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What is the best thing you bought for your baby?

205 replies

dadtobe19 · 15/01/2015 19:29

Wife is expecting our first baby in 2 weeks and we have bought everything we need.

We are interested to know if there is any one thing in particular you bought that helped you through those first few months? Anything special that kept the baby amused/helped out you?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Saltedcaramel2014 · 16/01/2015 19:29

I meant parenthood not the nappy bin

cherrylola · 16/01/2015 20:06

A really good ergonomic baby carrier or sling. I used a Moby style wrap for the first 4 months and then a Connecta after that. Hands down the best best best 'thing' I could've ever wished for as my baby hated not being held and I was going out of my mind not being able to eat (let alone cook) a meal or bung some washing on. It made our lives much much easier, me a whole lot happier and bubs super content.
Oh, and boobs Smile

Interrobang · 16/01/2015 20:16

I would say hold off on stocking up on too much of anything.
Like muslins - you may or not have a dribbly, sicky baby.
Swaddle wrap things - I had a few before DS was born, and right from the start, he'd kick them off. Same for Gro-Bags - he barely spent any time in one - a shame, as I had bought a few.

Re cloth nappies, get one or two of each type see what suits you and your child. Don't rule them out if you have only tried a small selection. And also, re-try them when your baby is a little bigger - some birth-to-potty fit better at certain stages.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Equimum · 16/01/2015 20:19
  1. Stretchy sling (Kari-Me)
  2. Baby sleeping bags
  3. Vibrating bouncy chair

We thought the last two were just overpriced luxuries while I was pregnant, but sleeping bags saved me lots of stress about blankets going over babies head and the bouncer was the only place I could put DS down for weeks.

Littlef00t · 16/01/2015 20:22

The thing is, every baby is different.

Dd hated the bumbo v quickly, and a standard booster with tray is so much more valuable.

Jumperoo was good, but v short lived as she just wanted to move under her own steam.

The play mat was the best as she used it every day for 6 months+

fanjobiscuits · 16/01/2015 20:33

Sleepyhead
Sling
Doula at birth and an hour or two a day after while oh away
Magic swaddles
Proper double breast pump
Video monitor
Sidecar cot for bed
White noise app
Fitted black out blind
Breastfeeding consultant

fanjobiscuits · 16/01/2015 20:34

Also wonderweeks book, baby whisperer book and signing dvd

Umbongo · 16/01/2015 20:49

Lansinoh nipple cream,
Infacol

Oh and take your wife's favourite tea/coffee and mug into hospital for her!

Ljm2403 · 16/01/2015 20:58

Close caboo carrier and muslins, muslins, muslins!

Best of luck!

LittlePeasMummy1 · 16/01/2015 21:44

Ewan the dream sheep- 2 year old still using hers
Tuppence and crumble star blanket- essential for a winter baby, cuts several mins off the time it takes to leave the house!

shebird · 16/01/2015 22:21

I wouldn't get hung up on having lots of equipment initially you can get quite obsessed with having everything, especially with the first one only to find that you really don't need most of it. I would say that perhaps you should focus on what will make life easy for you because you will be too tired to shop, cook and clean in those first few weeks. A well stocked freezer with some pre prepared meals helped us enormously in first few weeks. My slow cooker was a godsend. I spent a few hours the weeks before chopping and freezing all the ingredients for one pot slow cooker meals, which took the stress out of mealtimes. Oh and if you don't grocery shop online now is the time to start.

CuttingOutTheCrap · 16/01/2015 22:28

Wrap/sling/mei tai - use them all constantly and DD loves them

bought loads of muslins because apparently you can't have enough - we never use them so am giving them away.

Also agree with pp about the amazon prime membership - we already had it, but it's really come into its own since DD arrived!

springlamb · 16/01/2015 22:32

School uniform.

OK, OK, I'm going...

TheWoot · 17/01/2015 04:51

My top buys are;
V pillow - handy for sleeping & feeding and small enough to manoeuvre easily.
Muslins - lots
Car seat wrap - absolutely brilliant and better than bundling up in a snowsuit then panicking that they are over heating.
White noise app for phone - always soothes my lo if he is over tired
Swaddle - essential kit for the first few weeks if you want any sleep IMO
Sports bottle - to keep drinks fresh and at hand
Biscuits - just because you always need biscuits
Congratulations op, exciting times ahead!

