What to buy in prep for newborn and from where?

[firstimer30s]

Baby due soon... What should I buy? (e.g. clothes, nappies etc) and where from? Any good, not crazy expensive places recommended for comfy newborn clothes?
Thanks!

The original grobags are 8lb I think.

I second the bedside crib it's amazing! That and the sling are what got me through the first few weeks.

To be perfectly honest with you I would say don't go on a massive shopping spree unless budget is not an issue.

Next time your in the supermarket get 2x packs of baby grows and 2x packs of vests 1 hat 3x cardi's

A box of sterilising tablets and 2 bottles.and 1 pack of nappies

Then join amazon prime.

Anything that you need after can be delivered.

Start with the basics somewhere to sleep and car seat and a method of transporting (pram/sling).

If you start breast feeding but do need to sterilise anything short term it can be done using cold water and tablet in saucepan with saucer holding stuff under the water equally as such you can order more bottles ect if you decide to FF (would recommend dr Browns bottles currently cheaper from amazon than most other shops and on offer at argos).

Size of clothes is a weird one before my most recent baby I would have said alway go with 0-3 months as that's what I've always done but most recent was prem and very tiny so her body was shorter than the body bit of the baby grows her legs didn't reach the legs so I needed to get some tiny baby sizes (she's only just gone into the up to 10lbs ones and she's 9 weeks old) but if your likely to have a near 7lb one then 0-3 will be fine a bit baggy at first but I think that's cute.

Moses basket
pram
vests
babygrows
nappies
wipes
nappy cream
cotton wool balls
steriliser
bottles
milk
bouncy chair

Amazing all thank you, really appreciate the advice!

Do I need a breast pump in advance? Plan to breast feed if poss and then express as going back to work after 3 months

No you don't need one in advance, unless you have a medical need to express ( very small baby on feeding schedule unable to latch or something like that ) or are intending to be absent its not really recamended to express in the first few weeks any way.

Some people struggle with expressing and all pumps are not equal. Your local children's centre will often loan them out so you can test them and they will also have peer supporters who can teach you how to hand express.

Chances are if you have a friend with a under 2 they will also have a brand new hand pump either never or hardly used they may be willing to give you because loads of people buy them but don't need them.

Thanks!

Hello, thanks for this thread; I'm planning on packing my hospital bag today as having elcs for dc2 next week.

I agree with what everyone else has said re: basic, neutral vests and sleepsuits in a couple of different sizes, from supermarkets (think I preferred Sainsbury's quality compared tos Tesco).

Next do lovely quality sleepsuits and outfits once you know what size and flavour baby you get...fingers crossed you'll be bought lots of cute stuff as gifts from friends and family like us!

I picked up one of these in the Mothercare sale on the weekend Bundler for £6

Have breast pads been mentioned? I preferred the Johnsons ones, which are on 3-4-2 at Mothercare atm.

Good luck

Boots (as well as many other places) do two packs od washable breast pads for not much more than 1 pack of disposables.

I to use whilst 1 set is in the wash,they are also much more comfy to use than disposable ones

Thanks for that sock, will look into it. Am hoping I won't have the engorgement and over-supply issues I had last time, as was constantly wet/leaking so would need around ten pairs!

You often find with the reusable ones (especially the lush soft bamboo ones that honor your flow make) they are far more absorbent so you would only need a max of 4 pairs

One to wear one spare one in wash and one in drier

Really helpful, thank you. Will get me some. Anything "softer" is definitely going on the shopping list! By the way, went into Baby gap and they have cheap stuff in store. Got a pack of 3 vests for about £4

I advise avoiding John Lewis and Mothercare (which does really bland, boring and expensive stuff IMO) and scan through Asda, Wilko, Gap, H&M and Primark for baby clothes, toiletries, muslins and other essentials. Online Argos and Toys'r'us can have pretty good bargains. For natural stuff check out Spirit of Nature.

Find local NCT sales and children's charity shops and see what might be useful for you. And check where you would buy stuff that you might want in a hurry, like a breast pump or other feeding accessories, dummies, medicine etc. I was going to use a sling to start but couldn't take the strain on any joints so has to get a pushchair on next day delivery, so just as well already knew what model I wanted.

BIL said don't buy anything until 7 months as random people start offering you Moses baskets etc - but