What's the minimum baby gear you can get away with - first week or so?

[sarahpip]

Quick question that might make me sound like a bit of a nut job.

This is my first and I am 30 weeks but have bought nothing yet. I just feel a bit nervous about all being well with baby, so feel a bit cautious about buying lots and lots of stuff - until I know I have a healthy little one.

So - the question is - what is the minimum I can get away with for the hospital and first week or so?

Thank you v much in advance for your advice, and sorry - I know this sounds odd.

Boobs. Nappies. A pack each of vests (sold as bodysuits) and sleepsuits. Kitchen roll or cloths for mopping up sick. A car seat, unless your baby will be born at home.

Honestly, that is the minimum. You can safely sleep with your baby in your bed (google safe co-sleeping for how) and you don't need a pram unless you want to leave the house - even then, a sling is easier. Newborns don't need toys, and they only need washing with water which you can do in a washing-up bowl. You might want breast pads for you, and at some point you will need nursing bras, but it's best to wait until your milk comes in before being measured (they will be huge) and that's typically at about day 3 or 4.

Oh, and loads and loads of maternity towels for you - the big fat ones are best as they act as a nice cushion for your sore bits! Boots and tesco do good ones. Cheap nighties and black pj bottoms from Primark are useful as you don't feel guilty about throwing them away when they get stained. Flip-flops for hospital showers!

I would add to that list - something to wipe the baby with - wipes, reusable or otherwise, and blanket/swaddle/sleeping bag. Oh, and pads for you (maternity with aloe vera are good).

Congratulations by the way.

And some dark-coloured bath towels for your first few post-birth showers...there's a lot of blood in the early days.

Muslins! Please, if nothing else buy a pack of muslins!

Yes, boobs, nappies, vests, sleep suits (get the ones with built in scratch mitts), cotton wool & water for washing. Sunflower oil is the best for their skin much better than johnson's. Possibly some lanolin for your nipples although I never used much on mine. Have some breastfeeding support group details handy in case you need any help with bf. good luck!

If you plan to bf, then clothes you can do it in without completely disrobing/flashing the world until you get the hang of it! Tunic style dresses are pretty much out You won't really want to go clothes shopping for at least a few weeks and you'll still look about 5 mths preg anyway (unless you are one of the really lucky ones) so best to just sort through your clothes now and put button up shirts, loose tops to one side.

You will be given tons of baby gear by friends and family so approx 10 babygros and vests will get you through the early weeks if you do frequent washes. Re qtys I only bought one nice colourful babygro in "newborn" size which I used for photos and family visits, the rest were all 0-3 mths and lasted about 2 before she grew out of them.
If you are using a sling, then you will need a warm bodysuit and a hat to put them in. A blanket will do for a pram or car seat.
Cotton wool - don't buy wipes unless you want a newborn with nappy rash. It really isn't fun. Their skin just can't take it - even the super sensitive stuff. Probably the texture of the wipes as much as anything else.

Some paracetamol [for you]. I got some cracking headaches from lack of sleep.

Even if you want to be cautious about buying things for a baby (and I sympathise with that), you might like to get yourself sorted with some things that would be useful during labour / if you stayed in hospital / afterwards:

• energy bars or glucose tablets
• some frozen meals prepared in the freezer at home
• a toilet bag with small shower gel, toothbrush/paste, shampoo etc
• watch, notebook and pen for noting times of contractions / feeds
• if you like it, some lavender gel or massage cream, whatever helps you feel relaxed

I hope everything goes well for you. :)

Flannels (cheap ones, much better than muslins).

More nappies than you think (and lots of wipes/cotton wool, sticky poos take a lot of wiping), nappy sacks if you're going to change baby but not put them in the bin.

I'd aim for 2/3 sleepsuits a day (if you're inexperienced there will be nappy leaks & sick), so as many as you'd want (I didn't want to do washing for the first week so had 20 sleepsuits in 0-3 size), don't bother going overboard on the newborn sized stuff, they're only in it for a few days (unless you have a really dinky baby).

If you're bottle/formula feeding 8 or so bottles (so you're not spending the entire day washing up), newborns will use around a container & a half of formula a week. If you're breast feeding have some pots standing by just incase you need to express milk that isn't suitable for the baby.

Lots of snack food in the house/hospital bag...you'll feel too cack to cook anything substantial for a while.

I only bled for a day after having DS so have no idea how many pads you'd need, but I found DH's boxers much more comfy than knickers post birth (ooh the hemmeroids)!

0-3 month sized Dummies. You may be anti them now, but you may change your mind when baby is here!

Good luck!

oooh! This is all rather exciting - am going to write my list this weekend. Thanks the the advice!

Oh and the last thing to think of is what happens if you or the baby has to go/stay in hospital for a few days?

I had completely unexpected blood pressure issues so we stayed in for 6 whole days, and each day I was told I'd be home the next day. Poor DH had to track down loads of stuff at home and turn around lots of washing overnight in between visits. I didn't want to have to send him off to the shops as I wanted him with me.

At least have a plan, if not a suitcase packed!

Might be worth getting 0-3m sleepsuits and vests as well as newborn size because if you have a baby over about 9lb they will be out of the newborn ones by the end of the second week (speaks from experience!)