prepping for newborn

[panda3019]

Hi , I'm pregnant and wondering if anyone has any tips for prepping for brexit /second wave etc with a new baby in mind?

[BlackeyedSusan]

Maternity pads
Breat pads
Something to cool your swollen undercarriage
Cream for sore breasts
Breast shields

Bottles, teats, sterilisers.
Muslins

Nappies, cream nappy rash cream, wipes,cotton wool pads or pack or both. Changing mats( a couple for home, a couple for out)
Change bag.

Clothes, mostly larger sizes,
Bibs
Weaning stuff
Some toys
Christmas presents for baby.

Breast pump?

[sexesam]

BlackeyedSusan has written a great list, but I would add nappies, nappies, nappies! The number a new born goes though is unreal!
Also the nipple cream is lanolin, amazing stuff. Maybe formula? Depending on the sort of person you are, (this was me) I would looks at the boxes now and get it set in your mind which you will buy. So if you tired and desperate you don't have to think. Basically they are all the same (due to tight regulations) apart from price and the box styles gives the clue about which are made by the same company. I have heard that some babies don't like changing from one brand to another but didn't try myself.

I would consider reusable of what you can/feel comfortable with. I used washable breast pads and sanatry pads (already owned) once the bleeding reduced. I also used washable clothes rather than wetwipes. I bought mine but you could make your own. On the odd occasions I did use wetwipes I found the clothes were soooo much better at wiping poo! Also I am still using them now 4 years later as face clothes. Another thing you won't believe is how messy a toddler can get while eating!
I didn't use washable nappies but I know there are loads out there.

Toys are the least thing on that list. They really don't care at first. Mine was far more interested in the remote control and my phone because that's what I used. And that wasn't for a few months. And then they are happy with a veriety of household item that have different textures and materials and sounds. I'm not saying don't get any toys but take it from someone who was (secretly) disappointed their pfb didn't want to play with all the great toys she had bought (thankfully, mostly second hand)!

I think the biggest thing from a prepping pov is to remember than babies really don't need much apart from attention so you really don't need to worry about getting much extra.

[Alittleshortforaspacepooper]

As a general rule I would plan to be as self sufficient as possible. Reusable nappies, reusable wipes, breastfeeding instead of FF...

Obviously these are just examples and you may not want to do these specifics things, but I would just try to think about any ways in which you can reduce your reliance on the outside world.

[Alittleshortforaspacepooper]

I agree with PPs who have said not to worry much about toys. They really aren't bothered when they are little. My 10 month old's favourite toys are my hair and my car keys

[TheSandgroper]

Sudocream is good for all sorts. A silicon cream is good as a barrier cream next to the nappy.

Buy your nappies but also buy the next size up because you can need them surprisingly quickly.

Washing detergent. Stock up. Preferably stuff for sensitive skin until you know better. A few tabs of Milton. If anyone you know is getting rid of old wraps, grab them because they can be used for all sorts and just thrown into the wash. It’s hugely handy having cloths you don’t care about needing to keep nice.

[sexesam]

Also, slightly off track, but have you considered a sling or other baby carrier? Depending on your personal circumstances, if you need to go to the shops with baby that may be far easier than a pram. I found that a basket was hard work when I was pushing a pram and used to chuck everything on top on the hood of the pram, but things did fall off sometimes. Also with social distancing to consider its like pushing a supermarket trolly around all the time (although easier to stear) as far as space you take up. Just something to think about.

[panda3019]

Thank you all so much, I've been prepping for myself and DH but now this has really thrown me! Does anyone know any good reusable nappy supplier they'd recommend?

[sexesam]

You sound like you have only recently found out, so I am assuming you have plenty of time to research. I would imagine there is a group/thread on mumsnet that could help. Good luck!

[Impatientwino]

Before having each of my babies I stocked up a lot on pretty much everything we use - food store cupboard, squash, teas, snack things, biscuits, alcohol, foil, clingfilm, Tupperware, toilet rolls, cleaning products, toiletries etc to make sure supermarket visits were for bare essentials only so therefore quick.

I bought a second freezer and filled it almost entirely of batch cooked meals and easy cook ready meals/breaded beige things and oven chips and frozen steam bags of veg. We had nearly 2 months of evening meals just in there! I bought lots of microwave rice bags. Ooh and some pies for those cold, wet, tired days when I wanted lovely pastry and carbs

I also signed up to a delivery pass with Sainsbury's so I could get deliveries. I suspect that isn't easy at the moment though....

Shortly before the birth I pre ordered online shops for due date, 5 days after I was due and 14 days afterwards on the premise that I could change them or cancel them if not needed but they were there if I needed.

Plenty of wipes, nappies and sudacreme. Cotton wool pads are great for early days or reusuable flannels too. I bought far too many small nappies first time as wasn't banking on the 9lb8oz baby or the fact he would gain weight so rapidly! Therefore next time round bought a few packs of each size.

Lansinoh nipple cream is amazing if you do end up BF. Slather it on and air dry your nipples was best tip I got! I drank buckets and buckets of squash when I was feeding plus ate loads of nuts. Those things both helped me feel hydrated and gave me some energy.

