What should we buy?

[BonaDea]

Ok, I'm a first timer. Lots of friends with babies, but they live far away. No siblings or other family members wtih kids. So, like you are talking to an idiot, explain to me what I need to buy to be ready for a baby (very early days for me, but need to make a list and start stocking up).

Top tips please!

I am so looking forward to responses on this one BonaDea as I'm in the exact same position!

Something to sleep in-cot

Pushchair

Sling- soft, not baby bjorn type. I love my close baby carrier.

Changing mat- wouldn't bother with a changing table

Some vests and baby gros.

Car seat.

It's my 2nd pregancy but I lost my 1st at 23weeks.
A cot
Moses basket
Play mat
Bouncer baby chair
You don't need a changing mat you'll end up changing the baby on your lap ,).
Nappies
Cotton wool(you use it with warm water to change the babies nappy instead of baby wipes for the first couple of months)
Only need about 5-10changes of close for newborn..
Don't get to many packs of newborn nappies as they grow quickly :).
That's the main things... oh and a snow suit, hat and scratch mittens :)

Bottles, sterilized or breast feeding pillow/sling.

Buy as little as possible to begin with:
Moses basket, muslin squares, lamb skin, sling, nappies, baby gros, vests, swaddling blanket, Lansinoh nipple cream, breast pads, changing mat, washable wipes (seriously, save yourself ££££££), receiving blanket.

Other than that, stuff for you: new pyjamas, nice comfy nursing bras (Bravado Body Silk apparently are lovely. I've been recommended them this time around).

Save some ££ for a lactation consultant (if you plan to breast feed) just in case you need some support, if you don't end up needing one, you can use the money for a postnatal massage instead

I wouldn't bother with cotton wool and water- it's so messy and really does not clean newborn poo. With DD1 & DD2 i used pampers sensitive baby wipes - got in much less of a pickle - and will be doing the same this time round! I'm sure lots will disagree though as this is not the advice a midwife will give! DD2 had excema and they never irritated her skin. I ended up throwing loads of cotton wool balls/ strips out.

You'll probably find that you receive loads of clothes/ outfits as gifts. As such, probably only need to buy vests and baby gros. Wait and see what you receive and then you can buy whatever else they need. They grow out of newborn size very quickly so don't buy too much. Ditto newborn nappies.

I wouldn't scrimp on your pram. You'll use it everyday for at least the first year, and then maybe for subsequent children. If you do you'll end up kicking yourself! Get the best you can afford. The pram I bought 8 years ago is still current in M&P stores today and still looks like new.

I'm so gutted that I don't need a thing for DC3 as I so love going baby shopping! have fun!

congratulations!! i hope you are having a good pregnancy. maybe google a second hand baby shop in your area so that once baby is born you can nip in when you fancy a browse or realise baby loves x toy at a playgroup.
also, look up your local children's centre as they normally have toy libraries with amazing wooden toys, you can have them for a month or more and save a fortune.
essential things-a "magic chair" like this one, we used ours every day you can get them for £15 from argos
www.amazon.co.uk/Fisher-Price-Precious-Planet-Playtime-Bouncer/dp/B001L092JI/ref=sr_1_5?s=baby&ie=UTF8&qid=1344450984&sr=1-5
lots of bibs that are pretty, as if, like my daughter, you get a baby with colic they will have to wear bibs every day for the first year so worth getting nice ones i think like these
www.bandana-bibs.co.uk/?gclid=CI6hi6_W2LECFUexfAodg0wAkg
get yourself a nice dressing gown/warm cardie to wear on cold nights during feeds and get a nice sling, if you can borrow a few different ones and try them that would be good as we didnt use the babasling we got at all but used the bjorn one every day for a year.
most of all-don't get stressed out by the baby shops! they can be a bit overwhelming, but don't feel you have to get everything. it all depends on you and the baby anyway, like we still use our changing table because my daughter doesnt wiggle on it at over a year old so i would say buy one, but get one second hand at an NCT sale for £20 rather than new, just in case!

