help with what essentials to buy!

[itshappenedagain]

title syas it really. im on a very tight budget, and am trying to keep costs as low as possible, but cant even think of thigs i need...was so organised with Ds but kept nothing of his thinking it would be an awfully long time till this happened again, if ever.
all suggestions appreciated, as have looked on websites and it sems to list endless amounts of stuff.

[knicknack]

7 vests
7 babygrows
7 pairs socks
2 hats
scratch mitts
nicer clothes (not absolutely essential though)
2 pairs booties
4 blankets
cot and moses basket if you'd like one
buggy/pram
lots of nappies!
sensitive baby wipes/cotton wool
sudocreme
baby shampoo
baby wash
talc
3 bath towels for baby

There is so much more to get if you want to but those are what are would consider as 'essentials' although i've probably forgot something really important!

[lal123]

Thats a pretty good list - but why do you need three towels? I'd add bibs/muslins to the list - lots of both!

[MrsBadger]

beacuse for a while every time you use them you get sick / wee / snot / poo / cord gunk on them so they end up going straight in the wash. Any twoels will do though, needn't be special new baby ones, and rememnber you can use pillowcases as sheets for the moses basket rather than buying special ones.

NB that list isn't bad but you don't acutally need any toiletries for the baby at all - plain water only for at least 6wks, and no talc ever. A gentler barrier cream (waitrose baby bottom butter is good) is better than sudocrem for keeping them rash-free, but you may need the sudocrem if he actually gets a rash.

Oh and top of that list should be 'boobs and support re how to bf'

[joanne34]

Ive bought 2nd hand this time round. Ie crib, play gym

The mattresses I will buy new, but I'm raiding the charity shops for little cardigans, clothes and blankets etc... anything that can be washed.

Ask friends or relatives for any hand outs of any old baby stuff...

Plenty of vests and sleepsuits will do for the first 3 months.... cheap at tescos.

I do swear by ' Bepanthen' for nappy rash though... that is the babys bottom of all nappy rash creams ! it's a little on the expensive side, but well worth it.

Im at the stage of buying stuff now and i am really having to try and hold back, but everthing is so small and cute... its so hard to resist

[itshappenedagain]

thanx that is a big help...i BF Ds for 35 months so am prepared for that, when i asked the midwife what to buy and what to put in bag she told me i had done this before so she was sure it would all come abck to me when i went shopping!...didnt help.

[knicknack]

that was my thoughts with poo wee cord gunk ect on toels and yes i totally forgot muslins/bibs i said i'd forget something! and mrsbadger i was thinking of putting boobs at the top of the list but thought itshappenedagain probably has a pair already (those and love really are far more important than any fancy baby stuff though )

[AnAngelWithin]

scratch mitts....nightmare!! Buy baby gros from matalan, the sleeves fold over the hands, much easier than trying to deal with mitts constantly falling off!!

towels....don't get sucked into buying the cute ones with the hoods on for stupid prices each! I went to dunelm and got 2 cream colours hand towels and 2 face cloths. Total... £4! And they can be used after as well just in the house.

buy a big bottle of the all in one baby wash that does hair, body etc, its fab and lasts age and less to have to remember to keep buying when it runs out!!

[knicknack]

oh also there are alot of bargains to be had on ebay well worth taking a look i am an e bay addict scince having ds2 5 months ago

[AnAngelWithin]

asda have also got a baby event on til 6th feb, so a few bargains to be had there!

[Two4One]

Agree with MrsBadger you don't need any baby toiletries apart, you shouldn't be using shampooo, soap (and definitely not talc!) on a newborn. And they don't advise wipes either though I'm sure the odd one won't hurt... I have always wondered where you're supposed to get this "cooled boiled water" from when you're out and about.

Large cotton wool pads (Superdrug do the biggest I could find) much easier than balls for nappies. A couple of sponges for bath-time. A plastic bowl for baths - get a large cheap one in a supermarket - it'll do for the topping and tailing in the early days. And save you worrying about losing baby in the bath! Then you can use a bath support in the big bath - these seem to be around £15 in JL/Mothercare but I got a nice one in Tesco for a fiver.

Scratch mitts you can do without if you buy babygrows with fold over cuffs - I've bought Sainsburys ones and they're super-soft and have washed really well. They're the best value for money ones around I think.

I haven't actually bought socks as all the babygrows have feet so I'm not sure when you would need them. Obviously once they start wearing proper outfits. But not at the beginning.

You know you need a carseat if you have a car. A Moses basket is a lovely thing but some people do improvise! A baby monitor is a luxury you can do without so long as you're not far from baby. Breast-feeding will keep costs down - and don't bother buying a pump until you know if it's going to work out for you - they're fairly pricey.

You can go on forever buying for a baby but an awful lot of it is indulging yourself. It's nice if you can afford it, of course, but you really can do without a lot fo stuff.

My top tip for people on a budget would be stay out of Mothercare - it's a rip-off and yet it seems to be full of people who look like they don't have money to burn IYSWIM. Stick with the supermarkets and, yes, the old favourite, John Lewis. And use the internet!

[Chillohippi]

I would really recommend one of these bath supports. Makes bath time a millions times easier.

[OtterInaSkoda]

Stock up on tops for you in the sales or at H&M - as you'll remember unless you are very skilled with muslins/towels you end up with vom down your back on a regular basis. Also useful should your breastpads not do their job properly.

[itshappenedagain]

adding to list as you all suggest... think i did have a bath support for ds...think it was from asda. will look into ther baby event even if iys just to stock up on nappies.
i also understand the mothercare thing...plus feel slightlyinadauate in there as it seems to be lots of aprents buying everything they could possibly need together and im doing my best to avoid any situation where i feel worse than i already do!
must put breastpads on the list now you ahve all reminded me, definitley couldnt live without them!

[Chillohippi]

Don't get sucked in to buying everything. Lots of people panic and buy waaaaaay to much. YOu can often find those bath supports cheaper elsewhere (we got a Winnie the Pooh one from TK Maxx for a fiver), perhaps even Babies R Us?

[momofnearly2]

7 vests/babygro's (with fold over mittens)
2 Cardigans/Jumpers
7 pairs socks
2 hats
4 blankets
Cot
Buggy/pram
Couple pack of nappies
Cotton wool
Bepanthen
Towels, DOn't need to be special, Just normal cheap towels.
MUSLINS, LOTS AND LOTS OF MUSLINS
A couple of decent breastfeeding bra's and tops.

No need to buy booties,
No need to buy moses basket/crib as baby can go straight into a cot if you have the space in your room,
Don't buy too many nappies. I had loads and 3 packs went unused because they grow so bloody fast.
Don't buy wipes. Plain water and cotton wool only for bum.
Same with toiletries. We still don't use any products apart from a little baby shampoo on my 10 month old and that is only because he has more hair than me.
Sudocreme is bad bad bad if baby gets nappy rash as it stings like a B. I swear by Bepanthen and Lo as never had never rash.

(I feel that this list is more for me than you and reminding me what to buy for Dc2, You'd think I'd have it at the front of my mind with Ds only being 10 months. )