Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

When to buy nappies

109 replies

Rosebel · 27/03/2020 10:19

Baby due June. Luckily we have big items from when our older children were babies such as cot and pushchair but need to buy a car seat, clothes, nappies, bottles, etc. But I have read formula and nappies are hard to come by so feel it would be unfair to buy these things now. But when is it okay but things like this as obviously I don't want leave it too late and be stuck. I started buying at about this stage with my older children but there wasn't a pandemic on then
When would you start buying?

OP posts:
Auntiedotty · 27/03/2020 10:21

Have you considered breast feeding and cloth nappies?

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 27/03/2020 10:23

Auntiedotty, I expect OP has never heard of breastfeeding and cloth nappies Hmm

CoronaLime · 27/03/2020 10:25

I am due mid may and have started trying to pick things up now- newborn nappies, maternity pads etc. Just one or two packs at a time. I think as long as you behave as you would normally you're not part of the problem.

MsChatterbox · 27/03/2020 10:27

I would play it by ear. If for example you go to a shop and they are fully stocked then buy some. If there is only 4 packs then leave it! I am also due June and started buying nappies a while back but have paused for a few weeks during all the panic buying!

GiveADogABone2020 · 27/03/2020 10:27

@Auntiedotty what an unhelpful response! Maybe OP doesn’t want to or can’t breastfeed. And the reusable nappies can be very expensive.

OP, I think it depends on your circumstances. Are you self-isolating as per the guidelines due to being pregnant? Who would be able to get happier/formula for you? Or would you do online ordering?

I appreciate that you don’t need them right this minute like some people do, but you don’t know how long this is going to go on for. Also babies sometimes still to their own schedules so you have to prepare in case baby comes early!

I’d suggest getting what you can now- no need to panic buy or stock pile, but at least buy a pack of nappies or tin of formula here and there on your weekly shops just to make sure you’ve got a few in the house just in case

Bybbyeblackbird · 27/03/2020 10:28

Testing why on earth would you say that?! Really helpful Hmm
Rosebel I would buy a bit of everything now of anything that is well stocked, but not loads.

Original poster
Rosebel · 27/03/2020 11:20

I didn't ask for judgement on how I'm choosing to feed my baby so if you can't be helpful don't reply.
Thanks to the rest of you. I think I'll just try and be one of things when they're fully stocked. Think I'm just worried about depriving others.

OP posts:
Original poster
Rosebel · 27/03/2020 11:21

Try and buy that should say.

OP posts:
Piglet89 · 27/03/2020 11:22

@Auntiedotty maybe the OP doesn’t want to give herself a breakdown with BF stress and constant laundry of reuseables. Jesus.

OpticVA · 27/03/2020 11:26

@Auntiedotty what a unhelpful and patronising response. OP I’d start buying bits and bobs here and there from now, as long as you don’t go and clear a shelf you won’t be depriving anyone.

Bubblesbubblesmybubbles · 27/03/2020 11:28

I'm due mid may have been buying a tub of formula about once every 2 weeks from January as its expensive so i spread the cost out. As soon as the panic buying started i depleted my stock for people who couldn't buy and actually had a baby but up til lockdown was buying a tub if i saw 4 in a shop and checking when they next expected a delivery.

The only thing to be aware of is that you might find your DC has a cows milk allergy or something so dont get too much just in case

Nappies I did the same (we cloth during the day but use disposables at night). So now slowly building up a supply every few weeks but not panicking or taking any if there isnt a huge supplely

Oldfail · 27/03/2020 11:30

I went to supermarket yesterday and there were plenty of nappies so I dont think they will sell out.

Just remember that depending on size of baby they may grow out of newborn nappies quickly or you may need tiny nappies

My 1st was in size 2 for a long time but my 2nd almost skipped size 2 and went into 3s and been in those for ages.

Also some babies are sensitive to particular nappies so no point in buying loads and finding you cant use them.

Soubriquet · 27/03/2020 11:32

Wouldn’t hurt to grab newborn nappies if you see them.

That way they are there and it’s one less thing to worry about

Soubriquet · 27/03/2020 11:33

I ended up having to buy preemie nappies for ds.. But newborn was used a few weeks later.

You don’t need to go mad, just a pack or two

Pentium85 · 27/03/2020 11:33

No suggestions other than amazon often have very good deals on nappies

Jen306 · 27/03/2020 11:40

I’m due in April and only began buying nappies and formula once things started to ramp up here in terms of toilet roll shortages! It was a sign of things to come! We’ve got a bit of supplies now and have stopped buying for now, to let others. Could do with pack of nappies in next size up maybe but we’ll try and grab one at some point over next couple of weeks.

