November 2017 #3: Flutters, bubbles and a proper bump!

[GingerHanna]

Previous Thread

Here we all are... delving into our second trimesters and awaiting 'The Big Scan'! Don't forget to keep the list updated.

@lydiangel83 I just put in 0-3 months baby girl bundle, then depending on how many items are in the bundle I have bought 1 or 2 bundles. In all I have spent less than £100 for the whole years worth of clothes. And I'm sure there are some that won't be worn!

I wanted to buy everything now whilst I've still got a full time income. I don't want to be on maternity leave and worrying about the cost of things.

Yes good point. Just trying to work out when a bundle is good value. I guess it's always going to be cheaper than buying new!

@theotherendofthesockportal did you buy short or long sleeved for 0-3 months? It'll be winter but do you layer and do they sleep in short sleeved? How do people know this stuff?! Is there something I should be reading?!

@lydiangel83 I really don't have a clue ha ha - how do people know this stuff?

I picked bundles which had long sleeved baby grows. I bought short sleeves vests to go under the baby grows and figured I would put cardigans over the top of the baby is cold? I hope this is right and my baby is going to get cold?

The bundles I went for aged 0-3 were mostly baby grows as I think it will be the easiest thing to deal with when it comes to nappy time. The cute little outfits look too fiddly.

The only exception to this is the dress my sister has bought the baby to wear on Christmas Day. Which I will be dressing the baby in 5 minutes before my sister arrives, I foresee a disaster if I don't do it that way.

I would love to hear from some more experienced mummies about how to dress a baby appropriately :)

Hi all. Someone mentioned a spreadsheet? I joined the thread quite late so haven't seen or updated my details.

We are not finding out if we're having a boy or girl, we're keeping it as surprise.

Booked a private scan for later today so we can tell our DS about the baby and I'm getting a little bit emotional thinking of it all.

Sock you are so organised! You also make a good point about buying now while you have an income. Might go and have a look on eBay as well actually.

Have a lovely Sunday everyone!

Lydia At room temperature (18-20 degrees) dress your baby in a vest and babygrow. At night, if it's at the lower end of the scale, use a 2.5 tog sleeping bag and at the top, 1 tog.

I found this online which might be helpful (if it's legible!).

It's not so here's the link...

www.fhft.nhs.uk/media/1381/is-your-baby-too-hot.pdf&ved=0ahUKEwjFqJGF4o3VAhUJIsAKHaf-CQ8QFggdMAA&usg=AFQjCNHy63VUay2MthpaUFNdNwo8sSTHFg

Do buy some newborn sizes too. I just got 0-3 month sizes for DD and they are really vast compared to a freshly hatched baby. She didn't fit into them until she was several months old!

Thanks @Zampa and @theotherendofthesockportal. I can't really see pic Zampa but will do a bit of research x

Ah perfect thanks @Zampa :)

By the logic of the info in link, a 2.5tog gro bag would only need a vest on underneath? Does that seem right? Just want to check I am reading that table correctly

Link doesn't work!

Google "tog rating nappy" and it should be the first result.

It depends on the temperature of your house, I guess! Definitely get a room thermometer as it saves a lot of guesswork.

DD's room was generally about 16 degrees overnight and she slept in a short sleeved vest, long sleeved babygrow with feet and a sleeping bag of 2.5 togs.

@JCleRoux here is the groups spreadsheet

docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1cs0BB4r5sVNEDGjPWM96Ijscv7t7xSaZtLl9KdTuZtQ/edit#gid=0

If you want to add your details then please do- I think it's exciting to see how everyone is doing, who's due the same date and where we all are too.

I'll be getting a mix of long and short sleeve vests and long sleeve baby grows. Might start with a swaddle wrap before moving into sleeping bags, or will use cellular blankets to start. I'd worry about sleeping bags for a tiny newborn as they could slip down inside.

If you can afford it, get more clothes than you think you need, because it means you'll do less washing! I've seen people say 6 baby grows should be enough but it's easy to go through 3 or 4 a day and be having to wash and dry them daily which is a lot of work.

I'm with those of you feeling frustrated that you can't do as much as usual! We have loads of diy to do and the weeds are taking over our allotment. Bought myself a hoe today and actually managed to get a decent amount done as it didn't require me to bend over. Have agreed to take DD and two friends pony riding this week - am still really breathless and have realised I might struggle to run alongside the pony for 3 riders!

