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.

Hehe - I bought a value pack of scratch mitts (5 pairs) in 0-3 months while I was expecting. I never ended up using scratch mitts - in fact, DS was prem and 4 months before he even fit 0-3 months!

That's another important thing! Make sure you are careful with buying clothes in the right season and don't buy too much if in any doubt. I bought lots of lovely winter clothes (cardis, a big coat and a couple of 'sets' with a sleepsuit, jacket and matching hat - oh and fleecy dungarees) only to find that DS was 4 months before he fit them...by which time it was June/July! A hot summer and he spent most of July in a short-sleeved bodysuit and nothing else! And because he was prem I had to wait months to put him in all those clothes - I had to buy more in the 'early baby' and 'tiny baby' sizes.

I did think though that a large 'wedge' changing mat was really useful - but don't buy the fitted towelling cover like I did because DS would wee on it the minute it was out of the wash! Muslins I would agree with too. I'd buy about 15 in large size and they come in useful for everything.

really truly, you need fcuk all

get yourself a mum (of several) with older kids and cross all the crap off the list

like WIPE WARMERS

ffs

Another vote for the lansinoh! Saved my life after giving birth.
Also thumbs up for maternity pads from Mothercare, they were lovely and soft and comfy, good if you have stiches. Hated the boots ones, they were awful.
Also loved the tummy tub for bathing the baby in early days, they are cheap on ebay and bloody brilliant.
Grobags are amazing as most babies kick off their covers millions of times a night. Oh, and Grobag also do a range of swaddling blankets which are brilliant.
And last but not least, Tesco newborn nappies are wonderful, buy lots!

i would say

get :-

lots of breast pads
grobags are great
would get lots of sleepsuits and bodysuits
hats,scratch mittens,trousers and longsleeved tops for the baby
blanket
plenty of nappies and wipes
no harm in getting bottles too
titees - babys dont keep socks on
didnt use snowsuit or coat had a cosy toe for baby seat a great buy

Some reasonably stylish cheapy tops etc for you - H&M ones probably. Leaky bosoms, baby vom and all the other delightful secretions associated with having a newborn necessitate these imo. I needed changing more than the baby...

One of my favourite bits of baby clothing was a little cardigan with integrated mittens that just kind of folded over. Amazing for keeping little hands warm in the pram (I had an autumn baby).

Agh! This is making me feel broody!

A sling, a side-car cot (got ours from ebay for £25!), a night light (so you can see to do initial latch on at night in the early days without blinding yourself with a normal bedside light!) the bf support organisations numbers, ditto fifitot on dresses on girls; ruck up when they are sitting/lying and "trip" them when they are crawling. Reclining bouncy chair, for when you need to put them down in the day/evening and Three in a bed by Deborah Jackson. Breast pump, because if your milk comes in as hard and fast as mine your boobs will swell and your nipples will be stretched so tight your baby won't be able to latch, and so you can start stockpiling in the freezer or donating to the local Milk Bank. Rear facing pram, because you'll want to see your baby and they'll want to see you, if/when you go out with them not in the sling.

Definitely one of these (used for all three of ours):

www.bloomingmarvellous.co.uk/product.aspx?CategoryID=practicalproducts&ProductID=81 216&language=en-GB

Lots and lots of these:

www.bloomingmarvellous.co.uk/product.aspxCategoryID=rooms&ProductID=81374&language= en-GB

Baby sleeping bags.

DD was born in October following a very warm summer.

We were in a newish warm house and we used short sleeved bodysuits/long sleeved sleepsuits.

I got breast shells, plastic things from Mothercare for my 1st baby and they really saved my clothes and meant I could collect small amounts of milk to freeze from the other breast while baby was feeding. I used them with ds2 and am hunting the house for them now for new baby expected any day now.
Get yourself some nice big tshirts /joggers in bright colours from Primark and big knickers.

tea tree oil for bath

lanisoh or kamillosan for nipples

soft sleep style maternity bras (I lived in these, gave birth in them and still use them at night 5 months on)so comfy and supportive and you don't need to be measured. You will need a proper fitted bra for going out of the house.
this one

and these ones that look like bandages are great for sore boobs and are used in Scandinavian maternity wards.
here

If you're planning to breast feed, I would highly recommend Lansinoh. And the phone number of the La Leche League helpline because it can be tough going the first couple of weeks

Everyone has said it really in terms of absolute essentials: car seat, a couple of baby gros, nappies, bum-wiping gear, etc.

