what do you need for a newborn/nursery and when do you start buying stuff?

[Lovelylace]

I am a complete newbie to babies and have never been a very mumsy person..Now preggers, early days yet 9+4 weeks but still thinking along the lines of how to decorate the nursery etc..Now what do you actually NEED for a new born, mosesbasket or a cot? what sort of pram/buggy is the best? How many babygrows..? well the list seems endless, and I have NO idea where to start? recomendations and tips would be great..also when do you start buying all this stuff? As it seems to be alot and most of it is very costly, it would make sense to spread it over a few months but it seems like tempting fate to start too early as well?

Ah ha, I made so many mistakes it was unreal. The amount I spent on items I either never or hardly used was ridiculous. Now with number 4 I am hoping I have learnt my lesson.

I say yes to a cot and some furniture to store clothes and toys, we had a moses basket but it was given to us and not essential.
I bought a steriliser and bottles even though I was breast feeding I never used them got rid of them with dc no.3,
I would buy a lamb skin under blanket for the cot as it keeps them warm (I hate gro bags) some blankets, 2 packs of vests, (I hate sleepsuits as the feet never fit mine for long) so I buy PJs I would say you will need 10-12 pairs you don't really need clothes until they are 4 or 5 months old in my experience, a few soft bibs and muslin cloths.
Oh and nappies quite a lot and some wipes (I apologise but I ignored the water and cotton wool advice by dc no.2 and I never had a changing mat as a towel on the floor is fine)
A playmat, some basic toys lots of places like elc, argos and tesco do packs of baby basics
A car seat we have just bought a britax 0-4 one as the baby ones are really heavy to heave out of the car after they reach 4 months and a really good buggy we bought a bugaboo really expensive but ours is still going strong 5 years later and 3 dc later.

This is a bit long and garbled but I hope it helps. Oh and if you join boots baby club you get 10 points for every £1 you spend so if you get all your bits and pieces there you will get a bit back if you look for deals like that money will go further.

Good luck and all the best. :)

Oh and I bought my things from 7 months pregnant and from my 20 week scan I started saving in an account to make sure I had the money there.

I also forget bathing I bought a towel bath seat thing from John Lewis and never used a top and tail bowl.

thansk some good advice, I am looking at those bedside cots? they seem pretty handy, and you can get those that transforms into "normal" cots later? Anyone had those? Also for car seat, buggys etc, surely a travel system is the best? all in one so to speak? or is it to much of compromising?
Also "hate grobags" ? How come, I thought they would be excellent? And without them, did you have a blanket on top of the baby? I have heard that can be cause of cot death? Or am i barking up the wrong tree? HEEEELP

In both pregnancies I've started slowly collecting things from 20 weeks. I'm very low maintenance as a mum - we co-sleep and breastfeed, so my shopping list is a LOT shorter than most:

• Some basic, white newborn baby grows, and vests;
• We won't buy a cot, but I have bought a moses basket plus a couple of extra sheets (£16 on ebay) for day time naps;
• I've got a very lightweight (1 tog) sleeping bag,
• A stretchy wrap sling (Moby) to use to transport baby for the first 3 months, - Newborn cloth nappy stash ready along with all the paraphernalia that goes with those - bucket, net, lavender and tea tree oil;
• we'll use washable wipes to so I've got a Cheeky Wipes kit,
• Muslin squares, (I've bough 12 white ones and a pack of those beautiful rainbow ones)
• Changing mat and x2 towelling covers,
• Skip Hop Pronto - out and about changing pad and wipes case so I can just use my regular handbag as a nappy bag,
• We don't use top/tail bowls or baby baths, baby bathes with us but I've splashed out (haha!) and bought a Cuddledry towel - expensive but gorgeous,
• A couple of receiving blankets,
• A baby lambskin,

I actually also have a whole drawer of other colourful baby grows and hats and things, but these have been given to us by family.

This is what I got last time (8 years ago) with DS - long since donated/sold - and I didn't find I needed anything else except a pushchair after a couple of months.

