Nesting panic at 7 months - nursery, my bag and baby bag...

[artisanroast]

Hi,

Today's task is to make lists (with costs) for the nursery, my hospital bag and my baby's hospital bag.

I have taken 2 weeks of annual leave to sort the flat and buy all relevant baby related paraphernalia...

I am doing my list and got as far as the cot in my 'Nursery' section (my first item) and then...

here is my question... do I need a waterproof mattress cover in case she pees and it leaks out of her nappy?!?!

(I used to be a normal person with Sunday plans including a glass of wine at the pub at around 2pm!)

There will be more questions to come. Thank you all in advance

[BlueBananas]

Have you not bought anything atall yet?

[LongDayAlready]

Yes to a mattress cover as young babies tend to be sick quite a lot as well as having the odd exploding nappy!

Wouldn't stress too much though, a lot of the stuff isn't necessary. Am currently 7 months with DC4 and we have cot, mattress cover, baby sleeping bags and have to dig out the pram and car seat. Def need some sleep suits and an outdoor suit, have mobile from last time round and infant carrier and I think that's largely it for now. Although baby is going in our room so not worrying about its room per se but my situation different to yours in that it will be easier for me to do things once other DC back at school/preschool in Sep. And all my others have been late so I've factored that in.

Do put humongous pants and large maternity towels (not the slimline ones) in your bag though - that's always the first thing I get now!

Good luck with the lists!

[Whatabout]

Some cot mattresses have removable covers but i would still buy one. I got mine from boots I think.

[cherrytreehorn]

Joining thread as I am about to buy a cot mattress too and unsure about ventilation vs wipe clean. Try not to panick, I'm 7.5 months and the nursery is still a building site. Bought pram and cot so far but nothing else. As long as you get a car seat, grows, nappies and somewhere for it to sleep everything will be fine I'm sure :)

[Rosieliveson]

We had/have

Cot and mattress - no waterproof cover but used double sheet.
Wardrobe
Chest drawers with changing top
2 changing mats. 1upstairs, 1down
2 changing supplies box (just a tub, nothing bought especially) 1upstairs,1down

Crib for our room
Moses basket downstairs

4 cot sheets
4 crib sheets
4 moses sheets (also fit pram)
2 fleece blankets
2 cellular blankets
2 baby sleeping bags
2 hooded towels but regular towel would have been fine.

1 travel system inc car seat
Car sunshade

Bouncer chair
Playmat

Can't think what else ... the nursery could have waited to be honest but I enjoyed getting it ready. Also, we did need somewhere for baby clothes.

[Rosieliveson]

For baby in hospital I had a few vests, sleepsuits, nappies, wipes and a blanket. I left a few more clothes and supplies for us both ready at home for DH to bring if we stayed longer than a night or two.

I did the same for myself. Yes to maternity pads, large, black pants and pyjamas that you'd feel decent wandering a ward in but can get access if you choose to breastfeed. I also took some slippers for the ward floor and flip flops and towel for the shower. I took my usual toiletries and extra lipbalm. Also, a comfy outfit to come home in.
Also, snacks and drinks!

[cherrytreehorn]

Longday, if you get a waterproof mattress cover would you say it doesn't matter what type of mattress you get underneath it? They seem to range from £15 to £100 but surely they all conform to the same safety standards. I feel guilty getting the cheapest foam pvc one but I would imagine they are just as safe as an organic cotton/lambswool/vented one? Sorry to hijack op

[artisanroast]

This is gold ladies - thank you!!!

Blue I only have a few sleepsuits and other 'cute' items for her - none of which are necessary and all of which are in newborn.

What was I thinking - I need 0-3 months too!!!

LongDay how could I forget the mobile beside my cot section - oops! Back to the ikea website for more pricing!

[artisanroast]

oh yes - do I need a nappy bin?

I was looking at the tommy tippee nappy disposal system as in theory it sounds like a good idea to contain the smells however I know that having a baby is like having a wedding - companies want you to unnecessarily spend too much money!

[Tia2005]

The nappy bins. Are of offer in babies r us for £10 x

[LongDayAlready]

Not sure re the mattress to be honest but would imagine so long as it has a kite mark it will be fine. I got a new mattress for DC2 following SIDS advice but didn't for DC3, just made sure all washed and had new protector. And doing the same this time, not least as DC3 spent most of his time in our bed so hardly used it!

We did have a nappy bin for DC 1 & 2 but ended up just using sacs and depositing nappies outside back door (or occasionally throwing out of upstairs bathroom window in direction of back door) and then putting them into the bin at end of day. Try as we might, there was always a slight aroma in the bathroom otherwise. And it wasn't fun to empty!

Definite yes to vests too. I only had DC1 in hospital but remember it being incredibly hot and wearing a nightie for the short time I was in there - found it slightly easier to get on than pjs - would recommend taking both possibly?

[BlueBananas]

How have you resisted shopping all this time?! I was pretty much done by my 20 week scan, I'm 6 & 1/2 months now and have got everything sex specific and am pretty much done with my hospital bags!
We have 2 kids already though so I wanted to be organised because I'm going to have to have all my Xmas shopping done before baby arrives too
Anyway - nappy bins, no never used one, never felt the need for one, also can you imagine the smell? A bin full of shit? At least in a normal bin the smell will be diluted with other smells too
Don't think we had a waterproof mattress cover on the cot either, the ones we had on toddler beds when potty training were plasticky and loud though so be careful there
Although you won't need the cot ready for a while after baby's born and the nursery for even longer
I would just concentrate on what you'll need straight away

[SomewhereovertheRainbow02]

I wouldnt bother with a nappy bin! I had one for DD and i could still smell it (but i dont have a kitchen bin either due to smells) its just as easy to nip out and pop it in the wheelie bin

[Whatabout]

I have been using a nappy bin for two years and it does not smell and is emptied regularly. Found it a very useful thing, but each to their own.


