What do you really need for a baby?

laurasbump

With a baby on the way in a few months I've started buying some things for the new arrival, however I'd be interested in your opinions with regards to what I'll actually need. What couldn't you have done without and what was surplus to requirements?

So far I've got:

Pram/pushchair/carseat - eBay used
Re-usable nappies - 13 wraps, 5 covers in Size 1
Crib - borrowed
Moses basket - borrowed

Need:
Clothes - I have bought the odd piece of clothing when I've seen a bargain but have no idea about how much I need in each size.
Disposable nappies
Towels and changing stuff

Would like to get but not sure if necessary:
Baby monitor
Standalone changing/bath unit
Sling / carrier

Your thoughts would be appreciated!

Laura

BatCat

Hi Laura,
My son will be 1 in a couple of weeks!
The things we found the most useful were:
sleeping bags (grobags/slumber sacks)
- You can get these cheap on ebay/TK Max etc. it meant we didn't have to worry that the bedding was the right amount or that he would kick them off in the night. You probably need about 2 or 3.
If you're using reusable nappies then you'll need a mesh bag and a bucket and a large bottle of tea tree oil. You can also get nappy sanitiser to put in the washing machine for cheap from Tescos or Boots. If you're using reuseable wipes then you may as well use cloth wipes too. Cheap facecloths in a mixture of weak tea work miracles. Also, get a length of fleece and cut it into nappy liner pieces. It will help to take the moisture away from the baby's bottom.
We never found the need for a stand alone changing unit. At the end of the day it means your baby is put at risk because they're up in the air. We just use a changing mat or any available surface.
Slings are good and cheap off ebay.

You don't need:
crib/moses basket sheets
- Pillow cases work just as well.
a baby bath
- we bathed our boy in the sink for the first while and then in the big bath with a bath support.
Best of luck!
BatCat

carol9uk

hi, i have found out i am expecting, not for a while through. i am planning on getting a baby monitor and a sling. i would get a changing unit, they look good but ididnt need one last time, which was 13 years ago, i have just seen the NCT website and they have nearly new sale events which look good and cheap. i saw it in another thread.

good luck

destiny_star2006

This may be of help to you
http://babyproducts.about.com/od/preparingforbaby/a/basiclayette.htm

or this is what i generally keep refering to
http://www.ratbag.demon.co.uk/anna/babystuff/article1.html

Only 16 weeks pregnant or so and already feels like a lifetime lol

poppyolivia

I could not live with out his swinging chair....I actually got housework done!!

Becles

Baby monitors are not necessary IMO unless you live in a huge house and are too far away from the baby to hear crying. I've had 3 babies and managed fine without baby monitors. When they wake up, they cry loud enough for you to hear!

Bath and changing unit are not necessary either. Use a normal changing mat or towel on the floor. If you can't manage getting onto the floor, use a raised surface like a bed or chest of drawers, but be super alert for baby deciding to have a kamikaze moment and rolling off!

Think about how you will fill and empty a stand alone bath. I couldn't be bothered with the hassle of carrying water to the bath, then emptying it again afterwards. I've got a bath that sits over the top of the regular bath which I found really useful. You can fill it from the bath taps, then drain it into the bath afterwards. Some people manage by bathing together in the normal bath or using the kitchen sink (I've never liked the idea of that though!).

I would buy a load of cheap babygros and vests, and just keep baby in them when you are at home. How many depends on how often you want to do washing. It's more comfy for baby in a babygro, and easier for you to wash, and cheap ones mean you can throw them away if they get badly stained from sick or leaky nappies.

Hope all goes well xx

masterthief

a decent set of earplugs.....









guess who doesn't have kids.

seriously though, in MSE spirit, I'd say you don't need tons of clothes, since you have little idea what actual size the baby will be when born and they grow so quickly, it isn't worth it (plus with newborns when they're out and about they'll be mostly wrapped up in blankets in their cot/pram anyway). but definitely make a list of baby companies (everything from mothercare, to pampers, etc) and drop by their websites as companies ike pamper are constantly doing freebis/voucher offers etc., and you could end up saving a fair amount there. havingrecently become an aunt (again) I did this last year and it worked really well.

raffe

From experience you will probably need:

clothes wise: 6 babygrows, 6 vests, 3 cardigans, some sock or bootees incase its a bit cold no more than about two pairs though, 2 hats, scratch mitts, this should do you for atleast the first month washing every other day or so. I would buy up to 1 mth clothes.

Nappies, you will need about 11 nappies per day, and roughly 4 covers, newborn poo can go everywhere, plus nappy liners depending on the type of nappy you are going to use (you can make these yourself really cheaply if using fleece ones), and mesh bag, bucket etc as the other poster said

Towels: we bought special hooded babyones however ended up just using our towels and like the other poster we bathed in the sink.

other stuff, somewhere for the baby to sleep and blankets to wrap baby in, a carseat as they won't let you out of hospital without one if you are travelling by car, i found a sling really useful however this depends on your baby some like them some don't same with a swing, bouncy chair etc i would maybe buy a bouncy chair if you can get one really cheap however i wouldn't buy anything else just yet, stuff like a changing unit see if you can do without one and if you find that you really need one most companies can deliver within a few days or even something like ebay second hand comes really quickly. You will probably be surprised a how little you need.

Hth Raffe

sarahc44

if anyone lives near maidstone I have a used but perfect changing table going and in about a month a cot too. my daughter has outgrown and I would far rather pass them on than sell them

free to anyone who can collect x x

jillybobs

I'd say definately get a baby monitor. We bought one for about ten pounds over five years ago and still use it every day. Our bedroom is on the floor above our sons and as he is a typical bloke (pretty lazy!!!) rather than get out of bed, he shouts every morning for me to go and get him. Suppose its better than him getting out of bed all the time. I also found it useful in an evening when you're watching tv and he was in bed.

I wouldn't bother with a baby changing unit - a mat on the floor is much cheaper and safer!!! I also bought quite an expensive mamas and papas bouncing seat for my son - he hated it. Bought the cheapest one in Mothercare and he loved it. Bought him one of those electric swings - he hated that too. I swear if I had another baby, I'd go for the bare essentials.

One thing I found to be good is those Bumbo seats which support babies before they can sit up properly. I think they are about £25.00 but I sold mine after use for approximately the same price on ebay.

Zara33

sarahc44 wrote: »

if anyone lives near maidstone I have a used but perfect changing table going and in about a month a cot too. my daughter has outgrown and I would far rather pass them on than sell them

free to anyone who can collect x x

That's a lovely thought