Microwave.. Will we need one?

[Excited85]

As above really... We currently don't have one as don't really have a need - is this likely to change with the arrival of dc1?!! If so I'd rather have the outlay now! Thanks

[cogitosum]

Good question we're wondering the same thing!

[noblegiraffe]

I've found it useful for reheating cups of tea that have been abandoned for a crying baby!

Also, if you're planning on quick ready meals after the birth, soup or beans on toast for lunch etc.

Microwave steriliser?

[bluecarrot]

Its certainly handy for reheating things, like meals you precooked for yourself when you had energy to reheat when you are zonked!

Why not set aside the money now (and consider it spent) and then if you find you need it with baby then you can use the money you set aside? If after babys first birthday if you havent used it, Id say you wont really need one.

Saying that, I use my microwave daily. It wasnt expensive (£50 in Argos 11 years ago) though I recommend getting a digital display.

[noblegiraffe]

Oh, it's also good for reheating dinners that you were halfway through when the baby started crying.

If you do purées when weaning, I suppose it would be useful for heating them too.

[Fakebook]

I don't think you do. Even if you bottle feed, you Should be using freshly boiled water every time and warm up milk in hot water to avoid hot spots.

I suppose when it comes to weaning you may want to warm up food quickly if its been in the fridge or make a quick jacket potato for yourself when in a hurry to eat.

I can't really think what you'd need a microwave for specifically for a baby though.

[Vividmemories]

Useful for microwave steriliser (used for a day at the start when I needed to express) but otherwise we don't use ours (7mo baby).

[Excited85]

Ahh ok thanks, so looks like I could get by for the baby but if I want anything hot myself I might need it!! Will be a big change for me being at home during the day anyway and I guess I do use the microwave a bit at work for lunches in the winter so could be handy like you say! I just know if it's there I'm more likely to eat loads of ready meals rather than boil up veg!!!

[Kafri]

We had one prior to DS (now 5m) and hardly used it until his arrival. Since his arrival, i've used it for reheating my meals if DS has cried throughout a meal, cooking ready meals when proper cooking has just not been an option (days when DS has just been inconsolable, refused naps etc) and making quick lunches like beans on toast while DS naps. I've also been using it to warm up ds fruit/veg since we started early weaning a couple of weeks back (at consultants advice before I'm moaned at for not waiting til 6 months). If you're bottle feeding then you shouldn't warm bottles up in there. As a pp said you should make them all up as they're needed but in all honesty, I don't know a single mum who has done that though yet again, there will be people who do (again, waiting to be moaned at)

[cupcake78]

You don't need one but they can be handy. Great for reheating drinks, meals etc. Especially useful when weaning. There are obviously other ways but microwaves are very convenient.

[Laquila]

I'm in the same position, OP, but am working on the basis that they're easy to pick up/get delivered pretty quickly if it turns out to be an essential (which I really don't think it will).

We haven't had one for years and the only thing I miss it for is defrosting stuff, but if I were more organised it wouldn't be a problem!

[trixymalixy]

I couldn't have done without one. I had many reheated meals and cups of tea. I breastfed, but still used the microwave steriliser for breast pumps and bottles for expressed milk.

Once I went back to work it was an essential as when you pick your toddler up from nursery at 6, the quicker you can get their dinner ready the better. I used to batch cook and freeze portions that could be ready in minutes.

[rowtunda]

We didn't get one until we started weaning at 6 months

[Liveinthepresent]

Funny I realised recently I use mine nearly every day now and hardly used to at all pre DD.
It's not essential kit as others have said but definitely makes life easier post weaning stage.

[QuiltySecrets]

My dd is 19 months and we don't have one and I've not missed it. I can see how one could be handy, but to be honest my tumble dryer is the appliance I've gone mad for since the baby was born!

[Excited85]

Oh no, haven't got a tumble dryer either!! Haha. Maybe we'll set aside the money as suggested above and so if I get fed up of cold cups of tea and sandwiches we can grab one short notice. Thanks to all

[noblegiraffe]

I think a tumble dryer is essential, ours broke recently and even with the relatively good weather it has been hard getting stuff dry. Pegging things out and having to mind a baby is also a juggling act!

[preggersbycheggers]

Agree. Microwave not necessary but my tumble dryer and dishwasher I couldn't live without!!

[ChippingInWiredOnCoffee]

Congratulations on being pregnant :)

They are handy, but I could live without one.

I really like the avent microwave steriliser, it's smaller & doesn't take up bench space (they can stay in the microwave much of the time), but of course - that doesn't matter if you are breastfeeding OUCH

95% of the time I make up a fresh bottle, but from time to time I heat previously made bottles in the microwave - I'm an adult and I'm quite able to shake it well and test it before giving it to the baby.

It is also handy when weaning if you plan to use purees etc

and for your drinks, meals etc :)

I don't have a dryer either, I don't like them - radiator rails are great.

When are you due?

[mumosaur]

DD is now 3 and DS 6months and I don't have a microwave nor a tumble dryer or a dishwasher or.... a sterilizer. Almost dark ages in this house!

I never felt the need for a microwave. I batch cook and if i forget to leave something out is Mac and cheese. DD would be very sad if it left the menu.

Now a tumble dryer and a washing machine i regularly dream about.

[CitizenOscar]

I don't have microwave or tumblr dryer either - have DS 23 months.

Not saying they wouldn't be handy sometimes but really not essential. Plenty of quick meals you can make on the hob, you can defrost cubes of puree on the hob, you can boil the kettle for another cup of tea etc etc.

[justabigdisco]

I say yes, get one. We never had one prior to DC1 but now we use it every day, for reasons listed above.

[calypso2008]

Definitely you will need one, in my opinion. It will be useful as others have said for the weaning period too. For heating up bottles also.
You will use it every day.

I bought nearly nothing for my DD's arrival (ie changing bag, big pushchair, moses basket, bottle warmer, steriliser etc, etc... all unecessary and you can make-do, IMO) but, we did get a microwave!

Congratulations

[LadyMedea]

On the steriliser front... Isn't it useful even if you are breast feeding. For dummies, nipple shields, tethers etc?

[Smilehappy]

You need one in my opinion, makes life a whole lot easier, and when baby moves on to solids it's easier to heat up food in there rather than a pot or hot water... Saves so much time, and if you want to heat up dinner or tea/coffee for yourself also, teas and coffees usually get abandoned

[vix206]

I got by without one, and have never wished I had one.