List of essentials. What do I *really* need?

[bymoonlight]

This is what I think I really need. I am ignoring the Mothercare checklist!

Have I missed anything:

Pram
Car seat
Moses basket/crib/cot + mattress
Muslims
nappies
baby wipes
14 newborn babygros
Lots of 0-3 babygros
Nipple cream (which is the best one?)
Baby monitor (is this essential?)
Nice blankets
Warm hat (winter baby)
Snowsuit
scratch mittens

What am I missing?

You don't have to let midwives (or hvs) look round your bedroom. If it's helpful to you, then by all means let them. I hope they will also be advising anyone with a cot set up in a separate room about cot death, not just the co-sleepers.

I think it's really quite intrusive tbh. I wouldn't like it. If they want to know where my baby is sleeping I will tell them, but I'm not keen on having them snoop around my bedroom.

Hv went up to room when ds was born in 2010. He was asleep at the time though. She then gave out to me that he was swaddled. He was wearing jut a vest underneath though and not swaddled very tightly. Continued to swaddle until he fit in sleeping bag.

I would suggest keeping tags on any clothes you're given as presents. Ds grew really fast and never got to wear some things. If tags still on then you can exchange for bigger size. 3-6 months a good size to get.

Olive oil good for everything! Bath, scalp, bum after nappy change, massage and even my dry hands and nails.

I wouldn't bother with scratch mitts - just get those baby grows with scratch mitts built into the sleeves. All of Nexts baby grows are like this. Lansinoh is the best nipple cream and lasts for ages - bfing a 3 mo and I haven't finished my 2nd tube yet.
You will need some kind of washing powder - I use vanish Oxi-action extra hygiene - to get the stains out of clothes when nappies leak.
Buy some choc/cereal bars to keep by your bed for night feeds.
Maybe get some infacol or gripe water too just in case.
And definitely sleeping bags not blankets - easier to feed and then put your baby straight down without disturbing them with blankets. Although you will need blankets for when you take baby outside.
I have one changing mat upstairs, and one downstairs too, along with a little basket of nappies, wipes etc.
Good luck with everything! (And you can always get DH to pop to the shops in the first few days if you've forgotten anything!)

My daughter was 7lbs and newborn swamped her. She wa in them for ages despite quickly going up to 75th centile. I think it really depends on the shape of the baby.

A box of nappy stuff and mat on each floor of your house. Doesn't have to be a fancy mat, I got a few free with various baby clubs and those work fine. Saves you going upstairs.

If its your first and your partner has pat leave you won't find the first two weeks that stressful. They often sleep loads in the first few days (although only shortish stretches) so you'll have lots of time to give dp jobs whilst you recover. The only bit I found difficult was feeding so it's worth collecting the contact details of a few support avenues (friends who've bf/NCT helpline/lll/local support groups etc).

Jesus, fybogel it really, really works.

I didn't read the thread past pg 1 (sorry) but I can highly revommend having dimmer switches fixed to your bedroom lighting. I co-slept with both mine, with DS2 i moved into another room ad just left in on all night on its lowest setting, also great gor checking while they sleep, handy for midnight nappy changes, feeding etc.

I actually had slightly less sleep suits and a couple of nighties. They were fab for newborn when they would poo at every feed so need changing in the night when I was not in a fit state to do up tonns of poppers!

Re arnica, what's the best form - tablets or cream?

The arnica tablets I got had instructions to take them about 6 times per day ( which I obviously kept forgetting to do ) I didn't know it came in a cream - I would go for that next time.

or instead of dimmer switches, can get a night light. I use those salt lamps both in the bedroom and hallway, just enough light for feeding and changes.