new to pregnancy and all things baby - advice needed

[HelsBels1]

hi all, I'm new to this site and 1st time pg so was just looking for some advice - I am v_excited looking at lovely baby things and want to buy everything. however dh is more sensible than me and thinks we should wait til nearer the time (due 23 Sept). Have only ordered pushchair so far (quinney buzz) but not sure how much longer I can hold off - any thoughts?
also I am very easily fooled by cute advertising, so is there anything that looks good, but that I should avoid?

hi hb, welcome and congratulations - so exciting .

just a quick one for me as i have to have a lie down while ds naps, but just to say that it has to be a personal decision. depsite having lost 3 other pregnancies i wanted to start preparing early, and bought some big items (urniture, pram, etc) after the 20wk scan (my losses were early so i felt confident at that point). i have friend who didn't buy a single thing until the baby had arrived!!!

maybe a happy medium is to do lots of research now, so you're ready to start buying at around 34 weeks?

a couple of tips - buy different sizes of bodysuits and sleepsuits but just wash one pack of normal 'new baby' size (so you can take the others back if you don't need them).

thing i bought and never/rarely used: scratch mitts, swing chair, bouncer, pram #1, cutesy outfits.

essentials imo: bouncy chair, loads of bodysuits and sleepsuits.

There are loads of things you could buy that you don't need! Best thing to do is see how much you can borrow off anyone and everyone, esp things you don't need for long, like moses basket, baby bath - sink just as good. Also, you'll probably get given stacks of clothes when the baby is born, so just buy basics.

Congratulations

You'll get lots of good advice from here.
Btw, did you get the bag of mashings with the Quinny Buzz like the cary cot and car seat? If not I would highly recommend them.

I used the carry cot for my dd to sleep in until she was about 5 months and then she went into her cot. The car seat is also fab, very convienient if you use the car alot.

It is very easy to go over board with your first but I think its quite exciting to go and buy. Makes it all more real.
A few things I would say is to probably avoid buying lots of outfits because you will be bought loads when the baby is born and they grow out of them very very quickly. Just get the basics. Sleepsuits, bodysuits, socks and a snowsuit or warm jacket as the winter weather will be setting in come Sept time.

Have a look at the reviews section. It will give you a better idea of whats good and bad.
What products were you thinking of buying/wanting?

thanks for the advice - yes we ordered the car seat with the quinney, still thinking about the carrycot, not sure how much I'll use it - I mainly travel everywhere by car and was thinking about getting a baby carrier for when I'm out shopping etc. Was lookng at a moses basket to use instead when we're at home. Am looking into buying tots bots reusable nappies, and a travel cot - that is as far as I have got

stupid question - should I wash the baby clothes before using them? I have bought mostly size up to 10lb and 1 pack of sleepsuits up to 7 1/2lb. - is it worth buying more of the smaller set just in case? I was 6lb when I was born and dh nearly 10lb!!

I can't help you with the nappies but there are lots of cloth nappy users on here.

Travel cots are good. They're great for baby to go in even when awake if you need to get things done around the house.

I did wash the clothes but I'm not sure how important it is tbh.
The smaller sleepsuits are a good idea too. My dd was 7lb 3oz and I stupidly bought 0-3 months clothes. When I went into labour the Midwives laughed at me and said "are you execting a giant?!"
Needless to say she ended up in some hospital clothes and dh had to rush out and buy some smaller bits

I would also recomend to familiarise yourself with any mechanical things you buy before baby arrives. Like your pushchair, carrier, steriliser, monitors etc.

congratulations helsBels1 and welcome to what will probably become your most used website!

Dont wash too much babygear yet, just a few basics to get you through. A new born baby doesn't tend to get very dirty so you wont be changing that often in the first few days so you'll have time to see what size he/she is and then wash a few more bits as necessary. And in my experience (I have one DS and one DD) they wont wear half of the clothes that you get for them as you wont have the time or the energy to be thinking about what goes with what in the early days and instead will take the item that's nearest the top of the pile of clean clothes.
They are clean clothes that your mum/mil/best friend has just returned by the way, having taken home your dirty washing and returned it the following day, along with a shepherds pie for you to have for tea, easily eaten with just a fork in case you need to feed/wind baby at the same time!

As for what else to buy, try really hard not to buy anything other than the essentials yet otherwise your friends and family wont have anything to buy as gifts when the baby does arrive.

Personally, I would buy muslins and bedding and just keep makiing lists of other things you like. Your taste might change between now and spetember (along with your hormones) and knowing how swiftly the market place moves, you may even find new things available in the meantime.

Good Luck HelsBels, I'm a teany bit jealous which is rather scary - I thought I'd convinced myself that 2 was enough

Oh yes muslin cloths are great. They catch all the dribbly stuff that runs into their neck
Bibs not so good.

congrats. join freecycle (just google freecycle) there are always loads of people wanting to offload baby stuff. most of it is only used for a short while so second hand is still pretty new. if people want to buy you pressies let them. there is nothing more annoying that buying pressies for the baby who has everything.

Don't buy a Tomy or whatever the other "baby like a small frog strapped to your front with limbs dangling" baby carrier is called.

They're shit, you'll use them for about 20 minutes in total, the baby will hate it and your back won't thank you.

Instead, buy a wrap or pouch or ring sling - your baby will be much more comfortable (I have a wrap sling that I LOVE), your back won't hurt and you can use them (child willing!) till they're three.

Apart from that - baby sleeping bags are a must, IMO.

Don't bother with a baby bath - heavy once full, just use the basin or else get one of those support things for the big bath - Mothercare do a flannel one.

And unless you have endless money and don't mind CLUTTER wait till the baby's here to buy anything but the essentials. You might feel different about clothes and toys and things once the baby's actually here (don't buy babygros that fasten up the back - they're made by the devil, I tell you).

