Please help me with my list!

[HeffalumpTheFlump]

I'm writing up lists of everything we will need for when baby arrives, iv had a look on google and written up what I think we will need. Can I just ask if there is anything that's on the standard lists that you found was a waste of money? Or the opposite, things that weren't on the lists but you found a lifesaver? Any tips generally for really useful things to buy would be absolutely great too please :) as you may be able to tell this is my first baby and all advice would be very great fully received!

Pregnant with my first and also want to know anything mums found useful that wasn't on typical 'essentials for baby' list!

first time round i spent a fortune in stuff i didn't need, this time I've been a lot more sensible and got what i needed to start up and added if I've needed.

This was my basic start up-

Clothing-
8x vests and babygros
2x cardigans
1x hat
2x scratch mitts

Sleeping-
Moses basket and matress
Stand
2x cellular blankets

Feeding-
Boobs or 6x bottles
Steriliser
Bottle brush
12x muslin squares
Formula

Bathing/changing-
Travel change mat (from free boots bag)
Changing bag (free from Boots)
Bath support
Pack of nappies in size 1 & 2
15x washable wipes

Travel-
Lie flat pushchair/pram and or sling
Group 0+ carseat

My daughter is Now 7 weeks and we've added a swing as she won't be put down, an all in one pram suit as we had snow and a sheepskin liner for the pram to keep her cosy :)

Aden and Anais muslin cloths. Got them as a gift and ended up buying more. They are expensive, but worth it!!! We still use them and my baby is 14 months. If your baby loves to be swaddled, the miracle blanket is great. Medela electric breast pump. Moses basket (our baby slept in it until she couldn't use it anymore. Maybe 4 months?) we kept it for our second. We didn't even buy a crib until a few months after our baby was born. Baby bjorn bouncer. My baby led to be bounced and it's the best one. The other cheer bouncers do not bounce as well. Again, she still uses it at 14 months.

I'd add a sling - a stretchy wrap for a newborn is fab. If you've never seen them / are unsure if you google sling library where you live you will be able to go and try one and hire before you buy

Oh forgot to add things for you!

If you're breastfeeding buy a pack if breastpads, i bought a box if Asda ones for £1.50 and when they were done i knew i was leaky do bought washable ones from Boots which are great but you may not need.

A VCushion has been great for me during pregnancy and whilst feeding.

Don't buy maternity pads for hospital, buy nighttime pads a they are more absorbant and less stiff.

I'd add bibs to that list - might save you a few clothes changes!

I found a bouncy chair essential. My daughter would sit happily in it always, and it was useful to ave somewhere to put her that wasn't a 'bed' (cot, crib, Moses basket or pram) and she could see me. I could put it in the bathroom while I had a bath, in the kitchen while I cooked, and gently bounce it or put it on vibrate would send her straight to sleep.

Muslins I used for everything. Swaddling in the summer, sunshade, wiping face, to lay her on / sit her on in the park, to put on my shoulder while I burped her, lay under her head in the pram so I didn't have to keep changing the sheet, changing mat, etc etc.

Dummies & dummy clips.

I'm sure there's more but can't right now...

Good shoes, a good waterproof coat and something with headphones so you can listen to music or the radio, because there's a high chance you'll end up walking a lot

Also one thing that can swaddle a baby. It's 50/50 whether a baby might like being swaddled, but if they do they tend to love if, and it can change their sleep in minutes, so I'd always recommend having something like this tucked away in case you want to try it.

One of the difficult things to decide before the baby is born is whether to spend money on things like bouncy chairs and carriers. Some babies will adore them, some will hate them. So I'd always say don't spend money that you can't afford on anything, in case your baby doesn't like it and it's an issue to you that you spent a lot of money on a bouncer.

A couple of things I wish I had not spent money on:

Crib (DD was too big for it so soon and could have gone from Moses basket into cot, or even straight into cot)
Top and tail bowl (used once)
Lots of cellular blankets (rarely used, moved onto sleeping bags / padded sleepsuits quickly)
White sleepsuits - I bought far too many and DD was given so many nice clothes
Changing bag - now using normal handbag with changing mat.

