Baby bedding help please!

[HeffalumpTheFlump]

As you will be able to tell this is going to be my first DC, sorry if it's a stupid question.

I'm looking at baby bedding sets and cant work something out.

All of the sets include a cot quilt as well as other bits. I was under the impression that you shouldn't use a quilt until baby is a year old, so do you lay baby on the top of the quilt? Or keep taking it out because it's just there for decoration?

Would the quilt not make baby too hot if they are laying on top of it with blankets on/ in a sleeping bag?

Sorry again if it's a bit of a daft question!

[Wishfulmakeupping]

Agree with other posters unless you can borrow nose basket and just have to buy mattress I wouldn't bother- we only had our dd in it for a few weeks we'd have been better off using the little cot straight away
I'd also say you don't need to buy a lot of cloths you will probably be brought a lot so don't go too mad on clothes shopping, I would recommend Sainsburys for inexpensive babygrows and vests :)

[MadeOfStarDust]

Brought back memories - our dds are 10 and 12 now - their muslins are STILL being used - the best window cleaning cloths around!! So don't get rid after the baby phase!

[mikkii]

If you are thinking about a Moses basket, can you borrow one and just buy a mattress? I bought one for DD3 and she used it for about 5 months, but she was a month early and little. I then gave it to a colleague.

[mikkii]

I would suggest looking in the supermarkets for fitted jersey sheets, mine came from tesco nearly 9 years ago and are still in dail use for DC3, I do have some newer ones because DH bought pink ones when DD1 was born.

Terry sheets can get scratchy so I would avoid them.

I do have a baby duvet, but DD2 prefers a blanket. That's fine as I've already ad nearly 8 years worth f use from it.

Definitely muzzies, loads f them. I'm currently contemplating what to do with a huge stack of them....... Supermarkets sell these too.

[forevergreek]

Expensive but if you can get hold of in tkmaxx or secondhand I recommend the baby merino sleeping bags. The merino wool adapts to temperature so you don't need different togs as the same one fine in summer and winter. Each one is bigger also 0-2 years ( this size has poppers under arms so can't slip through), then 2-4 years if you still want

So full price around £50, but that is for summer and winter for two years. We have had ours over 3 years and through two children and look and feel new so I expect they come up on eBay often.

You can swaddle a small newborn with a large muslin in summer or a swaddle blanket in winter.

Actually the sleeping bags mentioned usually have a guide of what to wear with bag rather than extra blankets. Ie over 20 degrees , just long sleeved vest and bag. Under 15 degrees vest, babygro/ pjs and cardigan if still cold

[KatAndKit]

Definitely doesn't have to be the original gro-bag - the cheaper ones are fine - I like Ikea ones myself but the supermarket ones are fine too. TKMaxx generally have great bargains on grobags. How many you need depends on what time of year your baby is due - if you are going to have a middle of summer baby then you may find some nights are too hot for bedding and baby will be warm enough in just their babygrow. As a general rule I would say 2x 2.5 tog and 1x 1 tog but for a summer baby it might be the other way round. I got too many in the 0-6 size but my little monkey needed to be swaddled for 3 months so we didn't get that much use out of the small ones. I got some bargains on ebay for grobags.

Any sort of sheet you can do with 3 or 4 of. Otherwise you can end up washing bedding every day. Supermarket cot sheets are fine. I never used the flat sheets, I just got fitted cot sheets. Now he is bigger and doesn't spit up in his sleep I don't need 4 any more but in the earlier days it was useful. Muslins at the head end of the bed are a good way to cut down on washing sheets.

[HeffalumpTheFlump]

Thank you all so much for your advice!! I know no two babies are the same, but I feel a lot more prepared now! Nice to know I'm not alone needing these pointers too :)

[stripes1]

For each size we always made sure that one of the gro bags was a travel one, they have holes for the car seat straps to go in. Then if you are out for the day/visiting relatives etc you can travel home with them in it and put them straight to bed asleep from the car.

[SoftSheen]

I wouldn't bother with cot bumpers. Very young babies that can't roll could get trapped against them and suffocate, whilst older babies that can pull up could use them as a means to climb out of the cot. The window within which they are safe to use (can roll, but can't pull up) is therefore pretty small.

[itchyandscratchy26]

Also, does it have to be the original gro bag, or are the cheaper versions any good. £20-£25 each seems quite steep. ( I have twins due)

[allagory]

I used one from birth. They just have to be the right size for your baby. BTW John lewis charge 20-35 for a grobags. They are 10-15 pounds in ikea.

[Fairydogmother]

Lurking to pick up tips here! Keep them coming!

[ilovepowerhoop]

grobags are suitable from 8lb 8oz so it depends on their birth weight and how quickly they gain weight as to when you can start to use it. Some sleeping bags are only suitable from 10lbs.

[SoftSheen]

I would suggest getting two 2.5 tog gro-bags and 3-4 cot sheets. A waterproof mattress protector is useful. You might also need a 1 tog gro-bag for warmer summer nights.

We used gro-bags from a couple of weeks old- I think the minimum weight is 8.5 lbs. Before that we swaddled with a thin cellular blanket.

[StuckOnARollercoaster]

I understand that grobags are suitable from birth but that assumes you haven't got a really tiny newborn. I've got myself a couple of 0-6 mth bags that have extra poppers on the armpits so that the bag is a snug fit and baby can't get her arms into the bag and get stuck.

[itchyandscratchy26]

When can I start using a gro bag. I heard they're not suitable from birth. Do you have to wait until a few weeks or a particular weight ?

[neversleepagain]

6 cotton fitted sheets 2 Air Wrap Bumpers & 4 Gro Bags. That is all I bought and my twins are 8 months old.

[HeffalumpTheFlump]

Fantastic tips thank u!!! I feel like I know nothing.. I'm the perfect person to sell baby things to. When the shop assistant says something is an essential I stupidly believe them!!

[Thesebootsweremadeforwalking]

In fairness, I would suggest not bothering with the Moses basket. Had one last time, used for 2 months. This time there will be a cot bed in our bedroom and a travel cot in the lounge.

[Splatt34]

i just had a fitted sheet on the cot and a sleeping bag (from about 12 weeks). Before that swaddled in Moses basket. even when she first went into a bed she just had fitted sheet and sleeping bag. It was only at 2.4 when she was too tall for the 18-36 month sleeping bag that we bought pillow and duvet

[cravingcake]

Only other things I can think of is to agree, that you can never have too many muslins.

And I brought all my DS bedding (and vests and muslins) in plain white, its often cheaper than patterns or coloured. I find easier to wash as you can chuck it all in the washing machine in one go with a big scoop of vanish as required 19 months on from the newborn stage and all well most still looks like new

[sjuperyoni]

I used pillow cases for dd1 at my aunts recomendation - fantastic ness all round :) used to get 2 packs in asda for 2 pound compared to pram sheets at 8 pound a pair

I didn't use muslins for dd1 but did for ds - he's almost 19 months and they still come in handy on a daily basis :) we have so many of his still that we've hardly bought any for dd2.

[HeffalumpTheFlump]

Craving cake thats a brilliant idea, any money saving tips are very much appreciated!!