I'm off to John Lewis to get my 'newborn baby kit'. What do and don't I need?

[hackneybird]

I am now 32 weeks and due in October. Getting things ready and out of the way early as I don't want to be shopping when I'm bigger and just in case it turns up early.

As the baby is due on Oct should I only get long sleeved full baby gros or get some little body suits too?

Am planning on breastfeeding, but should I get a couple of bottles too - for expressing or in case we end up having to use formula?

Am confused. Really don't want to waste money on stuff I won't need.

How exciting- congratulations!

Get a mixture of longsleeve and short sleeve baby gros.
I always used the long sleeved ones as pyjamas and the short sleeve ones as vests under clothes.
If it is a very warm night then you can use short sleeved ones.
Grobags are good but you can get them cheaper if they aren't by the label ''grobag''.
I would get some bottles just in case you want to express. A breast pump and breast pads are indespensable too.
Don't forget a few nursing bras too. You won't be able to breastfeed effectively without them.
I would get some snow suits for a 0-6 months to take you through the winter months as iyt can get very cold and also some blankets.I could go on.

I love shopping for baby stuff!

Pack of vests, pack of babygros, pack of muslins, two of their own brand grobags, a little hat, and a cellular blanket.

You don't need anything else before the baby is born, and its too early to buy nursing bras. Everything else you might need can be bought after the baby is born - my DS was prem, so DH did a trip to Mothercare whilst we were in hospital to get everything.

If you really need a bottle, your DP/DH will be able to go out and buy some when necessary. Hand expressing is dead easy to do, so no need for a pump.

It's best not to buy too many sets of clothes until baby arrives, as the first sets might get outgrown fast - DS managed only 3 weeks in his first size, and he wasn't a whopper.

Congratulations indeed!

My must-haves:
muslin squares
vests are great, long or short, and both will be useful. Can get v v cheap at Tesco/Asda/Sainsbury's as well
more muslin squares
meals like filled pasta for you for after the birth!
couple of pairs of 'trousers' (for baby), cotton stretchy things - I found these really useful and completely didn't expect to!
washing liquid (non-bio)
cotton wool balls (they suggest cleaning nappy area with these rather than wipes initially)
re bottles - we had just a couple (I breastfed too) for expressing and topped up as we found which ones v fussy boy would use!

Don't forget people will prob get you bits and it tends to be the cute stuff you get as presents. Don't forget about yourself - nearer the time if you can use online ordering to get food in that's good too. And also don't panic that you won't be able to get out and about once the wee one comes along - obviously I don't know how remotely you live but either a pop to the shops of one-handed online shopping whilst your baby feeds is all just about possible!

All the best and enjoy it

nappies! (lots) cotton wool
If you're not already a member of Boots parenting club, sign up now and then wait to buy the nappies as you'll no doubt get loads of deals

champagne for after the birth

I have 130 pampers I think, and I got them all for about half price.
Assuming you're using dispiosables, but you'll need some nappies either way

Don't get pump or bottles until the baby arrives is my advice. You may decide expressing is too much of a faff and generally bottles and pumps can be internet bought, or in local supermarket as and when needed.

I'd make sure you have at least 5 plain babygro/sleepsuits. Same number of body suits (short sleeved). Babies are sick quite a lot IME - just possetting, but useful to not completely run out of newborn stuff. Saying that previous poster right in that the newborn stuff can have limited usage depending upon the size and particularly length of the baby. But 0-3 months might swamp a smaller baby. DD was 6 10 when she was born - so was in newborn stuff for longer than ds who was nearly 8 pounds. But not significantly longer, because they were both the same length give or take a cm.

Mine have all more or less lived in sleepsuits from day 1 to about 6 months. Never really "did" outfits until they were older.

Couple of cardigans for trips in pram. Hat. Pack of muslin squares. Couple of sponges for topping and tailing.

Remember that the once the baby arrives there will be opportunities for buying more exotic/interesting clothing. Whether on internet, trips out, or by proxy (presents and so on).

Might be worth a bottle etc for reassurance - I know I did feel happier knowing that if there was an emergency we did have a bottle available. I don't remember if I had any emergency formula, although I rather think I did, gathering dust in a cupboard. I did freeze a couple of feeds worth of expressed bm, so formula didn't in fact come into play until I went back to work.

(did have a pump but used it once - hand expressing was much easier)

For larger things, I regretted buying a travel system buggy - used it as a travel system about once, so not worth it imo. Had a moses basket, then borrowed a slightly larger crib before the baby moved into a cot. You won't need thousands of swing charis/bouncy chairs - mine preferred the cheap cotton bouncy chair to the expensive padded version.

You may also find that people are very generous with presents etc once the baby is born, so don't buy too much in the way of clothes etc as you may end up with too many (mine lived in white babygros for the first few weeks anyway)

Lansinoh breast cream and breast pads.

Blanket for swaddling, think babies should be a certain size before using grobags. Also use in pram.

Don't bother with bottles, can always get them if needed later. Try to stick with breast for a few weeks first.

Vest top and bigger t-shirt for yourself to feed when out, lift t-shirt up and vest down.

Use a muslin/pillow case in babies bed folded over near head are then you can just whip it out if they dribble/posset without changing the whole bed. Also pop over your shoulder when winding.

