Things for a baby for first weeks/months

[mailanchi]

Hello. I seem to be buying lots of baby clothes but really don't know what and how many baby would need in first months. Also what other important things have you bought?
Many thanks in advance

[Pootles2010]

Just wanting advice on baby clothes?

Only thing i'd really say is don't bother with newborn stuff, just get 0-3 months.

Don't get loads, you'd be amazed how much stuff you get given.

When's baby due?

[mailanchi]

Thanks, what clothes items would I need, how many sleep suits, jackets, booties, hats etc. Baby is due in October so I shouldn't really be buying things yet but I can't resist

[MrsCLH]

I'd love some advice about this too. Anyone know where to find a sensible list of everything needed for baby in the first few months, not just clothes but the lot? I don't know where to start!

[Apronlady]

For clothes for the first month or so I would get:
Multi pack (5 or 7) of vests, short sleeve
Multi pack (5 or 7) of babygros/sleepsuits with feet
A couple of those nightie or wrap type sleep gowns (easier to change at night)
Pram suit, or two
2 Swaddling blanket / cellular blankets
Moses Basket/Cot sheet
Tons of plain muslins (10-12)

And I didn't bother with, or ever get around to using:
Hats
Booties
Socks
Scratchmits (if you can get babygros with these integral that's good)

That's it. They really don't need much to begin with!

[Boogiemumma]

Agree with apron lady would add tons of wetwipes, nappies and nappy sacks. Also stock up on easy to cook food in the freezer or cook food to freeze and re-heat in the early day as you'll be shattered. If you're FF have formula and sterilising equipment at home. Lastly I found last time I needed comfy stretchy clothes for me as mat stuff was too big but still could not get into pre pg stuff .

[MrsCLH]

Thank you!

[ShowOfHands]

First time round it's easy to get sucked into buying lots of stuff and then you realise you don't need half of it. Clothes wise, dd was dressed in babygros/bodysuits for months on end. I knitted some cardigans and jumpers to go over the top but honestly multipacks of babygros and bodysuits were all we needed. All the hat, booties, socks, bonnet fripperies were just a nonsense. We also then had something warm for travelling in (like a pram suit), blankets, several of for layering.

Then... somewhere for the baby to sleep, a way of transporting it (sling, pushchair, carseat etc, whatever you choose) and paraphernalia for cleaning them (nappies, wipes, cotton wool and 8 million muslins/bibs). If you're ffing or expressing, obviously you need to think about bottles and gubbins too.

That was pretty much it. People will buy stuff and if you're canny and they ask what you would like, you can ask for the other non-essentials as gifts. Things like a baby gym or bouncy chair but again, you don't need these for a newborn anyway.

[Pootles2010]

I think I'd say a bouncy chair or nest is useful for a newborn, just somewhere you can pop them down whilst you make up a bottle or whatever.

Also - if you're going to be using any equipment like steriliser, have a go before baby arrives - faffing around when you've a screaming baby in your arms is not good!

[ShowOfHands]

My midwife said a bouncy chair wasn't a good idea for a newborn. Although I've seen some with newborn inserts I think. DD hated bouncy chairs anyway, at all ages. I think they're the sort of thing that you splash out on and then your baby's personality means they don't like them anyway. DD was the same with baby gyms. And dd just didn't like being put down so was in a sling most of the time and otherwise was put down wherever- rug/blanket/moses basket etc.

[PeppaPigandGeorge]

I wish someone had told me to get the bare minimum and no more. If I could do it again, I'd have a maxi cosi car seat and isofix base, some nappies, wipes, blankets and somewhere for it to sleep. A moses basket is cheapest and easiest at first - even if they don't stay in it long as you can get them for £30 ish. I'd get the pram once I'd had the baby and not the crappy M&P one I was seduced by when pregnant. The travel system will probably not last until they're 2 - trust me, everyone ends uo buying a Maclaren at some point!!

Clothes wise I'd have some babygros with foldy down cuffs, vests (not long sleeved, even in winter - they bunch up under clothes), socks. It's more fun shopping for them once they've arrived and so much of what you think is perfect turns out to be less than ideal.

[duke748]

Hi.

I have a 5 month old DS. I was told not to buy too much stuff when I was pregnant and tried really hard not to, but its sooooo easy to go overboard as it all so adorable (and I was working in city centre and not much work on in the last month!)

My best friend popped to my house just before I came back from the hospital and did the following for me:

• put my fav food in the fridge - snacky deli type stuff that I could eat with one hand
  
• put carrycot part of travel system on the sofa for daytime naps
  
• put a spare duvet on the sofa (for my daytime naps!)
  
• put a couple of small baskets (one by sofa, one by bed) with stuff needed when breastfeeding. Included a bottle of water, phone, snacks, remote, paper and pen. you can sometimes get marooned on the sofa for a good few hours!
  
• put a temporary changing table downstairs (on coffee table) with mat, wipes and nappies etc on hand. They need a good few changes per day at the beginning and its a pain to go up and down stairs all the time.
  

