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Things you realised you did/didn’t need with 1st DC??

61 replies

notagoodname · 04/12/2018 14:50

Sorry if this threads been done a lot, my sister is expecting her first DD in January so for Christmas she’s just asked for baby things. She is the first of me or my siblings to have a DC and the first person in general I know to have one so I don’t know where to start.

I’d like some info to what you found a game changer and what was a waste of money Grin (ie what people like me would spend money on not knowing if it’s essential or not)
I have asked her but I’m constantly hit with ‘I don’t know’ or ‘I’ll have a look’ (which won’t happen) Honestly, I don’t think she’s entirely sure what she needs. She has pushchair/car seat/changing table - the obvious basics.

Any help much appreciated Smile

OP posts:
GlitterSnot · 04/12/2018 16:02

Oh and another vote for cook vouchers. We got some with our first but didn't with our second I was disappointed Grin

TroyKing · 04/12/2018 16:08

Brilliant
Washable nappies
Ashton and parsons powder
Hand made blankets/shawls

Not worth it
Most gadgets and accessories

nameiswigglywoo · 04/12/2018 16:17

@notagoodname i second the suggestion of a breastfeeding pillow. For breast or bottle feeding they are a live saver, use mine all the time. Don't spend much on one though. Ikea do one for about £7 and it's been amazing. You can buy cheap covers there too for a few quid.

Interested in this thread?

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nameiswigglywoo · 04/12/2018 16:23

@GiantKitten I don't really know but it's been amazing for us. Both babies have loved it and always looked so comfy. Really portable too.

My parents insisted on getting a cheaper one for their house (still £60) for dc1 to go in and he squealed whenever we tried it. But the baby Bjorn one... always very happy.

It's now being used for dc1 and same thing again with my parents bouncer. GrinI'll be passing it on afterwards because it's in amazing condition still somehow!

nameiswigglywoo · 04/12/2018 16:26

Sorry it's now being used for dc2!

ClickyJoints · 04/12/2018 16:27

Things we did need

Colourful muslin squares. At baby groups to be has white ones - having a different colour one made mine easy to find!

A really good Braun in the ear thermometer

hormonallyspeaking · 04/12/2018 16:30

I got given an original groegg room thermometer and some gro swaddles that turned into gro bags. They were life savers.

Easy to pop my head round the door and know if I needed to put the heater on before we went to bed. The swaddles and now grobags are the best investment ever. No being worried about blankets creeping up or coming off.

I also recommend the angel care bath support. It's so much easier than having a baby bath tub or co bathing.

Namechange8471 · 04/12/2018 16:58

Useless:

Baby changing unit
Nappy storage thing
Muslim cloths

Useful

Moses basket
Breastfeeding cushion
Dummy!

cheezeontoast · 04/12/2018 17:13

Useful

Breastfeeding cushion
In-ear thermometer
Washable nappies
Sling
Bouncy chair to put baby down occasionally
Snowsuit if winter baby

Thermos mug for tea
Cook vouchers

Useless

Nappy bin
Bumbo
Too many newborn / small clothes
Tights / dresses for girls

cheezeontoast · 04/12/2018 17:15

And really useful - hand cream and nice soap for parents who have to wash their hands all the time

redexpat · 04/12/2018 17:16

Sock ons! I forgot sockons!

dobbythedoggy · 04/12/2018 17:21

Good quality sling or wrap. Best to try to find a sling libary to test them out to see what works best for parent and baby.

Bright muslins. We had a few beautiful tie dyed ones which both children used.

Bouncer or rocker chair.

Pram rocking platform was a god send with dd as shr hated day time sleep.

Drinks bottles that don't leak and can be used one handed. I was stranded many times when dd was born really thirsty with a cup just out of reach. Before ds was born had loads that could sit on the sofa with me so always within reach.

Regret the baby bath as it took up so much room. Bathed ds in the sink when tiny then in bath at the same time as dd when a bit bigger. Had a mesh bath seat which was amazing.

Baby monitor was also a waste of money!

