Due Dec 2012.........the one where we all have at least 1 picture of our little fruits!!

[StaceymReadyForNumber3]

Hi everyone, as we were close to the 1000 message limit i thought i should start a new thread so we could link this one (and we don't all end up wandering in cyberspace for a few days again )

I've looked at the Ikea cot - the side comes off completely and I think it attaches to the bed. Over here its 150 euros including the mattress, which is the cheapest I've seen...

Just been swimming - 25 lengths!

Well done on the swimming CakeBump. I planned to go today as well, hopefully will head down there soon, I'm sure it will cheer me up!

Thanks, I've just had another look online and found some cheaper bedside cots. There is no need to spend crazy amounts, will check out Gumtree and other secondhand places too. The baby won't notice if it's secondhand! We've just had an offer accepted on a house, really happy as want to be somewhere settled now. But won't have money to waste!

pidjin just been on your profile, the cardi looks so so cute!
i wish i could knit!

my nans bought me a moses basket, and my MIL bought us a little white babygrow, but other than that we dont have anything yet!
trouble is, i know that we need to start buying stuff early so we can spread it out over pay checks etc but its hard to know when to start / what we will need?!
i think il start with bottles as i want to express, and if for whatever reason i cant, il still need the bottles for formula!
trying to be logical, when all i want to buy is baby booties!

cod we are hoping to find out the sex as well, just a bit nervous that we wont be able to find out e.g. bump has their legs crossed?!

mummycox would love to see your list.. maybe you have more of an idea of what your doing than i do!!

knotty+spotty our august scans are the same date ;) il be 19+6 by then!

cakebump im having the same problem with my DP, he thinks i cant smell it on him when he gets home from work but pregnancy has increased my sense of smell.... muahhaha
ive stated very blatently if he hasent quit when baby comes then he will be sleeping on the sofa, and wont be allowed cuddle time.. hes trying to quit now!!
sounds like a lot of hard work, but having chefs on hand must be quite nice?!
good job on the swimming btw.. furthest ive moved today is from the bed to the sofa!

sorry for horrifically long reply- such a fast moving thread.. t'was a busy march ;)

I'm really bored so here is my essentials list for your first born

• Pushchair

• Car seat with isofix if using car a lot

• Moses basket (optional)

• Cot (always new mattress)

• Muslins (we had 20 and there was a time they were ALL in the wash!)

• If breastfeeding:

Breast pump (optional) Milk storage bags (optional) Lanisoh

• If bottle/mix feeding:

Steriliser Bottles (2 small 4 big to start were enough for us, but hard to tell) Bottle brush Formula (avoid SMA if possible)

• Changing mat, one upstairs and one downstairs (we had a cot top change which saved our backs, I personally wouldn't get a changing unit as friends who have had them have said they hardly used them)

• Bouncer/swing, OK not essential but a life saver when you're trying to eat your dinner and the baby is restless!

• Nursing pillow, great for pregnancy too.

These are the things I would slowly build up on, all the other bits and bobs can be bought much closer to the time.

It's starting to feel pretty real now isn't it!

We have a cot

Some friends are moving abroad and gave is theirs, DP is going to sand and repaint as it's beautiful but at least third hand :o

We've been given a stand but need to buy a Moses basket then won't buy the cot til may time next year so should save a bit this side of Xmas. I'll start buying cotton wool/nappies/vests etc each week with my shopping after the scan just to build it up slowly then it's just the pram to spend out on. We also have to spread the cost as I have summer hols August, new uniforms,school stuff in sept then Xmas shopping starts here end of oct. God when I write it like that there doesn't seem much time at all

Can I just ask...

Is anyone planning on using re-useable nappies?

I've been reading a bit about using muslins as nappies to begin with, then switching to a "make" or to terries nappies. I'm definitely interested in doing this but I wouldn't know where to start!

Do you need an "outer" sort of protective layer thing you can buy? They sort of look a bit like pants and seem to pull up over the nappy. How do you learn how to fold them? Do they leak? Does the poo clog the washing machine? What's a "booster"? What is a "liner"?

Any info gratefully appreciated. I might start a separate thread actually as I'm full of curiosity!

