I've just been to a baby shop to look at pushchairs and...

[Bartimaeus]

...oh my god you can spend a FORTUNE on babies!!!

We've made a list of the basic stuff we need, but then I went into this shop and saw mountains of other stuff, most of which I don't think I need but then again this is my first baby so maybe I'm wrong?

For example, we were planning on getting a plastic changing mat and putting an ordinary towel on it. Then in this shop there were loads of changing mats with special covers on them all for at least 20 quid, going up to 50 quid!

Am I crazy in just wanting a plastic mat and towel?

I can't even begin to list all the other stuff that was available

i have to admit i feelthe same. we have imited money but now i am usng eay for lots of stuff ready for my baby in september.

I'm mean mummy, just did plastic mat. They don't need the cover, it'll just live in the washing pile.

Don't buy too much now, you'll be bought loads, better to keep your money for the bits you didn't realise you need in the weeks after baby arrives.

The more money you save now, the more you'll have to help you stay off work longer. Also, remember you probably need to start saving for nursery (if baby is going of course!).

Hi, congratulations! I am pregnant with second, but we've since moved back to the UK and horror of horrors I'm going to have to re buy nearly everything! Urgh!

I was really grateful that the first time I actually really limited what I bought (probably far too much) and bought it once the baby was born. Yes, it meant a couple more trips to the shop but it meant I didn't end up with stuff that I didn't need.

Companies market SO much stuff that you don't need. DO NOT be fooled. I'll tell you what I found most useful:

A plastic changing mat (you're right not to be fooled by the special ones. You can get really cheap white towelling squares that can be used (and easily changed) for your plastic mat)
Cloths for general clearing up (put on shoulder whilst burping etc.)
A plat mat for some floor time (great if it has a mirror and a few bits hanging down)
sleeping arrangements and some blankets
pram
sling (not everyone likes these)
bath baby holder thing (I never had one but some friends swear by them)
a few nice books so you can read a bed time story
a night light so that you can keep the room dark and change nappies/feed
something comfy that you can feed baby on in their room (this was a god send!)
a breast feeding pillow
Later when I was using bottles I had a plug in steamer for sterilizing which was great

and nappies and blankets and some baby grows, hat

That is about it, I really don't think you need many more gizmos. Of course I stand to be corrected by others but I hope this helps.

Thats good list Senorita! If you're looking to cut back, we didn't get nightlight, but when i go in to feed/change him I just put the landing light on and leave the door ajar.

Our one luxury was a baby bath, bought for us from mamas & papas, its sort of moulded so your baby lies in it, it means you can bath the baby on your own so is godsend some nights!

It was a present, I was sceptical, but it really has been useful. DS has been bathed in it since he was born, and is now 9 months and its still brilliant.

Thanks!
We have a tiny flat too and won't move until the baby is 3-6 months so that's helping me not buy too much (to be honest I haven't bought anything yet but I'm writing lists!)

I just can't get over the prices of some of these things though.

Oh that baby bath does look good!
We definately need one because we don't have a bath, and our sinks are either too small (bathroom) or too cold (kitchen which is drafty)

I'm having similar palpitations. Currently expecting DC3 in August, 10 years after DS2 (who was "definitely the last") arrived .

There just seems to be so much more stuff around nowadays - and don't even get me started on Travel Systems. I am constantly reminding myself that if I managed without a certain product before then I will more than likely manage again .

Having said that, with my addled baby-mush brain, I could well forget to buy nappies & sleepsuits at the rate I'm going!

Ah you can bath him in front of the fire in living room like we used to!

Just shop around lots, ebay is your friend! When's baby due?

Baby is due early october.
My plan is to work out where I want to buy everything now, then buy it all nearer the time (or rather, send DH to go and buy it when it's August and boiling hot - I live in Paris - and I can't be arsed to move!)

Travel Systems are also confusing. Our friends have recommended a good one and to be honest I've looked at a couple of others but will probably follow their advice. We need light and compact as we live in Paris and our flat doesn't have a lift....

emma I'm also afraid that I'll forget a key item like nappies! I've been making lists based on what I've read on Mumsnet, and I was thinking about it last night and said to DH, we've got so much left to buy! He replied, we've got everything left to buy!

NCT sales - i got some great bargains. get there at least 15mins before they start though, my local one has a queue going round the main school hall it's in 1/2hr before doors open. i've also had almost a dozen buggies in 3yrs, most via ebay.

