First Time Mum Purchases

[GingerRH]

AIBU to ask

• 1 thing you brought a couldn't leave without for your newborn
• 1 thing you brought and new used/was a complete was of money

First time mum trying to get prepared on a budget. I posted her to get more replies 😁

[shivbo2014]

Loved the moses basket for both of mine. Didn't want to get rid of it as they slept so well in it! Mine was 30 quid from Aldi with the stand.

[GiveHerHellFromUs]

@squaky we've got this one rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F362709580871

Highly recommend it. It's got similar features to what @BiddyPop mentioned

[BiddyPop]

Squaky, DD is now 14 so the models have probably changed since then - but if you talked to them in the shop and asked to go through the features, I'm sure there's at least 1 that does a significant recline option. It really was useful!

I know I had an early model of the Quinny Buzz system, and wore out the tyres with all my walking (had to replace those when passing on within the family after 1 DC - now 5 more DCs have been through it and no more tyres were needed). I had the pram, and pushchair elements, and also the maxi cosi rock-a-tot car seat that fitted into it.

And I did get a Quinny Zapp later on, with the carry bag, for flying when she was 8 months old and also used that a lot for commuting by bus with DD to her creche near my office. (We had over 4 years of commuting to creche and varied transport options over that time, so she also used to go in on DH's bike and I drove her home for a different period in that time).

Both Quinny's got well used by later DCs within the extended family.

We also had a couple of those "sac'n'seats" to use when out and about, they rolled up into the change bag but were extremely useful in places where there wasn't a highchair (or already in use) and for bringing to DGPs houses etc. No good for newborns - DC must have decent body control as it was only fabric - but from 3 months or so onwards (when they can hold themselves up sufficiently), it was useful for at least 2 full years.

I also agree with snowsuits - DD was a late December baby, but we got out in all weathers from very early on and the snowsuits (we went through a few as she grew and had a number of winters in them) meant she was lovely and cosy when outdoors but could cool down sufficiently when going into very hot coffee shops and creche etc. (She commuted on the back of DH's bike, in minus temps oftentimes, quite happily when snuggled up properly).

We also had good rain gear, wellies, etc once she was walking - so would go out in literally all weathers. There is nothing so lovely with small DCs than splashing through muddy puddles on a rainy day to get home - raincoats keep them happy while out, and hot towels/dry clothes/ possibly shower/bath on arrival make for happy DCs when they get indoors.

[squaky]

@BiddyPop Do you know which high chair you had please? Just googled but there are a lot of mamas and papas and couldn't work out which one

[yellowallpaper]

@CassandrasCastle

cooperative grandma

Not sure of the model but....

Used but in good condition
Not too many miles on the clock
Cheap to run
Available at short notice
Willing to cook and clean and not offer unwanted advice 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[FreedomfromPE]

I forgot muslin cloths. Yeah. Daily use for all sorts. Now for window cleaning

[FreedomfromPE]

Oh. Just seen the update. I did use the moses basket .... mostly for toting washing etc in one hand whilst carrying baby (again a baby carrier is great).
We were gifted a baby born seat and door bouncer. The seat had more use for us. And both easily sold on too. Same with the jumperoo. Try one out and shop second hand.

[FreedomfromPE]

Baby carrier.
Nappies & bucket. Supply of nappy sanitiser.
Pads for bleeding
Calpol just ready and paracetamol for me.
Later a high chair, great gift to ask for.
There were other useful things, like leaving in each room a nice bottle of prepared squash for me to drink during demand feeding, stocking up on real basics for the house and freezer so I didn't have to go out because of running out of toilet paper or shower gel, I could plan.

[ritzbiscuits]

If you're on a budget don't buy a travel system. I used the carrycot for 12 weeks max then he was in a pushchair with padding. If I was having another, I'd manage with a sling then move to a pushchair when they're ready. That will save you hundreds.

Shop around for a second hand wooden crib on Gumtree etc. You'll be able to use in for a few months then sell it for the price you paid.

Baby Bjorn carrier was my absolute best purchase, my son didn't stop crying for the first 3 months and wearing him really soothed him. We'd bought a wrap but he cried that much it was too much of a faff to get him in and out of it. I'd wait until they're born and ideally go to a local sling library where you can try different ones and see what works best.

Don't get on the bandwagon and buy a Jumperoo, try one first. My son never jumped in it, another waste of £70, though I did resell.

