What new babies need...

[greenlizard]

We have ordered a snuz pod for our baby due in March but I have just realised I don't actually know what should I put over him when he goes to sleep? I am thinking he will be in a sleep suit (no flies on me!) and will be a little young for a sleeping bag to start with so what should I get - a cotton blanket? Sheets? Swaddling?

Should I buy a baby bath, bath support, bucket?
What should I get for overnight trips for him to sleep in?
Anything else I should know/get?

I am a total novice so I bow to your collective wisdom - thank you!

What on earth is a snuz pod?!

You will find your own way of doing all of these things, but this is what I've found:

Baby will sleep in (probably) a nappy, vest, sleepsuit and possibly a sleeping bag thingie if it stays on the tiny shoulders (grow bag, total blank on what they're called!!!!).

I usually make up the moses basket with a fitted bottom sheet, then a lovely soft muslin cloth tucked in where the baby's head goes (just means that when they puke all over the moses basket you don't have to change the bottom sheet just the muslin), a flat sheet and a blanket. They don't need the sheet and blanket pulled over them if they're wearing the sleeping bag thingie.

Never bothered to buy a baby bath support, you're not going to be wondering off and leaving them there and you've only got the one to worry about, just hold them.

Don't buy anything for overnight stays just yet, when they're tiny take the moses basket. When they get a bit bigger you can consider various things, might even be that you end up co-sleeping so you won't need anything. Always said I would never co-sleep but lo and behold it was the only way anyone was getting any sleep with both of the children I already have and I'm resigned to it with the third!

So baby needs (roughly):

Moses basket
fitted sheets *3 or so (they're super quick and easy to wash)
cotton cellular blankets *2
Flat sheets *3
sleeping bag thingie you know know what I mean!
Sleep suits
Vests
Nappies.

Ooooh, just googled snuzz pod! I like them!

There's very little that is really essential, though lots of things you might want and which might make your life easier.

For example, when we went on holiday I bathed mine in the kitchen sink for several weeks - he was quite happy and it was a really good height for my back.

I got the Munchkin inflatable bath when I was pregnant just as an impulse purchase but actually it worked really well - no hard bits to worry about banging baby's head on when he was tiny, and he's still in it now at 10 months. It says from 6 months but I can't see any reason why - obviously you have to hold onto them when they're tiny but mine really enjoyed floating in it when he was little. Also it was easy to deflate to take away with us.

www.tesco.com/direct/munchkin-white-hot-inflatable-duck-tub/213-7604.prd

I like the snuz pod, similar to my bedside crib but nicer imo.

I have put all of my DC's into sleeping bags from birth, we started with the growbag brand of sleeping bag and they came with a little room thermometer and a chart that tells you exactly what your baby should be wearing for that temperature. We were clueless so we found that really helpful, after a while you just know what they need iyswim.

We bought some small cotton cellular blankets and they always ended up being useful for day time naps. you'll just need a fitted/bottom sheet for the crib, I usually have 4, some nights I have ended up changing them twice.

In the end I found the easiest way to bath a newborn was to put them in the bath with you or bath them in the kitchen sink.

If you go away a travel cot is good, a really simple one is good as they can be a real pain to put up.

Babies don't need much but it's definitely worth buying things that make life easier and more enjoyable (even if other people think you are wasting your money or buying something unnecessary).

I have a snuzpod for my 3 weeks old DS, I love it, it looks fab. But at the moment it's basicaly a nightstand as we co-sleep (read the NCT guidelines).

I have an Aden & Anais sleeping bag. Same as the snuzpod, love it, looks fab, but DS is too small and tries to suckle on it.

My essentials so far are
Amazon prime
Caboo Close
muslins (tons of...)
bf pillow for DS to sleep on during the day (on the sofa, on the bathroom floor...)
Dangling Lamaze or Jellycat toy
White noise app (sound sleeper)

We got the Stokke flexibath, does the job but it's not an ideal solution to bend over the bath, so we got a shower attachment thermometer and I take him with me under the shower.

Don't buy too much now, shop will still exist when you get home.

I went with sleepyhead not snuzpod! Brilliant.

Helloelo what breastfeeding pillow have you got? I just use a long sofa cushion but my DD is getting too long for it now. She's almost 4 months. It's the only place she'll fall asleep during the day except in the car seat. So I could do with a decent one!

People say don't bother with a bath support but mine was a total lifesaver as our bath is deep, so leaning over and holding a slippery baby was really tricky. My twins are quite small, so they were in it till six months but we only stopped using it because they were too wriggly.

Agree on muslins.

When's your LO due? Hats aren't on your list but will be vital.

My dd loves her bath support. Turned it from tears to playtime! Well worth £10!

pip I got a Red Castle Big Flopsy www.amazon.co.uk/Bebecal-Flopsy-Luxury-Maternity-Cushion/dp/B001D7A7WK/ref=sr_1_11?m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&s=baby&ie=UTF8&qid=1423406012&sr=1-11&keywords=Red+Castle no regrets, I've not been away from it for more than 12 hours since I got pg!