Aug 2021 - half way there!

[HopefulB]

@wimbler - EDD 29 July, surprise 💛
@Champson - EDD 22 August (but really June/July), TBC 💖💖💖
@coffeeandrainbows1- EDD 4 August (but most likely July), Boy 💙
@Jessicapebbles - EDD 5 August (but having C-section at 39 weeks, so really July), Girl 💖
@Smurf123 - EDD 5 August (but likely to be July) 💛
@WhatEvenIsSleep - EDD 2 August, Boy 💙
@Smushty14 - EDD 6 August, TBC 💛
@Rattyclife - EDD 6 August, TBC 💛
@Dia12 - EDD 8 August, Girl 💖
@Biscuitcat - EDD 10 August, surprise 💛
@ElonaWise - EDD 11 August, TBC 💛
@Runnergirl123 - EDD 11 August, TBC 💛
@PurplePansy05 - EDD 12 August, Boy 💙
@Srtdr - EDD 12 August, surprise 💛
@Daffodil21 - EDD 12 August, Boy 💙
@Inmypjsagain - EDD ???, Boy 💙
@BananaHammock23 - EDD 13 August, surprise 💛
@MrsB2019x - EDD 13 August, Girl 💖
@Magik01 - EDD 13 August, Boy 💙
@Carefree1 - EDD 15 August, Girl 💖
@DressyGerbera - EDD 15 August, surprise 💛
@lucyrp - EDD 16 August, undecided 💛
@BertieBotts - EDD 16 August, want to know! 💛
@WolfMother326 - EDD 17 August, surprise 💛
@Caz1226 - EDD 17 August, Boy 💙
@Lille4 - EDD 17 August, TBC 💛
@Redskinsucks - EDD 17 August, TBC 💛
@RockyRockyRoad - EDD 18 August, can't wait to find out 💛
@Smallbean27 - EDD 19 August, surprise 💛
@WatermelonKisses - EDD 20 August, surprise 💛
@Alittlexmasmagic - EDD 22 August, surprise 💛
@Millymay13 - EDD 22 August, TBC 💛
@Whatshouldbemyusername - EDD 22 August, surprise 💛
@LottSE20 - EDD 22 August, TBC 💛
@Notinthestarsigns - EDD 23 August, TBC 💛
@LaceyMermaid - EDD 24 August, TBC 💛
@Fran919 - EDD 25 August, surprise 💛
@northernsquirrel - EDD 26 August, surprise 💛
@LyraShaeLilly - EDD 27 August, can't wait to find out 💛
@ame88 - EDD 28 August, TBC 💛
@diamante11 - EDD 29 August, Girl 💖
@HopefulB - EDD 29 August, TBC 💛
@CountryGirl84 - EDD 29 August, TBC 💛

@Inmypjsagain one other essential I would add to your list is a sling/carrier.

We did have a nappy bin but honestly they're a bit of a faff. not to mention the amount of plastic they use and the refill cartridges are expensive. They do tend to smell after a couple of days too. we also didn't always change her in the room where the bin was. We had a foldable changing mat plus a caddy with nappies/wipes etc downstairs and changed her on the coffee table/floor, then a proper changing mat (a cheap £10 from tesco) upstairs in her room. This time we will just carry on with what we do now - put them by the door (poo ones in a sack) and take them out to the wheelie bin when we get the chance which is usually within an hour or 2 anyway.

@biscuitcat totally like weddings! Thing is I ask my mum and she doesn’t have a clue either but I’m conscious I wasn’t particularly involved in my friend’s pregnancies, like I checked in with them and stuff but I guess you don’t realise what it’s like til you’re going through it? So I feel bad asking for their baby lists!

@wimbler there is so much advice about should and shouldn’t be done isn’t there, just needs to be what works for you. I’ll do more research on them and look at second hand prices. They just seem like such a good idea to me!