Anything else you might need will be readily available from the local supermarket or online so no need to buy loads of gear if money is tight.

Congratulations!

If you're going to swaddle, we found the miracle blanket which we got at mothercare fantastic. It has little flaps for arms and legs which make it sooo much easier to swaddle a wriggly baby. Our little one was in it til 10wks when she started to escape during the night, and even slept for some 8 hour stretches

For other stuff - clothing/grobags/pushchairs I'd say avoid mothercare. They are way overpriced. We got a great travel system on ebay from a company that reconditions used ones and sells last season's colours etc. Third of mothercare price. Plus have just discovered sainsbury's do own brand grobags cheaply.

Oh, and for your labour bag take some comfort food. Ribena, geobars and oatcakes got me through 14 hr labour. And a big bar of mayan gold chocolate was EXACTLY what I needed afterwards. And, if you're a herbal tea fan like me take your own bags as they will prob only have PG Tips in post-natal ward.

i have a dd - 4 weeks old- all the lists posted are v helpful- one thing i found i needed was

a sports bottle for me- useful for drinking tea /coffee whilst b feeding so you don't worry about spilling it on her head! also i wouldn't bother with nursing tops as they're v over priced and a vest under a t shirt is far more subtle.

Maternity pads are a must- i used them and then moved on to sanitry towles which was a big no no- it really hurt the stiches- i went back to maternity pads and after 10 days after the birth i fel fine- down below- so don't worry!

ear plugs - (seriously!) so when you have a nap and are looking after the baby no bugger wakes you.

I keep all my daily essentials in a basket next to the changing mat on the floor.

Other things (I'm sure most have been said before):
fennel tea if bfing
cammomile tea for getting them to sleep if bfing
wine for you
thermomenter
nail scissors
lots of nappies
nappie sacks
metonium cream for nappy rash
cotton wool balls
lots of easy cookable pasta and pesto for you to have for lunch
tins of soup
swaddling blanket for nights
washing up bowl for bathing them in at first
olive oil for dry skin
numerous bottles of infacol
aqueous solution for soap substitute

for the birth:
drinking straws
spray mist

A V pillow is excellent for bf and also for sitting up in bed afterwards(I'm using mine now).

I'd forgotten about the nightlight, we bought a battery one which we put on the wall next to our bed for feeds in the night, but the batteries didn't last long so it was a waste of time, if we have another baby I'd use a plug in one, or just put a low watt (sp?)bulb in the bedroom lamp.

We also borrowed one of those monitors you put under the cot mattress !! The night it went off it nearly killed me, I rushed into dd's room in a panic to find her curled up in the corner of the cot fast asleep.

Also, if you can borrow a battery/mains breast pump, I got mine from my local surestart centre, the hand pump one I bought was useless.

Swaddling blanket (DS and I both really liked the grobag one).

Sling. Invaluable.

V cushion or nursing cushion (I borrowed mine from my local toy library and gave it back when DS got too big)

Nice munchies for after labour.

Make up and nice shower gel etc in your hospital bag so that, if you have to stay in hospital, visitors tell you how great you look

Freezer full of dinners for when you get home (or someone who'll cook for you, even after your DP's paternity leave is over)

Two dressing gowns. One to wear and one to wash the sick out of. I wore a dressing gown for about 4 weeks solid after DS was born. Also good slippers.

I know other people have said not to bother but I did get bottles and a 2nd hand steriliser plus emergency thing of formula just in case I had trouble BFing. DS was a Xmas birth and I didn't want to be stuck with a ravenous baby on boxing day if I was having major trouble while DH tried to find a 24 hour garage to sell us formula. I think that knowing I had a fall back made me relax about it and DS and I took to it really happily. Now I've gone back to work we obviously use the paraphernalia all the time.

People will give you baby towels, blankets, toys and mountains of clothes as presents.

Buy as much from car boot sales as you possibly can. Do it now while you're really pg and all the mums flogging their old baby stuff will go all misty-eyed and say "awww, when are you due?" and give you wicked bargains

DON'T buy breast pads! They stick to raw skin and chafe. Get Lily Pads - they're a sort of washable silicone and they're fantastic. Completely healed up my nipples. My sister still wears hers with outfits that require braless behaviour. They hide nipples.

