What do I NEED in first few weeks?!?!

[AmIGoingMad]

Hello!
I'm a first timer and after sitting down with hubby last night to make a list of what we need to buy I'm feeling extremely clueless!
Any advice on essentials?

[Alibabaandthe40nappies]

Break it down into sections.

Sleep
Transport
Clothes
Feeding

Then think about what approach you are taking. Do you want the baby in bed with you, are you planning to breastfeed, do you have a car?
What time of year your baby is due makes a big difference in terms of what clothing you will need.


These are my VERY basics though
Lots of muslins
Babygros
Nappies (disposable or cloth depending on what you want to do)
Plenty of cake for you

[AnyFuleKno]

babygros, vests for indoors
a coat or snowsuit, hat, mittens for going outside
pram or sling
somewhere to sleep - even if cosleeping, you'll need somewhere to plonk junior during the day for sleeps, blankets and sheets (not too many though, this is the sort of thing you always end up with loads of)
muslins, nappies, wipes, cotton wool if you want
change mat

For you: thermos mug, decent bras for after the birth, comfy clothes you can slob around in but also don't mind visitors seeing
dvd boxsets for marathon feeding sessions
frozen meals in the freezer for when you can't manage to whip up a meal

other things depend on how you're going to feed.

[MmeLindt]

What do you need:

A patient and attentive husband who should bring you tea and biscuits anytime you express an interest in them.

A bolt on the door to keep visitors out.

Lots of time for babygazing.

[AnyFuleKno]

As a rule, don't panic, you can always buy stuff when the baby is here if you find you need it. As long as your baby is fed and warm, mothercare is always there (dh made a fair few trips in the early days). You'll only curse yourself if you buy things now that you don't use (nappy bin capsules, baby wipe warmers etc etc)

check out nct nearly new sale near you on their website, you can pick up most of this stuff for an absolute steal.

[missedith01]

Sleepsuits, vests, nappies and wipes, a blanket, a basket and muslins. Car seat if you are leaving hospital in your own car. Everything else is negotiable.

[megonthemoon]

All of the above plus Sky+ or DVD boxsets to get you through long feeding/winding sessions.

And when you buy all your stuff and get to the till, send DH running back to grab an extra pack of muslins as you won't have put in enough packs :) - bloody amazing things but you always need more than you think.

[AmIGoingMad]

Thanks ladies!
I think I'm just panicking myself with all the possibles out there! These are really useful tips to get me more focused! Keep them coming!

[japhrimel]

JoJoMamanBebe used to have a great list of basic suggestions on their site, but I can't now find it.

Breaking it into sections is a good idea. I did that and then made a list in Excel TBH. Then I worked out what the options were for each thing (e.g. carseat) and where to get it from. And then we went through it a few times going "do we really need/want that?". I was probably a bit over organised about it, but I prefer being that way and it helped to budget as there are a lot of little things that add up to enormous amounts of money!

[japhrimel]

I could post my baby shopping list if it'd be helpful. A lot of it is such personal choice though (e.g. breast or bottle feeding, travelling by car or public transport most?).

[AmIGoingMad]

Thanks japhrimel that would be really helpful! I'm planning on breastfeeding but keeping an open mind as I don't want to beat myself up over it if it doesn't work out. Also we have managed to get car seat sorted-maxi-cosi cabrio.
I think that the way you've done it is super organised and the way we need to go really- need to know what to get, then research the different brands etc, then work out where we can get what we decide on for the best price!

[JiggeryPoverty]

A year's supply of washing powder etc and a tumble drier.

The washing powder will all be used up by week three and you'll be taking out a service contract on the washer and the dryer.


Make a bunch of Ocado/Tesco orders for the first few weeks. Order tea milk bread biscuits fruit nappies wipes and ready meals. Especially teh ready meals.

[stressheaderic]

I don't get the fascination with muslins. I had a pack of 6 and they did me just fine. DD wore a bib over her babygro most of the day as she was very pukey.

Don't get a baby bath - you'll use it all of twice, if that.
Best things for me: rear-view car mirror, so I could see baby in carseat
towelling wedge for in the bath
snowsuit
large bottle of Milton sterilising fluid
emergency dummies
only a few packs of Size 1 nappies, we ended up with quite a lot left over!

[ShowOfHands]

Low expectations and a high number of calories.

[japhrimel]

Okay, you asked for it!

Bathing & changing
Flexibath baby bath
Changing mat
Changing mat liners
Fabric bath support
Cuddle dry towels
Newborn nappies
Nappy sacks
Wipes
Sudocrem
Cotton wool pads
Cotton wool balls
Cotton buds
Sponges

Clothing
Baby hoodie (alternative to pramsuit)
Vests (6 newborn, 6 0-3)
Sleepsuits (6 newborn, 6 0-3)
Hats
Socks
Cardi
NB - I also bought more "cute" clothes and will no doubt be given far more.

