first time mum wants to know what things you can't live without when you've got a new baby

[munchkinsusie]

just beginning to realise that there's a lot of stuff out there and it would be good to know what's useful and what's junk!

"Safety First" baby nail clippers. Still use them for both ds1 and ds2's tiny fingernails. They have been brilliant even with a wriggly baby.

I found one of those baby swings absolutely brilliant. Was lucky enough to save the £100 and borrow one from my brother. Ds loved sitting in it in the kitchen, watching me pottering about whilst he was gently swinging.

If you have the room, I'd recommend borrowing or buying on second hand. It was really useful from the age of 2 months to 8 months, but that's it.

I have used my digital ear thermometer a lot too.

Metanium. With my two nappy rash could flare up from nowhere, and this is the only stuff that worked. Get some in in case.

Am not a complete human being without a working dishwasher and condenser/tumble dryer.

A battery operated swing. Best thing we ever bought!

Never used: crib/moses basket, muslims, mitten things, changing table, cot toys, baby bath, monitor

Did use lots: baby bouncer, baby bathseat (invaluable for wriggly baby and no fuss of the baby bath), car seat, handblender for food, bibs, babyvests and baby gros for first 4-6 months (reduces risk of de-limbing a tiny baby), digital ear thermometer (no half measures with sick babies), a baby activity bouncer thing (like a walker without wheels - the only way I got a cup of tea in the morning), breast pads

always wanted: a door bouncer, a decent pram

munchkinsusie thanks for starting this thread as was going to ask the same thing-

daft questions for the mums but where do u get Muslin Squares from?? with regards to baby gyms which ones would u recommend?

cordless phone - what a godsend.

dishwasher - don?t know how I manged without this for DD1.

washerdryer - drying baby clothes without a tumble dryer in winter when they get through so many outfits a week is hard work.

plenty of easy ready meals in freezer. Internet food shopping is also very handy with a new baby.

nice relaxing quiet music for settling baby (and you) down for sleep can be a god send

don?t buy too many of those baby "help" manuals if you can help it - it can be so confusing and stressful as they often offer such opposing advice that you can be left even more confused than you started. Either buy one that seems to fit into your way of thinkg (eg. strict routine or baby led more flexible ideas) and remember that it is only worth following if it works for you or don?t bother at all and go with your instincts and advice from places like mumsnet, health visitor or friends with young children.

babybjorn front carrier - (bought cheaper model for DD1 and regretted it - spent the money for DD2 and carried her easily in it for 6 months)

baby monitor for peace of mind (plenty of threads about which one - very subjective and emotive topic it seems)

decent change bag - don?t need to spend a fortune but worth getting one that has waterproof lining, several large poskets to divide up wet wipes and nappies from feeding stuff, change of clothes, toys, puse etc etc. Nice comfy wide strap because it will weigh a ton when loaded up. Also look at the opening latch - one with complicated catch and loads of zips will drive you mad when juggling a wriggly baby and hunting through a bag one-handed.

plenty of cot bedding incl. a waterproof backed base sheet to protect your matress. Most babies regularly mess up their cots one way or another and on a bad day if they are bringing up a lot of feed you can change your cot bedding three times or more.

plenty of support - friends, family, partner, whoever, just as long as there is someone around to help out. Worth joining a mums and babies group . I didn?t do this with DD1 as it all just felt too stressful to contemplate (very shy) but made the effort with DD2 and have not looked back - it is my lifeline.

HTH and good luck - when is baby due?

Definitely gin, chocolate and baby monitor.

muslin squares can be bought inidividually or in packs from places like Toysrus Babies section, John Lewis stocks them, larger Boots have them and so does Mothercare. It is worth buying the different coloured ones or dye a batch. If you ever meet up with a group of mums and they all have white muslin squares all over the place it gets very confusing!

me could not have done withoug grobags or equivalents ds was in them from when he was too big to swaddle in swaddling blankets and hippychick seat from 6 months or so is fab the other thing which was brill was a musical mobile that went for 15 minutes think by tinylove as meant had time to have a shower while ds was entranced... not useful for ds was moses basket he hated it, baby bjorn sling did my back in will get wilki next time, i would now say get the smallest lightest pushchair/travel system you can - and go for second hand on everything except car seat unless you know seller

Sorry haven't had the time to read the whole thread so I might be going over old ground but my advise is:

Don't buy any of those baby advise books eg Contented Little Baby book it just sets you up for a fall every baby is different (My midwife suggested I burn all mine!)

Save your knees and use a changing table. I wish I had brought one because within days my kness felt about 90 years old and I had awful hard skin - surprising how much time you do spend kneeling down.

Don't bother with a Moses basket if your bedroom is big enough for a cot. DS went straight into a cot and DS plus cot moved into his nusery when he was 10 days old - might sound harsh but I couldn't sleep for listening out for him stopping breathing (got totally neurotic about cot death)

Protect your carpet & invest in a few machine washable blankets for putting on the floor when baby spending time down there.

Electric swing was a godsend - couldn't have lived without it.

USe a bath sponge instead of a baby bath - you have two hands free, can't drop DS and they're much cheaper

Metanium nappy cream - had never heard of it before a friend recommended it but it was great. Much better than sudocrem.

Once a little older, don't spend the small fortune I did on a highchair that does everything eg recline (use swing or bouncer) height adjustment (never used) DS was just as happy sitting in a £15 Ikea plastic one!

And finally, remember to ask for help from family, friends, midwife, neighbours etc...Looking after a new baby is a tiring full time job in itself.

Good luck and enjoy being a mum.

baby sleeping bags.
toast
babysitters

Boobs.

I got this musical lights thing for the side of the cot it has music but also nature sounds and lights that colour and show little pictures it ismade be fisher price it has a large red button so baby can turn on and off BUT IT HAS A REMOTE CONTROL SO YOU CAN USE FROM NEXT DOOR so you don't have to go into their room when the music stops. it is brill.

Here's another vote for muslins - mine are all grey so different from everyone elses's. DS2 now uses them as comforters as well.

Another use for muslins is to put them under baby head in pram or moses basket and tuck edge under matteress so that is the possett a little milk you can quickley change the muslin without having to change sheets several times a day. As long as sheet underneath is still clean obviously.

or put them under their head when lying on playmat for same reason.

agree on dryer and microwave!!
and i also love my glider chair (used it first for bf, and now for relaxing - and dp even falls asleep in it ) - muslins, changing table (can't imagine without one with c-section), sleepsuits!, musical mobile, grobag

all the best
susi

if they possett a little milk sorry

thanks! i'm not due till march but we're beginning to think about buying things. i've started putting together a list which all these things have been added to. i wanted to ask just now because i'm going to my first NCT nearly new sale in a couple of weeks and wanted to know what to look out for.

Local breastfeeding support numbers and breastfeeding clinic opening times etc - find out beforehand and write all this stuff down somewhere easy to find. Or put the numbers in your speed dial. If you have a chance to go and you're not sure whether to bother - GO.

A baby bjorn baby sling

Gro-bag

A pint glass - I got really really thirsty when I was breastfeeding

Nipple shields/lanosin lotion/lots of breast pads - if you are planning to breastfeed

Hooray! I have persuaded my pg sister to go for a Wilkinet sling instead of a baby bjorn. Honestly, they are soooooooo much better, it only takes a couple of goes to get the knack. And they come in lovely raspberry corduroy too.

So:

• Wilkinet sling
• Little 'nightdresses' for baby at night instead of babygros (easier to nappy change)
• Clarins Beauty Flash Balm (er, for mum, not baby )
• One of those baby chairs that reclines so baby can nap laying flat instead of in a car seat.