When to buy nappies

[Rosebel]

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?

@PatricksRum

I didn't directly quote you, I'm saying that's how it comes across.

It's March. I wouldn't start buying formula now as you WILL be depriving others. Sorry but the shelves have been absolutely bare. Maybe in 4-6 weeks start thinking about it . For now the shops and supply chain must recover from all the ridiculous stockpiling that's gone on/ continues to happen. If you really must have it then order directly from the supplier or boots.

Congratulations. I was advised by a MW to have my hospital bag back by 34 weeks, so I’d start buying the odd bit around this time.
Good luck during this crazy times.

In response to the panic buying, Cow and Gate are now selling formula online so you can buy direct from them.

@Piglet89 yessss! I don’t think these people who spout about breast being best at every opportunity realise how it makes those who can’t feel. I struggled horrendously to feed my baby - had so much support from some amazing hospital staff (others not so amazing - it’s not difficult I don’t understand why you can’t) and even they told me I should formula feed. People are too quick to judge.

I know people are disregarding cloth nappies

But in this climate. I would really think about it. Not only can you get some and reuse them. It wouldn't be such a rush to buy loads. I would use cloth now for sure. I didn't use it with mine. But right now. I would t hesitate

I had a massive bleed from my pituitary gland. Which is where the hormone prolactin (milk hormone) is released

I didn't produce any. However. There are only like 300 cases ever. Only about 48 of us worldwide right now.

So very very rare. Even the specialists in this subject have either met 1. Or none with what happened to me.

I'm due in a couple of weeks. I have been stocking up slowly on nappies but to be honest I haven't found them too hard to find even with this chaos. I'll be breastfeeding as with my previous babies but that's neither here nor there to other people. If I was planning on formula feeding I think I'd be buying a tub a week for a while just so you can rest knowing you've got plenty. You definitely don't want to be desperately hunting high and low for formula.

I would get maybe 3 x 1s // 4 x 2s for now and 2 week's supply of formula.

I have no wish to faff around with cloth nappies ever!

Good luck op. I'd start buying when you normally would but just one pack a time. I've just been to aldi and nappies stocks were high.
I would recommend looking at reusable. I poo pooed them (pun intended!) until DS was 17 months and the panic buyers bought all the nappies. I've bought 2 and loved them they dry really quickly, feel soft on skin, hold more wee (I would say) and wash really nicely. I wish I had used them earlier. I bought some off amazon for £5 each and they're great. Just personal experience

I’m finding maternity pads difficult to find which is worrying me to no end. I’m not due till late July so hopefully it’s a better story by then but I usually buy Boots ones which are showing as out of stock on the website and I’m sure it said they don’t expect to restock them... I don’t know which I’ll use, the others available online are extortionate and I’m trying to avoid shops for obvious reasons.

I’d start buying things now tbh. I’ve bought about 12 newborn nappies so could do with a few more of those and I breastfeed so lucky in that sense.

@Piglet89 OP posted. The post included formula. I added my opinion. It's not like I posted an unrelated comment.

Disposable wise Kit and kin have plenty in stock on their website.

@Dzundza What have I said about another woman's breasts?

You're bullying someone into breastfeeding and putting down bottle feeding. Breastfeeding involves someone elses body, their breasts. The clue is in the name.

@PatricksRum just have no idea why you care so much about BF honestly. You did it - bully for you. The OP herself specifically says she wasn’t looking for the BF mafia to come on chatting about how BF is best, easy etc. Have you helped her by answering her question? No - so just give it up, honestly.

@Elephantonascooter what brand are you using? I'm looking for recommendations

People who bully and belittle other women in an attempt to force breastfeeding do absolutely nothing for the cause. Yes breastfeeding rates are poor. The way of improving that is not by making people feel small and like they don't have agency over their own body. What got me to try breastfeeding with my second baby was having some really interesting, non judgemental conversations where I found out tips and facts that encouraged and empowered me. OP didn't ask for your opinion on her choice of feeding method PatricksRum, stop it.

Well said.

What do you mean the midwives tries to stimulate a milk flow? How soon did you give the first bottle? I've seen hundreds of women say they didn't produce milk and they had to give a bottle before they even left hospital... Sadly the education on breastfeeding is massively lacking. It takes around 5-7 days for mature milk to come in. Most have given up and claimed they didn't produce milk by then.

You can't not feed a baby for that long. Be sensible.
I was,in hospital for 4 days, but it was 13 years ago and I'd just had a c section. They were doing massage trying to encourage the milk flow but just never produced anything and it was bloody painful.
Actually not sure why I'm defending myself because this was never meant to be about breastfeeding anyway.
Thanks to those who answered my question without trying to make me feel guilty.

@user3274826

You do realise that words such as "given up" are incredibly negative and not helpful at all?

Do you suggest I would've been more correct to have not fed my son at all for 7 days on the off chance my milk suddenly came in?

Maybe get a pack of formula and nappies when you get to hospital bag packing time? I wouldn't leave it until the baby actually arrives in case they are difficult to get.

Please don't feel guilty if breastfeeding doesn't work. Try it (esp for the antibodies) but you could consider combi-feeding if it doesn't work out completely?

Cloth nappies might be a bit more tricky with a newborn (when all nappy changes tend to be dirty rather than just wet) but great for older babies. I use mostly cloth in the day but always use disposables for nights as more absorbent for my baby who seems to have gigantic wees . You can get nappy liners to help with dirty nappies (btw it says they are flushable but I wouldn't, you don't want a blocked toilet at the best of times, let alone at the moment ). I got mine off ebay, and it takes the pressure off hunting for disposables.

Everyone - I suggest ignoring the Mumsnet Breastfeeding Mafia who insist on hijacking this thread. Patronising lessons citing statistics about exactly when milk comes in or the low percentage of women who are unable to produce any milk at all are precisely ZERO help when you’re holding a 5 day old with undiagnosed tongue tie who’s screaming blue murder, starving because he can’t latch. Jesus Christ - the lack of empathy is absolutely unbelievable.

I don’t think my reply was nasty, at least not to the OP. I was working on the basis that as a grown woman, OP was capable of making decisions about her baby. If she wanted help to consider how to feed her baby, she’d have asked.