Don't bother with a nappy wrapper.

Basically, if you think it looks a bit gimmicky or if it needs slick advertising to go with it - it's probably not necessary. But sometimes unnecessary is quite fun and there's always eBay

Good luck.

I'll stop writing now...

"a newborn baby doesn't tend to get very dirty"...I thought so too, until I had one and he was a pukey baby and the midwifes on the ward would whip him out of his clothes at the merest hint of gurk, so got through 3 babygros in a day...he he he.

Cloth nappy user here! I use Tots bots size 2 nippa folded down for smaller baby and Motherease one size. Nappylady.co.uk do a small size wraps deal where you hire the small wraps for as long a syou need and get half the cost back on returning them. Buy secondhand - Mumsnet has a classifieds section as does nappylady( tend to be cheaper than ebay).

Be prepared to resort to disposables in the first few days/weeks while you get used to handling the squalling/wriggling little blighter!

Oh, and use mumsnet to ask questions...even the ones you think are stupid...

Hi there and congrats on the pg.

I felt like you too and just didnt know what to buy. I would say dont go to mad and get too much, especially clothes. Bare essentials for clothing are enough - sleepsuits, vests and one or two nice outfits - honestly they wont all get worn!
I bought a standard baby bath - big mistake for me as I had a c section and couldnt lift it, much easier in kitchen sink or normal bath, also dont bother with a top and tail bowl just use 2 bowls you already have.
I bought zillions of cotton wool balls (still using them on myself 17 months after birth!) sooo not needed! Also people buy toiletries as presents too.

Things I wish Id thought of -
Not sure how you are feeding, but I would recommend a bottle warmer for the car to plug into the cigarrette lighter.
A warmer/storage for night time feeds in the bedroom.

One last thing - do not unwrap/remove labels on anything until you use it, that way when you notice you have gone mad buying 20+ baby bottles or too many clothes you can resell on ebay or return to shop! lol

Get yourself lots of really nice pyjamas because you will - and should - be in them a lot, particualrly if trying to b/f in the early weeks.
I really regret making the effort to get dressed tbh.

I wouldn't bother with faffy "normal" clothes for the first few weeks/couple of months. Sleepsuits are all they need. (Can you see a theme developing here?) Those ones for "low birth-weight babies" are fab for the first week or two, they fit up to about 7lbs i remember, despite having scarily teensy weights on the labels.

A good black and white and red moving mobile thing might be nice? We had a musical one and it seemed popular. Gave me 20 mins for a shower I recall.

All the best!

Gawd yes do not buy big bottles of baby "toiletries" - they are horribly chemical, if you want them you'll get a free sample in the Bounty Bag at the hospital, and chances are you'll take one sniff of your baby and not want to neutralise it with baby lotion.
It's all a con, I think.
Big wads of cotton wool good for washing bum in the early days though.

Say to your dh that you've got good advice and have decided not to spend loads so early. He'll be delighted.

Then get a cleaner. Preferably daily for the first three months. But not too early or your dh/you will be used to a tidy house.
And a dishwasher.

And if you're planning a hospital birth, have a look at the hospital website and see if you can pre-book a private room (costs loads more if you pre-book it but then you're guaranteed a private room - of course occasional places actually have all single rooms, like Grimsby I believe).

Now that's good spending

hijack pruni there you are, there's a panicky thread re weather elsewhere, of course now it's stopped, what do you think? could you call me on the mobile as I've got to go in a min?

Will do just finding number

Buy lots of ready meals/quick meals or make up some food for the freezer like stews, casseroles etc so you can just bung them in the microwave or cooker for the first few weeks.

Everyone commented on how quickly I lost all the baby weight.

Er yes, it's because I haven't had the time of day to cook myself a meal or I was too knackered too

I will second the advice about not opening stuff you don't need.
I was bought a Avent Breast pump. I stupidly opened it to have a nosey at it and I never ended up breast feeding. Obviously Boots wouldn't take it back so I ended up giving it to the Health Visitor.

heya,ladies any suggestions for getting labour started?!!?!? the days are growing longer and longer and my due dates only today.

Hello
I have responded to your question on the sept ante-natal thread as well,
but just read your other post:
I would recommend tots bots - I have been using them for my DS and they are lovely - their wraps are not so good though they don't fit well round the legs . Better off with popolini or motherease, but you will get loads of advice on the nappy and potty training section, there are lots of cloth experts ready to help and also nappylady.co.uk as already mentioned.
Don't be sucked in by those toiltries boxes they sell in mothercare - you don't need half the stuff - you will not be using bubble bath or anything else chemically on a newborn anyway.
I would reccomend you get some Infacol in - it helped with my DS's colic. It took the midwife 2 weeks to mention it to me, I wish I'd known about it earlier!
Also if you are intending to feed ebm or formula in a bottle the Lindam night feeder is brilliant, as it keeps bottles cool then heats them very quickly (much quicker than the Avent one) so no need to even get out of bed!

666 - my midwife suggested:
pineapple
sex
raspberry leaf tea

tbh - I think it was the sweep that got me started though!

Getting labour started - i'd say do loads of walking - worked a treat for me had a really speedy labour with no pain relief.

What to buy - definately not baby clothes as you get given sooo much, but I do recommend either a pram with a carrycot (we used this during the day for DS naps) and/or a moses basket or crib, but to be honest you might as well get second hand as they aren't in it for long - try going to car-boot sales it's amazing what you can pick up and you'll save yourself a fortune x

starting labour, loads of Sex and/or foreplay, curry, pineapple (has to be really fresh), walking sweep, acupressure and reflexology etc

Loads of things to try... good luck