The stuff you bought which wasn't essential, but made life SO much easier...!

[TheDetective]

I've got all the essential stuff ready for baby number 3.

But I'm doing this by myself, with a toddler and a teenager to wrangle along side a newborn!

I've been asked what things I want. Well, what I want is stuff to make life just that bit easier. I'll be buying some of these myself, but I don't want to ask for gifts that are expensive, nor do I want to spend much more myself.

I've got things like a bedside crib, prep machine (incase BF doesn't work), cup holder for the pushchair . I'm getting a double (but only once baby arrives). I've got a variety of wraps (stretchy wrap to be hired from sling library, have a woven, plus getting a ring sling).

I've got reusable wipes (to save £££). Um, got all the Ikea shit you could possibly recommend.

So what am I missing? I'm thinking perhaps something for the pram or car that would make trips out easier? Something for me to make life easier at home?

Has anyone used buggy weights too? I've got a single baby jogger city mini GT, which I'm using the car seat on, I've got a buggy organiser with cupholder thing, then there is the changing bag. I'm thinking something to keep it weighted would probably be a good idea... yes? No?!

I'll be getting the Oyster Max as a double. So anything that would be useful there too...

Okay, Clearly I didn't read the thread properly either!

But I kind of stand by what I said, they make great company dogs do.

(Gets coat)

Nah, keep 'em coming! It's keeping me amused!

To be fair, I didn't include the words baby/toddler in the title. I just put it in parenting, without thinking I'd need to stipulate that.

Maybe I'll get MN to alter it for me .

OMG, Now I have X posted.

Detective, I am so sorry about your dog.

I will go away now, since I have nothing of any usefulness to add.

Good luck with your new baby.

You can always go on borrowmydoggy.com and see if you can borrow a suitable dog for daytime meals

Tumble drier. One big enough to dry a full load from your washing machine.

Don't go! !

I am happy because I know she is happy, she went to a lovely farm, with reindeers, and a lovely family. And that is what was important.

Random that is the best idea yet! I love it! Next door has a little shitty yappy dog, no idea what it is. But I bet it couldn't cope with toddler and baby meals! I need a hungry dog for the amount of waste produced here!

Have a tumble dryer! Yay!

One thing I don't have - dishwasher. No room. Seriously, no room. Is potentially room on top of tumble dyer for a table top one. But no plumbing. No plumbing on that side of the room. Would be very expensive... .

OP I am exhausted just thinking about all the preparation you have done! You've thought of everything surely.
My only offering : Bottles of water and mars bars next to your bed.
Good luck!

I have been off work for 13 weeks now. I have had a LOT of time to get prepared!

I don't know, I keep thinking I've got it all planned. But then I keep thinking of new things!

So thought the world of MN would be more useful to advise!

Shame I couldn't have organised to pick a better husband, but oh well, who needs one of those anyway?!

Are you sure losing a cupboard wouldn't be worth it to gain a dishwasher?

I'm sure! There are only 2 base cupboards and one set of 3 drawers. 2 normal sized wall cupboards and 3 small wall cupboards. Kitchen is tiny!

The dryer stops the backdoor opening fully. That's the only space there was. There is no room for a bin so I use bags it's that bloody small!

Hmmm shame time is short we can't have a good look at changing your kitchen for you

A good sling.... I loved my ergo

I feel like it took me 18 months to perfect my cheeky wipe system, but defo worth it! My nearly 3yo recently toilet trained but I still use for messier toilet trips and have some next to the potty instead of paper and im expert with them for 9 month old. I got some different coloured ones for face and hands and toddler always telling her dad 'noooo, thats a bottom one' when he goes to do her face with the wrong one!

You won't benefit from one yet as you're having a summer baby, but for when it gets cooler... I loved the tuppence and crumble star wrap I had for DD. One of my best buys by far. So much easier than messing about with coats or snowsuits.