GiantKitten · 04/12/2018 17:30

@nameiswigglywoo

Thank you Smile

I've been comparing pictures & the babybjorn one certainly looks a lot bigger & more substantial than the cheaper ones.

Obviously your babies have excellent taste Grin

Graphista · 04/12/2018 17:43

"She has pushchair/car seat/changing table"

Haha! First thing I though was changing table!

I've been changing nappies over 30 years hate changing tables, they force you into unnatural positions for doing this task that hurt your back. And take up too much space. Much easier to do on bed, sofa, your lap, even the floor! Mind I can do it one handed at speed! 😂

Baby bath - they outgrow them really quickly even if you do use one, far easier to use sink then normal bath possibly with a bath seat or support like these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00CMR3H04/ref=ascdff_B00CMR3H0457279432/?tag=googshopuk-21&creative=22110&creativeASIN=B00CMR3H04&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310091553021&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=2789775538373018020&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007340&hvtargid=pla-489481435581&th=1&psc=1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B01CUF91B6/ref=mpssa1120aa_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1543943127&sr=8-20&keywords=baby+bath+seat

Skirts & dresses for girls - pita! Especially when they're crawling.

Babygrows, legging & top combos basically soft comfy, easy to change clothes FAR more practical. Bear in mind wash instructions. Utterly pointless buying handwash only or worse dry clean only clothes for babies! Cotton that can be flung in the machine & dryer repeatedly is much more sensible.

"90% of 0-3 clothes. Again grew too fast, and it's a pain to squeeze them into tight clothes, rather size up." So true. I never buy smaller than 3-6 months, but generally 6 months + (bearing in mind likely weather then too) as that's when gifts start to tail off.

"or cute little baby bath towels." I do find hooded towels easier on wet wriggly babies the hood kinda anchors it.

Moses basket - we were kindly given one but rarely used it, mainly we (safely) co-slept until she went in cot around 4 months.

Bottle warmers - bloody useless things that take forever to heat a bottle. Far quicker to pop bottle in a jug of boiling water!

Maybe I'm the wrong generation but I don't like sound of perfect prep machines. Too much to go wrong and difficult to clean sounds like a recipe for a food poisoning disaster to me! I bf until dd 9 months then had to FF and I've ff loads of other people's babies, I just think sticking to boiling water + formula keeps it simple and less room for error.

What I consider essential:

Bath, bedroom and sick baby thermometers. So reassuring.

Wipe clean change mat - preferably with raised sides like:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/East-Coast-Nursery-Origami-Changing/dp/B0758HR44V?ref=OcttCABSellerC6015603112&pfrddp=6d9856a0-6ee3-54f0-819f-e72553c9aacc&pfrdds=mobile-hybrid-5&pfrddt=30901&pfrddi=60156031&pfrddm=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pfrddr=CZ6770CAC71Z716EE6HF&pfrddr=CZ6770CAC71Z716EE6HF&pfrddp=6d9856a0-6ee3-54f0-819f-e72553c9aacc

Can NEVER have too many muslin sheets, towels, bibs or vests!

Baby bouncer chair, though they're likely much more advanced since I bought one, it was the only way I could get peace to get stuff done when dd was tiny. She ALWAYS wanted to be moving.

I'd say ALWAYS get one with a carry handle dd used to go nuts if taken out but if I carried it to next place I needed to be she was fine.

Thermos flask/cup - excellent idea! And a bit more for her than baby.

"Washable toweled liner for the changing mat, means baby doesn't have to lie on a cold surface. You can get packs of three from Mothercare for under £10." See I just laid them on the hooded towel I wrapped them in out the bath.

"think i go too excited when she found out it was a girl" scans can be wrong I'd stick to neutral/unisex items for now.

Small "Tupperware" pots, really useful for weaning portions. If she ff you can get ones for taking portions of formula out with you.

"Snowsuit if winter baby" yes also fingerless gloves for mum!

