Checklist

[Littlemissexpecting]

I'm expecting my first dc in June and thought I should make a list of what I actually need. This should hopefully stop me buying things I don't need but also remind me of what I may forget.
Does anyone have a checklist they wouldn't mind sharing, or have a link to one? Thank you

Oh, and no one bought us baby clothes, so maybe stock up.

No one?! What did they but you?

my advice would be to put your money aside for the entertainment side of things and wait to see what dc likes.
no point spending a fortune on a bouncer with all the gadgets if dc prefers a swing etc.
You'll only end up putting stuff on eBay and getting far less than you paid for it along with the hassle of listing it in the first place.

Same goes for monitor too. bubs will be with you night and day for a while before you need them.

buy clothes second hand. They're in them for weeks so second hand is almost like new anyway. The money you save can go towards more stuff for baby anyway.

dont bother with a breast pump at first. wait and see if u need one.

now is definitely not the time to be spending unnecessarily. babies cost a fortune over time so spend wisely.
ive been amazed at how much the little things add up and there's stuff i hadn't even thought about needing

Infacol/dentinox/colief drops
gripe water
calpol
cradle cap shampoo etc
sudocream

stuff like that never entered my head and even a few quid adds up. infacol is 3 quid a bottle but with 2 droppers in every feed it gets used quickly etc

Personally I wouldn't bother with any bath equipment, except for one of those v soft sponges. Bathe together at first so it's not scary for your baby, then once they're big enough get a non slip mat and put them in the big bath.

I'm expecting dc2 in August and trying to think back on what was useful and what wasn't.
Take a magazine to the hosp in case you are in for a long time, (I don't think I've read a magazine since my last pg haha)
Also phone, charger and camera.
Make sure you or oh know how to fit the car seat for coming back from the hosp.
My mam brought me glucose tablets for the birth and they were refreshing, not sure how much energy the gave me but I managed a natural birth without gas/air/epidural.
Fresh fruit in the hospital and back at home was lovely and good for first couple of times going to the loo.
I got a small towelling bath support which was amazing for bathing dd. Either to support her or just my arm while I held her.

Will be back if I think of more. Def plenty of changes of vests and babygrows as you can go through so many each day.

Good thread. just wondering how much need there is for newborn size and how much different it is to 0-3 months?

Depends on the shop, and how big/what shape your baby is. I think newborn is supposedly about 7 1/2 lb, up to 1 month is about 10 lb, and 0-3 is about 14-15lb? But IME, most clothes fit heavier babies than the label suggests.
I know we have photos of DS (an 8lb 7 baby who never lost any birthweight and put on over 1lb some weeks) wearing an up to 1 month sleepsuit at about 1 month old.

Wow. Expecting ds 5 and haven't needed half the stuff listed!

Seriously, why would you need to take bibs to the hospital?

Here's a couple of things that I don't think have been mentioned yet;

For you...
Disposable knickers (Asda go a 5 pack)
Maternity pads to put on bed/car seat/couch in case waters break and ruin bed/car/couch! (Boots)
Lansinoh! (I don't know a single person who hasn't struggled with breast feeding)
Tea tree oil to drop on pads/into bath if you're sore after labour.
Water spray/magi-cool to have spritzed on you if you get unbearably hot during labour
Borrow a Tens machine and make sure you have spare pads
Tinted moisturiser so you look healthy in first baby pics in hospital! Vain I know, but a combo of strip lighting, exhaustion and blood loss meant I was super pale after labour.

For baby...
Consider a baby hammock over a Moses basket (great IMO but expensive though, so check gumtree/eBay for second hand and then buy new mattress)
Swaddle
Baby hats/skull caps to keep head extra warm for first couple of weeks
Top n tail bowl
Bath support rather than a baby bath - keeps baby in place and makes bathing them much easier.
Natural sponge. John Lewis are oddly cheaper than boots

That's all I can think of just now. Good luck!

a memory foam pillow good support for feeding and take one to hospital as there are never enough pillows! Good Luck!

Silent this isn't just a hospital list that's why bibs are mentioned. It's a list of everything I/we will need for baby coming.
Thanks everyone you are all a fab help!!

Stick to the basics before birth then but as you need afterwards to avoid wasting money.

Essentials (IMO)
Travel: lie flat pushchair and/or sling, group 0+ car seat

Sleep: Moses basket and/or cot, matress, 3x sheets, 2x small cellular blankets

Small blankets are easier to use without swamping baby, learning to swaddle was an essential skill for us.

Feeding: boobs and/or bottles, steriliser, 12x muslins (minimimum)

Muslins can be used for almost anything and make great bibs as they are big. Try formula in hospital if they provide and find one that suits then get DP to pick up a carton.

Bathing/changing: travel change mat, cotton wool pads and/or wipes, pack of nappies in each newborn size.

Don't stock up on lots of nappies because you may find size 1/2 doesn't fit for long or at all if you have a big baby. Ditto wipes as some brands can cause reactions on babies sensitive skin.

Clothing: 8x babygros, 8x vests, 3x cardigans, 2x hats and 2x mitts.

I generally buy newborn as a starting point as I think its the most universal size but you can always get someone to pick up a different size if required.

Littlemissexpecting I was gifted a 'thing' to prevent baby from rolling over in his sleep (half-cushion-half-musical-bear) which he still lovves, the bear is his nunu! Also a big bath towel, shoes (really!), chocolates, biscuits, a musical bunny. Oh, but one friend bought me a lovely wicker box of essentials like: nail scissors, floating bath thermometre, hairbrush etc (from Beaba I think), all of which has been very useful.

silentmammoth I thought the OP was asking what to buy in general, not just the hospital. Maybe I read it wrong. In which case you also wouldn't need a cot, steriliser, bouncy chair...