bodysuits and babygrows

[TeacupTempest]

Ok so you would think that as I used to be a nanny I might already know the answer to this but pregnancy seems to have turned my brain into mush (e.g I put toast in the cutlery draw the other day and I just forgot my DH's name...)

I am trying to get some semblance of order and tackle some baby shopping. Saw on a suggested list for hospital bag that I should take in several bodysuits and baby grows (obvious really) but do I need short or long sleeve bodysuits when baby will have a long sleeved baby grow on as well.

Am I even making any sense?

Depends on temperature, but I'd go for short sleeved bodysuit and long sleeved baby grow. Might not even need both in hospital - my room was hotter than the sun :)

You have to love what being pregnant does to your brain don't you

It doesn't matter - a mixture of the two is very handy anyway. Either will be fine.

When are you due?
Boy/Girl?
Names chosen yet?

This baby business is just soooooooooooooooo exciting!!

Thank you both.

Due 13th December, don't know about sex and we have just about decided on name options (no problem remembering those!)

I now have to summon the brain power to decide what colours to buy things in as everything seems to be pink or blue...

(don't think DH noticed my predicament. I hid it well by calling him "um" :) )

I found the long sleeved bodysuits really hard to get on when DS was tiny. Would go for short sleeved bodysuits and baby grows with feet and mitts. As to pink or blue... you can get other colours if you hunt for them. Or white and tie dye them?!

Hi. I would go for short sleeve bodysuits (vests) and baby grows on top.

I bought white to start with, as it is easier to throw them all into the washing machine together - you will probably be changing them every hour when they are covered in wee/sick/milk/poo...

The other option is nice neutral cream/yellow babygrows which are sweet.

oh, the long sleeved vests are good for under dungerees (and, I guess, dresses). If you try and squeeze a vests, top, and pair of dungarees, it tends to make the baby look a bit stuffed.

'Um' is fine

Only a couple of months to go then... very very exciting!!

Buy lots in white - you can add colour later and it makes washing a lot easier!! You don't need too much to start with and it's a lot of fun buying stuff when the baby is here. A few bodysuits and babygrows is really all you need to start off with :)

The babygrows with the foldover 'mits' are great! So much easier than separate mits.

There are a few lovely stripey blankets/outfits out there too - .... do you need a friend to shop with

white/stripy.....I shall write that down so I don't forget!

I have the important things; got a baby life jacket delivered this morning. Now that was exciting!

Do you like on a boat?

Yes we live on a boat. On land for the birth and first few months though :)

Oh how cool :) Are you the one on the river boat or the one who is setting sail for distant shores?

I think it puts a whole different light on what you should buy :)

I think more people should shop for a baby as if they were going to live on a boat - it might stop their houses being totally taken over by the new little person

OOh are there more liveaboards here? I am neither of the above! I am the one who has spent the last year and a half sailing slowly round the UK in a small yacht. As of next Spring we will be on a bigger boat, with the extra cabin space jammed full of baby goods, bobbing around the South West coast.

Yes - we have talked before :)

Yes there are more liveaboards around the place & if everyone would stop bloody name changing I might have a hope of remembering who they are

Babies really, really do not need a lot!! Do you know when you will be back on a boat (how old will the baby be?)?

One thing you definitely do not need that takes up a lot of room is a steriliser. If you wash any bottles you use (if you are using bottles?) thoroughly they don't need to be sterilised and if you must you can use a pan or the microwave.

It will not signal the end of the world if you don't have a bouncer, jumperoo, all singing baby gym etc. A 'flat mat' type gym that folds up really small is probably worth it if you are going to be back on the boat before the baby is mobile - but it's a bit of a wait and see purchase isn't it!

I think it's quite a lot of fun actually not buying into the 'the baby must have' stuff and just going with the minimum you actually need - making thoughtful purchases.

There is a love/hate thing going on around here with Bumbo's - personally I think they are brilliant for a no-space high chair and if your baby isn't too much of a chunky monkey you can use them until they are about a year - of course some little chunkies get their thighs stuck long before then! After that depending on what space you have on the boat I'd go for a trip-trap which will last for years and can tuck under a table/bench or something custom made to fit the seating you already have.

Will shut up now...

I had this for my list at st Mary's in manc, 3 bodysuits and 3 baby gros, what's the bloody difference????

roz1982 one has legs and the other doesn't...I think...

ChippingInToThePumpkinLantern Sorry I forgot we have talked before, another fine example of my brain turning to mush!! Are you liveaboard yourself?

I think the enforced minimalism is probably for the best. It must be very easy to get carried away. Baby will be 4/5 months when we move back aboard. So far we have spent a lot of time working out logistics of fitting prams and the like in the dingy and how to get from boat to land efficiently and safely!

Had been looking at the Bumbos the other day but just had to google "trip-trap". Looks ideal.

:)

TT - no, I'm a land lubber :) I just remember thinking that what you were doing sounded great. I honestly can't remember what we were talking about - it may have been when you first found out you were pregnant?! I'm not pregnant and have a brain like a sieve!

All you need is an umbrella pram - something like a MacLaren. No matter what else you buy, you will end up with one of these, so you might as well just start off with one Unless, of course, you fancy spending the first 4-5 months pushing an old Silver Cross around the streets! I'm sure you can borrow a 'travel system' off of someone - no one uses them for very long

Trip traps are good as they double as another seat for many years. Slim adults unlike me can still sit on them.

I think you also just have to look at things and think outside of the box - 'baby gyms' for example can be a god send, but you don't need one that inflates and comes with all the bells and whistles - all you really need is something that suspends toys above the baby safely - you may find you have lots of places on a boat that you could use a clipline on and you don't need anything more than that.

Hmm - I need a change of job, maybe I could look at kitting out liveaboard boats for expectant mothers

Hmm - I need a change of job, maybe I could look at kitting out liveaboard boats for expectant mothers grin I think you should! You are certainly giving me lots to think about though I think your client base may turn out to be fairly limited!!