I also bought lots of greetings cards for the upcoming months and wrote and addressed them all. I had a couple of people I buy gifts for as well so bought and wrapped their gifts so they were sitting in the cupboard.

All the said if you end up with just a few nappies and a packet of rich teas you'll still be fine so try not to worry Enjoy your baby and wish you well!

[EveLevine]

Don’t forget a thermometer! Forehead type is easiest with a newborn.

Something to treat wind and colic - gripe water, infacol, colief etc

Calpol for after immunisations.

Dummies - you may not plan to use them, but have some just in case. If you have a baby that won’t settle, or uses you as a dummy you may be glad of them.

If your not planning on breast feeding, get some Milton or something similar you could use for cold water sterilising if there was a power cut, and a couple of small cartons of ready made milk just in case you can’t boil water.

A baby toothbrush and toothpaste.

[Brandaris]

Don’t forget to get things for yourself as a new mum too- you need to make sure you look after yourself so you can look after your baby.

So a few books/ audiobooks/ digital books you can have to keep yourself distracted with during the more boring hours or when you’re struggling to sleep after being woken for the millionth time.

Snacks to keep you going if feeding/sleep deprived. Ideally something that needs no prep and can be eaten one handed.

A thermal or keep warm cup as you’ll find you never get to drink a cup of tea until it’s cold.

Big, loose clothes and a soft bra bigger than you ever imagine you’ll need as you may swell up all over (I had clothes two sizes too big and I couldn’t even wear them). Something to wear that’s v comfy but reasonably ok to answer the door/ see health visitors in so you don’t have to change out of pyjamas.

Phone numbers/ websites of support for pnd, breastfeeding advice, emergency midwives, health visitors etc. You’ll get given all of these but keep them in an easy to find place as the last thing you want to do when really struggling is digging through paperwork for a phone number.

[AncientRainbowABC]

OP congratulations! Some great advice on here.

I would add baby scales. Maybe not the crazy-expensive “professional” type but there are some on Amazon that are closer to £60. Depending on what’s ahead, there may not be as many places open to weigh the baby and being able to do this at home can help you feel reassured that they’re on the right track. Even if the scales aren’t as super accurate as a professional one, you’d still be able to see an upward/downward trend in baby’s weight on that scale. And any half decent baby scale would be more sensitive than a bathroom scale. We had a medication/weight issue during lockdown and it was much easier to do phone appointments with the GP being able to report weight week to week.

I’d echo getting a small stash of reusable nappies and wipes. If you never need them, great. If you do, you don’t need to hunt for any when the disposables are sold out.

I would also get a tin of formula and a handful of pre-made formula bottles. Just gives you peace of mind. You can give away if not needed, but babies can have “newborn” formula up to 12 months old, no need for “follow on” milks. So it’s a long(ish) term backup.

I’d also think about you/DH in case of any illness. I don’t necessarily mean the dreaded Covid, but if one/both of you were suddenly to come down with something alongside having a newborn, you’d want easy comfort stuff to hand. Maybe Ribena/instant noodles/Lemsips/treats. Something you can easily have if unwell and that is to hand. We both had an awful flu-type thing last November and it was challenging.

Yes to thermometer and a backup thermometer.

Dummies - again you may not intend to but things could reach a stage where you decide to give in. We did when at 6 weeks our baby screamed with colic 4pm-7pm every night. She grew out of it, but we were v lucky to be able to Amazon Prime a few different dummies. The cherry shape ones were the best for us.

And get yourself something lovely! A body lotion/hand cream/lip salve. Anything. I really enjoyed my Aesop body butter and mouthwash ritual before bed in those wild early days. It was the only 5 minutes I had to myself to start with.

[Caspianberg]

I have a baby born recently in the middle of Lockdown.

Things that were/ still are hard to get:
-Basic baby clothes. Huge baby needed 3-6 far sooner than we thought , and everywhere had ran out. Took a while to source and get delivered.

• breastfeeding vests. i bought just one pack of 2 to try, but find them so much easier to use especially around house and overnight. With leaky boobs often needed to change more than once in day. So now have 6. H and m ones. But they only had xxl the first few weeks in stock.

Things that have been handy:

• we had bought reusable everything. nappies, wipes etc. Has meant no extra trips out to get or rushing about in panic. Bought Tots bots range. recommend.

• laundry powder. to wash nappies and clothes.

[sexesam]

Had a thought this evening, I hope the following is completey not applicable but if for any reason you have to go to hospital, even if it's just a precaution, it's possible that you won't be allowed to have somebody with you or visiting you, especially if covid cases start rising again. So make sure you have a hospital bag ready quite early with some entertainment in and some pjs and underwear. It's the entertainment that sparked the thought. It's something I have ready anyway but realised that being pregnant your more likely to be kept in for observation but actually feel OK within yourself.

[okiedokieme]

Buy cloth nappies that fit multiple sizes (you will need covers in different sizes) you can never run out then. Get help with breastfeeding, can't ru out of milk then!