Feeding
Babynest breastfeeding pillow
Medela Swing electric breast pump
Freezer Milk bags
Lansinoh nipple cream
Breast pads
Breast nurse cooling/warming gel pads
Muslin cloths
NB - I'm planning on expressing & freezing as early as I can because I may have to go medications that will mean stopping breastfeeding early. Normally you wouldn't need expressing kit right away.

Health & Safety
Safety gate in wood
Baby forehead thermometer
Pet/cat net
Room thermometer
Play pen & room divider
NB - much of the above is because we have a dog!

Hospital bag
Holdall
Sterile maternity pads
Maternity pads
Slippers
Nightshirt
Toiletries
Big knickers
Labour outfit/nightshirt

Nursery
Cot & mattress
Dresser/chest of drawers
Safababy sleeper
Bookcase
2 cellular blankets, basket sized
3 cellular blankets, cot sized
Baby pillow (memory foam for preventing flat head)
Lemon fitted sheets, basket & cot size
Lemon flat sheets, basket & cot size
Glider chair
Black out blind
Moses Basket Stand
Moses Basket
Curtain pole
Curtains
Shelf baskets

Out & About
Quinny buzz pushchair - Iron
Quinny Buzz Shopping Basket
Quinny Dreami Carrycot
Quinny Buzz All Terrain wheel
Maxi-Cosi® CabrioFix infant carrier
Maxi Cosi® Easyfix base - semi universal
Car seat raincover
Buggy hooks - 2 pack
Buggy lock
Baby on Board sign
Retractable car sunblinds
Easyview car mirror
Baby carrier
Changing Bag

Toys
Toy ties
Mobile
Play gym (for later - we're getting as present)
Rainbow bouncer chair (for later - we're getting as present)

Other
Natal Hypnotherapy CDs

[patienceplease]

Wow! what a list - the only comment I would make is that you don't need cot blankets if you're going to use grobags (which you should - they are fab!) I bought a cellular cot-sized blanket and NEVER used it. literally. Once DS was big enough (I think 8lb) he was in grobags and not blankets.

We also didn't use changing mat liners/ covers - a muslin was just as good and quick to dry.

[GruffalosGirl]

Also, you'll need loads more packs of maternity pads than you think you will. I think I went through about 7 packs before my lochia stopped. I found the slim aloe vera ones from mothercare the best - they felt the least nappy-like to me.

The best thing I bought was a breastfeeding pillow, it made feeding so much easier.

[JarethTheGoblinKing]

NOT a Quinny Buzz- they are hell to push round Waitrose


For you:

-Brie/pate/anything you haven't eaten in 8 months
-Bottle of champagne in the fridge
-A cleaner for 6 weeks (if you don't have one already
-Love Film subscription
-Phone numbers of NCT/La Leche League on your fridge
-A night light or a light with a 10w bulb for night feeds (very useful)

[NormalityBites]

These were my essentials:

Sling (stretchy or woven wrap)
10x newborn nappies and 10x fleece liners
Muslins
3 pack babygros
Washable wipes set
Eco San Pro
Nursing bra
Sleep bra
Lilypadz

And good to go really. But I didn't need a car seat right away (home birth), I BFed, and I used cloth nappies/reusable wipes/resuable san pro/breast pads etc (to save money, I'm no eco warrior) Also I chose not to use a pram or pushchair at all. So my list is nice and short

[AmIGoingMad]

Thanks!
These are such helpful tips! It really gives us a great starting point to see if certain things are needed for the way we plan to do things and also great reminders for things we've left off the list even though now that I've seen them on yours, they're essentials!

[ipredicttrouble]

Here's my list of essentials.

Lansinoh cream if you are BF
Changing mat
Muslins (lots)
Baby wipes
Nappies
Sudocrem
Nappy sacks
Plenty of babygros and vests
Coat, hat and gloves for outdoors
A couple of blankets
Something to sleep in e.g. moses basket
Car seat (if you drive)
Pram/pushchair
Lots of nursing bras - I was forever leaking
Breast pads
MAternity pads
Baby bath

Think that's it!

[Ineedsomesleep]

A milkman and your an online account with your favourite supermarket.

[AnyFuleKno]

japhrimel - toys? in the first few weeks? you are a loon

[Ineedsomesleep]

Agree with AnyFuleKno, toys for a wee baby is just plain mad. Also, your list is MASSIVE. Think I bought about a tenth of what you have and they both survived.

[RobynLou]

what are changing mat liners?

we had,
car seat
sling
moses basket
bouncy chair
nappies
plastic pants (to go over terry nappies)
muslins
change mat
baby bath
baby vests
baby sleepsuits
lasinoh
pizza
champers
pate
rare steaks

[RobynLou]

and maternity pads and breast pads.... had blocked the leaky bits out!

and a big jug of water by the loo for pouring over your poor sore bits when you pee so it doesn't sting as much!