Not to know where to start!

[Absofrigginlootly]

Sorry to post here rather than pregnancy threads....but most people on there seem to be first time mums too so I wanted the advice of veteran mums! (Plus also seems to be much more traffic on here). Also sorry if there are any threads about this on MN already, but I couldn't find any.....

I am now in my third trimester for our first baby.... Up until now I have been rather in denial that the baby will actually arrive....and to a large extent I still am (we've had a long and difficult road to get to this point - don't want to go into details, but it has caused me to hold-back a lot with this pregnancy and not believe that it's actually going to happen and we are really going to be blessed with our precious, much longed-for baby). Hard to kick that feeling. But anyway, DH is saying that we really shouldn't put off buying baby stuff any longer (we, well I, haven't bought a thing, I've not wanted to 'tempt fate'...and to be honest I haven't even thought that far ahead as I'm still in the 'must try and stay preganant' mindset....)

As a consequence I don't even know where to start when it comes to knowing what we will need!!

I know we will need the basics.... Pram, bedside cot/Moses basket and 'big' cot, and babygrows, nappies etc. But I feel so overwhelmed with the choice and the product reviews on MN have just left me feeling more confused!!
Our baby is due in October....so I guess we will need long sleeved baby grows....but what about blankets or sheets??or a grow bag?
What about a sling?
I'm hoping to exclusively breastfeed (no expressing) so wasn't going to bother buying sterlising equip/bottles etc. But what do I need for breastfeeding....nursing pads, one of those cushions?
I am planning on having the baby next to me in a bedside crib (friend recommended the nct bednest) for the first 6 months, then putting them in their 'big' cot in the nursery in the next room. So I guess I'll need a monitor??

Arrrrgggghhhh I feel stressed when I think about how much we have to buy/do in the next 12 weeks (that it makes me feel like avoiding it for longer!) and I don't know where to start!!!!!!

Help me please!!!

Did you go out yesterday and have a browse OP?

I found that the most useful thing I had was a bouncy chair.

Congratulations OP!

You've got some really good advice from pp. I would just say to buy the basics. People will buy you cute outfits, teddies etc, so just get maybe 10 babygrows and 10 vests.

I didn't put dd into a sleeping bag till she was about 4 weeks - I'd probably just get 2 - wash one/use one. Swaddling blankets are great for little ones and help them get to sleep more quickly as you don't wake them up by swaddling them in normal blankets.

With hindsight I wish we'd bought a crib rather than a moses basket, as she outgrew it by 3 months. Travel cot with separate comfy mattress is a good stopgap.

John Lewis give amazing advice on pushchairs. I wouldn't spend a fortune on a travel system as you'll probably end up buying a more portable stroller before they're very big.

I really recommend a moulded plastic baby seat to go in the bath.

Have a look on your local Facebook selling pages, and gumtree for nearly new bargains.

No need to rush to buy a cot as they won't be in it for a few months, but then I'd get a cot bed so it lasts longer.

The Fisher Price Rainforest play mat is fab and the music isn't too grating!

A baby swing is great - they can go in it while you shower, cook dinner etc. Mamas and Papas do a good one for about £80 which is good up to 9kg.

If you've got a local Kiddicare, get down to the clearance sale!

Congratulations and good luck!

Cellular blankets are best for sleeps at first. Gro bags aren't recommended for newborns as they can slip inside them, you need to wait until they're a few weeks old (check the weight recommendations on the instructions). Gro bags are brilliant though as soon as the baby is big enough.

We used the outdoor suit thing when DS was in the sling but layers of blankets when in the pram, so that we could take off layers when we got inside without disturbing him if he was asleep, so it depends on how you plan to get out and about.

Thank you for more replies! I'm so surprised by the amount of responses on this...you're all so lovely and helpful!!! The advice is invaluable!

We've been out this weekend both to a local shop and john Lewis playing with prams and car seats...think we've basically decided what we're going to go for on that front.

But still so much more to buy!!! I don't have any friends or relatives who've recently had/having babies, but I've contacted a old work colleague who has a 7month old and offered to buy lots of her stuff second hand...(she's a HV so I trust her choices!!!) ;) So should hopefully be able to get some good stuff like baby bath, clothes, toys etc second hand.

Can I just ask please, people keep mentioning baby vests.....is the idea that you put them under a full body babygrow/sleep suit for extra warmth/extra layer??? Another dim question!!!