The lambskin under blanket, regulates babies temperature than I put pjs and vest on and swaddled until about 3 or 4 months than a blanket on top or two if it was bitterly cold mind with dc 3 we had no central heating. I hated gro bags because I always felt the dc were cold.

We avoided a travel system as we could never see the benefit and we really wanted a bugaboo, plus the britax we bought this time which last until this dc when he arrives until he is 4 was just under a hundred pound and a good baby car seat would have been the same price but lasted until around a year old, but its up to what will suit your family.I don't drive so a portable car seat and travel system isn't as important as a light weight versatile buggy and sturdy long lasting seat.

Make a list of what you want out of your buggy and then test some out. This is also a good time to work out what products will suit your lifestyle and what you want in your home and shop about making a list until your happy and if your not sure don't buy it, you can always buy something later if you find your needing it.

I also forgot a snow suit if your having a winter baby and fleece blankets are always handy.

Hope this is still helpful. :)

John Lewis do free appointments with a nursery adviser who will explain all the stuff - plus you can create an online list and add to it on the website or using one of those scanner machines in store. I'm sure other department stores must do something similar too. Plus there are companies like Baby Concierge.

www.johnlewis.com/Magazine/Feature.aspx?Id=109

The nursery advisers will convince you that you need to spend thousands!

Personally, essentials for me were:
Pram/pushchair/travel system - look at loads and figure out what will work for you, then look at loads of reviews.
Sling - moby wrap is perfect for a newborn and can breastfeed with baby in there, avoid baby bjorn style carriers at all costs!
Moses basket - no room for cot in our room so only way to have DS in with us without co sleeping. If you are considering a co sleeper cot, can also use a normal cotbed and just remove 1 side
Nappies - don't buy loads! Try a pack of each brand and see what suits your baby.
Wipes - can never have enough!
Vibrating bouncer chair - for when you need the loo
Sleeping bags - I loved them for DS, only stopped using at 12 months when he got a duvet.
Don't waste your money on a cot bedding set with a bumper, quilt etc - quilt will never get used and bumpers can be dangerous. Buy a couple of cellular blankets and some fitted sheets.
I got through loads of muslin cloths - as bibs, burp cloths, under DS's head in bed so if he was sick I could change that rather than while bedding.
I used a baby bath that had a support in it so I wasn't trying to hold him with 1 hand and wash him with the other, would recommend one like that or just bath him with you.
Clothes - tons of vests, sleep suits or pj's, hats, cardigans, and a coat or snowsuit depending on time of year. Get the sleep suits with built in scratch mits!

Re when to buy, I started putting money into the savings from finding out I was pregnant, then started buying from after the 20 weeks scan.

Right, Thanks you all soo much great advice, isnt it amazing how when you see products on the net they seem like the best thing since sliced bread and then when you hear peoples views it turn out that they are completely unnecessary... We have two friends of ours that have just had babies, or they are now 2 years old, and they are gonna give us loads of stuff so i will see what i can use from that as well...good points about the travelsystems, hrrm, what about mothercare can they give you advice or will you just end up coming out of there with masses of unnecessary trash? I think saving some money now and then chat with midwife as well..its a maze out there...LOL

I also think I will be a fairly low maintanence mum, I am quite down to earth and hippyish in my approach to life and was myself brought up on a farm sleeping most of the time in the dogbasket things seems to have changed a fair bit though, jee, we didnt even have carseats back then

I am quite down to earth and hippyish in my approach to life and was myself brought up on a farm sleeping most of the time in the dogbasket

You sound great!

Well all nursery advisors are there to make sales so bear that in mind. At least have a list when you go in to prevent them railroading you. You can end up making a lot of "just in case" purchases that you end up not using, and you can get a lot of things second hand or on loan from friends. Also, remember that you can always just order it online if there's suddenly something you need once the baby's born.

re clothes, for 0-3 months, avoid "outfits" and just buy multipacks of sleepsuits, vests, onesies (short sleeved vests with crotch poppers) and maybe some legging type things and a few cardigans, depending on season. Don't buy anything without envelope necks or neck poppers or anything that does up down the back- total PITA to get on and off

Pushchairs - I bought a Bugaboo Cameleon (second hand on ebay for 25% RRP) and a new Maxi Cosi car seat which slots onto the Bugaboo chassis. That worked well for me, as I drive a fair bit and it was great being able to take a sleeping DS out of the car and onto the pushchair without having to transfer him from car seat to pram.