need:
cot
sheets and spares for sicky nights
nappies
cotton balls
change mats (I had one for each room)
vests
gros
hats
maybe mits just incase
car seat, even if you don't have a car (we didn't have a car but had to make a few taxi trips to out of hours doc etc)
buggy or sling or both, BUT I wouldn't buy a sling in advance, you can go to sling meets and try a few with your baby, my baby wouldn't tolerate certain types of slings

not necessary but some people like:
moses basket/crib
change table
swaddly blankets
babybath
special nappy bins
lidded bucket for storing soiled gros

do not need
a monitor yet, the baby stays with you at first
cotton buds, even though babys r us sells multi packs
baby shampoo/wash etc - plain water is best for newborns
top n tail bath - any containers marked top n tail do
wipes - yet! but you will

Lacking how on earth do you find out about things like sling meets?!

Congratulations!!!
Think most people have covered everything here - just a warning about wipes though. The newborn huggies ones were really bad for my ds, he ended up with nasty nappy rash overnight at 3w and little blisters that bled a bit
We went back to water and cotton wool and it's not come back since.
Think some babies have stronger bumskin than others. And some wipes are better than others too.
Certainly the first 3/4 nappies are crazy sticky/nasty but after those water/wool is fine.

Also "grobags" are brilliant - like a sleeping bag for babies which pop together at the shoulders.
Obv not when it's hot, but they'll kick off any blankets which aren't attached and then wake themselves (and you) up because they're cold so these are great.

Buy more breast pads than you'll ever believe you'll need, I ended up having to send my parents out for more on day 3ish in an emergency situation where I was drenched in milk. Also if you're planning on breastfeeding, nighties with the snap buttons down the front, again more than you'll believe you need due to milk drenching. And breastfeeding bras.
I thought I was really organised and had everything I needed!

Ooooh breast pads - lanisoh. Expensive but worth their wieght on gold!

Sleep- your bed or a cot. If you want then you can also get a moses basket or crib. These are mainly space savers or in the case of a basket mean you can have the baby downstairs and then move the basket up at night. They are not necessary. A pack of flat cot sheets. If using a moses basket fold them in half rather than buying more sheets. Baby sleeping bags, 2 or 3 of them (amazing what they can poo and vomit on so you need to be able to have one washing and one spare). If you don't want sleeping bags then a couple of cellular blankets.

Feed- boobs or bottles. With breast then nursing bras which you will need to have fitted in the last couple of weeks of pregnancy and a box of breast pads. Don't buy loads and loads, not everyone leaks. You can buy lansinoh pads in bulk off Amazon pretty reasonably. A tube of lansinoh cream also good. However, it costs about £10 and you can get it on prescription for free after the birth so try to attend a bf group or workshop before the birth and grab yourself a sachet which will do a few days then get a tube for free . Don't think about expressing etc yet.

Change- a cheap padded change mat that you can use on the floor, your bed or wherever. Nappies- cloth or paper? Cloth is great and works out cheaper. you'd need a selection of second hand nappies so you can see what suits you and a nappy pail. Paper then a couple of packs of newborn nappies and a couple of pack the next size up. I hate cotton wool and water for wiping. Pundland baby flannals are just the right size. Wet them, wipe and sling in the wash.

Wear- a pack each of supermarket vests and sleepsuits. Sainsbury's wash and wear well. Get one each of newborn and 0-3 so you've not wasted loads of money on newborn stuff if your baby comes out at 10lb. then you can easily get more stuff afterwards and people will probably inundate you with gifts.

Travel- A carseat. Get the best you can. Sod finding one that fits with a fancy travel system, get the best one you can afford that fits your car correctly. Pushchair or sling? Rural or town? For pushchairs you need to go somewhere like Mothershite or John Lewis and play with them. Push them to see how they steer, fold them to see how easy they will be to put inthe boot or get on the bus. Get one to suit your needs and don't spend too much because unless you live in a rural area and walk lots (therefore needing good big wheel and air tyres) you will end up trading it in for a light stroller by the time your baby is 9 months old. Slings are great, try to get to a sling meet or something before the baby is born and look at soft slings.

Play- Seriously, don't bother. People will probably buy you stuff like little rattles and things. For the first months of his life your baby is more than entertained just looking at you and batting at the odd bit of screwed up kitchen foil. the ceiling lights will be way more interesting than any baby toy ever invented. A bouncy chair can be a useful place to put a baby but then so is a cheap fleecy blanket on the floor. Plus some babies like to be put down, others want to cling to you 24 hours a day so wait until you know what type you have before spending money. If the former then a playmat or something is nice to have, if the latter then see the above about slings!

