[materialises] I've been around and reading, just too busy to post lately! Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas. :) Lovely but manic here, currently the calm before the storm as we have the other half of the family arriving tomorrow to begin the new year celebrations!
We're reusing pretty much everything from DD, but for those who are shopping around I can advise getting the following from our previous experience:
If you can't fit the cot in your bedroom, then looking at getting/borrowing something like a crib or a moses basket is a good idea - as even ignoring the issued guidance, newborns feed so often in the early days it's just very useful to keep them close by!
We liked having a love nest pillow (they're suitable for newborns), as it provided more neck support and seemed to be more comfortable for DD. Also, sleeping bags are the way forward - as soon as they're big enough to use one! A lot of LO are big enough from birth.
Also worth getting is at least one bottle, a newborn teat, a way to sterilise (milton tablets will be fine if you're not planning to use bottles much) and a carton of newborn milk - even if you're fully intending to exclusively breastfeed.
You never know what will happen in the early stages of breast feeding and it's better to have everything ready rather than trying to acquire stuff at 2am on a Sunday morning or similar!
For those intending to breastfeed then breast pads, Lansinoh and some nipple shields are a good idea to have in as well. Also worth investing in is a nice breastfeeding cushion, as those who are BFing will likely find themselves seeming to do nothing but for the first few months!
For clothes, vests and sleepsuits are relatively obvious. Make sure you get Newborn and 0-3 Months - DD was only in Newborn clothes for a week! Same with Size 1 and Size 2 nappies, make sure you have a pack of both at the ready. Also make sure you have a few newborn hats! Mits are optional - we elected instead to trim DD's nails straight away. Though that is a nerve wracking exercise...
Changing mat is handy, possibly two if you have an upstairs and a downstairs as it means you can have a changing station on both floors and don't need to go up and down more than necessary. A bit hit and miss for some people, but we liked the Angelcare nappy bins.
We found having a good bouncy seat, we invested in the Baby Bjorn one, was incredibly useful. DD loved sitting in it and just watching the world go by, and would doze if someone bounced it with a foot for her.
Lastly, my DH would like to add that online food shopping is essential, as placing a delivery in the afternoon DD was born and having it delivered the following day meant he didn't have to leave us. :)
Sorry, a bit of an essay! Hope that was helpful.