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Some silly questions about newborns from a novice

41 replies

DuelingFanjo · 14/08/2010 10:44

Hey there :)

These questions will no doubt seem really dumb but I need to know so here goes.

Baby is due in Dec so will be chilly. What do I dress my baby in? Is it true that you should give a newborn baby one more layer than you would wear yourself? So we would put a vest thing on and then a baby-grow/sleep suit? Do we need to also put something on the baby's legs under the sleep suit?

we have a quinny buzz but not the Carrycot (yet?) - can we put the baby straight into the seat on the reclining/flat position and also (sorry if this is really stupid) but do we have to strap the baby in with the harness? It doens't look that comfortable to me.

Do we have to moisturise the baby's skin - i.e arms and legs etc? Or is this just totally unecessary.

What natural products would people recommend?

thank you Blush

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loopyloops · 14/08/2010 12:04

Oh, the other thing worth trying to anticipate DF, is what people might buy you as presents.

We had about 8 different blankets, so I'm glad I didn't buy many. Also clothes, but they mostly bought outfits (not really suitable for a newborn), toys, and some really practical stuff (an amazing monitor, nappies, cot).

Have you been to an NCT sale? That's where we bought all the big stuff apart from car seat and pushchair.

I'd really recommend having a vibrating bouncy chair, DD slept in it sometimes when she wouldn't be put down.

By the way, I have a variety of slings, and IMO the Moby wrap is by far the best, so well done there.

What did other people get bought I wonder?

nasdaq · 14/08/2010 12:14

I was so very lucky as unbeknownst to my dh and I a friend of ours went and co-ordinated all the gifts - she took money from people and bought us everything you would need. When we thanked her afterwards I remember her saying that she came up with the idea after thinking what she had needed.

It meant we were set up for at least the first 9 months.

We got baby grows in plain colours and pastel colours, newborn to 6 months,

Some cellular blankets,

Boxes of Nappies,

Nappy bags,

Creams for the baby and I,

Breast pads,

A selection of toys - some really beautiful toys,

Sleep suits,

A sleeping gro bag,

A temp gadget,

Bibs (tommy tippee ones which have a collar),

Muslin cloths,

A box of johnston and johnston products,

Loads of cotton wool pads.

Everything she co-ordinated we used - and she delivered it 2 weeks before my due date. I was blown away and it saved me so much time. I will send you a link to some of the things.

It was a really really brilliant thing of her to do. She somehow found out I was going to do a big shop and delivered it just before I was going to do some last minute shopping.

nasdaq · 14/08/2010 12:18

this was handy although you do not need lots of the stuff until after 6 months.

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absalom · 14/08/2010 12:20

A slightly less odorous alternative to olive oil is grapeseed oil, also from the supermarket. I found it perfect for massage and moisturizing - babies and adults!

DuelingFanjo · 14/08/2010 12:42

thank you loopyloops :) I have been offered a bouncy chair thing and have only 2 blankets at the moment and the fleece one. Am hoping people will think ahead and give us 3 - 6 months things as I have managed to get lots of newborn stuff on ebay as I assume they will be grown out of so quickly!

Will be checking out the NCT but the next one here isn't until September!

thank you for the link nasdaq

Will check out grapeseed oil. Can I ask, generally do you just moisturise the bits which you think need moisturising or should you do a kind of all over massage anyway?

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PaulineCampbellJones · 14/08/2010 15:57

If you get the chance go to a baby massage class. They are fab and help with your nightime routine. I took DD at five weeks and it was a nice class to do.

loopyloops · 14/08/2010 19:26

I took DD to the baby massage class at the local children's centre. She was prem and tiny, and after the first week I didn't feel like it was a good idea (class kept having to stop for me to pick up/comfort/feed her. So the tutor, bless her, came to my house for private lessons! For free! TBH though, we haven't really done it since.

I have only ever moisturised if she needed it. Actually, DH and I had a conversation earlier about this. She did have eczema, and doc prescribed hydrocortisone and moisturiser. It kept getting worse and worse. We went away and forgot the creams, and haven't creamed since, and we've only just realised that since not creaming she's had no dry skin whatsoever! So I'd say only worry about that if it occurs, then if it does, just treat the local area. The problem with moisturising, as you will know from your own skin, is that your skin becomes dependent on it.

If you want people to get you things 3 months plus you really need to tell them. We had so much stuff for prem/newborn that she didn't wear all of it, whereas we had to buy stuff (not much TBH) for when she was older.