I would definitely get some nail clippers/scissors as DD was born with quite long nails and scratched her face the day she was born.

Pampers disposable nappy mats so you can sleep/sit on one after the birth and not worry about leakage and also put one under sheet in case waters go in bed.

To be fair tiny babies don't actually need a lot, second others re short sleeve and long sleeve babygro vest type things and a couple of cardigans.

Prune juice for yourself so you don't panic when going to the loo after birth and some comfy pants.

Good luck.

Oh charleymouse yes yes to Lansinoh (or purple cream as it is affectionately known in our house).

I wish I hadn't bothered buying either a top and tail bowl or a baby bath.

The top and tail bowl was too big when all you need is a little bit of water. I ended up just using 2 small bowls.

With the bath, you have to carry it around to fill and empty - might aswell just use the normal bath! I got a bath support from boots that holds a newborn safely in the water and leaves you with your hands free for washing. Saves you the worry of dropping a slippery baby! And DD loved lying there and us using the shower head on her belly!

Cotton wool - but get the little circular pads (cosmetic section usually) rather than balls or a roll, as the pads don't leave loads of little fibres behind.

Personally I didn't buy any toiletries or baby wipes for the first few months, preferred just water and cotton wool for nappy change and just water in the bath, and no skin lotion or oil or anything. Newborn skin is so delicate and doesn't need even the mildest of products, IMHO. All we used was a little aqueous cream on her milk spots on her face, and they went in a few days.

yes don't buy a top and tail bowl - if you need one I have an unused one
Don't agree about the baby bath though - baby bath used so little water and filled so quickly.

We didn't buy or miss bottles, breast pump, steriliser. Scratch mitts.

Did buy and never used swinging crib, baby bath, top and tail bowl.

Did buy and found useful, changing unit, nappy wrap and disposal bin, short-sleeved vests and ordinary baby-gros. Also a thin cotton nightie come sleeping bag (just one layer of cotton knit) which kept his feet covered (august baby) and stopped him scratching me with them when I fed him at night. Baby Bjorn carrier and a baby swing. Muslin squares were useful, as was Infacol!

We were given a cot, which he eventually deigned to sleep in at about 7 weeks (before that we co-slept). The musical cot mobile helped a lot in the transition. We were also given loads of clothes - I hardly bought any until he was 9 months old. The ones that fastened down the back were least useful, as a bugger to put on.

Don't buy a nappy wrapper bin. Biggest waste of money ever!! Just throw them in the bin.

I did find the baby bath useful - but I put it inside the ordinary bath, so it was easy to fill and empty. Never had a top&tail bowl - I just used the basin and did the top half then the bottom half...

Thanks for kind words everyone, am v touched.

Have deffo taken on board your comments about buying just a few plain white things as we'll be given plenty. Plus needing a few more bits after baby is born will hopefully force me out of the house.

I was planning on swaddling - I already have one little grobag to try out too.

We've been given a lot of 'big stuff' such as a pushchair and a crib so it's clothing, bedding, feeding and 'poo-ing' stuff we need really.

Am going for nursing bras a bit later on.

Big old lady style cheap pants - in case you have a c section and to make room for those ginormous maternity pads

Lavender oil and tea tree oil to put in the bath afterwards - both natural antiseptics and soothing.

No too to nappy bins (if using disposables put them in nappy sacks & then outside bin)

If you're off to John Lewis, the best thing I bought was their fabric bath support really cheap but priceless for bathing a slippy wet small baby either in a baby bath (I preferred) or the normal bath.

Best of luck, it's such an exciting time.

Dry shampoo; you will not have time to wash your hair. Ever.
Spruces you up a treat before the in-laws pop round

Second bath support, swaddling blanket, muslins. Try and get babygros with foldover cuffs -- much better than scratch mitts, which fall off. Nappies, bottles etc all readily available at your local chemists should you need them.

Message withdrawn

I got some of the nighttime babygrow things with elastic or poppers at the bottom instead of leg holes - they were absolutely invaluable for the first few weeks when they poo at night. Doing endless poppers at 3am is no fun.

If you want to BF you don't need to spend money now on bottles and expressing machines IMO. Get a good book on BF, maybe a DVD, some breast pads and lansinoh, a pillow if you like - but most importantly, spend the next couple of weeks organising your support network. Get the numbers of your local BF counsellors and all the helplines, attend an antenatal BF class that is NOT run by the NHS if you can find one, and maybe attend a La Leche League meeting if there is one local to you. BF doesn't have to cost you anything but you won't regret finding out as much as you can beforehand

my local PCT website had a list of bf sessions in the local area - I managed to find one fairly nearby for almost every day of the week. Didn't actually need to use them in the end (just went to my own local one) but I would have done if I'd been having problems and wanted someone to help.
If you find anything like that print it off and stick it on the notice board!

Oh happy days. I bought a large nursing bra, that was too big but used it to sleep in with pads doubled up for all the leaks! (Nice). Ensured my poor sore nipples weren't squashed down.

Of course see if bfing works for you first before doing this.

Mothercare do a basic new baby set, with baby gros, vests, a hat and scratch mits. It's in white and pretty cheap.