@PurplePansy05 I was going to say, less the few standard MN replies of smugness and know it allness- you asked all the things I was thinking and no one could say why it was so good but a lot seemed to suggest their babies liked it (and it matched the decor 😉), there was some good bullet point lists of why it’s good too but I’m still not sure it sold me. Didn’t realise they’ve made unsafe products too? I just find once you start researching this stuff properly you’ll never end up anywhere cos there’s too much choice and conflicting info! I have not come across Hauck so will google. I just wish there was a no nonsense book that was honest and not selling you stuff!

I've honestly not really thought much beyond the essentials and most of them we're getting second hand from my partners brother and wife who had their last baby over a year ago. They had boys and I'm having a girl but I'll still also take any clothes they have going. I'm not too precious lol.

I'll get their maxi cosy pram that they barely used which is a car seat too, bed side cot, baby bath seat and other bits and bobs like play mat and bouncer. My other pal has a couple of other seat things. Maybe I should be more into buying new things but I feel I've been too preoccupied with trying to move house and the plan was to get it all once moved.

One thing I will need is a cot for when she goes into her own room but that's not essential just now. Has anyone actually decorated a nursery yet? I've bought a cute bee light shade for when we move to put in the nursery.

We have 2 cats, both 14, one deaf and very cheeky the other timid and hates noise. The cheeky one likes to be involved in everything so while I don't want him to sit on her I'll try let him be close by so he can still see what's going on at a distance. I'm very intrigued as to how they will both react.

Also, how is everyone doing at actually concentrating at work? It's just a major inconvenience for me just now. So many other things I'd rather be doing (like sleeping...) it's hard to focus.

Oops didn’t look at the last page!
@Alittlexmasmagic ohhh make your own horseshoe!!! Why didn’t I think of that? Okay that can be a post baby item, thank you! I’ll google other options to see if I can save some £££ as well.

@wimbler sling and carrier added to the list, thank you. I will start researching these all well. What you say about the bin makes sense- the reason we thought it would work was that we’re in a flat, so obviously it’s not hard to get to the bins but it’s more a faff than going out to the front garden and dumping smelly nappies. I had hoped that the
bin wouldn’t get stinky and we could go for 3 days or so before emptying. Oh the plastic thing stresses me out, I was looking at how we can be more eco with baby but everything just seems wasteful... I still have to get my head around reusable nappies!

Does anyone have an opinion on baby baths? I know Bertie said snuggle but I keep being recommended angel care? At this stage I’m tempted to use a bucket in the sink 😂

The thing that annoys me about the baby bjorn bouncer is that basically it's one of the 1980s ones that looks like a pillowcase stretched over a coathanger that used to cost about 20 quid or a fiver second hand.

Some time around the mid 00s the baby companies decided this design looked too clunky and old fashioned and started making bouncers smaller and cuter. But the problem is the smaller ones are too upright and the foot plate isn't long enough for the baby kicking it to do anything. They are totally useless. But the only one you can buy these days which is more reclined and has the longer foot plate is the baby Björn one for loads of money

I might be out of date on baths. The angel cats bath support is great. Don't know much about the bath itself.

@Inmypjsagain the tommee tippee bin is just a glorified way of tying your nappies into nappy bags and putting them in a bin! The bin itself isn't too expensive but I know the refills can be.

@Inmypjsagain we had the shnuggle bath which was good. it was a toss up between that and the angel care for us but we went with the shnuggle. Glad we did as I had a c-section and we could put it in the kitchen sink or on a higher surface as I couldn't lean over the bath. Also used less water as we didn't have to fill the big bath. This time we will probably put the shnuggle in the bath with the toddler so they can bath together and there's no danger of the baby slipping out.

Oh the plastic usage is so high but I try to make conscious decisions where I can and make my peace with that. We use cheeky wipes instead of disposable for 90% of changes but we do use disposable nappies. the nappy bin will definitely be ok for 2-3days and we did this to start with. I think buying what you can second hand is a good sustainable way to shop too.

@Daffodil21 thank you I might call my google and see what they say. Work are happy for me to wfh from 28 weeks as guidance states but think everything is fine until then so basically you just have to get on with it. My friend (who’s it at the same gp surgery as me) tried to raise it with them as she too is a teacher not they told her no you’re fine to go in a mix everyday with all the children and no PPE etc there’s no greater risk. It won’t hurt to see what my GP advises. I’m consultant led/high risk (not sure why maybe age or BMI) and have had bleeding and now breathing/wheezing issues the last few weeks which makes me feel more vulnerable even though I’m 21 weeks only.