As long as you have enough stuff for the first couple of weeks, you should be fine, as it will become apparent what you need. Also, don't be afraid to ask if your friends have children who have grown out of stuff. I've just lent loads of newborn equipment to a friend who is pregnant. They don't use it for very long. Our house is still stuffed with it! (We bought 2 lots of everything as we were expecting twins and DD1 was stillborn, so really had a lot of clothes in particular, plus 2 moses, 2 chairs etc...)

On that thought, where in the country are you? Want some stuff?

Do you know if you're having a boy or a girl?

llareggub · 14/08/2010 19:35

I strongly recommend you get the carry cot for the Buzz. The car seat can be used for a newborn but it really isn't good for their little backs to keep them in it for long. They should lie flat as much as possible.

I used the carry cot for the first 6 months and got plenty of use out of it.

mumatron · 14/08/2010 19:45

my ds was a dec baby and (as you know) this one will be too.

never had a carrycot with the other two but am having one this time. much more cosy for winter babies i think.

where is the nct sale in sept?

EdgarAllenPop · 14/08/2010 19:46

i think with my newborns, i always turned the heating up rather than dressing them, as their handies get so cold and those little glovy things don't stay on. Also either i am cuddling them, or they're in bed under a blanky.

though i found a snowsuit a must for outings

i have a massive collection of newborn stuff - much of it completely free from a neighbour! Freecycle is very good for nwborn stuff as it doen't get that much usage by some babies (Ds only about 4 weeks..)

i tend only to use the babygros though as they cover little feet as well as body.

i would ask people to get 3-6 and 6-9 months stuff instead as you get much more use from them..i think the one or two 'super nice' babygros from Jojomamnbebe and Toby Tiger realy cheered me up every time they went on (even if they came off with the next poo explosion) - just that someone had taken the time to choose them for us mad for nice thoughts (in those sleep-short first few months, good things to think about = necessary bonuses):)

congratulations too :)

DuelingFanjo · 14/08/2010 22:01

mumatron the NCT sale is in Roath (albany road baptist church) on 18th Sept :)

loopyloops so sorry to hear about DD1 and massive thanks for the offer. I am in Cardiff but I have loads of stuff for a newborn (Ebay bundles) so should be ok Grin really lovely of you to think of me. We don't know if we will be having a boy or girl.

I am guessing I will get lots of cute winter things as gifts which will only last a few weeks but I'm not expecting anything really.

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NonnoMum · 14/08/2010 22:10

Not silly questions at all.

And by Jan, YOU will be posting these type of answers!

And, yes, take on board other people's advice, but don't be afraid to go with your instincts/preferences (you will soon find out what all your mates prefer..!)

For instance, I HATE babies getting pushed around in car seats all day. Think they look really uncomfortable. And i LOVED pushing mine around in the carrycot part of the pram when there were really tiny (to make eye contact and to have them lying flat etc)

BUT - there is no hard and fast rule about these things - just go with what works for you!

And, Good Luck!

PrivetDancer · 14/08/2010 22:17

I didn't think the quinny buzz pushchair was suitable for newborns actually. We got the carrycot anyway and it was great for dd sleeping in downstairs as well as for nice cosy walks. Will be using it myself again by December too :)

Regards clothes - just remember it's always better to be a bit too cold than too hot for babies, they will let you know if too cold and you can always pop a blanket over them

DuelingFanjo · 14/08/2010 22:31

you've convinced me to get a carrycot :)
we did think that any trips out in winter would be short ones but am told the carrycot can be used up to 6 months so by then it will be may/june and I am sure we'd like to be out and about in springtime. Though I we still plan to use the Sling as much as we can.

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ChristianaTheSeventh · 14/08/2010 22:50

Oh my goodness I'm not meant to be having any more babies but just reading this makes me BROODY!

I think that vest and one more layer fine, rememner that your house will probably be lovely and warm.

I got a few big squares cut of light jersey fabric, which I used as swaddling cloth, much cheaper than official swaddling things!

charlieg22 · 14/08/2010 23:06

There are no silly questions when it comes to babies!

We have the Quinny Buzz & didnt bother with the carrycot in the end. The pushchair seat is fine as it reclines flat & our DS (now 9 mo) always seemed quite happy in it & slept fine. Its an awful lot of money for something you will only probably use for a couple of months - plus its not as if the bubba will be in it for long periods of time with feeding/changing etc.

We used olive oil on him but only when he had dry/flaky skin - seemed to do the job very well.

All the best with your impending arrival!

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