Teasmade? Essential if you're planning on not leaving the bed! :-)

(The teasmade would have to be next to your bed of course)

Clean cheeky wipes go into a tupperware a few at a time, then pour cold water with a few drops of tea tree oil in on to, then add more cheeky wipes etc. We have a plastic measuring jug in bathroom for this and also for rinsing hair and excess suds off baby. It's the large tall one from this ikea set.

Has this already been said? One of those swing things to put baby in. A friend who's just had her second has one and her baby just chills out in that when not feeding and she can attend to her toddler. Genius.

I can't afford to change my kitchen, and I SWEAR it won't fit a dishwasher anywhere! .

I left my last house 7 years ago with the knowledge I was saying goodbye to my dishwasher for a very long time! (Bought at height of market, so knew I was staying put here for EVER!).

Yes to the star wrap! My last PN group swears by them, and I have that on my list of things I would like if anyone asks!

So far my list is:
Buggy weights
T&C wrap
Car back seat organiser.

Dildals Great idea! But I don't drink tea. I drink it at others houses as a social nicety, but I just drink soft drinks at home! I will have this next to my bed though as I do every night along with snacks!.

MrsAuckerman I have those tubs - these are what I use for leftovers and packed lunches! I have a jug thingy in the bathroom for hair rinsing. Do you store your cheeky wipes in these tubs? I find the lids not brilliant for staying on. I'm currently eyeing up toddler proof tupperware!

City I have a swing also. Have a swing, baby bjorn bouncer, and if I can find someone with another foot on them to look in my loft, I have another bouncer which I was going to keep upstairs. I have a playmat (mamas and papas star gaze) but the battery compartment has bust. I only discovered this AFTER I bought it on eBay and got it home. Was furious. It can still be used for toys, but I bought it for the lights and music! I tried to get a spare part from M&P but they don't do them. So I'll probably need to buy a new one.

I have a jumperoo which has been loaned out to someone, but will call that one back in when the time comes! I need to find the bumbo and tray - I have a feeling they might be in dickheads mums loft. . Given he hasn't bothered to see his son for 4 months, I prefer to have fuck all contact with him. Might just buy another and say fuck it.

I honestly don't know how my house isn't over run! I seem like I have so much STUFF! But it really isn't cluttered. And don't have much space like a garage or anything. Just have a shed, and can put smaller items in the loft - loft hatch is tiny, so you can't get anything big up there! Hence why I loaned the jumperoo out to people!

I bought an extra kettle for about £6 when I ended up FF. It was a godsend - I knew when I'd boiled it so could safely make up bottles and rinse stuff, and people randomly making tea and coffee didn't mean I only had scalding water whenever I needed "cooled boiled" (which to be fair, is a lot less often with No 3 than it was with PFB)

Sleepyhead.
Inflatable sit - inside ring.
Video baby monitor total pfb mum

Clips to hang shopping off buggy.

I know that loads of people hate them, but I love a nice Prima Pappa high chair. Mainly because the baby can be in the front room or wherever with the other DCs and still be safe. Also good when they fall asleep after a meal! If you take they tray off they come right up to the table. I take mine outside for a hose down occasionally and blast all the food out of the cracks.

May be repeating but here are a few non essentials that I found very useful with dc1 or 2:

• Sleepyhead. Didn't have one for DC1 but DC2 has slept really well in it. Can go in your bed or in their cot, can travel with you etc. (though if you have a bednest this may be irrelevant)

• Swaddle pod that zips up, ditto above.

• Nosefrida. Disgusting item that efficiently sucks snot out of their nose. Has saved many a feed/sleep from snotty disaster.

• Snoozeshade. Sleep resisting Dc1 would only sleep in a blacked out buggy. A muslin or dark scarf would not have stood the test of her kicking feet. This depends on your child's personality though...

• Musical mobile that bolts onto cot. This is how I got time to shower and dress with dc1 who never slept in the house

• Naice ready meals

If you have a toddler playing downstairs, don't count on baby napping downstairs... Therefore, a decent monitor for when the baby naps upstairs.