Ummm have a look on itty bitty's website should have lots of info? My sister uses them and as far as I can gather they're like pretty patterned outer with a towelling inner and then you use liners inside to catch the poo I'm far from an expert though.

I think it's expensive to build up the collection but there's a massive second hand market for them. There's also a lot of Facebook groups about them where there are very knowledgable people ready to answer all your questions

They've come a long way from nappy pins and soaking them in a bin over night.

I thought about reusables... for about 30 seconds, before I decided it was too much hassle!

Have you seen the bumgenius ones Dorothy ? I've just been having a look on their website - looks like you can use them as if they were disposables but then wash them.

They seem pretty good but they're expensive (although you can also get them on ebay). I'd like to get a "from the horse's mouth" perspective.

I'll google itty bitty Spotty, not heard of that before!

I have seen similar and have had friends who have used them. I just can't be bothered!

I think that's it I might be wrong

I would go with disposables for the first few weeks though but that's just me, keep things as easy as possible at the beginning!

Yes Spotty, that's what has put me off using muslins a bit, now I've seen the bumgenius ones. They look so simple.... but it's easy to fall for the marketing hype.

is this the site, Spotty?

Cakey, i am! I've bought (second hand which is why so soon) a mixed few.

There seem to be two types: All In Ones (AIOs) and Nappy/Wrap combo's.

AIOs are fleece or minky inside, towelling in the middle, and waterproof PUL on the outside.

Nappies can be Fitted (look like a disposable, fastened with velcro or poppers), Prefold (look like a sposey, fastened with a pin or nippa) or Flat.

Wraps can be PUL, fleece, laminated cotton or wool (soakers/shorties look like pants, longies look like trousers)

Boosters are long strips of fabric you place strategically inside the nappy.

Liners are for catching poo - fleece, cotton or silk are washable, or tissue ones are disposable (NOT flushable, ignore the label!)

Best advice is get a mixture and see what actually fits your baby. Don't spend hundreds on kits, you'll probably find they're the wrong shape and you've wasted your money.

Don't soak them in a pail of water, you just get poo soup! Get a mesh laundry bag, line the bucket with it, few drops of lavender or teatree and keep the lid on

:)

Not sure if this is the same site or not but this is the UK one here

Does everyone know that Morrisons had a baby event starting tomorrow so maybe a way of getting so essentials cheaply.

Hello, everyone been having lovely a weekend?

Spotty thank you for the list. I want to start buying a few bits so the cost doesn't all come at once, but right now I barely know where to start!

DP and I chatted over breakfast and both admitted that the annoyingly cheery receptionist comment of "nothing to worry about" was entirely unhelpful so hopefully the Dr just forgot to tell us something or wants to talk to us about something else entirely. Well we'll see tomorrow.

On a totally different note, went out for dinner tonight and honestly thought the button might ping off my jeans!!!

I've had a hairband looped round my jeans button for a week now it's that horrible inbetween stage where maternity clothes are mostly too big but normal clothed are really uncomfortable!

Spotty I think I would need a headband rather than hairband at the moment. It was a rather amazing dinner though, 4 courses, and (I feel bad telling you this... Almost) it was paid for by Deutsche Bahn ( the German equivalent of british rail).
DP uses the train sometimes for work and when something isn't quite right (yes he's very German sometimes;) ) he complains. I don't remember exactly what the complaint was this time but they offered to pay for dinner at the restaurant of our choice. Of course we picked the fanciest place we could think of! :o

Now it is time to roll off to bed..... X

Good luck for today Nutella

Thanks for the info Pidgin, maybe a mixed bunch is the way forward! Is the fit on them really that different?!

Nutella sorry if I've asked this before, but where in Germany do you live? I'm near Cologne...

I don't know, this is my first :o I'm relying on the advice of experienced cloth-bumming friends!

Morning ladies,

Good luck for scans today and hope everyone's had a lovely weekend :) will catch up on thread later.

I feel terrible at the moment, thryoid came back under which explains most of it. Im feeling really down and I have no energy and suffering from headaches and sickness really can't face working but don't know if it's enough to call in sick! Feel like I could do with a week off to be honest to recover, absolutely exhausted! Sorry for the moan this early!!