help me find what i need for 1st baby!

[aprilgirl1]

trying to make a list of all the things i need this is my 1st baby and havent got a clue,
so far i have writen down:
pram
cot + bedding + mattress
moses basket
changing mat
bath
bouncer
highchair
sterilliser + bottles ( how many bottles do i need?)
play/gym

also how many bottles do i need to start?
what clothing do i need
should i stock up on nappies?

any help would be gladly welcome!
thanks in advance!!
xxxx

Are you breastfeeding? If so about 2 bottles for expressing or the odd formula or whatever.
Baby alarm for when you want to potter around the garden or whatever (or go to the pub!!!! No I didn't really say that!)
Baby vests and baby gros for the first 3 months as you'll be forever changing nappies so proper clothes are a pain.
Yes do stock up on nappies, lots of them! Or look into non-disposable ones, there could be a delivery and laundry service near you, the NCT would know.
A comforter for bedtime, it'll save you lots of trouble if you just save one toy for bedtime only, it helps your baby know when it is time for a nap.
Baby wipes - don't bother with cotton wool unless you like very hairy bottoms.
Nappy rash cream.

dunno what else really! They don't need much at this age, they do nothing but drink, sleep and poo!

Are you planning on breast or bottle feeding, as no of bottles will depend very much on this?

You'll definitely want lots of muslins for mopping up milk/sick etc.

Are you going for disposable or washable nappies, as again answers will depend on that.

You won't need the highchair for a few months after birth, so might want to hold off buying it just yet.

When is the baby due?

car seat!

pram - think about getting something that will last you more than the first 3 months..
cot + bedding + mattress - yes, we went for cotbed which lasts 5+ yrs
moses basket - only if you can borrow one, buy new mattress if you want to.
changing mat - yes
bath - no unless you can borrow one
bouncer - can be useful for when they want to look around, ours was a present.
highchair - tripp trapp, grows with them but expensive, tchibo sometimes have a cheaper version
sterilliser + bottles ( how many bottles do i need?) - would you consider breastfeeding? one of the reasons i did was that it's free, never bought any bottles before my dd's were about 6 mths when i started to express so they could go to nursery.
play/gym - can be quite useful.

what clothing do i need - few vests, sleepsuits & a couple of cotton blankets.
should i stock up on nappies? - couple packs of tiny nappies shoudl be fine...but did you know you can now get grants from local authorities if you choose to invest in reusable nappies? (wish I had done this in retrospect)

baby is due aug, dont think i am going to breast feed!!!xx

wouldnt recommend a pram - try getting something smaller that will fold easily and last you for ages
clothing - I only used babygros and vests for ds for the first few weeks, just got 6 of everything, they grow so quickly, not worth buying lots of lovely newborn outfits.
highchair - buy one later, your baby wont be eating for 5 months at least
bottles - six will do then you can make them up for the day if you are not breastfeeding
nappies - can never have enough, ditto maternity pads

can I also recommend a sleeping bag, priceless, ds is still using one now at 14 months and its so much easier than sheets and blankets. Saying that thougb he did like to be swaddled until he could force his way out of it.

Good luck

Pram - yes and car seat
cot - I know some people like cot beds but if you are planning on having a second child may need the cot back for that child
moses basket - didn't have one and didn't miss it
changing mat - yes
bath - again didn't have and didn't miss
bouncer - yes used this
highchair - waste of space to get this yet but when you do go for a simple, easy to clean one with removable straps
steriliser/bottles - I breastfed at first so not sure how many bottles from birth - would recommend a microwave steriliser personally
play mat/gym - yes get one of these

Clothes - I would get the following in white (assuming you don't know the sex):
6 babygros
6 vests
1 cardigan
1 coat
1 pr scratch mittens
1 hat
6 bibs
Because you get absolutely tons bought and it's nice to be able to buy girl/boy outfits once you know what you've got

Nappies - wouldn't buy more than a couple of packs until you see how the baby is growing.

Would also get a baby monitor, consider a travel cot depending on lifestyle and that's about it.

If you're not breastfeeding, you'll need at least 6 bottles, and 2 boxes of formula ready.

You'll need breast pads regardless of how you feed, as boobs leak anyway.

You need 2 packs of maternity pads to start with, then you may be ok to go down to super thick sanitary towels.

Definately stock up on nappies.

A couple of hooded towels are nice, they aren't dear, you can buy them in Asda.

I wouldn't bother with clothes too much for the first few months, in fact borrow them or get them secondhand if you can. Ds was out of his newborn stuff in 10 days. It almost made me glad to be poor, that I hadn't spent a fortune on clothes that got worn once.

You don't really need a baby bath, IMHO. One of those sponge baby holders for the big bath looks much better!

You do need something to mop up baby sick with. Muslins, or cheap teatowels, or even just old terry nappies or a cut up towel - but you need something, because you can end up mopping up what seems like pints of it.

