WRT to the HIP, can I just ask whether we're speculating about what a future govt might do, or have the Tories or Lib Dems made an actual policy announcement? I only ask, because if scrapping it isn't already on their agenda, then I'd frankly be stunned if they get round to it in the first month of govt, given all the other stuff that they'll have going on. Could be totally wrong, though . TBH I'm not a huge fan of the HIP (I think the money could be much better spent elsewhere), but I'll certainly be taking advantage of it if I still can .
Re sleeping bags, Alice makes a good point, and I should clarify what I meant - I didn't mean you should necessarily rush out and buy sleeping bags now (your baby might not like them, he/she might be too small, or share your bed for a bit, etc etc), just that the fact that you might well use them eventually is a good reason not to buy loads of other bedding that you might never use. It's easy to think with babies that it's much more convenient to buy stuff before the birth - but actually, it's very easy to get stuff online after the baby's born, and places like Kiddicare generally deliver very quickly. Actually, another thing about sleeping bags - they come in summer and rest-of-the-year weight, and it would be very irritating to buy summer weight ones now, only to find that you don't use them until the baby is 8 weeks old, by which time you'll probably need heavier ones. And if you are desperate to buy them now, I definitely wouldn't get more than two, simply because they're so expensive. And I had a really sicky baby. But I just festooned him with muslins during feeds (one thing you can never have too many of ), and he never really threw up much once I'd actually put him down to sleep.
If you're desperate to spend money, one thing I think is worth scouting around for is a special offer on baby monitors. IMO it's worth getting a decent one. We've got the BT Digital Plus, and I think it's absolutely brilliant (still use it now and am considering getting another one ). It is very clear, has adjustable volume and sensitivity, tells you the room temp, has a stars night light (which DS loves) and nursery rhymes (I never used these but know people who did). I used it practically from day one, as I would try to put DS down upstairs for naps sometimes.
Neenz, I'm at your hyper-sensitive ex-friend, by the way!