First baby "oh cr*p!" box

[NattyBatty]

My sister is pregnant with her first and due in the summer, and I'm super excited to be an auntie so I'm going totally overboard with gifts.

I'm putting together a "post birth" set, which includes unscented/gental wash stuff, chocolate, meals in a mug etc. I'm doing a nappy cake with stuff for the baby like bibs and muslins and bottles etc, but I also want to do a panic box which I've called the "Oh Cr*p!" box.

The idea behind the Oh Cr*p! box is that if she gets caught out at 3am when all the shops are shut she can check the box and see if there is something which can tide her over until the morning.

So far I have:
Calpol
Kids vapour rub
Bepanthen
Lanolin cream
Saline nasal spray
Emergency nappies
Antibacterial hand gel
Disposable bed mats (in case of multiple sick ups/nappy leaks in the Moses basket/to wipe up projectile vomit on the floor etc)
Baby wipes
Teething gel
Teetha teething granules
Baby wipes
2-3 premixed formula (in case the baby has trouble latching and she needs to give the baby something)
Muslins
Colic drops
Nipple shields

Can anyone think of anything I've missed? She lives 200 miles away so I want her to have all her bases covered seeing as I can't be there to give day to day support.

I posted earlier on the thread, but to pick up the formula angle: I'm expecting my first, planning to breastfeed but aware that it may be tough going. I would feel much more reassured to have some formula in the back of the cupboard, so that I didn't feel like I'd starve my child if I couldn't BF - it just lowers the stakes. I'd feel more empowered to keep trying.

I have copied your list/others' comments to buy for myself and a friend who is likewise without family help and expecting her first, OP. I think it's an incredibly pragmatic, helpful gift.

BIbble - I wouldn't be offended, I just literally have never used anything apart from calpol off the list in 7 years of having children. It's quite a long list and so OP spending a fair bit on something I never used. I also haven't space to keep a basket of stuff just in case.
It's preferences as well. I never used nappy cream for example but if I needed I would only want to use something as natural as possible, so something already bought that wasn't, wouldn't have been used anyway.

I just think the time and money, for me, could be spent on something else. Vouchers for 'cook' for example so new parents can choose some ready made food delivered of their taste and when they want. Or asking parents if there's any 'bigger' item they might need

Another example of asking, we chose to use reusable nappies. So a) non in a basket wouldn't be too helpful b) it would have been more helpful if someone bought us some of the brand we were wanting to use. Ie a decent reusable nappy is £10-15 roughly. When friends and familyasked what we wanted as knew limited space, we directed them to buying one for us. Some bought one as a good useful £10-15 average gift, some spent £50 and bought a few. In total it saved us around £350+ as we didn't end up buying any. Really helpful, something we would have needed anyway, and no waste.

Another gift that's lovely idea for first time parent that I would have liked would be a small basket with a selection of first books to read to baby over time. A few board books, a few larger picture books etc. It's something that will last years.

Hi Natty

I bloody LOVE your oh crap box. I have three kids, am pretty disorganised and
would have adored receiving that. I have hard to send out DH and ask for stuff to be sent to me. I also breastfed three kids to 3yrs and I still remember with dc2 asking for nipple shields even though I didn't end up using them.
I also used a couple of times ready made instant formula when on two occasions I had to take some meds and was pumping and dumping for 24hrs. Did not affect my kids or my flow. I would buy her some Lansinoh if money no object, and some breastfeeding tea bags with fenugreek in, and some oatmeal biccies, a couple of glossy magazines and a nice mug.
If you can get the baby one of those mini squatres with tags on, they are always nice and your sis can pout her scent on if she still wears perfume.
I think you have most if not all of the emergency stuff on there. I would add a baby thermometer to the box.
But it's a lovely idea and everyone poo pooing it have either very thin skin or have not had the 2am colic/croup/omg have they got meningitis scare/shit where's the calpol.

^apologies for the typos

*if the formula is there you will reach for it because you are desperate and your nipples are bleeding and your baby is wailing

Never happened to me. Not all of us found breastfeeding really hard.*

I also found breastfeeding easy. However it was the sleep deprivation that would have made me reach for the formula, i would have done anything for an extra 5 minutes sleep!

I was so glad i didn't have it- the amount of times at 4 am i was swearing dh was was going to the shop as soon as it opened and buying bottles, but when 9am came i was feeling more human and able to carry on "for one more day". One more day turned into over a year.

I think it's a lovely idea and I'm completely baffled at those posters that would ascribe so much meaning to a gift meant to be helpful. In any case, OP isn't going to drop it on her doorstep and with no conversation lead her sister to believe she doesn't think she can breastfeed - I'm sure they'll have a convo where OP will say 'it's there in case you need it, not because I think you will'. Ditto for dummies and stuff like that. I've never known anyone in real life react the way people on here seem to

I wouldn't have needed half of those things as breastfeeding came very easy to me, but the thought and care that went into it would touch me. If you can though, I'd put a few 'for mum' gifts in there - nice chocolate, cheese if she's not been eating it, flask or water bottle. Maybe a take away to be delivered one day.

I think it's a lovely idea and I'm completely baffled at those posters that would ascribe so much meaning to a gift meant to be helpful. In any case, OP isn't going to drop it on her doorstep and with no conversation lead her sister to believe she doesn't think she can breastfeed - I'm sure they'll have a convo where OP will say 'it's there in case you need it, not because I think you will'. Ditto for dummies and stuff like that. I've never known anyone in real life react the way people on here seem to

I wouldn't have needed half of those things as breastfeeding came very easy to me, but the thought and care that went into it would touch me. If you can though, I'd put a few 'for mum' gifts in there - nice chocolate, cheese if she's not been eating it, flask or water bottle. Maybe a take away to be delivered one day.

