.org.uk/

Absolutely amazing for any money savers with children - not only can you buy things but you can sell as well.

AA

scooper

hi

new look have nice stuff,i got some black pants with a silver belt for £7 and pair oj eans with gold belt for £5

carol9uk

congrats wotnext, i am in the same situation. the NCT looks good

krazykidskate

I always found Tesco good for the baby bodysuits, about 7 for £3

Alfietinker

Hi, CONGRATS!

I'm 22 weeks gone with our first and so keeping an eye out too.

My hints: You probably won't need proper maternity clothes until you're around 4 months so bear this in mind when buying seasonal bargains in the sales. You don't want to be wearing jumpers in the summer! (I seem to be much hotter than usual!) Even then you probably won't need the 'full panel' type trousers until much later.

I bought 2 pairs of 'under bump' jeans, 1 pair of fold over top trousers, and a 3 pack of jersey tops from Next; 1 black skirt and a 'party' top from Mothercare. The jeans have elasticated panels which expand as you do but don't look like maternity wear, so are great from early on when normal jeans feel tight but you may not be showing too much. They should last until after baby's born but you can't quite get into your normal clothes for a while.

So far this is all I've needed and I hope not to buy any more maternity clothes at all. I've found the jersey tops with a normal cardigan are fine, and I've got a couple more 'normal' tops in larger sizes which worked out cheaper, same with jumpers. The fashion tops with high waste lines are great for bumps! (Empire line is it?)

The one thing I did splash out on was a coat, but seeing as I couldn't find many maternity ones, and very little in my price range, I bought a 'swing' coat in a size 18 (instead of 14). Plenty of room to expand over winter and much cheaper!


Regarding baby stuff, make a list of (a) essentials and (b) would be nice. Friends & family will want to buy lots of stuff so it's good to let them know what you will actually use. Don't forget lots of cute newborn clothes will be outgrown within weeks, so try and get a selection of bigger sizes, bearing in mind the seasons at that age.

Ebay is good for baby stuff, we got an immaculate cot for £10.50. We've found the pushchair we want and are now keeping an eye out for ebay/sales before we splash out the full price.

Join as many baby clubs as you can: Tesco, Pampers, Bounty etc. You'll get lots of vouchers and freebies. There's a great Bounty pack you'll get at your first booking antenatal appointment.

Sorry for the ramble but hope this helps!

Mabe

Make sure you register with Boots parenting club (think you can join from 24 weeks) you get loads of money off vouchers double points for baby and maternity products etc until baby is 2. If you joining before certain time you can get free changing bag when you buy nappies. Their health club is a good one too coz you get half price boots baby paracetamol (I got a forehead thermometer half price £12.99). Tesco baby club is a good one too get a nice huggies hamper when you buy some newborn nappies and then vouchers again until baby is 2. None of these cost anything not sure about but think if you have advantage card/tesco Clubcard think you can do it on line.

td

You're lucky - look around clothes shops at the min there are loads of smocky type tops that aren't maternity but would serve as such. Also get the trouser/skirt extender which will allow you to wear your own clothes longer - belly belt
http://www.shop-com.co.uk/Belly_Belt-31587313-41218858-p!.shtml?sourceid=309

Would back up kiddicare.com - fantastic website though I would rec going into the shops to find the stuff you want (part prams) then ordering from kiddicare.

Asda and Tesco are good for basic clothes, Primark great for fleecy sleepsuits.

Ask around friends see if they know anyone who's just had a baby and ask them if they'll save stuff for you- baby clothes are worn for such a short amount of time particularly 0-12 months.

td

alison6692

Hiya x

CONGRATULATIONS X

I bought the belly belt and found it to be a total waste of money - might be worth keeping your eye out on ebay for one as they are ovr £15 to buy and I ended up sending mine to Oxfam!

Ebay has fab bargains - got a new costume for under a fiver !

Also what about starting a gift list? We did this for the relatives - we used www.whattogive.com
We have been very lucky and have not had to buy much.

Join all the baby clubs to get the freebies!

I love Next and DP's for clothes - especially as they different leg lengths.

Asda and Tesco for cheap non-wired bra's.

Tesco now stock maternity bra's but tend to have limited sizes.

Marks and Spencer for cheap maternity / nursing PJ's.

Sainsbury's for lovely soft blankets - wait for a 20% off day.

Join Vertbaudet and then wait a while - eventually they will send you a some great offers to get you ordering from their catalogue.

Ikea has great furniture.

Avoid a baby "range" will help keep costs down as you don't have to buy all matching stuff and you can keep your eye out for a bargain!

HTH

Good Luck with everything.

Alison x

newmommyjen

http://www.additionsdirect.co.uk/rf/add/navigation/product.do?Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&SNtt=maternity&Ns=prod_in_stock%7c1%7c%7cprice_est%7c0%7c%7cprod_min_base_price%7c1%7c%7cscu_id%7c1&Nao=15&groupId=446842330&Nu=this_product&SNtk=littlewoods_search&Np=1&SN=85+104&Ntt=446842330&D=446842330&Ntk=group_search&Dx=mode%2bmatchall&thisprod=446842330&N=85+104&Nty=1&Mis_item_id=15&Mis_item_loc_id=1&product=446842330
i thought these looked good for £8 for 2.
called a belly band, basicly covers ur bump so u dont have to wear longer tops to cover ur bump.

RustyFlange

Whilst not baby clothes ... something you will use loads of is things like baby bath bubbles/shampoo/baby wash/talc/wipes etc ...

All are half price at Sainsburys til 4th June ... I got £26 worth of wipes/shampoo/baby bath for £13 always worth being prepared in my opinion.