Final Countdown - what do I need to buy?

[Holymoly321]

Hi again,
Ok - so it's only a few weeks to go until B day! We've got the cot, the crib and the pushchair. We've got some nappies and a nappy bin and some baby wipes (B1G1F at Superdrug!. So what else do we need to get? How many blankets? What kind? Do I need nipple things? Sterilisers? How many sleepsuits or body suits is enough? What about 'outfits' or does baby just stay in body suits all day everyday if they're just at home or popping to the shops? I'm planning on going on a big final shop when I go on maternity leave next week and it would be so handy to have a list to work from. Any help would be fantastic as magazines are just confusing me and are often 'sponsored' by a store who obviously want me to buy everything they have on the shelves!
Many thanks
X

Will definitely put in demands for chocolate! But, funnily enough, dh mentioned the eternity ring thing the other day. I had thought about it previously, but he came up with it out of the blue all on his own(thus saving me trying to drop hints!!) Sometimes dh never ceases to amaze me! Can this ring go on any finger? I'm thinking of getting one for the middle finger of right hand as eng and wed ring is enough for the left hand.

entirnity ring usually goes on wedding finger!
Are you buying changing bag with mat attached? If so you dont need an extra one!

Buy loads and loads of nappies and wipes, it saves having to nip to the shop all the time to top up. By the time my twins were born I had over 900 nappies

Good for your DH smiling. Mine took a lot of prodding, poor sod. I put mine on my ring finger right hand, too much bling on my wedding finger already .

Think we'll need to buy more nappies! We bought two packs thinking - yep, we're all set for a while now- only to find that they are only going to last us a couple of days! How naive first time parents are! Not sure about buying a changing bag as such - agree that they all seem very expensive when surely a good rucksack would do? If I buy a seperate bottle warmer insulation type thing? Can't see why I should pay £50 just because a bag has come from a 'baby' shop. OR am I just being naive again?!

Bought my changing bag from Sainsbury's for £10.99, it isn't specifically a changing bag but fits all the bits & bobs. We also got a Graco changing rucksack from Kiddicare for £3.99 (kiddicare .

You don't really need a special changing bag but it is useful to have a wipe clean lining cos they do get messy with wipes, food etc - they make good beach bags later. I've just bought an AVENT kitbag/rucksack with thermal lining for a tenner (worth £40) on ebay including messy bag and changing mat.

I think it is worth spending a fiver on a comfy changing mat because they are great for baby to lie on and kick with nappy off under a baby gym - hours of self-amusement!Don't forget to put a muslin down first before you change baby cos the cold plastic on warm skin tends to induce a little weeing...

I'd also keep another set of changing paraphanalia upstairs to save your legs.

You will need more bibs than you imagined

The velcro ones will stick to other clothes if you put them in the washer or dryer together (I have ruined one of my daughter's dresses because the velco fastener on her bibs stuck to the ribbon around the hem - beware)

You will be very glad of a teardrop-shaped sponge (John Lewis do them) for getting under baby's milky chin and a NUK snotsucker (not its proper name!) from Boots. We found nailclippers much better than nail scissors.

We have two of everything for washing and changing so we can do it upstairs or downstairs, as the previous poster mentioned

Our babybath has a plughole - easier to empty into the kitchen sink. We also have one of those plastic seats that sit in the babybath, this means you can bath the baby much easier if you are on your own (though hard to reach the bottom end!)

You will need a good book to refer to now and again. Personally I like the Penelope Leach book (it was £16 but you could get in cheaper second hand)

are bibs neccesary if breastfeeding? my mum says muslim squares will do the job and i imagine i will be changing him/me a few times per day

I had one of those little baby seats, they were great but I just used it in the normal bath (my back is bad so can't lug a baby bath around). Used sink until little ones were too big.

Never used bibs until they were weaning age myself, didn't have the need.

Baby towels with hoods are ace, as they get cold quickly.

I never used bibs!
Dont bye loads of newborn nappies..mine were too big for them. so by second size and maybe one pack of first unless you know you are having a smaller baby!
I didnt use any newborn stuff either!

I never used bibs either. B/fed babies don't seem to need them until you get onto solids.

Thanks this is good to know..better than wasting money and finding out they were unnecesary
we have a plan that dp will go to boots and buy all the nappies when we find out his birth weight
i am assuming hospitals provide them while you are in?

Our hospital didn't, but I hear some do?

I would personally wait to buy a lot of clothes too, loads of babies are born too big for NB size, mine was born too small and couldn't come home until DH had searched desparately for car seat adptor and coat that he could fir into.

have you been on kiddiecare web site good bargains!

Dont buy any blankets just bottom sheets and a couple of grow bags.ASDA do cheap ones upto 12mths for £10.00 then after that you would have to buy the original grobags at about £25.Still worth it though.My dd has slept well in hers and if we go away we use it and she sleeps well as shes used to it. I cant say enough about them!

Also disposable bibs are useful for hosp and first few days.Mine was quite sicky at first and we were in hosp for 5 days (c section) and hubby had to keep fetching fresh ones in.

I am so thrilled for you,I presume its your first? Your are about to encounter the most wonderful days of your life that you will treasure for ever,I had a grin for months after having daughter I walked on air!

Oh and for you

Arnica from Boots,it helps with the healing.Take straight after birth,it makes all the differance

and lots of fuss!!
xx

p.s. read further down about using blankets at first but must add i used growbag in hosp and was always sure that she was warm,snug and cosey all night(no blankets coming loose)

Sounds like most of the baby stuff has been suggested already.

And I think someone has already mentioned painkillers (essential). Start stocking up with the paracetamol because you can only buy a certain amount at one time.

Arnica is such a must I'll repeat it.

Oversized slippers. I don't know if everyone does, but I ended up with such swollen feet that I looked like a hobbit. Had to send dh out to buy some cheap supersized slippers before I could leave hospital.

Those bags you can fill with water to make ice cubes, and jif dish cloths. Then you can make your own ice packs for the sore bits.

I wouldnt put in grow bags at birth..but thats just me..old fashioned. Like to wrap in a cellular for bed and wear a cardi for day..so they know the difference!!
I would advice to bye bear minimum as so much isnt really needed! Happy shoping!!

hi every1 im new to all of this and would really apreciate some advice, so ive read all sorts of list that tell me what i need to take to the hospital for the baby but im confused as to what i will actually need.... and they say u need atleast 3 vests and 3 sleepsuits so does that mean u wear the vest under the sleep suit???? thanx xx

Nappy, vest then sleepsuit. Get ones that open down the front so that you are no juggling a newborn and trying to squeeze them in one that only opens at the bottom/back. I found this very tricky with my firstborn and have warned everyone if they buy me this type this time it will not be being worn.