The birth- an old t-shirt, several pairs of cheap supermarket pants in a size above your usual. Lots of boxes of maternity pads. Some bedwetter/incontinence mats. to slip under the sheet on your side of the bed 1)in the weeks before birth in case your waters go in bed. 2) after birth in case you leak at night so you don't get blood on the mattress and also for when your milk comes in so you don't soak the mattress.

Other- Muslins. Get a pack of 3 or 4 at first then more if you have a vomit baby. Coat/snowsuit depending on when you are due. 2 or 3 is a good idea. One washing, one drying, one being worn and thus subject to poo and vomit.

We've been quite reserved with getting stuff - we're a bit anti-fear mongering via marketing and don't really believe babies need a lot of stuff to begin with

One sling - going to try this first before investing in a pram as we're hoping to just carry them all the time anyway.

Bedside cot - but not a special one, the one from Ikea where you can take one side off and it has two bed heights. We plan on co-sleeping but this was a kind of "safety net" option for us.

A small selection of baby gros in various sizes, snowsuit, hats, mitts, bibs, muslins, hooded towel etc

A two pack of Grobags on offer from Kiddiecare

Bouncer

Car seat

A kind of miniature bouncer for in the bath

We were given an unused moses basket/stand but plan on passing it on to any friends who might need it.

We were also given an electric pump and a manual pump, plus tons and tons of breast pads by a friend who didn't produce any milk.

A green bug night lamp and a cute animal/hot air balloon

A starter kit of reusable nappies - this is still foxing my pregnancy-addled brain, I can't figure out what to go with and the Nappy Lady was useless!

Very good lists above! This is what we bought and use lots
*Moses Basket (plus two fitted sheets and two swaddle sheets)
*Buggy (we bought this one with soft carry cot in and compatible with........
*Car seat
*Playmat / Activity mat
*Bouncer Chair
*Six vests and Six sleepsuits
*Couple of packs of newborn nappies
*A zillion packs of wipes
*Little muslin cloths
*Nice blanket
*Mum knitted some cardis and hats
*Bath ramp (for in big bath, rather than a baby bath)
*Bookcase and Chest of Drawers for baby's room (loaned a cotbed and bought a new mattress, two fitted sheets)
*Bottles, microwave steriliser and formula (failed miserably at BFing)

We didnt buy many clothes as we got tons as gifts when DD arrived. We also didnt buy a wardrobe for her as the thought of hanging up tiny clothes filled me with dread. We will buy her a nice matching wardrobe to match wahatever single bed we will buy her in 4 or so years time.

Since she has passed 6months, we have bought a few extra useful things which she wouldnt really have needed before 6m:
*Bumbo Seat (great for weaning)
*Doorway bouncer
*Standy up push along walker thing (sort of like this )
*More clothes (we were bought 0-3,3-6,6-9 so now we can buy the next sizes up!)

sling meets are advertised on my local netmums, This time I'll avoid baba sling (dangerous) and babybjorn (not great for hips if used forward, and not easy on our backs so limited to use with tiny light newborn who was willing to sit face in). Some breastfeeding groups loan slings too

forgot breastfeeding I needed:
a pump
loads of breast pads, the disposable ones good for out and about but the washables were way more gentle on sore nips so used them at home
bottles
wee tiny cup for cup feeding
lansinoh
bottles
dummies
steriliser, I prefer steam to chemicals
info on biological nurturing
(and several sessions of chiropractic for both of us )
and this time I'll get some cartons of formula in for times when I'm just too sore

• I also used disposable breast pads to soak in boiled water, lavender and tea tree to put on CS scar

and I needed LOADS of maternity pads, LOADS!

lavender oil and tea tree oil for bath to help healing

baby paracetamol and adult paracetamol

it was the little purchases that added up to the biggest expense - the lansinoh and infacol and other little over the counter type stuff

Don't really have anything to add to the lists above, but I just wanted to point out that my DD was born at 7lbs 9.5oz and I liked the idea of the grow/sleeping bags but they just aren't suitable for a newborn (or at least not for our newborn anyway) so I used a sheet and blanket, doubled over if I remember correctly. It was later on when she had the strength to kick the blankets off and could wriggle that we started using the growbags, so guess it was about 3ish months I think.