As for the pp point about breastfeeding and reusables. I think people idealise situations and you should do what’s right for you and your family! I was criticised in Aldi for buying formula by some random woman! Looking at my 8month bump she said I didn’t need formula and should breastfeed and tried to give me a lecture!

For me I want the security of having formula in, I will try breastfeeding but there is a family history (my mum, her mum and aunt so my grandma and great aunt) where they made colostrum but no matter what they tried their milk didn’t come in - obviously I might not be the same but I’d be foolish to ignore the possibility esp as the moment where hubby can’t just pop to the shops to grab some formula if we needed it! And Don’t want to end up in a position where I can’t feed my baby! And actually it was never my intention to ebf, I always said I’d give the colostrum then maybe mixed feed but not long term but that was besides the point! you never know someone’s circumstances when you make comments like that!

Also reusable nappies are a possibility and might save money in the long run (although you need to factor in the cost of washing!) it’s is a big outlay in one go and keep having to buy different sizes especially when they newborn. At a time of economic uncertainty and job insecurity I don’t think it’s a viable option for everyone - some people but not all!

But in your position maybe as a pp has said use common sense if it’s the last pack or two on the shelf leave it for someone who needs it today who’s baby is here or going to be here v soon, but if stocks are good buying one pack of nappies, wipes and formal wouldn’t be a silly idea! just stop when you feel you have enough to get you going for a few weeks!!

somegoodnewsforonce · 27/03/2020 11:42

Have you considered breast feeding and cloth nappies?

Oh wow that's such a helpful post. I bet op has never even heard of breastfeeding or cloth nappies.

Soubriquet · 27/03/2020 11:45

And yes, I love how “breastfeed!” Is shouted out.

I would love to have breastfed but with both of mine I couldn’t.

Dd had tongue tie that wasn’t sorted in time and caused me to suffer agony to the point where I resented even holding at.

I had wanted to breastfeed so had got nothing in. No formula, no bottles, no steriliser and no 24 hour supermarket where I live. I was in tears when we came home as we had nothing in. Dh left first thing the next morning to stock up.

Ds, I was a bit more prepared for failure and it was a good job. He was too small to stay latched long enough to feed and then it turned out he had CMPA and needed formula prescription anyway. The bottles and steriliser came in handy

Ncforcfthreads · 27/03/2020 12:34

@TestingTestingWonTooFree
I hadnt heard of cloth nappies until my first was 6 months + and I am a very eco- save the planet type.

I am still the only person I know in real life who uses cloth.
I also didn't know breastfeeding was a thing until I read about it on a mommy and me website when I was about 7 months pregnant. I wasnt breast fed and knew noone else who had.
It is more mainstream now a few years later but I still only know a couple of people who bf and even less who went past 6 months.

Its not that much of a stretch.
I also didnt know about steralizers or baby slings... until i had a baby ofc

RoomOfRequirement · 27/03/2020 12:38

I also didn't know breastfeeding was a thing until I read about it on a mommy and me website

This absolutely can not be real.

Ncforcfthreads · 27/03/2020 12:41

@Auntiedotty
I agree with you, at the moment with lockdown and panic buying etc, formula feeding and throw away nappies sounds 10x more stressful with the risk of not being able to get your hands on formula or nappies.
Noone knows that by june there will be formula and nappies on the shelves. We could be in lockdown on and off for god knows how long.

I for one will never expect to see bread or milk or nappies or paracetamol on the shelves again. Ir soap!

OP, if you can consider breastfeeding and reusables then do- you may not want to be going out to the shops for formula when you have a tiny baby. Or you might get those horrible 'must bleach everything or the baby will die' feelings etc. Especially with this pandemic.

georgialondon · 27/03/2020 12:43

At the moment we are buying nappies from Amazon Prime and leaving ones on the shelves in shops for others.

Ncforcfthreads · 27/03/2020 12:46

@RoomOfRequirement i was 17 and me and my siblings, cousins and neighbours were all bottlefed. You have to learn about it sometime.
I also didn't think everyone had natural births because i only knew people who had emcs and everyone else had chosen to have a c sections.
Before then my life consisted of school work, friends and no babies.

However i did know about rusks but never gave my kids any for some reason
We only know what we know

Original poster
Rosebel · 27/03/2020 12:56

Well I am considering breastfeeding but didn't produce any milk with my first or nearly enough to satisfy my second so I may be lucky but if I'm not I'd like to be prepared.

OP posts:
Oldfail · 27/03/2020 13:14

Going on a tangent OP but why do you think you didn't produce enough milk to satisfy baby?

My mum kept telling me with both cause I was feeding often that I wasnt producing enough but I ignored her. Just wondering if it is the case and baby shouldn't want feeding so often