"And really useful - hand cream and nice soap for parents who have to wash their hands all the time" OMG yes! Aveda hand relief (yes awful name) recommended or calendula cream. (Also good for sore nipples)

user1471468296 · 04/12/2018 17:57

Interesting to hear different experiences of clothes as gifts. About everyone we knew made a comment about how they'd got us something in size 3-6 as we'd have so many things in small sizes from other people but this meant we had virtually nothing in 'up to 1m' (which my nearly 8lber wore til at least 8 wks) and 0-3. In fact, I was surprised at how many people got us clothes - prob 90% of our gifts. They were very much appreciated but so too were books, a bath thermometer and simple toys. Also couldn't have done without breast pump, many muslin squares and next2me crib (don't use for co-sleeping but baby fits in it til about 6m). Useless things were baby shoes and hairbands and out of season clothes.

KatharinaRosalie · 04/12/2018 18:04

I found bath and room thermometers totally useless. Bath - use your elbow. If you don't feel it's hot or cold, it's about right.

Room - you can feel it. Had one with DS1 born in the middle of heat wave - all it did was panic me that the baby will overheat and die. You can feel if the room is too hot and unless you have A/C, not much you can do about it anyway.

WitWicky · 04/12/2018 21:15

In ear thermometer is so useful for the whole household- definite must! Also something that plays white noise and is preferably washable. We have a cute little plastic monkey with DC2 after buying into the Ewan hype only for DS to vomit all over his non-washable fur 😭 we loved black and white toys or books as found the babies loved the contrast, but had no use for proper teddies as such as they couldn't go in the cot so gathered dust for ages.

LittleMy77 · 04/12/2018 21:50

Useful:

  • nappy bin
  • ikea antelop high chair (when they're a bit older)
  • ikea baby toys - cheap but well made
  • bouncer chair - we had a fisher price one and it was a godsend
  • jumperoo
  • baby bath (as our regular bath was massive and too big)
  • snot sucker (disgusting but needed for colds..)
  • endless supply of cake and coffee
  • Morrck wrap for the carseat and stroller

Useless

  • Bumbo
  • activity cube
  • shirts / trousers with buttons instead of pull on
  • breastfeeding pillow
  • proper coat for a 3 month old
Elfontheshelfiswatchingyoutoo · 04/12/2018 22:00

Proper doc style thermeter
Co sleeper

E20mom · 04/12/2018 22:21

The big game changer/lifesaver for me was a sleepyhead.

And a movement monitor.

E20mom · 04/12/2018 22:23

Oh and grosnugs and later on grobags.

MotherWol · 04/12/2018 22:35

Our good buys were:

  • Braun in-ear thermometer
  • leggings with feet
-grobags -sling (close caboo for 0-6, Beco for 6-18) -Mustela cradle cap shampoo

Didn’t need:
-baby monitor
-change bag (used a backpack)
-nappy bin
-jumperoo

twoundertwo54321 · 04/12/2018 22:50

Must haves for newborn in my opinion:-
Sleepyhead
Bouncer chair (I have baby Bjorn one it's fab)
Perfect prep machine
Shunggle Baby bath
Whisbear white noise soft toy that is sound activated. So good. When baby stirs the white noise comes on and pulls them back to sleep. Still using this with my ten month old.
Zazu nightlight - also sound activated so when baby cries light comes on so you can see them to pick up etc. My toddler still has this light on every night so if she cries out with nightmare etc the light comes straight on. Genius! So good I bought another one when I had my second child so they have one each in their rooms.

Things I didn't use
Fancy outfits are too much trouble
Fleece blankets - stick to cellular for new borns
Grobags - I only used when baby was three months so no need for them for newborn.

fedupandlookingforchange · 04/12/2018 23:03

Moses basket, baby bath, thermometer ( for the baby), fleece ( he likes the feel of the fleece) and cotton cellular blankets, ergo baby carrier were essential.

Cot, wrap carrier, and outfits got very little use.

I tried to buy/ or was given second hand things or waited until I needed things and tried before I bought

Stephisaur · 04/12/2018 23:23

We’re expecting our first in a couple of weeks and the one thing a friend bought me that we hadn’t even THOUGHT of, was a hooded towel for baby.

Hadn’t even crossed our minds that baby would require a towel after a bath!