TheWoot · 17/01/2015 04:54

Oh I forgot,
Snot sucker and saline spray. Best to have this ready rather than need it at 2am (speaking from experience)

mathanxiety · 17/01/2015 06:18

My youngest is now 13 but I still thank my lucky stars I got a simple roll up-able changing mat that I could take with me or use at home. It was sort of quilted in rows, with terry cloth on one side and machine washable vinyl or vinyl-like material on the other. It was absorbent and easy to put in a large handbag along with a few disposable nappies and a small packet of wipes so as they got a bit bigger than newborn stage it was easy to get out without looking as if we were heading off on a polar expedition. I could throw it into the washer and dryer if it needed sanitising and it lasted through five babies. Like this only dead cheap and in white.

I never had a changing table -- just used the mat on a bed or the floor, or in the car, etc.

I bought some lovely birdseye nappies and used them as burp cloths. Saved many an outfit, and afterwards they were really useful as household cloths -- very absorbent.

An extra large insulated mug to keep tea or coffee good and hot for hours. Nothing worse than pouring yourself a cuppa and not being able to drink it because you are feeding the baby and can't risk spilling it on him or her, or putting it down and finding it's cold by the time you get around to drinking it..

Tandem cot that clipped onto the bed. Allowed co sleeping without a crowd in the bed.

Bibs that slipped on over the head like the neck of a Tshirt and extended all the way over the lap of feeding toddlers. You won't need these for a while and you could actually make them yourself out of oversized toddler T-shirts if your name was Martha Stewart .

A cover for supermarket trollies to keep the DCs from licking and sucking on the handles.

If you buy a snowsuit, get one with nylon or satiny polyester lining. Avoid fleecy or flannel linings in snowsuits. Yes they are warm, but they are really hard to get little arms into. I bought one with nylon lining by sheer dumb luck and even though it was pink none of the DDs ended up losing brain cells and DS didn't turn into a girl.

TheGirlAtTheRockShow · 17/01/2015 06:32

Toy bar for car seat/pram - keeps DD amused.
About a million muslins
Swaddle blankets in the early days.

1charlie1 · 17/01/2015 07:46

Kanga wrap and star baby blanket from Tuppence and Crumble. Then Ergo carrier and Jumperoo for later on. Good luck!

furryleopard · 17/01/2015 07:54

Oh and start going to bed early now- how I regret saying yes I'll watch a film to my DH and didn't go to bed until 1am as at 3am my waters broke and we were already exhausted. I was only 37 weeks! DD now 4 months and I've never caught up on that sleep!!

Dovetale · 17/01/2015 10:52

A big bag of earplugs (i'm serious!) They are so useful when one of you needs to have a nap, or for the person who is holding the crying baby. (You can still hear the baby but it takes the edge off so you can think straight) My husband kept a pair in the little pocket of his jeans!

We had a vomity baby so lots of muslins, upholstery/carpet cleaner.

A family size tub of Vanish for those poo stained vests

Fabric wrap for newborn days and take it to the hospital, it means your wife doesn't have to worry about falling asleep and dropping the baby if she's in overnight. The baby might start crying every time you put it down. (Practice with it now you'll be too tired to work out how to use it)

If we have another one I will be getting:

a cot that attaches to the side of the bed

a sleepyhead bed guard www.johnlewis.com/sleepyhead-deluxe-bed-guard-white/p231482924#tabinfo-ratings

a cover for the carseat so you can keep them warm when taking them out of the car
www.johnlewis.com/maxi-cosi-cabriofix-footmuff-raspberry-red/p1019312?navAction=jump

Exciting times, good luck

HoldenCaulfield80 · 17/01/2015 12:16

A bouncy chairs. My mum got our for five quid from a charity shop and it's hands down the most useful thing we have now that DD is ten weeks! Also, lots of blankets, our are constantly being puked on so it's good to have a back up supply.

HoldenCaulfield80 · 17/01/2015 12:18

So many typos in that last message - sleep deprived brain, sorry!

IfuckingHateIkea · 17/01/2015 13:02

I would agree with what someone else said in that all babies are different and so you will invariably buy stuff that perhaps another baby/parent loved, it is completely superfluous to you.

I remember buying shitloads of stuff before my DD was born 3 years ago thinking that I had to get everything ready. Actually the shops don't shut when you have a baby, you can buy stuff if and when the need arises.

TheSporkforeatingkyriarchy · 17/01/2015 14:46

With my first, a wrap around pillow so he could snuggle up close to me while sleeping and I could sit.

Swaddle blankets and a infant rocking chair was essential for naps here especially for my younger 3.

bigbluestars · 17/01/2015 17:00

I am not sure we can buy our way out here.

A baby's needs are very simple. Food, warmth, love and a clean bum. That needn't cost very much at all.

Things that I didn't buy for my babies include:

muslins
v shaped pillow
breast pump
cot
bottles
steriliser

You can't plan ahead with babies, but they are very portable in the early months and you will appreciate a trip out for anything you thing is essential.