Actually- that's a good point. The things they recommend you dont buy secondhand are cot mattresses and car seats. I will admit I have bought a car seat second hand from a friend (so I trusted her not to lie that it hadn't been in any accidents) but I wouldn't buy one on ebay.

Grobags- expensive new so stalk the Buy-it-now section of e-bay (the auctions always go too high). I have picked them up for £5 each that way. A bit bobbly/ faded, but totally fine.

HTH

I would totally recommend signing up to emails/vouchers/anything to do with babies because you never know when you might get a 10/20/25% off deal from somewhere...

Also, look on the 'Pushchairs' forum, under Products, on here, as there are a few "Help I'm a first timer" type threads with lots of recommendations from other mums.

I wasn't on MN when pg with my first, so I mainly read advice on emails & in magazines/books, plus the NHS Pregnancy book (the latter of which was probably the best, as its less motivated by consumerism/sales etc) to guide me on what to get. Think 'something to wear, somewhere to sleep, something to eat' and the rest you'll work out what you need as you go along.

Oh and the big supermarkets do some great Baby Events & have lots of essentials quite cheaply. Sign up to their baby clubs (as above) and they'll email/post you info about the events.

Badgerina- jee thanks Well we have two cats, one great dane, 14 fishes in the pond, 9 chickens, 3 alpackas and one stallion and one little welsh pony, and so far I dont know how many people that have told me that the animals will have to go, when i have the baby...I have to say that I obviously do not want to put my baby at risk but some of the warnings/advice seems to be a bit over the top...I mean otherwise we would never have survived until now, would we..I think ebay seem to be a great place for picking up stuff, most of it have got a very limited time that you will use it anyway so it makes sense to recycle..
Great tip about the mits on the sleepsuits, had no idea, and the lambs skin seems great too..
These sling things? I have been looking around and for me that seems to be a great way of travelling with your baby, they are close to you, near to breast for feeding on the go, and just less fuss, I mean I saw a mum getting out her baby out of the car today and the pushchair looked like something out of starwars with cup holders and there was soo much stuff...some of these slings seems to be very versatile aswell, you can carry the baby in many different ways as they get older, any specific brand recomendations? Will deffo stay away from the baby Bjorn thingies..

There's a whole world of sling possibilities out there! Personally I'd recommend a moby wrap for a newborn. Once baby is a bit older there's lots of different types of sling - my current collection consists of a rose and rebellion and a Lenny lamb wrap but your best option is to google to see if there's a sling library or group near you to try some on. My DS is 16 months old and I'm planning on still using a sling for at least another 12 months, so much easier than the pram and he can see a lot more of the world

If you find a wrap too faffy, you can get slings like the boba 3g which can go from birth. I loved my Moby though I have to admit. But a SSC comes into its own with a toddler.

I would say though that there are times when a pushchair is a handy thing to have. Stay away from the Quinny Buzz's though, they are hateful useless feckless wastes of metal and fabric. You can pick up a Maclaren XT or a Baby Jogger City mini cheaply second hand if needs be.

If you are on the hippy enviromental side of things, Gnappies are a good choice if you're looking to go that way. I've used them, you can use them with prefolds, inserts and disposable inserts and they're a decent system. There are others out there though.

I second Badgerina's list, especially the moby wrap. I carried DS in his moby wrap until he was about 6 months old (even around the house), and then I switched to a ring sling. I think moby-style wraps are best for newborns - they can be constantly cuddled in them and also breastfed quite discreetly on the move. I liked the ring sling when DS got older because he was able to see what was going on while sat on my hip, and we could chat while we were out and about (very difficult to hold a conversation with a child who is forward facing in a pushchair).

