Going to PILs for xmas with 8 week old, What do I need?!

[shouldIbecrossaboutthis]

I feel like I'm missing something here? We are going to PILs for 2 days over xmas. Other than the usual stuff, like clothes, nappies, wipes etc is there anything else I need to take?

So far my list is, clothes, nappies, wipes, travel cot & floor mat. Is that it? I thought there would be loads!

A baby bath? Not essential though. Bottles/steriliser ? Obv not if bf. think that's about it.

Pushchair/sling.

Check they have enough light weight sheets to go in the cot (rather than heavy blankets), and take some if not.

Think thats is it if you are bf. Bottles and stereliser of not!

Oh and the red book, just incase.

Remember blanket/ bedding for the travel cot. I forgot mine and we had to rush out and get some! Nappy bags maybe? A bottle for water? (again n/e if bf! Patience i'd imagine when your lovely planned routine goes to pot :) maybe something familiar from home

Baby monitor if you use one? Thermometer?

Changing mat?

I will second the thermometer. Maybe cal pol? Just in case...

You might want to take a pushchair if you are going out for a walk while there, or a sling. Make do with the changing mat from your nappy bag, and take a towel to lie your baby on to give an all over wash instead of a bath.

Take the usual baby toiletries, nappies and clothes allowing for nappy explosions and sicky moments. Remember bedding for travel cot, and a spare sheet for the above reasons. I'm sure the PIL will be happy to pop dirty clothes/ bedding in the washing machine for you.

Remember things to make you more comfortable, lots of feeding bras, and bra pads if breastfeeding, cream etc.

Your baby will get loads of toys for Christmas, but if there is a particular cuddly that helps to soothe take it.

It might depend how well you know your PIL but think about yourself if you will be up in the night for feeds. Warm dressing gown and slippers (my PIL's house is always freezing) and maybe some cereal bars/snacks/bottles of water so that you don't have to go rummaging through their cupboards at 6am!

We did this last year with 9wo DS (except to visit my parents).

We had to do quite a few washes, particularly muslins/cloths used for bf/burping. I almost ran out of breast pads

A second thermometer (you never know) and dressing gown for night feeds (I was still feeding 2x per night I think)

We took a nice soft play mat for DS to lie down on either at my parents or in the cottage we were staying in.

I would make sure you take enough spare sest of clothes with you if you're out and about for the day. We ended up sleeping over at my parents Christmas day eve (whihc we hadn't planned), had 2 spare sets of cloths and DS managed to poop through all 3 of them! Luckily we had a padded suit thing to chuck him in for the journey back to our holiday accomodation.

remember to take a few more clothes for you and DH as well, just in case you get covered in poo/sick.

Outdoor clothing for little one.

You will probably be amazed at how much stuff you end up packing and then realise you still have to find room for Xmas presents (especially on the way home)

Wow, thanks everyone, lots of things I'd not even considered, espcially bedding!

The travel cot I hopefully will win on ebay has a cot top changer, so wont need that. Good thinking about extra clothes for us, I would not have thought of that. The buggy is always in the car & I'm breast feeding so no bottles.

He does usually sleep 10.30pm-8.30am, but I can feed him in bed if it comes to it. I think MIL has got me dressing gown for xmas so don't want to pack one really. Bathing, I'll put him in their sink / bath with me / top & tail him. He doesn't have a special teddy, and the muslins will smell like home if it comes to it?

So calpol, thermometer, bedding, cot, spare clothes & maybe the monitor.

Thanks everyone!

I second [taking a] thermometer that should be not "2nd thermometer" (not sure why you'd ever need 2!)

Nursing cover or shawl or something for you, so you can bf in comfort without having to go and hide away in a room. Otherwise sounds like you've got it covered. Have fun!

Prosecco and chocolate

I just thought you were being extra cautious Engels! I thought 'how organised- 2 thermometers ' remember if the travel cot is second hand, there are recommendations of not using the 2nd hand mattress.