Baby essential must haves for first few weeks...

[Mishapen]

I know this has probably been done a thousand times over, but please can you help me compile a list of all the things I need to have ready. This is DC3 and everything is still up in the loft waiting to be sorted through, and I'm yet to even buy nappies! Only have a few weeks to go, and I'm panicking. I had everything ready by the time I was 12 weeks with the last two so had plenty of time to keep picking up bits as I went along.

So, obv, Nappies and cotton wall....

Wine

Thanks Grumpla

A full-time, live-in nanny and night nurse.

Actually, apart from that, I can't remember. Muslin squares? Useful for all manner of spillages!

cake?

Muslin cloths - yes - it's all coming back to me! Forgot about the stuff I need, yay for old knickers

Nappies (BUT if your DC is smaller/larger than average you might need to get a different size so best not to get tons. Our DD was tiny and we had to go and get a different size when she was born - we still have two unopened packs of Pampers newborn in the house, they're no use at all!)

Cotton wool - obvious reasons

Wipes - also handy

Bedding - blankets, sheets etc

Household essentials - bread, milk, loo paper, tissues etc so you don't have to pop out

Freezer and cupboards stocked with easy food

Sleepsuits and vests - (although again, our DD was tiny and we had to go and buy more)

If FFing - bottles, formula, bibs, etc

IF BFing - maybe not much, but I came home with a baby needing formula because she wouldn't latch, so I always tell people to at least get some sterilising fluid in case you come home with a cup. Not being negative, but it happens

Chocolate!

Stock up on stuff you can eat one-handed whilst feeding / with a baby asleep on you. Dried apricots, almonds, bananas - all help keep your energy levels up and are nutritious.

Remember to always get a nice big glass of water BEFORE you start breastfeeding.

Travel - Car seat, pram and or sling

Sleep - Moses basket / Crib / Cot., 2 sheets, 2 blankets, grobag

Feed- Boobs or 6 bottles, steriliser and or fluid, Muslins, lansinoh if needed

Bathing - Bath support, Muslins, Nappies, Reusable wipes are fab or cotton wool, sudocream

Clothing - 4 vests, 4 babygro's, 2 cardi's, hat, mittens, outer suit/jacket

Stuff that you can graze on and food which is easy and quick to prepare is always handy for the family and you.

You don't really need anything else for atleast 2 months but anything you do buy can be because you want to of course :o

Congratulations BTW!

Copied from my Just Shagging graduate buddies;
Here's the shopping list from BrassicaBabe's sister (including her little notes):
1st Baby Shopping List
Nursery
? Change mat/table
? Soft lamp for feeding/night time wind down
? Black out blinds
? Moses basket, stand and mattress
? Cot and mattress
? Nappy bin and liners
? Nursery thermometer (I love ?gro egg?)
? Baby monitor
? Muslin squares ? lots (and keep them in every room)
? Cotton Wool
? Wipes
? Flannels
? Nappies
? Nappy sacks
? Sudocrem
Bedding
? Blankets
? Fitted sheets for moses basket/cot
? Flat sheets
? Gro bags
? Swaddling blankets
Clothing
? Vests
? Babygrows
? Hat to keep new born head warm
? Socks
? Mittens
? Cardi or warmer layer for going out and about
Feeding
? Comfy chair
? Nipple pads
? Breast pump
? Steriliser
? Bottles
? Bottle warmer
? Bottle brush
? Infacol)
? Bibs (apparently the ones with a padded ring at the neck are good for catching milky dribble)
? Baby flannels
You
? Lahnsinoh nipple cream
? Cheap pants to wear post birth (then throw away)
? Nice sanitary towels ? super plus but thin (don?t need the fat maternity ones!)
? Good hand cream ? your hands get crazy dry!
? Cheap nighty for labour which you can throw away after the birth!
Misc
? Bucket for soaking poo-ey stuff in
? Pram
? Car seat
? High chair
? Sling
? Bouncer (love love love ?baby bjorn? ? get from ebay!)
? Dummys (have ready to go if you think you might use them!)
? Baby bath
? Bath thermometer
? Non-bio washing powder
? Towels (with little head warmer pocket!)
? Sun shades for the car
? Parasol for the pram
? Baby gym (absolutely brilliant ? they love them! And this buys you time to do other stuff)
? Baby books
? Newborn toys

stayfrosty sounds like a great idea and I'll certainly keep that in mind for next time, but I'm already offloading it giving it all to a friend who is due in a few weeks time. As well as the nappies I've still got a box of breastpads that are almost full and some lansinoh that was used once. Where did this myth that we all leak milk over the place come from?

dont forget hings like tumble drier sheets/ washing powder - i needed to go to shop and had no dry clothes when m ine a few weeks old

Ooo good thread! Thanks for the list cowboy!