AIBU to ask what you actually NEED when you’re having a baby?

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So DP and I have just found out we are expecting our first over the summer. Totally unplanned & unexpected.
We are skint and freaking out a LOT.
SIL has kindly offered to give us her cot, and 30 reusable nappies.
I work with babies and I’m not stupid but I can’t help feeling like I don’t have a bloody clue.

So far we have on the list
Pram
Car seat
Sling (live rurally and have dogs)
Bottles incase I can’t BF
Dummies for sleeping to decrease sids risk
Nappies
Sudocreme
Cotton wool
Wipes
Sleepsuits/vests etc
Breast pads

Please can you amazing ladies help me out! I’m freaking out!

Thanks in advance

A new cot mattress, never use a one already used. Wee baby mittens to stop them scratching themselfs, dd was wild for scratching herself no matter how short we could get her nails, I ever got the health visitor to cut them incase I was leaving them to long as I was scared cutting her but it made no difference. A Moses basket.

You don’t need bottles - truth is women who have them and formula ‘just in case’ are much more likely to give up breastfeeding before their milk comes in. Send them back and buy a breastmilk collector and an appointment with a lactation consultant - it will really help.

Also re the sling - better to wait until the baby is born to buy these.

You don’t need bottles - truth is women who have them and formula ‘just in case’ are much more likely to give up breastfeeding before their milk comes in. Send them back and buy a breastmilk collector and an appointment with a lactation consultant - it will really help.

Also re the sling - better to wait until the baby is born to buy these.

Also. What on gods earth do you take in a hospital bag!?! Argh. Minefield

Baby soap. Baby towel but you could just use a small towel. Metanium is better than sudocream. Vaseline for your nipples, cheaper than nipple cream but effective. Baby bouncer chair.

Changing pad, don’t bother getting a changing table they are expensive and frankly you can do it on the floor.

I also got a little travel changing mat like this one www.amazon.co.uk/Lekebaby-Foldable-Travel-Changing-Portable/dp/B07G38MLC2/ref=sr_1_1?s=baby&srs=60156031&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1578068189&sr=1-1 because changing tables out can be pretty grim.

And you’ll need some sort of bag to shove everything in when you go out. But a cheap rucksack will do the job.

Thank you so much! That’s really interesting about the bottles. I would probably express if anything.
I won’t get them then. There’s a boots in the hospital open 8-10 and a 24 hour Asda over the toad so he can pop off if we need them!

Congratulations!
That's a pretty good list really.
Muslin rags are useful for all sorts of spills.
Also start bulk buying wet wipes, nappies etc nearer the time whenever there's a sale on.
And apply for Healthy Start vouchers.
There's not much they need for the first couple of months other than what you've put already.
Coffee though is very important
Oh and a little organiser to put hospital/doctor/health visitor appointments in.

Bouncer, not a necessity but really useful for nipping to the loo.
Bibs and muslins
Mattress and sheets for the cot if you're not getting them with it.
Blanket or sleeping bag for baby
Maternity pads
Microwave steriliser and bottle brush
One of those fold up changing mats you can chuck in your bag.
Wet and dry bags if you're using reusable nappies and wipes.
Room and body temp thermometers

You can do without the pram if you have a sling

30 reusable nappies should see you through

If you plan on breastfeeding dont buy bottles just now, wait and see if they become necessary - same with sterilisers and formula

Only buy one pack of dummies. If breastfeeding its recommended you dont give one for the first 6 weeks, and lots of breastfed babies refuse to take a dummy

Think about where you will bath baby - sink means no additional equipment, or cheap baby bath or bath seat

You can get most things including clothes second hand or on freecycle type places

Agree we never had bottles, dummies, pump, sterilisers etc. Figured I wanted to bf and if it went wrong 24hr Tesco or friends would help out.

If you get stretchy maternity bra once you’re about 30 weeks gone that’ll keep you going until you know if you are bf or not, you can then get nursing bras once baby is here and size settled.

Moses basket
Blankets
Sheets

Don't bother with bottles until you've given breastfeeding a try, you could end up wasting money there. Also if you do decide to do formula you'll need sterilizer as well

Buy your big bits first and mostly things can wait until she's here.
Asda nappies £3.00 add them to weekly shop
Baby wipes again asda 12 packets for £5.00 buy as needed

Breastfeeding is free mostly (nipple cream & breast pads)

7 vests 7 sleepsuits 7 socks 2 mittens 2 hats 1 coat. Packet of muslins

Cot, pram, car seat & sling. They're your invaluables really!

