To ask what a first time parent absolutely doesn't need to do or buy?

[glabicki]

I'm pregnant with my first and we are starting to order things for the baby.

There are so many gadgets, and I wonder what things I absolutely won't need and what is a life saver?

And what parenting advice should I ignore, and what advice should I take on board?

Trying not to get too worked up about everything, but I'm starting to feel like I don't know anything and I need to buy everything!

Thanks in advance!

Best advice I can always give is tell people you are expecting and they will give you stuff.

I got things like a baby bath, changing mat, clothes, unused bottles, newborn baby carrier, newborn sling and toys from friends who has finishing having kids plus lots of vouchers so I could buy a car seat from family.

I then passed on stuff to other people to get it out of my home.

Yes you can sell it but it's a hassle.

Also agree if u have a normal bath then don't bother with a baby bath.
Dd hated it.. Then dh used to put her in with one of us for a bit. 9nce she was used to the bath we used to just put her in a couple of cm. Of water and let her splash about..

I would look at baby equipment sales I bought most of my clothing and toys from these events especially in the first year as we have too much. I then donated to charity shops

To save money think clever.

So don't buy a special box, basket or bag to keep your nappies, creams etc in at home. Use what you have in the house or have been gifted. I have gifted people baskets with stuff for their baby and in my case I'm currently using my Baby Box. Before that I just shoved them in a spare bag.

While I have a changing bag my OH just found a normal bag he likes using. Lots of other parents I know use a normal bag/rucksac they like as their changing bag. You just need a bag where you can organise things quickly. You can buy travel changing mats from Amazon or eBay.

I don't have a specific room thermometer as I have a clock with a thermometer already.

If you have friends/family who like cooking ask them if they could prepare some meals for you. One of my SILs prepared some meals for us without us even asking.

I'm another one who doesn't have a nappy bin. I view them only useful if you don't have or can't get to the outside bin daily. When they are weaned there are some nappies you won't want in your house.

I had dummies that came with some of the bottles that I got free/given to me. LO didn't like them.

You definitely don't need one of those egg room temperature things! Complete waste of money!

My DS was born during a heatwave and had fans on galore but just sat and watched it glow red. Made no difference as there was very little else we could do. I asked the midwife about it and she said it was a waste of money. She said babies are born in hot countries too and manage

If you have a room temp gadget fine but don't bother buying a baby one. You know when your house is too hot or too cold.

What i did find great was the dream sheep. My daughter absolutely loved having that it her cot. So if someone wants to buy you a pressie that's a great gift

You don't need half of it. We never used the top and tail thingy. Baby baths are big cumbersome things as well so don't get one if you can manage with a sink/bath. Used a board thing that you stick over the top of the cot. We used:

Moses basket (with mattress and fitted sheets)
Nappies (don't get loads re sizing)
Nappy bags
Plain white vests and babygrows (fancy outfits will not get used)
Nice baby wash (just get 1 bottle it lasts forever same re bum cream)
Bottles
Microwave steriliser (MAM one is good)
Thermometer and best thing someone bought me was a pound shop bath thermometer.
Blanket with the holes in 🤔 cellular that's it
Muslins

Also bought big travel system thing. Bloody waste of money. Never used the carrycot bit of it as DS would scream if put in it. Would buy a car seat and a pram.

Moses basket.
They look pretty but are useless within weeks as the baby grows.
I always felt that a cot looked & felt sturdier & more secure.

Muslins. It is impossible to have too many.

