I have no clue....

[Hobby2014]

I'm 36 weeks pregnant on Thursday with first baby. I'm packing hospital bag. I'm ok packing my stuff, but need help on the baby side of things!

Over the weeks I've picked up various things and now I'm overwhelmed.
I have baby wipes, cotton wool, water wipes, tesco nappy cream, johnsons nappy cream, petroleum jelly, talc, baby oil, sudocream, metanium barrier ointment, nappy sacks, nappies in two brands and two sizes.

What do you need to change a baby? What do you use?

I'd like to use water wipes, instead of cotton wool. Sometimes I read these are ok, other times I read they're a no no and you should use cotton wool.

What do I do once the baby is clean, what do I put on its bum after?

What size nappies and how many? Do I take both sizes?

Do I take a fold up changing mat in the bag too?

Starting to freak out as I have no idea what I'm 'meant' to do and also don't want anyone frowning or telling us off at the hospital for the first nappy changes!

Help! and wish me luck please!

water wipes plus nappies. Wipe bum, put nappy on. Take newborn nappies as they should be find. I've never done 'sizes' really and just buy whats got the offer on it.

You can change the baby on the bed, you don't need a mat. We've never used nappy sacks ever.

cotton wool is only for your first baby.............

Size 1 nappies are fine for most newborns. Only a ten pounder will need to go straight into size 2. You don't need to use cream unless there is a rash. Take off nappy, wipe bottom, apply cream if needed, put on new nappy. That's all there is to it.

Right, I can do that...! So no need to take anything else with me lotion and potion wise, just water wipes?

Water wipes are fine. We used them almost from birth.
Cottonwool was a bit of a nuisance.

Take mainly the size 1 nappies, do you have smaller than that? Size one was fine for us for a while and DS was a chunky newborn. Take a few - shops will be open if you need more. Also be aware that you might waste a few getting used to things.

You can out on nappy cream if you wish, but it's not mandatory and I only use it if DS has any sigh if redness. Frequent changes for newborns generally mean that that's not an issue.

I don't think that you need the changing mat, but poo does go everywhere when you start, so maybe it's a good idea to avoid sheet changes. Nappy bags are also good for getting all the dirty stuff out of your way as you go along.

Try to keep things as natural as possible; water on bottoms and for baths - there's little need for detergents and chemicals while they're tiny.

Don't worry! No one will tell you off - hope it all goes well, and congratulations!

Have you got a travel changing mat that comes with a changing bag (I think you can buy them separately but I wouldn't bother just for hospital). I was in hospital longer than anticipated and would have like that.

Hi Hobby, firstly don't freak out anything you forget can be picked up by your dp/dh - we took numerous baby grows for example and none of them fit as he was larger than expected lol!

I took nappies but the hospital also provided some - I took and they provided Newborn size, I used cotton wool as that's what I took with me and they also had some of this on stand by with the nappies!

I didn't use anything on DS bum after changing until I got home and then I only use after a bath but I had heard jelly was great for first meconium poo - I missed this though as must have been sleeping off the c section and was in the toilet the second time so midwife was looking after him for me!

the midwifes at my hospital were really good and showed you how to change the nappy etc so don't panic and they definitely shouldn't frown or tell you off!

I packed two huge bags and hardly used anything lol but I was out the next day so it really depends on your length of stay too!

Good luck

You basically don't need any lotions and potions at all, ever. Maybe one tub of nappy rash cream for if it appears. Nappy sacks are only really for when you might need to take the dirty nappy home with you (e.g. toddler groups in church halls). Might be handy on the ward.

To add to the good advice above - we always used Sudocrem for regular nappy rash and metanium for terribly sore bots (teething usually) so you definitely don't need both at the hospital.

I'd bin the talc now - you'll never use it and if you have a girl it's a really bad idea.

You'll be fine - my DD was a bit prem and we hadn't packed a bag at all. Cue the lovely ladies at John Lewis in Watford taking a stunned DH round the shop picking up the bits we needed and tiny baby clothes (our newborn sized ones were falling off her)!

Just double check you nappy size when packing. Changing DC3 for the first time in hospital, I realised I had accidentally purchased and packed 'tiny baby' nappies.

She was 9lb 3 when she was born!!! (and her newborn sized vest didn't fit either, thank goodness the babygro came up large or I would have had a naked baby!)

Bought talc...never used it!

In 14 weeks only used bum cream 3 times.

I stuck to water and cotton wool for the first month, then moved onto wipes.

Size 1 nappies should be fine to start with, maybe a little pot of sudocrem just in case but your shouldn't need! Cotton wool and/or water wipes. I took water wipes and actually used on myself too to help me freshen up!!

I actually use nappy sacks as it keeps me from spreading stuff everywhere (I'm very clumsy!) if you haven't already got and you want some- tesco sells a pack of 300 for 35p!

Good luck ;)

Try not to use too many products on newborn skin - water wipes are fine though (Jackson Reece herbal wipes or the unscented ones are the ones I use they are great - very gentle and natural) -- you'll find that trying to use cotton wool on meconium (baby's first dark sticky tar-like poo) will be a night mare (think tar and feathers type effect!) Talc really not necessary. A good tip though is with first nappy put barrier cream or Vaseline onto the baby's bum all over so that when it does do the meconium poo it'll be easier to clean off ! The barrier cream helps to prevent nappy rash in first place, and treats it if it does develop - Magic Fairy 3 Bees Barrier Cream is the one is recommend having worked as a nanny for 10 years it is the most natural and no baby I have used it on has ever had nappy rash ! Sudocrem I would say though is a bit chemical heavy for newborn skin.
The changing mat would just be to protect the surface you lie the baby down in incase of poo explosion or if the baby wees when you take it's nappy off so it's up to you really - can change the baby on a towel or on the bed but I think a thin portable foldable changing mat is useful just incase it gets a bit messy, you only have to wipe the mat after use.

Oh and nappy sacks I only used for a pooey nappy - the wet ones I'd just put the wipes I used inside the nappy and then fold/roll it up into a little package and use tabs to secure it closed, then the used wipes don't fall out and it can go straight in the bin all together.