Right then what do I need?????

[munz]

can u tell me/point me in the direction of what i'm gonna be needing. this is our first baby, we have quite a fair few thingys but I want to make sure we have everything we need esp clothing wise, so does anyone have a good list of thingys u need for the first 6 months of a baby's life??? HELP!!!!! lol.

(know i'm being v organised but DH is away for 3 weeks in jan so need ot work out our money etc..)

(wanting to get most of it in the jan sales u see! - or as much as we can do! lol)

ooh is it best for nipple cream or the sheilds?

(wanted to express after about 2 weeks if poss so DH can feed as he'll be back to work then and I want him to still feel involved/close to DS)

4 essentials that made life much much easier during the first 6-8 months:

1. one of those fabric chairs that you can jiggle (don;t know the proper name, sorry)

2. bath seat

3. overhead play frame - keeps them amused every day for yonks

4. baby bjorn - no need for a buggy most of the time when they're that small. BB is very easy to use and comfy

my recommendations would be:

the special gel pack things for your boobs if bf'ing... they're from boots you can chill them or warm them... really good.

the little gel things you can slip into your knickers (esp if you have stiches - a godsend, seriously).

i also think for the hospital avent does little mini travel size baby cleaning stuff, that way you don't have to take big bottles of stuff.

also found little vibrating bouncy chair, approx 35 quid from mothercare, this was great to put dd in especially to sleep - vibrating her way to sleep. was cool. also somewhere comfy and safe for her to bash and eat bunny.

i found with rather sore bleeding nipples (dd was a barracuda!) just rubbing milk onto nipples worked great... and leaving them exposed to the air etc.

think everyone else has covered it really... but the gel things really are great!

also, hairdryer on cracked nips - KEEP 'EM DRY

Agree with LittleMissRachey - you have got tons of stuff! Have you actually bought all that or is it what you're planning to buy?

that's what we've got clothes wise - still need 'big' stuff. but cot is ment to be from MIL and pram my mum/dad. also have a swinging crib from my family (airloom sort of thing)

(bare in mind thou we're not expecting any one to get/give us anything.)

Munz - get yourself some Lansinoh nipple cream - if you do try to breastfeed start using this stuff as soon as you start9 i.e. don't wait until your nipples are killing you! - it works wonders and it's one of the few creams that you don't have to wash/wipe off before your feed.

Also - for at least the first 8 weeks, I didn't attempt to dd into proper outfits - sleepsuits all the way for in the house and out. Outfits are far too fiddly when they're so small.

lol - ok thanks HA - hope u're doing ok.

I didn't think we had enough clothes actually esp the bigger sizes (have next to nothing bigger than 3 months)

...another thing I thought of - breast SHELLS (not shields - don't think babies like them or midwifes approve) you can get them from Boots/avent - use them sterilised on the side you're not feeding from and you can collect all the drips/gushes(!) - stick em all in a bottle and you'll have enough to freeze or for dad to give a feed without any expressing at all! Also saves your clothes/bra from getting soaked (better than breast pads) although it is a strange look!

Breast shells also good for stuffing on your nips when they are painful as they stop them rubbing against anything, does look very odd though but you won't care.

I needed scratch mitts for DD she had ripped her face within 10 mins of being born, I kept them on with little bobble things from Claires Accessories cos her wrists were so skinny and it was summer so she was only in a vest.

Lots of terry towels for burp cloths, catching wees if you have a boy etc...

As everyone has said SLEEPSUITS galore
Dont bother with anymore proper clothes you prob wont want them in the first weeks.

Breastfeeding pillow
Themometer

Maybe get one of those cushions with a hole in the middle incase you are a bit sore after giving birth...

A really lovely cotton blanket for swaddling in the hosp

Defo lanisoh cream the nipple shields are rubbish. I would get maybe 1 carton of readymade formula (that would be enough for maybe 2 newborn feeds and you just pour it in the bottle) hopefully it will get old and dusty and you will never need it but it might make you less stressed if you are waiting for a call from NCT and your baby is screaming and your friend doesnt need to rush off to tesco to get some - been there and thats why my ds now has a dummy!

munz, not read the whole thread but I would recommend:
No baby toiletries - baby bath is all you really need.
A sling - I got on very well with Baby Bjorn, great for walking/buses/getting baby to sleep.
Think about seasons - what size is the snowsuit you have bought? Newborn I would suggest as you won't need one for long if the baby is due in March.
Bouncy chair but you only need a £10 one nothing fancy
In the early days of b/feeding ds1 I found a sleep bra helpful, I leaked a lot (sorry if TMI)
hmmmm that's all I can think of, sounds like you have it well covered.

WWCC - I have 3 now (only brought one thou given the other 2!) one's NB the otehr 2 are 0-3 so hoping they should last till juneish when he can go into a little coat - or are snowsuits best? - thought coat for summer! (god sooo much to learn)

went on a bit of a spend at the w/e for thermometers , pram,cot, chanign mat etc.

only bits for me left to get I think what toiletries did u all get for after? and are maternity pads better or the night time always?

you've got a little time! - but also:
a freezer full of casseroles and other good things to eat
a few diary dates with other new mums

and the luxury if you have the money available - a sheepskin for the floor for the babe to lie about on

Definately maternity pads - and lots of them!

Don't worry about buying summer clothes yet!

Excellent tip from Mazzystar (re stocking your freezer). Also sheepskins are great

thanks girls.

there's just sooooooo much to learn about! is it normal to be this stressed/worried about the first? lol.

they do a baby massage on our estate once a week and a coffee morning so was gonna give it a try - might drag DH along for the first 2/3 times! lol.

munz it's totally normal to worry, but still - don't!
WRT snowsuits, I wouldn't bother after about April, they are very warm.
ds2 (april baby) didn't have one at all until the following winter.
the baby massage and coffee morning near you sound a great idea - it's well worth having something to get out of the house for, in the first few weeks it's as much for your sanity as the baby's!

You may need some teatree oil for your baths and something to squirt water on yourself when you go to the toilet in the days after giving birth sorry tmi!!! Nighties with poppers (not buttons) are quite good for breastfeeding at home after the birth and some kind of soft lounge/sleepware might be good for wandering around the hospital if you have to stay overnight!