I was planning on getting a Shnuggle so I don't need to hurt my knees in front of the bath but we've been given an Angelcare seat so I think will be going with that now! And if we don't like it, will buy a second hand Shnuggle instead.

@wimbler were doing the same as you for wipes/nappies - I already use cheeky wipes make up pads which I love, and will also be using their reusable baby wipes, but the plan is disposable nappies. I feel guilty about it, and it may be that a few months in I'm confident/organised enough to switch, but not right away I don't think.

@PurplePansy05 so frustrating when people are smug and patronising! Do you know offhand which baby bjorn products are unsafe? I hadn't heard of that and want to be sure my second hand bargains aren't dangerous!!

@Magik01 I wouldn't recommend it. Cosatto infant carrier seats that come with their pushchairs are fine but their seats for Group 1 (toddler stage) and booster stage tend not to do well in independent testing. Also none of the seats which do birth - 12 seem to do very well in testing either. Best to focus on the harnessed stage for now, either an infant carrier or a seat up to about age 4 and then get a separate booster seat later. Seats which have their own internal harness vs booster seats that just route the seatbelt do such a different job it's difficult to find one that does both jobs well.

@PurplePansy05 I think you might be overthinking a bit with the whole where to put the baby in the day. First of all you're assuming they will let you put them down :o OK joking, as most do for at least some of the time. As you have a carrycot with a stand, that should be fine to start you off and then you can see where you go from there. Defo a good idea to buy stuff after baby is born so you can try things out - they often have a demo model in stores or if you look second hand etc. But also you'll have more of an idea of what your specific baby is like and what your routine is and your needs are. They are all so different and you will get 100 different answers if you ask 100 different people what they did.

Certainly no sense in carting the baby around the house every 5 mins just because you're going from room to room - OK, if you want to do some lengthy cooking then you might want to bring them into the kitchen, but TBH I had neither the time, inclination or energy to be doing things like that with a tiny baby. Once they can sit up a bit, a highchair is great for that and you'll use it once they're weaning as well. I didn't take the baby in with me for a wee. Just seemed a bit gross and also have always had miniscule bathrooms. Keeping them safe from pets is important. But in general if you're popping in and out and keeping half an eye out that should be fine.

If you have a partner then you will also have evenings and weekends where someone else can hold the baby so you can do things that you want to do. But IME you get used to doing things in tiny chunks of time!

Gp not google!!

@biscuitcat I remember this happening before I was pregnant or TTC, basically their baby carriers which are their top product, were considered unsafe from hip dysplasia point of view because they don't support baby's hips the right way. I've just looked it up now and they refuted these claims all along saying they work with doctors and have manufactured them this way for a long time. Now, this may be true, I am not an expert. But I can see for myself that some of their carriers don't put baby's legs in the M position where they should be and really this is and supporting baby's head and spine are the three most important things with carriers. Somehow BB know better though. Everyone can decide for themselves, here is more info re safe hip positioning:

hipdysplasia.org/baby-carriers-other-equipment/

xx

@BertieBotts Thanks Bertie. I'll leave this till later, ultimately he has somewhere to sleep and the rest can be bought close to or after birth. I'm glad to read a voice of reason saying how it is on a day to day basis. Otherwise you can easily freak out not knowing what to do and how to coordinate 3 pets and a newborn which is where I've been for some time. xx

I am trying to upload some pics of DS1 in his pillowcase on a coathanger style bouncer, DS2 in his inferior modern cheap bouncer and DS2 in the Galt Playnest which I found really good but it won't let me. Oh well.