Its nice to nest for your baby's arrival. All of these things will allow you to feel like you're getting prepared, will probably be useful, and (best of all!) are cheap/free!

I would agree with everyone else about the clothes - but would add that I did use a few cardigans over sleepsuits when out and about. I think you'd need them too for an October baby.

And I am only use my muslins to cover my boobs when feeding in public. DS isn't a particularly sicky baby. So, I personally have far too many of them! So I'd advise maybe a pack of 4/6 and see how you go.

Good luck - its all so exciting!!!!

[Beesok]

Peppa so you're saying long sleeved vests are not good? I thought you would need them for a winter baby

Am only 20 weeks so def. not buying clothes but couldn't help myself and bought a pack of 3 long sleeved white vests in GAP the other day

So what do you buy for an October baby
And could you recommend your favourite stores for sleep suits and vests? I like bright, neutral colours and toned down "elegant" ones :) not the cutsey mushy pinky pinks or slogany ones ;)

[kalo12]

loads of mars bars.

for you , not baby!

[iEmbarassedMyself]

John Lewis and M&S for sleepsuits :)

[duke748]

Ooh, try Next, H and M, Debenhams (Bluezoo range), Boden, M & S. Also Mothercare and supermarkets are surprisingly good.

Best deals I have found have been going to NCT Nearly New Sales and EBay. Newborn clothes are either worn once or twice, or sometimes not at all!

[PeppaPigandGeorge]

Beesok - I am using long sleeved vests at the minute for warmer nights as the only thing she wears under her grobag. They are really difficult under clothes! I find that sleeveless vests are best for summer and cap sleeved vests best for winter.

I lkie Next for sleepsuits. Some of them are a little too gaudy with nasty slogans etc but if you choose carefully, some of them are lovely. The Next sleepsuits I have from DD1 are in use again and look as good as new - nice thick cotton etc. The M&S ones however just look manky so I wouldn't recommend. John Lewis are good and have some lovely patterns.

[PeppaPigandGeorge]

I would also disagree with no newborn and only 0-3. Neither of mine were big enough for 0-3 until they were 2 months! I'd suggest buying newborn near your due date, leaving them in the packet and returning them if you have a big baby. You don't want to be stuck with a child drowning in its babygro for want of newborn clothes!

[Pootles2010]

I think this just shows you can't cover all bases - what works for some may not for you. Just remember the shops will still be open, you can send dh or your mum to shops for you.

For what its worth, i found long sleeved tops useful in winter to layer under t shirts, meaning he could get some use out of them even in winter.

[Beesok]

Thanks Peppa and everyone else for their recommendations - hey I'm gonna have A LOT of time on maternity leave to check all the shops out :)

Peppa I like the idea of buying newborn before due date - I guess I can always exchange them if baby is too big (yikes!). So far I love the stuff at John Lewis and Gap had a few nice ones but also P-o-P and some online shops...

On a separate note, everyone keeps telling me that I will get lots and lots of clothes and that it doesn't make sense to buy much etc..while I agree buying loads is not necessary I don't really want to count on anyone else's taste [confised] and if my close friends ask me I tell them flat out not to buy too many clothes but give them other ideas :) Do you really get useful stufff? Things you actually liked?

[Pootles2010]

I got sack fulls of second hand stuff, which was great, and also a lot of those sets you get, with a babygro, a vest, a hat, some mitts, and bootee type things. Like the other posters, i just used the babygros and vests, the rest were never touched. Really depends what your friends are like i guess!

I always hate stuff my mum gets, its always really naff, but my Auntie gets him gorgeous stuff from Boden and Hatley. Its just luck of the draw.

[duke748]

Cheeky tip....

Direct people who want to buy clothes to Next. They have some lovely stuff in there that washes well. There is a store close to most people too, so not too much effort for the person who is buying.

However, if the wrong size/not your taste you can exchange it without the receipt.

Everyone's a winner!

[Beesok]

hahaha duke748 am gonna be even more cheeky and if they really really want to know what I want I'll just ask for vouchers to JL or Selfridges ;) (but that's more for mummy's shopping hehehehe)
I am close with my close friends and just like I would ask them openly what they wanted we can be quite frank with each other, not that I am waiting for gifts but let's not kid ourselves - most people will want to buy something

Grandparents have already been asking and they want to buy a "big" gift so we said - great, get the pram !;)

[sugarsnappea]

I would be looking out for nice breastfeeding tops and dresses for you, they tend to be ruched so can be worn at this stage of pregnancy too.

[PeppaPigandGeorge]

I find a lot of people buy "outfits" as presents which are lovely and do get worn, but most of the time they are in babygros. My MIL also has a tendency to buy keepsake items that we can treasure. The things I treasure most are the things of which I have special memories, their favourite toys, not the ones which look nicest in a presentation box.

[Beesok]

I had to stop myself from buying baby outfits today :) I know I know - it's silly, too early, out of season for a winter baby (duh!) and they only get worn once etc etc etc but come on they are cute cute cute :) - I have lost ALL interest in shoes, clothes etc for myself though so I guess this is nature's way of balancing out my bank account :)))))))))))))))