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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask for your baby gadget experiences

77 replies

Prequelle · 25/04/2019 17:34

Sorry I know this isn't a legit AIBU but traffic..

Which ones did you rate?

Which were a load of shite?

There's so much out there now!

OP posts:
LauraPalmersBodybag · 25/04/2019 18:30

@prequelle thank you!

Ratbagratty · 25/04/2019 18:30

Oh and the electric breast pump was good but make sure it's battery operated, preferably rechargeable, as being tied to a plug socket wasnt very convenient!

Celebelly · 25/04/2019 18:31

Rockit. Attaches to pram or car seat and gently vibrates. Good when out for lunch. My DD often wakes up if you stop moving but this keeps her asleep for ages.

I like our Owlet breathing and heart rate monitor. I sleep so much better now.

Original poster
Prequelle · 25/04/2019 18:34

Thankyou everyone, reading all these and going to save the thread

OP posts:
Soulsista14 · 25/04/2019 18:35

Perfect prep
Audio monitor
White noise machine
Electric steriliser

Everything else was a waste of money. The above, whilst not essential, have definitely made things easier.

Ewanismydreamsheep · 25/04/2019 18:45

The perfect prep has been amazing for a baby who was suddenly starving. We have one in our bedroom and one in the kitchen after going up and down with a screaming newborn for a few weeks. Still worth it at almost 6 months after night wake up are a thing again.

Ewan the dream sheep has worked for us but got it with a voucher.

We have a groegg which is always at about 21-22 but it does help me know how to dress him

ZippyBungleandGeorge · 25/04/2019 18:46

I bought an expensive Medela breast pump, they don't work for some women I've since found out (any pump), I produce plenty for DS and for leaving through bras and t-shirts by the minute I attach a pump, nothing. My HV said it's not uncommon, you might want to ask to use the hospital I've or get a cheap manual I've and if it works for you invest then.

ZippyBungleandGeorge · 25/04/2019 18:48

I've had to top up a bit in the early days with formula, completely bf now, and used mam bottles they self sterilise in any microwave so save you getting a steriliser or having manky buckets of Milton everywhere

Jebuschristchocolatebar · 25/04/2019 18:57

Perfect prep and to answer your question they are really easy to clean. You just flush it through with boiling water every week and change the filter when the machine tells you. I think it’s the best baby gadget ever. Video monitor is good but not essential. I find with babies the less things that need batteries the better.

Original poster
Prequelle · 25/04/2019 19:05

zippy I'll see if there's a way I can borrow one first and see how I get on with it. I have all these grand ideas now but I'll probably just end up on formula instead of expressing too

jebus thankyou, I had read horror stories online about mold being found in them but I guess if you clean and check them it's all good

OP posts:
Jebuschristchocolatebar · 25/04/2019 19:23

The original perfect prep had issues but they were remodeled and the newer one is supposed to be better. I haven’t had any issues with mould but yeh I did read a few horror stories before I got one so I make sure to clean it out once a week.

SaltedCaramelEverything · 25/04/2019 19:26

White noise machine that u can plug in to save batteries! Then buy an app for your phone for out and about.

Perfect prep machine is the best thing ever. Cleaning it was fine (and I hate cleaning!)

Go low tech with bottle sterilising. Always singed my fingers with the steam one and it broke after 6 months. Good old fashioned Milton tablets in a bucket were epic

CustardOmlet · 25/04/2019 19:40

Ewan the dream sheep was a life saver for both my DCs, I swear it’s got a mermaid singing a hypnotic tune inside it!!!

I had the Angel Care pressure sensor monitor without video and loved it. The video part would have creeped me out. Both my babies were loud snorers so probably didn’t need the pressure mat but it was nice anyway.

Original poster
Prequelle · 25/04/2019 19:43

My Amazon basket has about 1k worth of stuff in it Shock Confused that will have to be chipped away at. this thread has been really helpful, thanks all those who have posted so far!

OP posts:
Yellowcar2 · 25/04/2019 19:50

My friend was bought an under mattress monitor as a gift and it ended up causing her so much extra stress as whenever her little one moved to her side slightly the alarm would sound. I think she got rid of it after a month and told me never to get one.

Neverender · 25/04/2019 19:57

Baby bjorn bouncer and the bath thermometer - some lady laughed at me and said, "we used to use our elbows!" But when tired and distracted it was a godsend and DD is now 2.5yrs and we still use it just to check.

TwinkleMerrick · 25/04/2019 20:21

Nose Frieda, totally disgusting but amazing at helping unblocked stuffy noses which is good if your breast feeding. Also helped reduce getting conjunctivitis as I could clear DDs nose b4 she rubbed it in her eyes.

Crabbitstick · 25/04/2019 20:43

I wouldn’t bother buying a pump until you see how you get on with breastfeeding. It could go great - brilliant but then your baby refuses bottles and no need for expressed milk. Hand expressing works really well in early days so you could do that until you see what gadgets you actually need. Remember having a baby doesn’t mean you can’t get to shops! Also combi feeding early days may inhibit breastfeeding - nipple confusion, not establishing supply. Have a read of the Milk
Meg and Kelly Mom (google will get you to sites easily) for great advice.

I agree some sort of white noise machine.
Bamboo breast pads are much better than disposable. Washable nappies and wipes are a great investment - save you lots, and usually good resale value. Mam bottles are good and potentially save you getting steriliser (assuming you have microwave). A decent thermometer is worth getting too.

Unnecessary are things like wipe warmers!

Original poster
Prequelle · 25/04/2019 20:44

I'm not planning on breastfeeding at all that's why I was going for a pump. I want to bottle feed the baby, combi feed as in combination breast and formula

OP posts:
Original poster
Prequelle · 25/04/2019 20:45

Wipe warmers?? Oh Jesus Christ!

OP posts:
PhillipeFellope · 25/04/2019 21:09

▪️Get an amazon dot instead of a white noise machine. Ours is in DS room, plays continuously white noise (Alexa, play white noise, Alexa, loop on" job done Grin) but also doubles up for radio or music, podcasts or whatever.
▪️Get a six foot charger cable.
▪️Get a bodum thermal cup.
▪️Get a sling.
▪️Get everything else second hand.

(Weleda calendula nappy cream is a miracle worker. It cures burns, spots, nappy rash, everything.)

PhillipeFellope · 25/04/2019 21:09

Ooh ooh AND Tuppence and Crumble starsnug!

Original poster
Prequelle · 25/04/2019 21:14

phillipe what slings would you recommend? I've heard if sling libraries to try but I don't think there's one here

OP posts:
Toodleoopuddle · 25/04/2019 21:22

Perfect prep
Mam bottles
And sleepyhead was an absolute saviour. Highly recommend.

PhillipeFellope · 25/04/2019 21:35

I got a cheap (about £15) stretchy wrap when ds was a newborn from amazon. And then a Connecta (now called Integra) when he was about 4 months. Hands down the best piece of kit I bought. It was about £50, I had a discount code, and it got used daily for at least a year. He's 2.5 now and I still sometimes stick him in it if he's having a particularly bad day and needs a constant cuddle (molars are bastards).

Also a jumperoo, it that's for when they're about six months.

Ooh and terry towelling nappy squares. Again, off amazon. About £12 for 10. Can be used as a burp cloth, nappy mat, bum cloth, flannel. Much more absorbant than muslins. 2.5 years later, still being used.