July '15 - starting our 2nd trimester

[StoneBaby]

Please come and join

Something essential to read for you first timers with shopping addiction....

www.parentdish.co.uk/2015/01/21/new-baby-essentials-and-baby-stuff-you-dont-need-to-buy/

Wildfire we had my best friend's car seat second hand. I knew she hadn't been in an accident and treated it well.

Wildfire we had a 2nd hand car seat and new buggy which worked well for us but I did a lot of walking on mat leave. As long as you know the history of the seat and it is less than 5 years old it is fine. We are planning on borrowing another one this time around.

I second the second hand stuff. Honestly, I've bought so many beautiful clothes and nice books or toys for dd from second hand baby shops and you'd never even know they'd been work before. As long as you know the car seat hasn't been damaged, go for it! Save the money to put towards a pushchair or a little break for you all when baby is six months old (half birthday celebration/well done, mummy and daddy, you got through the toughest bits!) or maybe a pamper day for yourself.

I have a question on changing tables that with which I hope someone could assist.

Drawers or open shelves, the latter maybe with open baskets?

I don't suppose it's the most important question I have to ask but ...

Thanks!

On the fraught co-sleeping question, I found Prof Helen Ball's work incredibly helpful. She lays out all the scientific research both for and against different kinds of co-sleeping in an understandable and non-patronizing manner, to help you make up your mind what is safe and works best for you.

Here's a really great summary: www.ibfan.org/art/bb53.pdf

Her homepage is here: www.dur.ac.uk/anthropology/staff/academic/?id=121

And here is her page for parents: www.isisonline.org.uk/

Zampa I used the top of a draw unit due to lack to space. It worked fine for use, the nappies where hanged on a nappy holder and all his clothes were in the draws.

Well ladies, I thought it was about time I introduced myself as I have been following your last 3 threads!
I am due DC2 on 16th July, already have a DS who is currently 20 months (ish). Had a few scans which have been good so far, no morning sickness but have zero energy & keep getting awful headaches & shortness of breath.
Look forward to joining in conversations instead of just reading them, hope that's ok!

zampa, we have drawers too and a changing mat on top, in a kind of recess so dd wouldn't just roll off the top. It's by babystyle and is in a lovely white gloss. The three drawers are split into three on the top, two in the middle and the bottom one is just normal. In the top, I put everything I needed for nappy change/after bath - vests and baby grows, sudocrem, nappies, lotion, wipes etc - so it's really easy to find. Then in the middle, more outfit type clothes and the bottom is full of new sheets, towels, blankets and the like. One of my favourite things to do before dd arrived - and then moved through the clothing sizes - was arranging these flippin drawers, haha!

Omg! I'm such a geek!

I already have a really nice, solid wood chest of drawers that I'd like to be able to use as a changing table, really, as it's a great height. I initially thought that broody you were talking about creating a recess in an existing unit and then realised you bought it as was. Has anyone done any adapting of existing furniture. I don't want to damage the chest of drawers but if could just get a changing top, that would be brill. Do they exist? I have failed to find anything that wasn't bespoke joinery, which kind of defeats the object of using existing furniture, financially!

Welcome lostsouls - that's a good long lurk you did there!! Glad you've said hello.

Thanks for earlier thoughts on BJ and the forward/ rear facing debate. It's hard to know what to do. The Uppababy Vista does look great but SO many of the reviews go on about how hard it is to put up and down. That's a biggie for me, I reckon.

BadIdea I found the vista hard to put down the first couple of times but once you know how it's actually really really easy.

Good to know! Beyond that issue, the reviews are awesome! And I do find it slightly funny that reviewers comment on how hard grandparents find it to put up and down. Maybe I can just get extra giggles out of MIL and FIL not being able to manage it!