This is all great, thanks!

I'm a bit confused about travel systems... Is the car seat a separate thing? Does it just live in the car then you transfer baby to buggy/pram as necessary?

Or is it better to get a car seat which clips to the chassis of a pram?

Definitely look at getting a car seat that slots onto your pram. It's so much easier than faffing around when you just want to nip into a shop/the baby is sleeping.

Guess it depends how you use your car, if you plan on walking everywhere then the pram needs consideration, e.g will it be used in town or rural and if you plan on using it for mainly walking then I'd say size isn't that important but if you use your car alot (like I did) and I had the smallest boot in the world (had a matiz at the time) I got a pram which would fold down almost as small as a stroller with a car seat that clipped on.

I found it easier to get baby out still in the seat to take her in a supermarket or clip it onto the pushchair for strolling around the shops.

But if your planning on walking to the shops etc I'd say a system where the car seat clips to the pram isn't as important, don't know if it's still the same but the guidelines when I had DD were that baby's can't spend more than 2 hours in the car seat as they should be flat on their backs for most of the time, so obviously if your walking then they can lay flat in the pram/pushchair.

Have a think how and where you'll be using your pushchair then go to a shop to try them out, the sales staff should if their any good be able to tell you which is best for folding into cars and walking etc.

For my baby coming soon I have:
a crib
a sling
a car seat
cloth nappies
cloth wipes
wet bag
a nappy bin
maternity pads
some baby sleeping bags
some baby grows, baby hats and cardigans
muslins
a changing mat

I don't think it will need anything else? I'm willing to be corrected though!

Longest post ever.

Hospital bag/suitcase/truck

For you:
Disposable changing mat - stops you from ruining the seat of the car if your waters go on the way to hospital
Towel x 2
Slippers
Comfy granny pants - high waisted in case you have a CS x 3
Flip-flops
Shower gel
Conditioner
Shampoo
Hairbrush
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Alice band or similar
Hairbands
Anti-bacterial wipes
Anti-bacterial hand gel (it is at the foot of your bed and you won't feel like getting up and bending, trust me)
Maternity pads
Button-up nightie or pyjamas x 2 (get DH to bring more if staying more than 1 night)
FOOD
Drinks
Magazine/book for you and for DH
Pen
Watch or travel clock
Carrier bag
Maternity notes
Travel pack of tissues
Lip balm
Hand cream
Nursing pads - branded, not supermarket because they stick, ouch
Nursing bra x 2
Going-home clothes (including shoes! I went home in slippers in the snow :s - keep in the car)
Bikini razor - TMI but if you have a c-section you do not want to be shaved with a blunt BIC. Stitches + razor rash = nasty!

For baby:
Vest x 3 in newborn size (Tesco do ones that have poppers all the way up the front)
Vest x 3 in 0-3 month size (in case you have a big bubba!)
Nappy size 1 x 5
Nappy size 2 x 5
Cotton wool pads (if the midwives catch you using wipes you will be in trouble :s)
Cotton hat
Scratch mitts
Smallest bottle of mineral water you can find (for nappy changes)
Nappy sacks
Going home outfit: sleepsuit, hat, snow suit, blanket (keep car seat in car until discharged, then get DH to take your bags to the car and bring it back up)
Dummies (recommended by FSID and paediatricians, don't be snobby - Tommee Tippee are good, Mothercare newborn ones are huge)

Household things to stock up on
Anti-bacterial wipes (your new best friend)
Kitchen roll
Anti-bacterial spray
Tissues
Laundry detergent
Fabric conditioner
Tumble-dryer sheets
Stain-remover spray (the instant kind in an aerosol)
Loo roll

