To ask some questions about baby items

[LikeShcam]

Posting for traffic but if I have to have an AIBU it's AIBU to ask some questions about baby items.

I'm now 24 weeks pregnant. OH has been asking when we are going to be going shopping for LO. We've agreed to go today but not sure what to get. Maybe we'll just look today but when do you get

Things for the nursery
Pushchair/car seat
Clothes
Nappies and wipes

Any advice will be appreciated!

Personally I think it's a bit early but look out for baby events where you may be able to buy in bulk. Or at least start comparing prices on nappies and essentials so you know when prices are dropped.
For bulky items I would definitely wait a little longer unless you have lots of storage space.

We bought everything around week 35 because we are not very organised.

Things for the nursery - we bought nursery furniture at about 22 weeks as it was on offer. Glad we did it then as it gave us a kick up the arse to paint the room, but you'll get a lot of people saying not to bother. It's up to you. Bedding, next to me crib, baby bath etc I managed to get a lend of from my DSis.
Pushchair/car seat - we bought from a local nursery store and put a deposit down at about 12w, then paid them off over time before collecting at 38w. They also built the pram for us foc which was amazing.
Clothes - bought gradually, as and when I saw stuff I liked.
Nappies and wipes - for these and other "consumables" I started gathering them at about 35w when I started making up my hospital bag. I just fired but and pieces into the trolley as part of my normal shop. Don't go mad stockpiling though, it'll be trial and error with stuff like that to see what suits baby.

Bear in mind if you're 24w now you'll be able to take advantage of Black Friday sales and reductions immediately after Christmas. It might be worth waiting for those to make any big ticket purchases, but equally it's nice ticking stuff off and knowing things are in hand.

Agree you've got loads of time so probably take your time and do some research. Do you want to have a next-to-bed crib or a moses basket? In terms of the baby's room, will you get a cot then a single bed or a cotbed (that is bigger but lasts a year longer)?

In terms of buggies, how compact do you need it to be/do you need it to go off road? Do you drive a lot or walk a lot?

I would hold off buying too many clothes, you don't know what will work for your baby or what you will get for presents. Buy some basics in newborn sizes, enough to take you through the first few weeks. You can always shop online for more stuff at the time.

Don't buy nappies and wipes either, your baby might not suit certain brands or their skin might react to them. Buy a couple of packs of size 1 and some water wipes, again just for the first week or 2.

My star purchase was a Baby Bjorn bouncer.

I would advise you make a list of the basics of what you need, and consider whether you want to buy all new, or whether there are things that will be fine second hand. There are a lot of bargains to be had if you're prepared to buy second hand, and it might free your budget up to indulge more on things you have your heart set on getting brand new. Ebay, facebook, NCT nearly new sales are all good places to pick up good quality stuff if you're prepared to look. Just keep in mind some things should be brand new for safety like the cot mattress and the carseat.

Basics would include somewhere for baby to sleep at night and during the day, clothes to wear for night and day (my advice is baby grows all the time, comfy and practical) somewhere to change nappies, and a small stash of nappies and wipes, cream etc. Also whatever you need to feed them. A pram and carseat, maybe a few little toys and a couple of soft blankets. Babies dont need a lot to start with.

I would make your list before you go to any shops, and do a bit of research on the brands and items which will fit your lifestyle, eg a pram that will fit in the boot of your car, or into the storage space you have in the house. Do you want a moses basket, next to me type cot, or are you considering cosleeping? Are you planning to bottle feed? Etc etc. And remember you dont have to get everything all at once. Amazon prime will get stuff to you next day if you need it.

Agree with @TheCraicDealer about waiting for furniture/pram sales. We bought our nursery furniture set in the Mammas and Pappas sale and got great discounts.

I’d wait to get a huge supply of nappies as the way they fit is different for each baby. DS leaked through Tesco ones in the small sizes but they’re the best fit now he’s in size 4. We had a load of size 1 nappies but he was so tiny we had to get hold of the size 0 ones after he was born anyway.

Ds was a summer baby but as he was small he was about a month out of the size range so a lot of the shorts and sun wear were only fitting him in October! We were gifted lots of outfits so if you’re buying I’d stick to basics like sleepsuit multipacks (get ones with built in scratch mitts!), short/long sleeved bodysuits etc.

We had a browse in mammas and pappas and they gave us a baby item checklist which was a pretty good starting point for deciding what we wanted.

Also it’s much easier to get the nursery set up first then start getting all the smaller bits. You can put everything away properly then once you’ve bought it. If you’ve piled all the purchases and boxes in the nursery then have to put together the flat pack furniture you’ll be moving it all again or getting frustrated trying to work in a smaller space. (Looking at my DH )

I’m 24 weeks myself with third baby, 5th pregnancy. I bought my pram already, didn’t save prams from previous kids cos I didn’t think I’d have more kids... I bought it 2nd hand from eBay, because it was a fantastic price, hopefully it’s all good when it gets here. I still have cot from first born, just needs new wheels and bolts, and a new mattress. It’s a Stokke Sleepi, so expensive to buy new. Car seat you’ll want to shop around for and buy brand new because of safety. But really I don’t think you need to get anything yet, it’s purely personal preference at this stage. Congratulations on your pregnancy.

I had everything bought by about week 32 with DC1 and the hospital bag was packed by then too. I was terrified I would go into early labour and not have everything ready.

With my subsequent children, everything was bought much later. I’d say it was all ready by week 38 tbh. I started buying clothes and nappies (reusable) as soon as we had the ok from the scans but bigger items like sleepyhead, pram, car seat etc came much later.

If it’s a good deal/price/what you want get it.. well do a bit of googling first obviously to check it’s not a shit in shiny foil.
But I definitely had a few “look arounds” first.. if we’d bought our car seat in the first shop it’d have been £80 more for the same thing in a different colour. Smyths has an in store deal at the mo £10 off every £50 I think so if you really like something in there it might be worth it.

Have you got any friends that already have kids?

It’s good to bounce stuff off people who’ve been through it before. Different stuff works for different people, but most would agree that stuff like baby wipe warmers and frilly dresses for very young babies etc are either a waste of money or impractical for day to day use.

bear in mind that a lot of expensive items are only used for just a few months. If you can borrow these, or get them second hand, then you have more money for the things which last longer

The one purchase I always recommend to expectant Mums who ask this question is a feeding pillow (the 'V' or 'C on it's side' shaped, curved ones). They are brilliant whether you're BF'ing or bottle feeding as the pillow supports the baby and leaves you with your hands free to undo your bra, take the lid off a bottle or open a packet of chocolate biscuits!

I'd buy one now rather than waiting, as they are also brilliant to support your bump in bed and can really help to relieve pressure on your hips if you tuck one end between your knees and the other under the top of your bump.

Congratulations and good luck!