[Hepsibar]

Here are some suggestions:
*A gel seat or rubber ring to pop on seat whilst feeding baby at night, partic if you have stitches. (Wish had got before)
*A unit for soiled disposable nappies where the bags came out and you sort of twist and then could put another and just got rid of a lot in one go. (Found better to just get rid of them as and when rather than store up in the house)
*I put a ribbon from bunches of flowers on the door so it made it easy for the midwife/health visitor to see which house we were!
*Lots of the clothes gifts were never used nor the ornaments (silver teddy bears, money boxes etc)but are recyclable to others! (I imagine a huge wave of them being recycled every time a baby is born!)
*Some actual nappy squares are marvellous for anything, be it dealing with the fountain of a little boy when changing nappy or somewhere clean, cosy for baby to lie on when changing.
*We did not need our baby listening device because our house was only a semi and my ear became so attuned to their little noises but this is not for everyone.
*I found the playpen useful for putting all the toys in at the end of the day! The only use it had for the baby was if I needed to answer the door or go to the loo so baby not alone with dog.
*I found when the time comes, a baby walker very helpful and wish we'd got one earlier than we did.

[Youvegotafriendinme]

My tommee tippee prep machine was invaluable

Complete waste of money was the Moses basket. DS hated it and never used it.

[Thelnebriati]

Best - a snowsuit. Brilliant for going out in bad weather and we also used it when the boiler broke down one winter.

Worst - a sling, my back was ruined and I couldn't use it.

[CassandrasCastle]

Where can I get a cooperative grandma? Which brand is best?

[CmdrCressidaDuck]

I'd recommend a Close Caboo for a newborn, but best thing is to go to a sling library and try them out before the baby - sling libraries love seeing expectant parents and have weighted dolls you can practice with.

[GingerRH]

@yellowallpaper she's already in the wings waiting impatiently for her first grandchild 😍

[GingerRH]

THANK YOU to everyone who's replied! Given me plenty to look through.

We've already got a sleepyhead & a snuzpod. Which I've noticed were highly recommended.

We've also been gifted a Moses basket by my DSD DM - which I know some of you said we're a waste of money but I figure as it's been gifted I won't lose any sleep if it's not used.

I'm also planning on EBF so hopefully no need for bottles/perfect prep it.

I had my eye on the BabyBjorn bouncer which I've seen come up a few times.

Those that have commented to say carriers/slings any recommendations on specific brands?

[yellowallpaper]

Best of all thing was a cooperative grandma !

[yellowallpaper]

Best sling
Worst Moses basket. Literally never slept in it.
Also not good was the nappy bin

[JosefKeller]

For me it makes sense not to introduce them in the first place, but each to their own.

the point is that when you don't introduce one to them, they chose one themselves and it's harder.

yours are obviously the exception, but I don't know any child who doesn't have "something".

[bananaontoast1]

Mine is only 7 weeks so early days but my most used things so far are:
Tommee tippee perfect prep machine
Constant supply of muslin cloths
Lots of cushions everywhere to support my arms when holding him - he's a very big baby!

Things I haven't liked/used:
Baby bath. My child is huge and outgrew it in no time!
Bibs

I'm going to go against the grain re: outfits - dressing my baby in outfits has helped me massively when he's been grumpy/I've not slept/I feel just miserable. He looks adorable, I feel like I've got it together more and seeing him in all the things I chose for him while I was pregnant cheers me up no end. :)

[PPopsicle]

I also disagree with a comforter. My 18 month of DS doesn’t have one and it’s great because I never have to worry if he has lost it

[GiveHerHellFromUs]

@JosefKeller mine doesn't have any of any kind, and my friends DS doesn't either.

I do remember my cousin having a teddy that she lost and she was hysterical for weeks after. Even exact replicas didn't do the job.

For me it makes sense not to introduce them in the first place, but each to their own.

[riddles26]

Also disagree with comforter suggestion. We gave my eldest muslins as a comforter, made sure we rotated them so she didn't get attached to just one so never ran out. Around the age of 2, she decided one specific muslin was her favourite and she would only sleep with that (and typically it can't be replaced!). She also decided she wanted to sleep with one of my old teddies at a similar age and has chosen that to be her bedtime buddy. DH gifted it to me when we started dating 15 years ago so also not replaceable.

[riddles26]

Must have:
Sling (although I did get this after having baby and trialling at sling library which I highly recommend)
Baby bjorn bouncer

Waste of money
Electric swing my MIL kindly bought me in the hope baby would sleep - both my children and BIL's child barely went in it and was too small to use past about 4 months
All bottles as I ended up ebf and barely ever gave a bottle. The free MAM samples would have been more than adequate. Sounds absolutely ridiculous but I never even knew that it was possible to never need to use formula and bottles - I was under the assumption it was what everyone did after a certain point.

[JosefKeller]

you might be right for some children, but I do not know any child who doesn't have ONE comforter of some kind. It might be an actual toy designed as a comforter, a blanket, one of mummy's jumper or scarf, anything.

I found it so much easier to buy a couple of specific ones, not stress about keeping them clean or losing them. All the other teddies were introduced later.