Things to put in your enormous changing bag at first
Nappy x 4
Baby wipes (out of hospital, you can use them, hoorah!) - Huggies do a travel case for just over £1, which you can re-fill
Nappy sacks
Folding changing mat
Anti-bacterial hand gel
A really, really good hand cream
Spare clothes for baby: sleepsuit, vest, hat
Muslin
Spare top for you
A pair of spare nursing pads
Anti-bacterial wipes
Handy-pack of tissues
High-energy snack for you
Bottle of water
Lip balm
Carrier bag
Book - you will be doing lots of reading if you are breastfeeding.
Personal Child Health Record (aka The Red Book - given by health visitor or midwife)

Clothes that you will need

For the baby: get sizes newborn and 0-3 months
Hat x 3
Mittens
Sleepsuit x 6 (at least - Next and Sainsbury's do ones with integral scratch mitts. Next sizes come up small, Sainsbury's large but shrink in the wash)
Vest x 6 (at least - Tesco do ones that popper all the way up, £2.75 for a pack of 3, which are so, so good before bubba can hold his head up)
Scratch mitts - you can make the cuffs 'hard' so that they don't fall off by stiffening them with micropore tape once they are on
Cardigan x 2

For you:
Nursing bra x 3
Button-up top, shirt or nursing top x 8
Warm dressing gown for night-feeds
Multi-pack of granny pants to hold maternity pads in place

Feeding equipment (breastfeeding)
Disposable nursing pads - not supermarket ones because the weave sticks to your nipples, ouch.
Re-usable nursing pads - silk or wool. I got ones impregnated with lanolin and they saved my life.
Lansinoh cream - don't buy it, get it prescribed and then you get it free and save £10
Muslin cloths - in the first few weeks fold one up and put it inside your bra over the breast you aren't feeding from to stop you and baby getting soaking wet
Snacks - Cadbury's milk buttons, flapjack, jelly cubes, whatever you like that gives lots of energy fast. I fainted a lot because I didn't do this at first.
Lidded jug -
Warm dressing gown
Slippers
Bibs for when/if you use bottles - don't really need them for breastfeeding
Controversial but I would recommend:
Breast pump - so DH can help so you can sleep and to give your nipples a rest.
Bottle x 2 - as above.
Steriliser - you won't have the energy to boil things, trust me.

Baby equipment
Cot/cot-bed - drop-side, 2 or 3-height mattress base, flat rails so it doesn't hurt if baby presses his head against them
Bottom sheet x 3, although we get along with 2 - cotton, not flannel, recommend white for ease of washing
Swaddle-wrap x 1 - if baby likes being swaddled you can get more
Sleeping bag 2.5 tog x 2 (recommend the travel Grobag for one of these)
Sleeping bag 1 tog x 2 (again, recommend the travel Grobag for one of these)
Chair with arms if possible for you to feed baby in
Cot mobile - remote control if you can possibly afford it, the wind-up one we have works but I have to keep winding it up when I could be in BED
Changing mat - don't bother with covers, just use muslin cloths
Bowl for water for changing nappies
Baby bath
Jug
Bath thermometer - I still can't judge water temperature with my elbow
Cudde-dry robes x 4
Baby gym
Clock - that you can see in the dark
Radio/CD player/i-Pod dock or similar - so that you don't go crazy
Lidded bin for nappies
Blanket
Pram
Pram toy
Parasol or UV cover
Rain cover
Pram blanket
Car seat

Toiletries
For you:
Nursing pads x lots and lots and lots
Maternity towels - I tried loads of different ones and found that Asda's own are the best for not sticking to stitches then once things slow down the Babies R Us slimline ones have wings and are good. I got through about 10 a day for the first 2 weeks, didn't stop using them until 6 weeks so stock up (TMI, sorry).
An excellent hand cream - my hands cracked really badly because I was washing/using alcohol gel on them so often so start using it straightaway.
2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner

For baby:
Nappies - get 1 pack of size 1, and a few of size 2, then get more size 1 if your baby needs them
Extra-virgin olive oil - use as a moisturiser after baths and to treat mild cradle cap. Keep in a lidded tub with changing equipment.
Cotton wool pads - to use with water instead of baby wipes for the first 2 months
Pampers sensitive baby wipes - to use while out and about/at home if you want: look for Asda baby events and get a box of 12 for £9
Nappy sacks - Tesco do 100 for 7p
Cotton wool balls
Disposable changing mats. So bad for the environment but great for air-time!

Wow! Amazing, thanks everyone!