Mumsnet 'essentials' list

[mummysmellsofsick]

I'm sure mumsnet has researched what people consider to be essential, but there are quite a few items on the list that I never used, and DS is now 10 months.

Cot/Crib/Moses basket- we had one of each. DS refused to sleep anywhere but in our bed.

Pram- due to stairs up to our flat and frequent use of buses and tube, I have never bought a pram or pushchair. Borrowed one once and hated it, so did DS. Research good slings if you aren't sure you need a pram. Do not buy the one everyone buys, there are much more comfortable options that make carrying easy.

Bottle steriliser/ breast pump- by no means essential. I did start to express after 6 months but I hate it and only do it so I can work part time and continue ebf. Don't buy a pump unless you are sure you need to express.

Baby gym/ nest- I had 3, baby found all of them frustrating and confusing until about 5 1/2 months, when he liked to bite the hanging down animals then by 7 months he was crawling and not interested. However, wish we had bought a jumparoo or similar. He looooved those when we tried them.

Wipes/ cotton wool- many of my friends have found baby wipes cause nappy rash- their skin really doesn't cope well with the chemicals... We used bamboo washable wipes from the beginning which have been fab.

Think that's all. Other stuff on the list did look essential. HTH

What is "essential" and what is "desirable" and what is downright useless depends on your baby and your lifestyle in particular.

Some people might never need a pram or buggy but most of us use one at least some of the time. i drive a lot so actually a travel system that works with the car seat has been an essential for me. You definitely don't need a super duper pricey famous name 800 pound pram though. A sling has also been an essential but yes, don't buy the one with the famous name that everyone buys there are much much better options. I love my carrier (bondolino) but there is no way I could use it all the time and never use the buggy.

Crib and cot also essential here as I don't want to co-sleep and neither does my partner. We borrowed the crib and the cot was a family hand me down so no need to spend lots of money. Particularly on cribs/moses which are used for a very short time.

As for the baby gym, my baby loves it, he has played with it since about 10 weeks old. It isn't essential but it is good for getting five minutes peace to enjoy a hot drink.

Agree with not forking out on a fancy pump until you decide you need one. I got a manual one on sale when I was pregnant and then upgraded to electric. But to be honest, I don't use it as much as I had intended to as I find the washing and sterilizing a pain in the arse.

I personally have had no issue with the fragrance free "pure" wipes but every baby is different.

What you really don't need is lots of silly baby outfits that are like mini versions of real clothes. Babygrows and soft jersey items are the way forward.

Oh yes I agree about baby outfits. Vests and sleep suits are so much more comfortable.

Just thought it was worth a discussion as a couple of my friends are pregnant and on a tight budget, and one of them phoned me in tears after looking at JL's essentials list. I think it's good to be clear about what's really essential (nappies, baby clothes) and what are essential for particular circumstances- cot if cosleeping doesn't appeal or wouldn't be safe for you, sling if like me you live up loads of steps, etc... I bought loads of stuff that we never used... Gro bags were another thing that loads of people swear by and we didn't use at all. I couldn't have done without my bath thermometer but some people are confident dipping their elbow in to test. Nearly everything comes into that second category.

One mum's essential is another mum's waste of money.
And vice versa.

I used every single item on your non-essential list!

Moses basket/cot. We didn't want to co-sleep and as it happens, neither did DS. Even now at 2.5 he refused to sleep or even come in to our bed in the morning! Where else would I have put him?

Baby mat. Great place to put DS down when the doorbell went or whatever and he did enjoy it. It also encouraged him to reach for toys and the crinkly bits on the mat when he was a little older. Got him a jumperoo at 4 months which I think was the most essential purchase we ever made!

Pram. I did a lot of walking when DS was a baby as he never ever slept during the day at home. No way could I have done all that walking with a sling when he got older and heavier. Also didn't want to walk with him in a sling when it was really snowy as it was when he was born (winter 2009). Also loved the storage in the pram for shopping. Could not have done a daily shop (we had no car in central London) and got all the bags home without a pram.

Bottle steriliser and pump. I breastfed DS until he was 11 months old but expressed a lot and other members of the family bottle fed him. It was important to me that he was able to take milk from a bottle so I could go out and spend an afternoon shopping or at the gym without having to take DS with me. Family also LOVED feeding him.

Wipes. We used wipes straight from birth with no problems at all. Cotton wool was useful for washing his face.

So I agree with the other posters - what is non essential to one family might be essential or really useful to others. I guess what is not essential is to buy everything brand new. NCT nearly new sales and e-bay or borrowing amongst friends is great as you can work out what works for you and what doesn't.

I'm with BikeRunSki.

Everything on your list apart from the breast pump has been essential for me.

Sometimes I think we're the only co sleepers in the world!