Shops will still be open when baby comes and you have another three months to go most likely so don't worry about not having things ready, there's no rush.

[Rosieliveson]

I don't have a nappy bin. Any wet nappies go I. The kitchen/bedroom bin and are emptied at the end of the day. I don't find they smell. Dirt nappies are bagged and go straight into the outside bin

I got a cheapish, foam mattress with a removable cover. DS never slept well though and I have now bought a spring one for his toddler bed. Ikea do a cot size spring mattress for £40-60ish

[artisanroast]

Do I need a movement and sound baby monitor or just a sound one?

[hotcrossbun83]

My theory is that if you have a wheely bin then it's fine to have no nappy bin and just take out the stinky ones. But we have to put our rubbish out in bags each week so can't put loose items in our outside bin - therefore nappy bin is useful. It didn't small at all with newborn nappies, now with a toddler I have to empty it more often

[hotcrossbun83]

And I think a cheap mattress from a shop (not random online purchase as might not conform to UK standards) is safe but not necessarily that comfortable. I had a cheap foam mothercare one at my mums and there was a big difference between that and the sprung JL one at home

[Turquoiseblue]

I worry waterproof mattresses made the baby hot and sweaty (one of the causes associated with cot death is overheating) so I d just get a regular mattress approved to safety standards.
They re only little a sheet and a muslin is usually enough to catch most pee or puke, just have a few different sheet sets! And plenty of Muslins. I used pop a muslin under baby at the top of a mattress. Also large housewife pillowcases in cotton or flannel make great Moses basket or small cot mattress covers. I say this preg now on Dc3 -remembering when DS who had colic it wasn't really the mattress that got most of the puke/ pee/ poo.
Nappies tend to catch most so leaks aren't usually massive.
But safe sleep standards are important IMO.
(Maybe I m biased as I know two families who lost babies to SIDS- don't want to scare you unnecessarily but it is worth reading the recommendations on safe sleep for infants under 1.

[soloula]

If you're having baby in with you in a crib/basket then you won't be needing a cot mattress for months anyway. I'd hold off getting the mattress until you can get a good deal in a sale since you're not in a huge rush. A lot of mattresses are 50% off when they reduce them so if you wait you may be able to get a much better mattress for your money :) As for what you want to spend, I'd say to have a think about how long you're planning to use it for - if it's a cotbed you'll be using it for a good few years so might be better getting a slightly better quality one to save you replacing it further down the line.

[AbbeyRoadCrossing]

Nappy bin depends on your set up at home. It was great when I lived in a 3rd floor flat - I wasn't going outside every time I changed a nappy! But if you have a changing area near the door with an outside bin then perhaps not necessary.
I'm in a house now but still use the bin upstairs. It doesn't stink and is very good at containing the stink

[artisanroast]

Turquoise thanks for the SIDS tip - avoiding the waterproof topper! and buying more little shorty sleeved babygrows instead of all sleepsuits.

Soloula Good tip to hold off on the mattress!

Abbey Road I am in a flat too so overall its a bit inconvenient to do the trip to the outside bin a few times per day - that and for want of a better description - our outside bin is boggin'! The only person who dodges the rats out there is DH! Nappy bin it is!

3pm and I am still sitting doing this flipping list!

Another question... Do babies come home in sleepsuits or wee outfits?!?! She is an October baby and I honestly don't have a clue.

Thanks ladies

[misssmilla1]

I'm 31 weeks and just started getting stuff together too. On the mattress protector - I bought a couple from Ikea, but the instructions are that you do NOT put the protector under the baby's head; I assume as it's not very breathable

[Whatabout]

Save the outfits for a good few weeks / months. You will be changing a lot of nappies / sleep suits for one reason or another and outfits are a PIA. It depends on the weather what your baby will wear, long sleeved vest, sleep suit, cardi (if needed), hat and then blanket once strapped in the car seat should be plenty. They shouldn't be wearing anything too fluffy / thick in a car seat as in an accident it will compress and baby can fly out. Light layers and then a blanket is the way to go in the car.

[avocadotoast]

Sleepsuits and vests are a lot easier than outfits (though our summer go-to has been vests and leggings, partly because DD is in the sling a lot so that's an extra layer). Plus there's nothing more annoying than getting baby into a cutesy outfit only for them to throw up all over it.

If she's an October baby don't forget blankets and hats for coming home so she's snuggly and warm.

I wouldn't worry too much about buying 0-3 month outfits at this stage. We got bought a lot as gifts (though tbh people mostly bought us newborn/first size or 3-6 months, so I have had to buy some 0-3 month sleepsuits and vests). Unless you have a big baby they'll be fine in newborn size for a while and you can just nip out and get more if you need them.

We don't have a mattress cover as DD sleeps in a Sleepyhead. She is a bit sicky so we have an extra cover for it. So far (touch wood) she hasn't had any poo explosions while she's been sleeping!

We got given a nappy disposal bin (we'd never have bought one tbh) and it has been very useful. It does make me really aware of how much waste we're producing though! We've mainly switched to cloth nappies now so we don't use it as much.