Haha my in laws are visiting from Spain in a couple of weeks, I'll ask them to fold it down and let you know how they get on

I agree once you know how to put the vista up and down its actually really easy. My inlaws use it during the day and they have no problems. And the 2015 model is even nicer (I'll be jealous if people get a new model ) Even Dh can manage to do it!

you've convinced me! not the cheapest, is it?!! Might just get the 2015 one to inspire jealousy...!

Thanks for the changing table tips. Looks like my fear of drawers is unjustified!

I've had a go at collapsing the older style Vista. Think that there's just a knack to it and once learnt, wasn't an issue. It is pricey but the ability to adapt the 2015 model for 2 babies (don't tell DP) is a bonus and I reckon saves money in the long term!

I too considered the Uppababy Vista because I'm very tall and it is the recommended pushchair for taller parents. I liked it in the shop, however the shop has very smooth floors! Then I came across a number of reviews complaining about the wheel quality and sustainability when using on uneven surfaces - despite it being marketed as an all terrain pushchair. I go on lots of country walks so this immediately put me off.

Anyway that's the reason why I've decided on the GT version of BJ mini city as it got good reviews for off road capability and build quality. But it's soooo difficult to know until you start using a buggy isn't it?! What's right for one family might not be right for another. It's a big deal selecting a buggy as it's difficult to justify replacing a expensive mistake when on maternity leave and you're skint!!

Still in two minds BJ vs. Uppababy Vista (first world problems!)

lucky that's strange as we bought the vista because it's so good on uneven terrain. I've not had any problems with it at all. And it has the advantage that you can lock the swivel wheels at the front to make rough terrain easier. You need a robust frame if you are doing lots of off-roading so worth checking that on the other prams.

We liked the fact the vista would convert to a double if we needed it. The 2015 model is even better for this.

When you compare the price of the vista factor in all the extras you get (rain cover / mosquito net / built in sun shade) as these aren't necessarily included in other models so actually the price difference may not be as great as it first seems.

I sound like a vista sales woman! Ha ha! I'm really not!

I just nearly gave DH a cardiac by showing him the UppaBaby website and saying it was what I wanted. I even strategically fed him chocolate at the same time... some further work to do here, methinks!

Hi everyone, don't want to jinx it but today is the first day in nearly 10 weeks that I have neither thrown up nor felt like I need to, hurray! Let's hope it lasts. I did have a terrible night last night though, didn't get to sleep til midnight then woke up at 3 at couldn't drop off again, grr! I just got overwhelmed by everything that has to be done between now and when baby arrives, work etc. Ended up in tears at about 4.30 which woke DH, who was lovely and made me feel much better and I managed to doze on and off between 5 and 7, but definitely not enough sleep! This morning I know it was ridiculous but I can't rationalise these things at 4am.

BadIdea I didn't have a proper change table when DS was little just used our chest of drawers. It was a good height and fine with just a fairly robust changing mat on top (the type with high sides rather than flat) as I was always right next to him anyway so no way he was falling off. Will do the same this time. Dedicated changing tables are totally not necessary (although admittedly look lovely with matching nursery furniture if you have the funds/space).

Off to bed for me I think, night all.

badidea when DS was new born, the changing mat was just on the top of the unit but as he started to grow DH built with MDF/plywood (I can't remember which) a 'tray' which fitted on the top of the unit. As a result, it has sides and was a bit longer. I just made a fabric cover to go on top and job done. Still got it and will reuse it this time around.

Welcome lostsouls

mister great news on the feeling better

Been awake since 3.15am

14+2

Lucky we went for the Vista for the fact it's supposed to be good on uneven terrain (we have a beagle!) and it has been fab. We go on lots of country walks at the weekend and haven't had any problems.

Ps I'm not a vista sales person either .

Awful nights sleep despite an early night. We're unluckily enough to live next door to Bristol uni students and they are very, very noisy. Then DH came to bed after watching the football, fell straight to sleep and snored. I dropped off at about 1am then was up at 2 and 4 to go to the toilet, then DD woke up at 6.15am. On the plus side DD slept through until 6.15am, which is a very rare occurrence!