Personally, I would recommend having a dummy if you are unsure whether you want to use one. I say this because I was hell bent on ds not having a dummy, and ended up wandering into Safeway in a dazed state with my hospital tags still on, to get the first means to silence in 5 days bar my finger. If you know you don't want to use one then obviously don't listen to me there.

I wouldn't buy a pram if it doesn't convert into a pushchair, you'll get at most 6 months use out of it and they are dear. I never had one, but everyone I know who did says it was a waste of space and money.

Agree with the bath - waste of time. Sink is much better! So is having a bath with them.
As Moses basket only lasts 3 months, would buy one second hand.
Blender, for making food when they're weaned.
lots of spare t-shirts for you for when they sick all over you!

I had a beanbag thing for mine to go in the big bath from Perfectly Happy People.

Yes, don't buy a new moses basket. Ds was out of his in 6 weeks!

thanks im writing all this down!
defo be buying dummies!! must not forget them!!
got my pram, its a mamas n papas pramette which changes into pushchair really lightweight!! not a proper pram!!

Where are you? If you are in Manchester you are welcome to my Moses basket, round baby gym thing, baby walker, high chair, erm, hmmmm I have tons of stuff knocking about.

Please take it before I get broody again.

not near manchester that would have been handy though ...thankyou for that king offer though!! i love mumsnet xx

king offer...... mmmmm kind offer is more like it!! xx

My advise woul dbe not to buy anything if you can beg borrow or steal it Save the money for later. youll probabaly get loads of clothes as presents so just have a few basics ready. you will def need a car seat as they dont let you out of hospital without one. Sling/babycarrier is a good idea. leave the highchair till alter and make sure you buy one that is easily cleanable (you'd be amazed how many arent)

cordless phone good, if you haven't got one already. sling is good, but try and borrow one wilkinet is good

decide which type of steriliser you're going to get and then see how many bottles will fit into it. We bought one that said 8 bottles would fit but when we tried it only 6 fitted!!

this are the things I couldn't have managed without...

1. Little pots fom m/c that hold 3 lots of formula powder - you pre measure the formula into each section. Then you steralise and fill all your bottles with cooled boiled water. When baby cries simply empty pre measured powder into bottle and shake - as water is at room temp no heating of bottles is required. This is brilliant for night feeds and when out and about.

1a. Insulated bag also from m/c to keep above when you go out.

1. Sleeping bag

1. Baby sling like the baby bjorn.

1. The deepest cot mattress you can afford. I had the cheapest one with ds1 and really regretted it. Bought a better one for dd and was much happier.

1. Not essential but found the sheepskin pram/buggy liner from John Lewis was a lovely luxury. It looks very comfortable if you are going to put a newborn in a pushchair as it gives lots of padding. I also used it in the moses basket. Packaging also said it 'keeps baby warm in winter and cool in summer'! Might make a good present off someone as is costly at 30.00.

1. A really nice bag - It is a bit of a luxury but for the first year you will take a nappy bag everywhere so I would buy a really nice large bag instead of a 'nappy bag'. The thing is you'll end up putting all your own stuff in the bag as well as you won't want to carry your nappy bag and a handbag and I got really sick of carring a ugly black suitcase thing instead of a nice feminine bag - especially during the summer months.

if you really must buy lots of clothes (I did even though I knew I shouldnt) buy them in sizes 6months plus as babies tend to grow a little slower at this age so you'll get more use out of them - don't forget to consider what season it will be though!

Agree with raggydoll about a nice bag. I am not keen on changing bags and although DD is still in nappies I generally just pop a nappy and some wipes in my handbag these days. Different though with a newborn but a nice bag is a good idea, or maybe a small rucksack.

You won't need a highchair for several months and we didn't use a baby bath , but got a sponge support for the big bath or bathed with them. By bouncer do you mean a reclining chair ?

Definitely a car seat and perhaps a sling/carrier but you could get this once the baby is born and you can try them out without a bump getting in the way.

muslins, muslins, and more muslins!

We found our moses basket really useful - ds is small and we used it (not at night, more for naps in the day etc.) until he started pulling himself up. But it is a bit of a luxury iyswim.
Baby carrier was a real must - we're still using it.
We were luckily given a pram - the type that converts into a pushchair - but as it's so damn heavy and we live in a second-floor flat we eventually (when ds was 8 months) got a lightweight buggy which I use. We would certainly have got away with carrier and then buggy if we hadn't been given the pram.
You can actually do without a steriliser tbh - pan on the hob is just as good.
Sleeping bags are essential imo.
It was a bit of an indulgence, but I got a fantastic changing rucksack which has all kinds of little pockets and plenty of room for my own stuff as well. \link{www.allerhand.com\It was one of these}
Bath - unnecessary. We got a cheapo one from Ikea and I now use it to transport washing from machine to clothes horse.

\link{http://www.allerhand.com\sorry, I cocked up the link}