Honestly, I wouldn't have been offended by being given formula - I live in a crunchy granola place where breastfeeding is the norm, and never felt pressure to give formula. But I would have chucked it in the bin so the temptation wasn't there during the first weeks.

HOWEVER, someone did almost exactly this for my very best friend, and she was really upset about the formula - just like on this thread, she was surrounded by women who formula fed, and they got really defensive about it. Being given formula was more pressure on her to use formula "like everyone else" and made her feel like by choosing to breastfeed she was somehow being mean to the women who formula fed. Given the amount of money there is in formula, it shouldn't be surprising to anyone that there is so much pressure on women to never discuss their feeding choices honestly. I don't think it's a good idea to buy a new mother formula unless she has asked you to because, however much abuse people are giving them for it, several women here ARE saying that they would be offended or undermined by someone doing so. Why do something that's got a significant risk of upsetting someone when you want to do something kind?! Just leave it put and include some snacks for mum instead.

My FIL gave us a Tommy tippee perfect prep machine and insisted on setting it up for us, as his step-DIL had one and it was amazing apparently. We left it unused so long the water had mould in it and I now don't think I could sell it in good conscience. Also, my MIL turned up with a tub of formula and opened it for some reason. Also now unused for 5 months and a complete waste of money and resources.

If anything, their insistence that they thought I should formula feed made me more determined to breastfeed (even though it was tough). I did find it all very patronising that they thought they knew best.

I supposed I should thank them for encouraging me to exclusively breastfeed so far, because I wasn't going to let them be right!

I think it's a marvellous idea and I'm sure your sister will love it, I would put it some more things for your sister, DVD box set, Netflix subscription, I had a Nintendo ds with puzzle games on which helped me through the long night feeds or a kindle. Yes to chocolate or a thermal cup that keeps tea warm for ages

Add to it ... A pooter hooter (nasal aspirator) the NUK one is brilliant .... Especially in the middle of the night and you're panicking that they can't breath because of snot!!!
A thermometer too. Braun do an amazing in ear one!!'
A good book !!
Netflix subscription!!! If breastfeeding they are a necessity in the early days! ( my baby is 5 now though ... It was box sets in the hood ole days)
I did this for my niece !!!

I hope natty comes back I bet comments in earlier stage of thread were upsetting.

Holistic:
But it's a lovely idea and everyone poo pooing it have either very thin skin or have not had the 2am colic/croup/omg have they got meningitis scare/shit where's the calpol

I was someone who you would deem 'poo-pooed' this idea. I am also someone who's DC2 did have meningitis. I assure you, this really wouldn't have helped me at 1am in our rush to the hospital.

Many of those who 'poo-pooed' it (in your terms) were simply saying it isn't everyone's cup of tea, (Although I agree the breastfeeding issue has sidetracked this somewhat for many) in case her sister would be the same for OP to avoid undue disappointment. I certainly wasn't trying to hurt anyone's feelings. Apologies to the OP if this is the case and, as I said before, you sound absolutely lovely. I hope your sister loves it and appreciates all your efforts xxx

Yep, if you think your child has meningitis , using some calpol and some teething gel isn't really going to cut it! Surely everyone who suspect something like that goes immediately to hospital not rummaging in a basket

Art if your child had a temp so high you think it could be meningitis I would seriously advise getting a dose of calpol down them before hospital (although I suspect most would have given calpol in the hours running up to hospital when the child initially presents as unwell and when not responding to treatment gets further help).

Nerr - no the advise is immediate ambulance. Giving calpol just before could stop hospital being able to give them something stronger. Having a raised temp an extra 15mins isn't going to stop meningitis. Also at that stage of being ill they could choke so it's better not given orally

Well no art, as every time your child has a temperature there is a possibility it could be meningitis.

In actual fact calpol is v helpful as often something like meningitis will mean temp won't go down whatever you give them, so saying nothing has worked is a useful marker for doctors.

But I am someone who happily gives my ds whatever medicine, don't really see why you wouldn't try something that might work.

I did say calpol was the only thing from list we have used in 7years.
I just think it's like proving a house up with a twig if a child has meningitis. Finding darn box, taking 5 minutes to open childproof lid, finding spoon or syringe, cleaning up child dribbling it back out/choking/ vomiting it. In that time you could be halfway to hospital.

Yes obviously but often contrary to popular belief meningitis does not initially present as a serious illness, so there would be no indication you should rush to hospital at all.

Yes obviously but often contrary to popular belief meningitis does not initially present as a serious illness, so there would be no indication you should rush to hospital at all.

My sister in law did something like this for me when I had my first baby and it was amazing! She had a lot of the stuff you listed and I used 90% of it. Just because you can't use calpol/won't need teething gel for a few months it's still great to have those things to hand when the time comes. A thermometer is a great idea as others said. A couple of other things I had in mine were the calpol plug in,which I find great and a towel (you can never have too many).

I suppose this thread shows how different people are. I would not have been bothered with chocolate or hand cream but everyone is different.

You sound like a lovely sister and I'm sure you'll be a wonderful aunty

Oh and some vests! I kept running out of vests in the first few weeks.

What a bunch of miseries
This is a wonderful idea! Even if she doesn't use half of the stuff it's so lovely that you've gone to so much effort! I don't have anything else to suggest but wanted to let you know that you're a lovely sister :)