Anyone got a good shopping list?

[Annie456]

I've been looking online to try to find out what I need to buy in prep for DC1 and i have started about 5 different lists and feel completely overwhelmed!

I'm heading out on the first shopping trip this weekend and I'd like to come back with a little more than vests, scratch mits, dummies and bibs!!!

Does anyone have a good list of neccessary items that I NEED to get before the birth? I'm quite happy to go second hand for lots of things so not too worried about cost...just don't want to be under-prepared / buy too much!

Thanks!

Hi, only getting back to this query days later, sorry...

About the ring sling: I did have a Moby (and just about every other sling available) too, and did use them a bit, but now, 22 months later, the simplicity and ease of the ring sling has won out and I still use it all the time (I have a rather teeny tiny 22-month old so can easily still carry him in it!)

I just have it hanging on the stair rail all the time and grab it whenever we go out. If I take him anywhere is the car it is always with me. I wouldn't carry him for long distances, but for a quick pop in to the shop, going to the bank type thing, it is perfect. You are a little unblalanced, but carrying him on my hip without it I am both unbalanced and unable to control the wiggles.

I ended up five days in hospital and one of the essential items turned out to be a small insulated bag for my DP to bring hot homemade meals into hospital (useful if you've frozen some in advance). The food in the hospital was terrible (and I'm not usually very fussy....).

wow! Thank you, thank you, thank you everyone for your advice! I feel so much more clued up and less disorganised for not having bought very much!!

I have a couple more questions based on your suggestions:

1. I will be borrowing a moses basket and a cot from my brother - do I need to also buy a crib in case the bab won't settle in a moses basket or is this something I should try for a few days and then get a crib? I don't really have room to store all 3 if I don't need them..

2. Planning to BF but also to express later on so DH can feed - do I need some emergency bottle feeding supplies for the first few days in case I can't BF?

3. Are lansinoh and nipple shilds something I can send DH out for if I need them or will I need them in advance?

Thanks so much again everyone :o)

Hello

1)see no reason why you need a crib and a moses basket (says pregnant she who has a moses basket but cant help looking at cribs too!)

im sure i baby who doesnt want to be in a moses basket wont be happier in a crib!

2. Up to you... no reason why not... a carton on formular is about 50p so hardly a huge expense, and you might want to give the odd bottle later on so not wasted

3. Im sure you can... someone mentioned that GP can prescribe lansinoh cream (= save £10) and nipple shields are widely avaliable in boots / bigger supermarkets anyway so DH could get them to you within hours if necessary.

1. No you don't need all three. A moses basket to start with will be fine.
   It's nice to have somewhere for the baby to sleep upstairs and downstairs so you don't need to lug things up and downstairs, but this could just be a moses basket and a carrycot or have the cot upstairs and the basket downstairs.

2. My advice would be NO. Try to get in the mindset that you CAN BF. Very, very few women can't. If you are one of those few then you will be able to go out and get some formula, or in a real emergency get some from the maternity unit. I have strong memories of pacing the floor with my newborn at 3am sobbing, thinking I didn't have enough milk and my DH suggesting we try formula. It would have be so easy to give him a bottle then, but we had to carry on and it was fine, DS was just building up my supply, I had baby blues, DH was overwhelmed seeing his normally capable wife crumble. Also, I wouldn't even think about expressing for the moment. Just focus of you and your baby getting BF established. Your DH can do everything else to help with the baby (and you).

3. I never needed either.

This getting ready for baby shopping list may help you.
Babychecklist

My answer to 2) No. I remember from training as a breast-feeding supporter that they told us that, if you are having trouble breast feeding, the worst thing you can do is give formula. Your body needs the stimulation of the baby trying to feed to produce more milk. If your baby gets formula, she won't be as hungry, she'll feed less, your body will think less milk is needed and will produce less. There should be help to establish breast feeding; the midwife can come to you every day or even more often to start with, and we have very good surestart centres around here with breast-feeding peer counsellors who would also come to you if you needed them