May 2017 #5 - 20 week scans and pram buying plans

[Adventuregame]

Almost half way through ladies.........

Is it really that bad rustler? The dress I've ordered for my work do is Mothercare and Boohoo.

First day back at work today... could really have done with some down time after being backwards and forwards with the family and in laws

Blondes great news on the not throwing up!

Another clueless beginner question for the experienced here...how much do babies actually cost in terms of nappies and other small sundries per month? Say for the first 3-6 months? I'm open to trying reusable nappies if I'm well enough after and they save money. Bigger basic stuff like cot and sling I've budgeted for or will get second hand from pals. Clothes I'm welcoming as gifts from fam (already got a tiny bit for Xmas and luckily I'm fairly sure that won't be the last!)

I'm self employed so SMP and savings only to tide me through...trying to work out how long I can stretch the pennies for!

They don't cost too much really. A tub of formula is about £11 and will do a little one for maybe a week or two (can't remember) and we buy asda little angel nappies, three big bags for £10 so around 160 nappies. Again, I buy asda wipes which are 5 bags for maybe £3 (can't remember!!)) Also, toiletries like shampoo etc don't cost a lot and you hardly use any so maybe £5 a month? So you're talking about £40- 50 a month roughly. Your child benefit (if you qualify) is £82 every four weeks so that covers your basics with some left over. Hope that helps!

Also, in Scotland (where I am) all baby basic medicine (nappy cream, paracetamol, teething gel, colic drops, etc) are free from the chemist on minor ailment scheme. No idea where you are and if this exists for you but it's saved us a small fortune! Pregnant women get free stuff too so check out if you qualify!

Nurse and FatOldBag (!) - good luck with your scans today.

Not feeling as vommy today (yet) which is good.

Am heading off to Tommys shortly for my 20w. Nervous and a bit anxious.

Once that is done we may start thinking about buying things, though stills feels early.

Do any other first timers have a list of must-haves they're working through? Am thinking car system, cot, rocker, bottle steriliser etc, baby grows.... the list feels endless!

Teaspoon, good luck with your scan.

Is anybody else going to be using a co-sleeper? I can't decide between chicco next to me and snuzpod.

Good luck to those having scans today!

Lucie I want a Snuzpod. First baby, so no previous experience but they get rave reviews. I like the look more than Chicco, and I like that you can take the top half off and move it around the house.

Teaspoon I'm just trying to ask people what they found useful and making that into my own list. But it does feel a bit endless. Lots of the shops have lists on their websites, and we have a Mammas and Pappas shopping appointment on Friday. My aim is to buy less not more - you can basically order most things to be delivered once you decide you need them!

Thanks mrsjw, I'm very tempted to order a snuzpod while they still have the 10% off on little green sheep.

Lucie I'm leaning towards the Chicco, more portable is my thinking, we can't put the snuzpod on the floor because we'd have a Labrador & a Golden Retriever trying to get in

Tea I'm trying to keep the list to the minimum and thinking along the lines of 3 of stuff... one on, one in the wash and one drying.... (will probably add a spare for luck) but it goes a bit like:-
Car Seat
Pram/pushchair
Somewhere to sleep - not thinking about a big cot for now probably like the Chicco
Vests
Sleepsuits
Grow bag (apparently they're very useful)
Couple of blankets
Bottles, pump & steriliser (in case bf doesn't work)
Folding changing mat
Nappies (no idea how many )
Cotton wool

And I think that's it for now, trying the principle of what do we need to survive the first week because we'll undoubtedly get presents and we have no idea how big s/he will be!! Still don't think we'll buy anything yet, feels far to early but just making a list of what we like.

Scan tomorrow, excited and scared as usual! And realised this morning I can no longer see my feet

Useful list Rise!
Re the car seat: some maternity units want to see the car seat before they'll let you go, but that's not enough of an argument to buy a carrier car seat for me. My main concern with the stay in car seats is if it reclines enough, and if baby's back is straight as opposed to crunched. The recent recommendations are tha a baby should not be or travel in the car seat for longer than twenty minutes but I'm not sure if that is only recommended for the carrier ones or not. I think you can see in the carrying ones that they look crunched.
Decisions, decisions!
We are going to John Lewis on Sunday in three weeks for an appointment with the baby advisor and will talk about that as well.

To all of the ladies having their scans, good luck xxx

I've just ordered the snuzpod, mattress protector and pack of sheets and blanket with the 10% off. I think the style of the snuzpod fits better with the furniture we have in our bedroom and I like the option of taking the bassinet off to use downstairs. Ideally I would prefer it not to be on the floor but if it doesn't work for us we will pick up a cheap moses basket and stand later.

Hi everyone

Thanks for the advice yesterday about scan times - it lasted about 30 mins all in. All good and she saw all she needed to also!

Some great bargains out there currently I bought some bits from the Mothercare sale and I see Asda have some good sale bargains too!

Hope everyone is well x

Back to work today till Friday, very quiet.

I was in mothercare yesterday and got a few things, also ordered a cotbed so that is our nursery furniture finished. Next plan is to go to primark and do some shopping for me for the hospital but pretty organised. Pram and car seat ordered.

Also back at work for these three days, a confusing time of year trying to work out what day of the week it is. Glad your scan went well nurse.

I'm thinking id like the snuzpod for its multi use features, though need to measure the height of my bed. I'm a little apprehensive about spending so much when they'll only be using it for a few months, but it just seems so handy.

I got a next to me because of bed height and it also seemed bigger than the snuzpod. Like a few have said they are fairly expensive but they hold their retail value well so plan to sell mine on and recoup some of the money back

Good luck to those having scans today.

I'm going for less is more at the moment and just getting bits when we decide we need them. My must haves are:
Something to sleep in. Was going for a Chicco but it won't fit so going for the snuzpod
Steriliser
Pre made bottles (until I know if bf works for us, if it doesn't I think I'll get the perfect prep machine but I don't want to fork out if I'll never use it
Vests
Sleepsuits
Not loads of clothes as I'm sure we'll be inundated
Pram
Car seat
Cot bed
Monitor
Grosnugs for swaddling - gives more options as can use for swaddling and as a normal gro bag.

I'm sure there's lots we need but don't know yet. I feel like a total rookie so suggestions gratefully received!

We are hoping for more than one child so hopefully the snuzpod will get some good use. Does anyone have recommendations for a baby video monitor? There are so many out there it's hard to know what to go for.

We've got this one lucie. It's great. Apart from the power cable. That's broken twice but Amazon replaced for free each time.

We rented a bednest the first time and can't decide whether to do so again. We were using it as all the (unwarranted) bad press came out and it was a bit upsetting. Would like a Chicco but can't justify the price. Dd was in her cot bed by 12 weeks and can't see it being that different this time.

There are a few sale bits on the new look online Maternity bit. Just got 5 items for £30

How do you rent a bednest, esme?
Do the NCT still rent them out?

They might do. But we rented one direct from Bednest themselves.

Thanks esme I had been wondering about the Motorola one. It does look pretty good. Do you think there's any need for one with motion sensors?

Are the bednests safe again now?

Lucie, MrsJW, Rise, Rabbitykins - ta for the tips/ lists... 20w scan seemed to go well. Need to go back in 2w as they couldn't see heart well enough (was worried at this but ultrasound lady said there's nothing to worry about. Just that angle/ baby position wasn't right.)
Feels more real each time I see... her

Lucie I think the bednests have had a modification so they are ok now. They are quite upfront about it on their website which I like. I can't remember why we opted for the snuzpod over that but it wasn't because of the incident.