Things we have used a lot:
Soft carrier/sling
Cuddledry towel
Bouncy seat
Baby gym
Expressing equipment (pump and steriliser)
Breast pads
Muslin squares

HTH

Thank you all for your fantastic advice, especially about bouncers and cribs. I wasn't going to put a bouncer on the essential list but I am now! And we were considering a crib but may rethink that now!! I will be stocking up on muslin squares and bibs too! Thank you!

No need for a Moses basket if you have a 'pram' type attachment for your pushchair.

Don't bother with stupid tiny 'baby' towels. Get a couple of lovely big (cheap!) ones instead, much better for wrapping the baby up and keeping them warm. We also used ours as mats on the floor for nappy-free time. My LO's towels are all the same colour so it's easy to spot which ones are his!

I found a baby bath useless, we got a bath seat for ds2 and it was much better
Also started using muslins with ds2, brilliant as he had reflux so I used to put them over his sheet to save changing it so much.

I agree on crib. Totally useless for us. We put baby in Moses basket. She didn't like crib. One trick we used for a bit to get her to sleep in Moses basket would be to kind of rock it while moving the sides when it was on floor. For some reason the noise it made, would send her straight to sleep. I know all babies r different. But def find what noise works for u. Mine loved the crinkle nosie (u know the noise the a crisps bag would make if u crinkle it). Some love blow dryers, vacumes etc. u can find these apps that makes noises on iPad or iPhone.

I agree abt the small towels. They were quickly to small to even wrap my. Aby up after shower. I just use big normal towels

I found a baby bath really useful actually.. I had a c section and didn't want to miss out on bathing DD so DH would fill up the bath and put it on the dining table for me so I didn't have to bed over the bath.

Later on we just kept it in the actual bath so we didn't have to fill it up tat much, but could easily empty and fill it.

It was less that £10 iirc, and we used it loads, but I know a lot of people don't like them.

I have 3dcs and still no clue what to do with the muslin squares lovingly purchased from mothercare !
I've popped them on the schools tomobola collection

I found this very useful, www.gro-store.co.uk/grobag-baby-sleep-bag/travel-grobags.html - hope the link works. Would go visiting in evening, baby changed, in car seat, home and bed. My DS was/is a wriggler so ensured he was warm.
No nappy changing bag, small ziplock for a few wipes put inside a bigger one with a couple of nappy sacks and nappies, usually fit in handbag.

Things I wouldn't bother with:
Baby bath - sink is fine for baby and a couple of inches of water in the bath is fine as they get bigger.
Moses basket - borrow if you can and just buy mattress, only used for 6 weeks.
Top and tail bowl
Cotton wool balls - I did it religiously for weeks and I won't be doing it again, wipes are better!
Too many blankets - 2 or 3 is fine.
Lots of outfits like jeans etc, sleep suits are easier.
Scratch mitts - babies learn by touch
Too many teddies

Things I swear by:
Muslin squares
swaddle blankets - gro ones are great!
Sleeping bags for when a little bigger
Battery powered bouncy chair
Gym
Some contrasty images, my ds stared at them for ages when he was tiny!
Dummies
Bottles and steriliser
WINE!! - for sanity

x

• Stretchy sling/ wilkinet for Velcro baby
• Bed nest thing if you plan to co sleep, good when tiny or one of those cots you can attach to the side of your bed
• Someone gave me a thermos mug when dd was born, I was a bit but it was great. Hot cups of tea!
• Lansinoh nip cream if planning to bf
• Lots of baby grows/ sleep suit/ vests
• Muslins I found useful for sicky baby and for bfing out and about to use as a cover while still getting to grips with latching on and feeling self conscious in public

-agree with poster who said if you have a carry cot with your pram then no need for Moses basket

• Bouncy chair useful, cheap on gumtree/ ebay

Congrats btw!

Also never needed change bag, just one of those fold up change mats, mine was from jojomamanbebe. Fits in a smallish bag/ under pushchair and holds a pack of wipes and a few nappies. Though friends who ff found change bags handy for bottles etc