Ah don't worry so much. The shops will still be open after your baby is born! The hospital have everything you need, then you can send DH out to shops whilst you're still in there.

What sort of travel system you thinking of? Small and light def good - we've got babyjogger city mini, is fab.

Second naturalbaby but don't think they'd have them in Paris?

Our friends have recommended Red Castle Citylink2.
According to the salesperson I met today it is the lightest pushchair that can take a carrycot. And my lucky day : a promotion has started on that product today Now all I have to do is convince DH that it's not too early to buy it....

No NCT that I know of, but a community of anglo-saxons that have some Bring and Buy sales so I will try there.

If you can ask around with other parents you know about furniture and other bits that won't get used all that long.

There's usually lots of other parents keen to get rid of moses baskets and cots they aren't using any more (and sometimes pushchairs)

I got nearly all of DDs baby stuff from one friend, and it was incredibly useful.

I used bamboo terry nappies (bought in a pack) for the changing mat. They are about the right size and fairly cheap.

Some kind of mat cover can be useful to prevent the cold mat being a bit of a surprise to their little body. Also, when they wee on the mat, I found it better for the wee to be absorbed by the mat cover rather than trickling around on the plastic surface and somehow heading straight towards their clothing.

Have you checked how easy it is to fold? Guessing that will be important if you're in a flat for carrying it up the stairs whilst holding baby!

1. Borrow or freecycle

1. Join the Boots babyclub - they do great offers. I particularly liked the buy a pack of huggy newborn/size 1,2 nappies and receive a huge changing bag with travel changing mat, and other freebies.

1. www.kiddicare.com - great website.

Yes it's easy to fold. We'll be leaving the chasis downstairs, but bringing the carrycot up (that's the theory - it's 6 flights though so maybe I'll do like our neighbours and leave it all downstairs!)

I spent a while carrying the carrycots around the shop today! Some are amazingly heavy...

will check out kiddcare.com

thanks

Thats reassuring that your neighbours leave theirs downstairs, i'd do the same then tbh!

a bit off topic but went shopping with a friend to selfridges (she's looking for a dress to buy for a wedding) and she dragged me to the baby section, which I wasn't planning on shopping in and I got a heart attack ;) little white baby dresses for £400 ;))))))))) now my £600 buggy doesn't seem so expensive :P

I plan on doing all the baby shopping while on maternity leave - 2 months before due date should be enough no? ;)

When ds was born I had

a pushchair
carseat
a small pile of borrowed neutral clothes
nappies
change mat (cheapest possible plastic wipe down one)
a cot

You don't need anything else at first, a newborn doesn't know the difference between a fancy playmat or bouncy chair and the middle of the floor, he can't focus that far . Gradually we added a cheapy bouncy chair, dug a couple of rattles from my mum's loft and someone gave us a play mat. Other toys and stuff came along as gifts over time.

Yes, you can spend a fortune on a baby but you'd be a bit daft to do so!

Beesok

I was chatting to my mum about how hard it was to choose a pushchair. Next day she went into John Lewis and came back gibering about the HUGE range of choice for everything from clothes to pushchairs to extras and how it was so much easier in her day!

Indith I think my list is basically the same as yours!

I just want to get the basics then see what I need as and when.

The real pain is that this shop I was in was a discount shop which is great, but it's 45 minutes away on public transport which won't be so fun with a newborn. The local shops are all horrendously expensive.

yeah am hoping my baby won't notice the difference between Baby Dior and Primani hahahhaha :)

On the other hand is it me or are the shops really "seasonal"? I mean, my LO is due in October so although all these summery baby things are cute I need winter stuff! So far have found the best things online...

One thing I really plan on saving on is TOYS - I have these nightmare visions of our lovely clutter-free flat filled with plastic, moving and singing dancing things
Thankfully, as a nursery teacher, I have lots of ideas that can entertain baby and actually benefit their development without buying half of hamley's ;)

You might not even need a pram - we didn't get one before DD was born - we're in a small (and 3rd floor with no lift!) flat and wanted to minimise "stuff" as much as possible. Nearly 4 months on, we're still getting on really well with just a sling. Sooo much easier on public transport than a pram - haven't missed having one at all. Planning on getting a light, folding pushchair once she's 6 months or so, but I'd say if you want to keep it to essentials - esp before you move house - start with a sling and see how it goes.