What is the best thing you bought for your baby?

[dadtobe19]

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?

Lansinoh. Å little goes å long way and even when you no longer need it, it doubles up as nappy rash fixer, elbow rough skin ointment, lip balm... Yes it's a tenner. Buy it anyway.

I agree with pps who have said don't buy loads of stuff beforehand. You will get given things (both new and second-hand) and babies actually need very little in the first few weeks. Plus it will give you something to do during the long night time feeds - searching/shopping online for things that you realise might be useful now. Also babies are different in what they like. For example, DS spat the dummy (literally) every time and hated being swaddled.

As a pp said, if you are planning to BF, it is useful to have a support network ready, such as a nearby BF consultant who comes with good recommendations/reviews.

Things that people gave me that became useful a few months in, and that I would never have thought to get myself, were a Sophie the Giraffe and Black-and-White baby books to encourage eye-tracking.

Muslins. Use for every imaginable purpose - bib, to dry little skin creases after bath, mop up sick/poo/drool/spilt drinks, under baby's head when asleep to catch sick/dribble, to line changing mat/pram, wipe runny noses, use as emergency nappy.... Never be without 1... or 2 or 3!

Sling. Stretchy one like moby. Perfect for hands free when soothing/rocking clingy baby. Bit like origami to get the thing on, tho!

dummy. They aren't called soothers for nothing!

Baby gym and cheapy bouncer. Perfect place to plonk baby when you need the loo/cup of tea/two hands free if you're not using the sling

Sheepskin pram liner. Not cheap but worth every penny.

oh, and the mothercare bath sponge support that pp mentioned.

YY to lansinoh. Lifesaver! I could get it on prescription (free when pg)
And Isofix (or even belted in) car seat base. So many good ideas on here!

Totally agree about a sling, but best to avoid Baby Bjorn. Baby Bjorns are very popular, they're in all the shops. And if you've not used another sling (I hadn't when I first tried one) they seem great. But actually they're not a good buy.

The shape of them means your baby is effectively dangling with their weight on their crotch. Their bones are developing and lots of people think it's not good for them, baby's bones in their crotch are not meant to support their weight or long periods of time. Much better to have a sling that spreads the weight nicely, like a lovely stretchy wrap or the excellent Ergo.

Also, I had the Baby Bjorn the first time round and it started hurting my shoulders when my DS got bigger. I switched to a wrap, then an Ergo as my DS got bigger and the difference in comfort was huge.

Can't stand Baby Bjorn now!

Caminante

Si si! DH and I bought coats for each other for Christmas. They were expensive (mine was phase eight but reduced) but OMG it's the warmest coat I've ever owned and ds and I love going for walks. Honestly it has revolutionised my life.

Re slings, thankfully we got two given (baby bjorn which sling accionados hate but others seem to love and a close caboo). I think sling libraries are great if you have one near by rather than spending money. I thought we would love slings but I don't. Ds does like the caboo but it gives me back ache but we may try him facing our in the baby bjorn soon

Dummies -(nuk ones are good for new born)- just in case. I got one but DH husband refused to let us use them... Until i was crying and in so much pain with bloody nipples. Then he let me and it really helped with the breastfeeding although some people say not to use a dummy until breastfeeding is established. Really gave me and my nipple the break we needed to carry on

Ergo sling

Woven sling followed by ergo carrier
A thousand muslins
A bed nest

(Now ours is 7 months and we still use the first two, he's too big for the bed nest)

Incidentally we didn't buy much pre-birth at all. The woven sling I borrowed, the ergo we bought at 4 months or so. We borrowed a car seat, a cot, a moses basket, a pram, toys, clothes etc. We lived in a tiny flat, so the main purchase we did was a grown up house...

Hi all

Thanks for the many helpful suggestions. We had made a list of everything that was suggested on here and figuring out what we think would be helpful for us.

The research into it all was cut short a little early as our beautiful baby boy arrived on Tuesday evening. My wife did an absolutely amazing job but lost a fair bit of blood after the birth so has a bit of recovery to get through. Her and our boy are doing amazing though.

Thanks again for all your suggestions and I wanted to check in to let you all know he was here safe and sound!

Congratulations!! Go easy on yourselves, do what you can to survive these early weeks....and try not to be too mad at people giving crazy advice like 'sleep when the baby sleeps'

Haha TallBlue, the most ironic thing about the ones who have said that is that they are all tell us to sleep when he sleeps even though their sitting in our living room chatting for an hour whilst he sleeps. They don't seem to realise we cant quite follow through with their wonderful advice becaus they are there!!! Ha ha

Yay! Congratulations :)

All they need right now is you. Enjoy them, love them, be kind to them. Recovering from childbirth can take time. Congratulations x

What ch1134 said

3 boys including twins I have to say we loved... And always recommend...
Baby Bjorn bouncer
Morrck car seat Hoodie
MAM dummies & self sterilising bottles
Cheeky Wipes baby wipes kit - will seriously save you a small fortune on wet wipes! Still use them now!

Folding bath stand from mother are and a over the cot changing tray. Saved my back!
Oh and gripe water.

MAM bottles if you're bottle feeding. Saved mine and DPs sanity in the early days (think hiccups to the point of being sick at EVERY feed) but my god from first using these at 2 weeks old to now he's never had hiccups from feeding again also, infacol, nystatin for tongue thrush and calpol/snuffle babe.. DS caught every cold-type thing going when we came out of hospital. Take your wife boiled sweets/lots to drink as well because for me the gas n air/air-con combo dried my mouth out for a week or so.. And Dm had to bring me KFC coz we were stuck there for 6 days and 5 nights and all I dared eat was sandwiches

Whoops hadn't read the full thread congrats to you both! Enjoy him (try shift sleeping.. It's the only way we got any rest through the day while he was in the cot (he ended up in our bed eventually though )

Braun Termoscan - ear thermometer. Hopefully you won't need it much, but when you need it - it's worth its weight in gold

Philips bath and room thermometer has been useful this time around and is rubbery flower that baby likes to chew as well
Sleeping bags, got travel ones which are fab
Connecta carrier after using the close one to start with
Sleep pillow white noise app, could not have done without it
2 Moses baskets, one upstairs and one in living room for daytime nappage
Feeding pillow with removable covers

Oh and LANSINOH, a must if breast feeding

It's good to have a travel change mat with pockets for nappies, bits and pieces. Ours is Skip Hop but there are others about.

a good quality woven sling wrap. Absolute lifesaver and makes a world of difference to both the baby's and mother's well-being. I was especially grateful for having it during the weeks of colic and later, teething.

Love, love, love.

It's been a while since mine were babies but here are mine:

Muslin clothes (invaluable)
Baby support for the bath
Grobags
Baby Bjorn
Annabel Karmel weaning books

Nct Bednest!!!!! Amazing.

Ergo baby carrier with heart to heart insert. Lifesaver.

Really worthwhile going to a sling meet in the first few weeks.