Hello all. Glad you are feeling better @gingerhanna . Lovely scan and baby bump pics on here as Well! My phone is not allowing me to input my information so may have to give it a miss.... sorry x. There are lots of nearly new sales coming up where I live over the coming months so fingers crossed I can get some good bargains! My husband already has a son so hopefully he can be the practical 'don't worry I know what we need and how much of it' To buy and i can think of the pretty fun arty things! X

I second what @butterybollocks says, definitely get more than you think you'll need. I think DS's record was 11 outfit changes in a 24 hour period! I was very pleased to have a tumble dryer with all the washing. DS has his own washing basket which has made life a lot easier.

Most grobags can only be used from 8.5lb upwards so worth getting some cellular blankets too just in case. I'd definitely recommend a mattress protector for the cot, not sure if they make them crib or Moses basket size but will be checking that out. DS was quite dribbly at night so I used to put a super soft muslin across the crib where his head lay to save the sheets, v handy for when they're sick in the night too as you only have to put a clean muslin in & not worry about changing the sheets.

The general rule with dressing babies is one more layer than you so in the day in the winter DS would have on a short sleeved vest, babygro & then blanket if in Moses basket or cardigan if we were out somewhere. Long sleeve vests when really cold.

DS was only in newborn size for two weeks so I had the opposite problem to you Zampa. I've bought hardly any newborn & mostly 0-3 this time but I'm hoping this one isn't going to be as big as her brother!

Good point re sleeping bags for newborns, buttery. DD was swaddled or under blankets until she moved into her own room at 5 months.

I highly recommend the Grosnug!

I've bought a couple of 0-3 bundles with short and long sleeve babygrows and a number of sleep suits. Also have a few tops and leggings. Been given couple of bags of 3-6 from a mum who had her baby November last year so should all be good!

I have decided on swaddle and blanket route until they are big enough to go into sleeping for bags. Providing this one likes swaddling!

Hi can I join? 😊 been lurking for a while. I'm 32 and currently pregnant with #2. Have a 4 year old DS. Had a private gender scan (19 weeks) which said we were having a girl and 20 week scan saying the same. Only problem is we were told last time we were having a girl and out popped our gorgeous little man... 7 weeks early. So I'm treating the birth as more of a surprise- it's probably a girl but could be a boy - have clothes for both. But more worried that I will have this one early again xx

Thanks all really helpful although highlights how little I know! I thought 0-3 months was newborn! And what is difference between a vest and baby gro? Is a vest just the top half covered i.e. Without poppers at bottom? And final question for now, so you swaddle with a Muslim cloth or something else?

Honestly, I am not an idiot in real life, but I am struggling to get my head around the technicalities of baby care!

Welcome Dana. My DD was also 7 weeks early so am also anxious about keeping this one in. Do they know why your son was early?

Lydia A vest has no legs and can be sleeveless or with long or short sleeves. It goes between the legs and fastens with poppers. A babygro or sleepsuit has full legs, mostly with feet and with long sleeves. Some pull over the head and have poppers on the inside of the legs whilst others have zips or poppers down the front and along one leg.

They pretty much all have the envelope style shoulders which are great for when there's a nappy leak. You can just roll what they're wearing over the shoulders and down the body rather than attempting to remove over the head!

TK Maxx sell Aden & Anaïs oversize muslins which are multi-purpose and you can use them to swaddle. Discounted from £45 to £16! However, I think that the easiest thing is to buy a swaddle blanket like the Gro Snug which fits up to about 12lbs. They have velcro or a zip which makes it much easier to use. DD was forever escaping from her muslin wraps! Just remember to let them have froggy legs and only keep the arms wrapped tightly. Not all babies like swaddling so I'd only buy one swaddle to try out if you're thinking about it.

Thanks @Zampa 😊 no, my waters just broke early (obviously doing my shopping in Asda...) and he came the next day. Have seen consultant who said there's no reason this one will come early but another one has said there's a higher chance this one will be early too. So I'm planning for another early baby but have everything crossed that it's not too early. He was in nicu/scbu for just under 3 weeks. Do you know why you had your DD early?

Welcome @DanaChops :)

Thanks @Zampa for the helpful explanation. I understand now :) and you're right I will get a swaddle blanket and see how it goes x

Welcome dana, sounds like your first was certainly keen to take you by surprise!

We had a swaddle me wrap for DD, a friend bought it for us and it was a lifesaver! It's basically like zampa says - plenty of space for legs but wraps and secures with Velcro around arms. We also didn't buy enough newborn stuff last night and I had to send DH to mothercare the day after she was born!

I've been looking at getting something like a sleepyhead this time, they seem to get really good reviews.

Thanks 😊 yep he really did keep surprising us and has done regularly since he was born. He's such a cheeky character. He's so excited about having a sibling.

We had a thin blanket for a while as it was a heat wave for a few months when he was born and then used sleeping bag, so I have no idea what the next ones supposed to sleep in until they get a bit bigger and over winter!