Chesap cotton big knickers from BHS. As cheap and far more comfy than those paper bollocks. (Caesarian)

oooh, are you really in hackney? I'm in bethnal green and this area is just fantastic to have a baby in!

I second most of this advice. my tuppence would be:

borrow anything that is expensive, if you then really need it, buy your own.

ebay for clothes as they are expensive and most baby clothes are very underused as they grow so quickly

My second baby is now 7 months and all I used for him was a cot with sheets and grobags, baby gym, some kind of bouncy seat, and now the cushi tush for weaning. ear thermometer I'd say is reassuring as you want to know quickly if they have a temp, and saline drops work well for those first snotty noses (so does breastmilk which works for sticky eye too). That is about it.

Most things can be bought online, so though it is lovely to nest, a lot of stuff I bought in my last month of pregnancy was more hormonal than useful! And money that could have been saved for babysitters .

I would say don't buy breast pads. Never leaked a drop and still bf at 17 m. Still have loads in the drawer I bought in anticipation.

Don't buy big sanitary/maternity pads in the belief you will bleed rivers for weeks. I only bled a lot for 24/48 hours after which panty liners were enough. Still have loads in drawer blah de blah..

Don't buy muslin squares. What you would use them for I do not know. DS has never been sick.

Clearly we don't spread our bodily fluids in our family

Can't think of much that I would classify as really essential except the car seat tbh

Then again I would say buy anything that makes you feel good - shopping for babies is great!

Good purchases:
Bedside cot
V shape pillow for feeding
sling
swaddling blankets
nice PJs for yourself
dimmer switch for night feeds
Baby monitor
In the ear digital thermometer

Don't bother with:
baby bath
any 3 in 1 combination type pram/pushchairs. Probably the pram will be used for 6 months max and then you will get a lightweight buggy
My friend gave me 20 muslin squares as an essential but I never used them as dd wasn't a sicky baby!
Don't buy nappy rash cream - the bounty packs have a mini one in and modern nappies don't generally cause nappy rash
Baby towels - just use ordinary ones!

Congratulations, and good luck

haven't read everything. just wanted to say:

Get loads of food for you, both meals and snacks;
Booze for celebrating;
Plan for how you are going to deal with all the family who turn up (if you have family);
Definitely lansinoh;
Find out about bf help in your area and store that information in one easy to find place;
try to get at least one nice outfit for yourself in a really big size and forgiving style so you can feel ok with guests at first when your tummy hasn't gone down - unless you will be alright with guests in PJs in which case have nice ones.

Sorry to write such boring things at such an exciting time. Enjoy it

Hi HB - Oh I wish I was back where you are now....congrats and here goes with my advice.

Yes, I would get a couple of bottles because:
a) our DD nearly got dehydrated as it took a while for my milk to come through so we gave her some boiled water

b) you may need to give formula if there's a problem with BF...and

c) getting a baby used to a teat is no bad thing - you can express your milk into it & your P can do the night feeds!! . Not only that, your babysitter can feed your baby when you & your P have a night out. Lots of people I know ran into problems because there was no way their babies were going to take milk from anything other than the breast!!

You need to get a hot water bottle - not for you but for keeping the cot warm when you take your baby out for its feed! Wrap your swaddling blankets around the bottle as well. Once you have finished feeding, they have a warm snuggly cot waiting for them and guaranteed they will go straight back to sleep. This is the bestest advice I was ever ever given and I swear this enabled me to get DD into a 3-4 hrs feeding regime without the aid of Gina Ford.

I would get long sleeved babygros - layers are best though you cant go wrong with body suits either (great for car journeys!). For the first 6 weeks I swaddled DD - then it was into a babygro (fab invention!!).

Make sure you have 2 changing bags - one for the house and one for the car. I was always forgetting spare clothes for accidents, and there would always be something missing from the bag/I would use up all the nappies in it.

Metanium cream for nappy rash-clears it in a day!

Colic medicine, always best to have some in the house....it was infacol in my day!

Make sure that:
a) you know how to fit your car seat before you go into hospital!

b) you have your central heating serviced asap - you do not want to be without the essentials when you come out of hospital

c) you should get the mumsnet book on Pregnancy & Babies....unfortunately for me they came out after my DD was born but I have since bought them for friends and they are absolutely fantastic - the best thing you can buy (next to the hot water bottle!)

d) Black out curtains for the baby's room.

Good Luck!