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!

Well I stand corrected SlightlySuperiorPeasant

I wasn't planning on having a changing bag or hospital bag or using any special clothes for me and I am planning on just using pillowcases as sheets on the little mattress?

I know lots of babygrows come with built in scratch mitts you can fold over so I have some of those which I thought were a good idea.

For going out in the rain I just have my regular brolly, and some of the baby cardigans have hoods.

I like a sink for bathing a baby and can't store a baby bath anyway, but I am considering some kind of bath support or seat for when it's bigger. Any recommendations?

I've never used lip balm or hand cream and I only use anti bac spray on the chopping board in the kitchen, is there a need for all the anti bac?

I would definitely get a car seat that can fit onto your pram base - in fact, I have only used this and never once used the pram top that I purchased at great expense.
Something noone has mentioned (I think) is buying a good nappy cream like sudocrem - hopefully you won't need it, but if you suddenly notice nappy rash during a nighttime change, and all the shops are shut... You can also use it if, for example, your baby gets sore underarms, which my poor dd did before I learnt to get right into those folds...
Also a soft baby sponge?
I'd also invest in quite a few sheets for your moses, crib or cot. Think our record was five in one night! Of course you can make some out of sheets you no longer use, or use pillow cases over a moses mattress.
Good luck!

Makes sense to me to have a car seat that clips onto the pram chassis.

Then have the pram chassis which will lie flat for longer walks or trips if is bad for baby not to be flat. Who knew?!

I found it easier tbh but they sure get heavy quickly or maybe I just have no strength! Also a word of warning in tesco etc they have special trolley's that the car seats go on top of and I attempted to push just the once! My DP is 6 foot 2 and managed to see but at 5 foot 2 it was impossible for me! Short trips for a few things, I put the car seat in the little trolley's but the car seat takes up most of the space so you can only get a few things in. I do my grocery shopping online most of the time! lol

"Try to keep journeys short for the first 3 months - it's good for your baby to lie flat for most of the day." www.mothercare.com/a-guide-to-car-seats/buyersguide-ms-carseats-sub4,default,pg.html

If you have a c-section, (or in case you do) you do really need to think carefully about clothes. Granny pants are a must, but also what you wear on your bottom half requires thought. I'd spent the last part of pregnancy in jeans which have the elastic band around the bump, but the top of the jeans bit was exactly where my scar was so I couldn't wear them. I had one pair of jogging bottoms and one pair of leggings and I lived in them post-birth as they were the only things soft enough.

A v-shaped cushion is also useful for when holding the baby or feeding.

Lucozade sport (the flat stuff not fizzy) is great for keeping energy up, especially when sleep-deprived and breastfeeding.

Re sudocrem - we got a little pot in our Bounty pack which was useful as if we'd bought a big tub we'd have never used it all.

Baby nail clippers (they scratch their faces!) and a bath thermometer are also useful. An underarm thermometer is good to have in stock so you aren't suddenly panicking in the middle of the night wondering if they've got a temperature.

SlightlySuperiorPeasant do you work for a Mother and Baby magazine? Thats the only other place ive ever seen a list as extensive.

:o Gnocchi no, sadly. I tend to think that mum & baby magazines print a lot of rubbish so I doubt we would get along.

If you want the absolute bare basics then the BBC website's section on babies has a list about 12 items long and says that no cot is required as the baby can sleep in the pram.

My list could get longer with:

Baby thermometer
Sling

And shorter if you are on DC3 and don't disinfect every surface your newborn comes into contact with!

Anyway, short lists tend to forget the small stuff.

I think I will go with the long list, thank you. Would rather be over prepared than under.

oh yes flip flops are a must for sharing hospital showers with other bleeding ladies!

Go easy on the baby clothes because you will get loads of presents, especially at first.

But bare basics change from person to person surely. I don't have a pram or pushchair or baby bath or a changing bag or changing table. But I've chosen a crib which lots don't use, and some people don't need a car seat as baby doesn't travel in a car. Some people need muslins and others never do. Some people pack hospital bags and some don't.

It's really hard to have a core list I think other than - small clothes and nappies for the baby, some kind of pads for you - everything else is pretty subjective I'd have thought and could easily be picked up after birth if you need it.

Someone mentioned three pairs of knickers for the hospital bag - I'd personally take a lot more than that if I had my time again. Also I'd suggest ones you are happy to bin.
And lots of food for the hospital, for your birth partner during labour, and for
you afterwards. Pack however much food you'd imagine wanting, then double it.

Disposable changing mats are great for hospital (change on bed so it's a PITA if there's an incident ESP with little boys :)) and for out and about if there has been a HUGE explosion