I wish I'd bought reusable nappies from the beginning to be honest. Very expensive initially but save loads in the long run. You can get ones that are birth to potty so you buy your stash and you never have to buy another, as well as newborn ones if baby isn't quite big enough for the btp ones at first.
Moses basket was useful, especially in the first few weeks where I was avoiding cosleeping, because I put a mattress on the floor then her on the floor next to me but if I'd anticipated cosleeping id have bought a next to me crib.
Blankets are useful, we have a couple crochet ones so they are a bit cooler, and then a big thick one for the winter (only used when she's in the pram or right next to me in the daytime because they can and will pull them over their heads).
Stockpiling wet wipes is a good idea, we ended up not needing to buy any for a few months because of it.
You get sudo in your bounty packs so I wouldn't bother buying that, especially as it might not do anything for baby.
Lidl have their baby sale on at the mo so if you're going to use bottles I'd head there, four tommy tippee ones for £8 which is a bargain! Poundland bottles are also really good, avoid Superdrug as the hot water makes them like suck in so you can't actually tell how much water is in there.
Bouncy chair is a lifesaver, swing was good for two days then useless.
Johnson's do a baby bath set which includes a bath mat, lotions, and baby bath. I used mine up very quickly!
Bath seats weren't great because we still had to hold onto the baby and it was got cold very quickly on her back.
Bumbo seats or similar are brilliant when they're a little older and wanting to sit up but don't have the control yet.
Our baby bath is currently being used as a second wash basket so wouldn't really say they're useful for baby.
We walk a lot as we don't drive so we bought an all terrain pram that will last her until she's about 1/1.5 but it doesn't fit in a lot of cars so that's something to think about. I also wish I'd bought one that I could clip a car seat onto as well because sometimes I wish I could get a taxi but can't because I either don't have a car seat cos I'm already out or I can't carry the car seat and push the pram.
Pram suits are brilliant, she sleeps in one at night to keep her warm as her arms get too cold in the sleeping bag and I can't be bothered to buy one with arms.
Milton is needed to sterilise dummies, and I'd get a pack of two dummies for just in case because we didn't have any and our baby was really hard to settle until we popped one in her mouth.

Dont bother with a baby bath, you end up lugging giant heavy baths and leaning down to wash them over the bath, and they take up loads of space. Just wash baby in kitchen sink. Much better on your back too as it's the right height.

Never used Milton in my life. Washed dummies under tap and put in bottle steriliser. After a while just wash in sink, they are soon picking them up off the floor and sticking them in their mouth before you can get to it!

Get the absolute minimum; nappies, stuff to wear, car seat, pram. You can get almost anything next day delivery.

One thing I never really understood was snowsuits yet others were wearing them all the time. You really can't put a baby in a car seat in a snowsuit. Yes it's fine when baby is in a pram on a cold winter's day but it is very rarely very cold! And if you go into a cafe or get back home you have to try and get the thing off while the baby is still sleeping In Case they overheat.
Lots of blankets that can easily be removed, a pram cover and a hat. Sorted.

I think snowsuits were invited for places where it really is very cold all winter.

The only reason to have a baby bath is if it’s free. A few times I used the one already used for many of my cousins. It fit on a traditional straight sided bath and filled with the old fashioned shower head. I knelt next to the bath. It was ok. It had a plug hole so was easy to empty. But effectively made the bath dirty. Faff.
Whereas a sink is easier to clean and higher up, useful if you end up having a Caesarian and don’t want to bend. You can line the sink with towels to make it softer. Pull the plug and leave the towels to drain. Deal with them once baby is comfy.
Or as someone else said up thread, put an adult in the bath first and pass them the baby.

@namechangingtime I am looking at all terrain prams also but want something user friendly and easy for cars etc. Can I ask what kind you had that wouldn’t fit in car and couldn’t take a car seat attachment - so I can avoid..?! Thanks🙏

I don’t think there is a universal list other than nappies and clothes?

Looking at the stuff here. I never used a Moses basket. I breastfed two babies and never needed nipple cream or pump. Didn’t use dummies or muslin clothes either.

We got a bugaboo cameleon. While the pushchair was great and we used for both. If I were to turn back time, I would get a bee instead. The off-road was useless. We tried pushing it and just ended up stuck in mud. Or can’t go over a tree trunk. Or the kissing gate. It’s easier to carry baby in a carrier if going off road.

@belfastnonblonde I got the mothercare orb all terrain. Mine also has dodgy front wheels but I'm not sure if that's a manufacturing fault for just mine or everyone has that issue. The cossatto ones are quite good, my friend has one x