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

IKEA are good (and cheap!!) for plastic changing mat, nice muslin squares, cots and bedding etc. Do they have them in France?

tbh though, I got given a changing table (with a bath underneath) when I was expecting my first and it was a godsend, especially as I had a section so I had no bending to change baby on a mat on the bed/floor etc. It then went on to do another two of my children, and a friends two as well.

Try not to be fooled by all the lovely, but expensive stuff you never knew you needed till you saw it!!

don't go mad. I ended up with some stuff that I didn't use, and was bought things. I bathed my DS in the kitchen sink till he could crawl (about 9 months), then he went into the big bath. Try to get things that will last, so a buggy that will work from birth till baby no longer needs it. You don't need special baby towels, just use normal ones washed with fabric conditioner. I used old hand towels on the cheap plastic changing mat.

Just get a plastic changing mat and use muslin squares to cover if necessary, and it's really only necessary if you have a totally naked baby .

Actually get loads of muslins, you can use for everything and they're great for cleaning windows after the dc have finished with them! Pillow cases make great sheets for moses basket/carrycot and have two sides, handy for middle of the night accidents.

"Try not to be fooled by all the lovely, but expensive stuff you never knew you needed till you saw it!!"

Good point crispy

Yes there is Ikea, and we were planning on getting chest of drawers and cot from there. Will probably get the changing mat too.

Am reassured that I can just do plastic mat and ordinary towel. Seems much more logical.

Agreed sprinkles - one of our conditions for the pushchair was birth until walking. A friend of ours had a travel system which was great for 6 months but then she found it's gotten too heavy so is buying a Maclaren.

The baby jogger city mini is a good birth to walking option as it lies completely flat; also easy to push one handed, folds one handed and turns on a sixpence and is light as a feather and has a fabulous hood which makes a great sunshade.

I'd just sling/wrap for 6m then get a maclaren or similar.

we got given tonnes of stuff, I think the only things we bought were a change mat, bedding, nappies, muslins, vests and sleepsuits.

our house is now full of bits of brightly coloured plastic, none of which we have bought ourselves...

have u all tried kiddecare? im pregnant with my 2nd and have bought everything off there fo cheaper than half the price

Plastic mat from Wilkos for me. We bought the basics for our DC1 and then just bought stuff as we needed it. I didn't even buy a single thing to do with feeding, just thought I would see what happened. After all Tesco is open 24 hours and you can get lots of stuff from there.

Just make sure you have a carseat, a few bodysuits and babygros, somewhere for it to sleep, a grobag, a sling and a changing mat and some cottonwool.