Clothes etc - how many of each thing please!

[louisdog]

Having first baby in July, and I have picked up some sleepsuits and bodysuits in the sales in various sizes - Newborn, 0-3 and I think 3-6 months, have also got a couple of outfits and a sleeping bag, oh and some socks and tights.

Please can anyone advise roughly how many of each thing I will need? I think I need less outfits in newborn as baby will mostly be in sleepsuits, but possibly by 6 months she'll be in proper clothes during the day? I am also a bit confused about what a bodysuit is actually for....

Thanks for any advice you can give me!

Would recommend swaddling for a newborn. Well, in our case it was until he started breaking out of his swaddle (after a few months) and now we swear by sleeping bags - they're brilliant! Swaddling particularly helps with newborn reflexes where they tend not be be able to control their arms too well and this can wake them up. It also helps them feel protected, a bit like being held. Our DS certainly slept better when swaddled in the early days.

And ah the joys of muslins. Useful for cleaning up mess of most sorts. And particularly protecting you from sicky milk burbs during and after feeds.

Agree the night temp thing can depend on the temp of the room. DS was a premmie so needed lots of extra layers (even though born August) since he was having a little trouble controlling his temp. You will soon get used to figuring out whether they are too hot or too cold (suggest using two fingers to feel their chest for temp).

Thanks lots more tips boysboysboys! Good idea re the car kit, I often pop out and then end up out and about for longer than planned.

Sounds like I can't have enough sleepsuits, vests, nappies and calpol! I will look into a summer snowsuit type of thing too, ta.

Didn't occur to me to try and swaddle with a regular blanket - d'oh!

I am glad that summer babies are good, I will struggle enough with being awake at funny times anyway so it will be nice not to be freezing cold! Congrats on your November arrival!

Thanks louisdog, I'm also due in July and completely clueless!! This is exactly what I'd have asked if I'd ever thought to! Also, can anyone give me an idea how many nappies you should buy in advance? I was gobsmacked last night to read that you go through 10-12 a day with a newborn. Is that right? . It sounds like I need to buy by the car full but then how long are they actually in newborn nappies for????

How long they're in newborn nappies really depends on the baby. The cheapest way to buy nappies is in bulk so search for a good deal. Even try supermarkets online such as asda and also check amazon. I would start with a few weeks worth.

Any more and baby might have grown out of that size. Theres also the problem that some babies suit certain nappies better than others. For instance, my ds's had skinny legs so I needed a brand that fit snuggly around the leg to avoid leakages. Also, I tried to use asda nappies and huggies with my ds 2 but he got really sore until we switched to pampers. Of course different people say different, some don't like pampers and visa versa.

Hi,

We have 20 vests
20 sleep suits
1 coat
20 pairs of trousers
20 t shirts
7 jumpers (knitted by Nanna)
2 Dressing Gowns
10 pairs of scratch mitts
20 pairs of socks
3 pairs of shoes

That's what is on the top of my head at work but there is more.

xx

Re nappies, my friend (who has no kids yet) would only let me buy a single, 27 pack of Newborn pampers even though they were 3 for 2, because she said baby would soon be too big for them! But now i am thinking that that's not true, and I should have bought more - what have I got, about 2 or 3 days' worth?!

Swaddling sounds fab - I will definitely be trying that, bet they look so cute bundled up as well!

Yummymummyyobe1, thanks for your list, are they all in newborn size? I was thinking I may have slightly too many but now I think I should probably hang onto them just in case - can always Ebay them in August if needed!

Newborns go through about 6 at most every 24 hours.

New parents use much more than they need to and change them far too frequently. I've never used 10 a day.

My ds2 is now 8 months and he goes through about 4 at most a day. Maybe one extra if he's pooped again.

One clean in the morn. One after lunch. One after bath. And an extra just in case.

Maybe that's just me? But he's never had nappy rash and I don't let him go around In a full nappy. He just doesn't need it changing that much.

It's a bit tricky with Newborn nappies because you don't know how big your baby is going to be... Like, size 1 goes up to 11lb but what if your baby is born 10lb? I'd be more inclined to take the 3 for 2 on size 2 nappies (up to 13lb)! Ya 10 in 24 hours is rather extreme. We started off changing through the night but it's really not necessary, unless you realise they've pooped while you're doing the night feed. DS now 18 months. We go for about every 3-4 hours during the day. Then the after bath nappy goes until morning.

I have to disagree. My ds 2 poo's every time he fed in the first few weeks which was about 8-12 times/ 24hrs and then did a few extra poo's too!

Of course that's just my experience but it's not like I could leave him and not change him cause you can't leave a poo..

Definitely agree to never leave a poo. They'll be uncomfortable and get sore.

And changing through the night isn't necessary unless they've pooped.

Useful swaddling guide for normal blanket here.

Obviously if they poop lots that means lots of changing but that varies considerably.

Thanks for swaddling guide.

Re nappies, it's ok to leave them for several wees? But change immediately upon poo, right? Very naive question - how do you even tell when they have done anything?! Maybe you can smell the poo :confused:

Oh dear I can see I have a very steep learning curve ahead :)

Poo you can normally smell. First it's like a buttery smell.

And wee, it's just when the nappy starts to look squidgey or if they have had it on for over 4 hours during the day. Leave a night time one on til morning unless they've pooed or it feels full ( very squidgey)

If you're really unsure just slowly pour some water on a nappy and see the difference once it's absorbed some.

If you're not sure if little one has poo'd, a quick look in the leg hole will confirm

But make sure not to stick your finger in to check. Poo is a nightmare to scrub from under fingernails!

Lol yes, no poking around urgh!

Eurgh to the poo-checking comments!!! Especially regarding fingernails lol :)

Lol you will soon become fascinated by poo and talk about it in ways you'd never have imagined