Anyway all I was going to say is it's not so much the 6m+ age that you want a bouncer for. In fact once they can sit up, the bouncer isn't recommended as they can tip out of it so it's not safe. Once they can sit up, you can plonk them on the floor with some toys or a saucepan and wooden spoon and they're happy as Larry. It's about 3-6 months that things like a bouncer are good because they are bored with lying flat staring at a white expanse of ceiling which is somehow fascinating to newborns :o but they can't really move themselves around or do anything so they get really easily frustrated. That's why something like a bouncer that they can do themselves is great. They can kick at that age and they love to bounce themselves but the modern ones are too short in the kick plate so there's not enough leverage there. But also good are swings, jumperoos, play mats, play arches. Wait and see - that stage is not immediate anyway and you might want to figure out the pet access issue first.

That's also why I echo your concerns that it's a stupid amount of money to pay for something you use for such a short period of time BTW.

@BertieBotts Indeed. I am also failing to see a major difference between BB and this:

www.bellababy.co.uk/babylo-gravity-bouncer-black.html

Apart from £150 + £40 on toys staying in my pocket. Ok, it can't be used as long as BB, but as you say, it probably wouldn't be used that long anyway.

I nearly actually bought BB yesterday on Facebook marketplace. Someone local to me was selling it for £30, I remembered reading all the great reviews but they weren't very detailed, so asked for quick advice. Messaged the seller, turns out she's selling with no covers and the covers cost £69.95. I just refuse to be robbed, sorry. xx

@PurplePansy05 thank you, you're a gem! We've been given a second hand baby bjorn carrier so that's incredibly helpful to know, will definitely investigate that in more detail before I use it.

@Ready2020 my focus varies hugely day to day - when I've got meetings and things I'm usually fine as I have to lead those so no choice really, but when I'm being more self directed and trying to write/do my admin, I'm awful! Yesterday I spent a good hour looking for a hotel for a little baby moon in the middle of my work day... Though to be fair, I was quite like that pre-pregnancy too. When baby kicks focusing is really hard though.

@biscuitcat No worries. Just check the positioning - some of them are fine, it depends on the range. xx

we have the baby bjorn "one" which I think is a newer design and is definitely hip safe. It's got an adjustable crotch area depending on whether they face inwards or outwards and we never had a problem with it. In fact, because our daughter was breech she had a routine hip scan to check for hip dysplasia and no issues there either.

I know the ergo baby gets really good reviews too. I borrowed a friends when I was caught short with a screaming baby and it was very comfortable too!

@wimbler That's good to know about Ergobaby. I had one tab open with them since we were chatting about what carriers are good for your own back & hips, ages ago. Someone said Ergobaby then. The JL assistant was very positive about them too, although we didn't talk much about them. She recommended their travel buggies too, think they're overall a pretty trusted manufacturer. xx

That bouncer you linked does look like a copycat BB so it probably has the same advantages as it.

🙄 what's the point of selling without covers?

There is a lot of baby "Lifestyle" stuff out there, that has a huge price tag slapped on it. Nothing wrong with it usually, if you're happy to pay for the design or whatever but generally there is an under £50 version which will do just as well.

Avoid instagram and those baby vlogs... or you just get sucked into thinking everything is essential when it's really a luxury extra.

BTW we live in a flat, on the nappy issue, a normal bin with lid was fine until we got into solids more full time. We have now banished the nappy bin to the balcony. I think the bins where you have to buy the cassettes to refill them are just a con where they want you to keep buying the cassettes. If you do want one, the only one the staff at the place I worked recommended is the Tommee Tippee twist one. The others don't actually seal the smell in properly - I've been in loads of baby change rooms that have them and they don't work! I can't even vouch for the twist one myself - no idea if it really does work any differently.

We do have a very very cheap bin with crappy basic lid. You can buy bins designed for kitchen waste which have better odour protection which use normal binbags and would probably work fine for nappies. The smell def gets "let out" when you open the lid, but TBH, the smell from the actual child + changing process lingers in a room for a while anyway, so opening the bin doesn't really make much of a difference. You just want something that won't let the smell out when it's closed.

@BertieBotts No idea. I can only guess they were too dirty to sell, which isn't really the best advert in itself 🤷🏼‍♀️ xx

Maybe they were damaged or something. I'm sure they can be washed.