Sudocrem will not be needed

Didn’t have a Moses basket for DD. Used the cot but of her pram downstairs and our bed upstairs.

babies need somewhere to sleep you can use a full size cot
they need food and clothes warmth and love
you already have a car seat and pram so that is transport sorted

some babies vomit and have explosive nappies so you need stacks of babygros and muslins but plenty others don't and 1 babygro a day will be fine I found 2 x 3 packs of babygros and 3-4 outfits was plenty for first few weeks

things you can mange without
babybath you can use kitchen sink or a large bowl
bouncing chair
sterilisers you might not bottle feed so don't buy in advance they are always in the shops
don't buy a pramsuit as due in June by the time it is autumn and you need one you will know what size to buy
the most common baby gift is clothes you will probably have a surplus
toys you will get presents
babies don't need cute shoes
a summer baby might need a sun hat or a parasol type thing to clip to pram
don't buy baby monitors or stairgates or anything like that now

Moses baskets are a waste of money imo, they’re only in them for a month or two then rendered useless.

New cot mattress is a must to reduce SIDS risk. My DC have never taken dummies so be prepared for that. I also wouldn’t bother buying bottles ‘just in case’, it feels like you’re setting yourself up to fail. You can always order some next day delivery if needs must or your OH can go to the shop for some...

Basically babies only need a few babygrows, cardigans, hats and vests plus a couple of blankets. Reusable nappies are great so glad you’re using them, reusable wipes are good too. A pram, car seat (preferably new but if second hand you need to be certain it hasn’t been involved in any accidents) and somewhere to sleep. I’ve always co-slept and I used the sleepyhead deluxe with my youngest which is amazing.

White noise machines and toys aren’t necessary, you can blast it out from your phone on Apple Music or YouTube.

Baby towels are kinda pointless, they’re small so don’t last beyond the first year. I would invest in a Shnuggle baby bath personally, they’re a godsend! Plus some baby wash (burts bees is good).

Breastfeeding wise you will need breast pads and Lansinoh nipple cream plus nursing bras. I never bought any breastfeeding clothes or anything, seemed pointless.

Hospital Bag
Car seat
Travel pram set
Nappies & Changing Bag
Babygrows
Scratch mits
Hat
Crib
Mattress
A couple of baby sized blankets for car/adhoc changing/sitting in grass in the park
Sleep suits (closed foot bag thing)
Baby sling/carrier
Babygrows
Muslins
Bibs
Nappies
Babywipes
Metanium cream
Baby monitor
Movement monitor
Room thermometer
Baby thermometer
Baby manicure kit
Baby bath/flannels
Baby towels
Changing table
Changing mat & cheap towels to cover it.
V-pillows
Sterilising unit
Bottles/Pump/formula
Maternity allowance/certificate for work
Dental and prescription exemption forms
Working tax credits/Child tax credits/Universal credit forms
Child benefit forms

If you’re using reusable nappies you may as well get reusable wipes. Cheeky wipes are great.

Yy to pp who recommended waiting for the sling - find a sling library and get advice/hire first.

OH and a couple of £1 swim rings to sit on after birth! 😁 My Tesco one is still inflated two and a half years later.

Oh and think ahead season wise so don’t make the mistake of buying winter clothes like a snowsuit for a summer baby. It’s an easy mistake to buy when you start buying things in advance.

Baby monitor
Movement monitor

Neither of these needed for at least 6 months (and the second not needed at all).

Babies don’t need weird shoes or outfits like jeans and dresses. They also don’t give a hoot about toys until they’re older. One thing I would say is to buy some black and white books, newborns love to gaze at black and white images. Sorry for posting three times, I just forgot a couple of things!

Lanisoh nipple cream (purple tube), breast pads, sanitary pads for in hospital after baby.

If you’re planning to breast feed then you don’t need a dummy. It’s also recommended not to introduce it until bf is well established around 6-8 weeks. Ds is 20 months and has never had a dummy
We didn’t have mits. They’re not recommended as when they’re in our bellies the way they recognise things is by touching if when norm the first thing we do is cover them they lose a bit of themselves.

For us the best changing table was the floor. We didn’t bother with a table and thanks god. Ds is a wriggler and he’d have fallen.

To be honest I think we tend to over buy when pregnant many things we won’t end up using :
Cot with new mattress
Pram and / or sling
Car seat
Nappies
Few clothes

Is what I recommended from the beginning. When baby is born then you can decide whether you need anything else

If money is tight, I advise you to check your benefit entitlement and how it will change after the baby is born. If you're entitled to Universal Credit you can also get a Sure Start Maternity Grant of £500. Plus there's Child Benefit which isn't a huge amount but every little helps.

www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/benefits-and-entitlements-to-claim-when-you-have-a-baby

I’ve had a quick scan and can’t see if they’ve already been said, but you’ll need something to cut baby’s nails with and after a little while a soft hairbrush x