If co-sleeping and breastfeeding, there isn't really much you need apart from clothes and nappies. I had a cot but never used it. I was given a breastpump but never used it. I was given a pushchair, but never used it. I did use the moses basket a couple of times but it wasn't really worth the money. The bouncer was handy for when I was cooking and didn't want to overheat DS by standing too near the stove with him in the sling.

Beware of cute, overpriced outfits - they are ever so tempting when you are pregnant, but babygros are so much more comfortable and practical. I used to put DS in dungarees over a patterned babygro when he got to about 3 months old, and people were always asking me how I got his 'socks' to match his top

Babywipes are a must. They are wonderful cleaning things!

Congratulations on your pregnancy smile]

Lovely before DC1 was born we had:

1 cot given by a friend (not used for another 15 months!)
1 wardrobe
2 changing mats (one for upstairs and one for down)
Some wipes
Neutral vests and sleepsuits so that they could be used for DC2
Sudocrem (but Metainium is much better)
A travel systen that included a carseat and a pramette, which we used as a moses basket, it came with a stand)
Bedding for the moses basket
A couple of blankets
We used a nappy laundry and after a few months we bought our own washable nappies.
A baby carrier which was hopeles and took 2 of us to put on.

Was fairly poorly all through the pregnancy so didn't get much opportunities for shopping. Also, DS refused to sleep anywhere but on me for a long time so was glad I hadn't forked out on an expensive nursery.

Things I wish I'd had from the beginning were a Tummy Tub, DS was scared of the bath. A decent sling, go along to your local Slingmeet and you can try them out before you buy. One of those lambskin things mentioned above.
Baby bouncer.

We also love sleeping bags, so ended up with loads of those. They also keep the baby warm when you lift it up to feed it (if you are not co-sleeping that is).

I did want to bf but wasn't sure if it would work out, so I made sure I knew where the local Bfing Support Groups were and didn't buy a thing to do with feeding. Just figured that if I needed bottles and formula then Tesco would be open.

Congratulations .

Thanks for all the advice, i have to say I am very keen on the washable nappies, but have been unsure how good they are in comparasion with the branded disposable ones, i.e when it comes to leeks etc...we are currently looking to build a house that will be 90 percent selfsufficient with water, electricity heating etc..my dream is to live "off the grid" and I am really into growing my own veggies and stuff, use the pony to go logging in the wood and drag in timber for the woodburner etc. so starting to fill up loads of binbags with disposable nappies have felt a bit wrong...but I can see the convenience factor as well but they dont seem very degradable if you know what i mean

"We used a nappy laundry and after a few months we bought our own washable nappies." a nappy laundry?? what is this and have you got any links?

Gnappies, looked up on website, looks GREAT Will definately try that system out.
Will check out sling try outs but the Moby wrap looks perfect for me..gosh, on Tuesday I will be 10 weeks and it is slowly starting to actually become reality, thanks god Mother Nature gave us 9 months to actually get our heads around the fact that we are going to become mums!!

Would second Cheeky Wipes mentioned up thread. Even if you don't go for reusable nappies, the reusable wipes are brilliant. I'm sure more people would use them if they knew how great they were.

Anyone have recommendations on where to get one of those lambskin blankets? They sound great.

PS. I used Gnappies and whilst they look great I found we got more leaks in them than other brands. Take a look at Bumgenius Freetime. We had a couple of these from birth and this is the brand we've decided to stick with. They're easy to use- no liners, wraps etc. Just an all in one. They dry really quickly and will last from birth to potty. Only had a couple of leaks from poonamies, which we would have got with disposables anyway. Try thenappylady.co.uk as a good starting point- she does a free email consultation thing.

thenappylady...brilliant name

I think Gnappies are good if you can get a decent fit (which takes a bit of fiddling). Bumgenius are good but if you have a heavy wetter you may be better with a two part wrap and fitted system. So something like a little lamb and blueberry wrap. Please don't commit to a whole system right off, you need to try different things as all babies suit different nappies. I will say though that my most reliable nappies are my bumgenius but I have been very disapointed with the wear and tear in a few of mine.

Can someone link to a lambskin blanket for the cot? Sounds like a good idea but can't find one