What do you class as essentials for newborns?

[fairydust]

A fried of mine asked me this today - so i thought i'd ask what you considered to be essentil.

Errrrr.....nappies

Muslin squares are a must in our house. I've got about 18 and still can never find a clean one when we're going out.

A bag to put all essentials into.

Muslin squares -never had these what are they for?

vests, vests, vests.

Well, all 3 ds have been terrible dribblers I use them to mop their chins, mop my shoulders when they've been sick in me.

The good thing is once they are passed the stage to need mopping they make excellent tea towels and they;re really absorbent.

ohhh they sound good -are they from mothercare etc

You can get them anywhere. We still won't leave home without one 14 months later!

Oh i like the wrap around vest things - nver notcied them when i had dd - so i passed that on

any baby shop really, mothercare ones are expensive though, about £6 for 3 I think.

I got my present ones from superdrug £4 for 5 but that was in the summer when PG with DS3

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muslins, nappies, vests - nothing else really. Breasts? Or other milk, of course.

paper knickers ???

blankets (the ones with the big holes from mothercare)

as a neurotic first timer, my baby monitor. Also found a couple of small soft cotton pram blankets invaluable for use in the car on wintry days, in the moses basket at night/for naps, on the floor for ds to lie on/me to change him on etc.
Baby sleeping bag came into its own when he was about 2 months old (cold winter nights and a developing kicking habit)
baby oil gel has been ace for preventing nappy rash - I just wipe it in all the creases after his bath - haven't needed anything else cream-wise

Instead of muslim cloths I bought 2 packs of ten white facecloths from the baby section in ikea.
Something like £2 for 10.
Very handy for everthing including breastfeeding.

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Never bothered with paper knickers myself.

As for maternity pads buy 3, 4, 5 times the amount you think you'll need. With DS1 I had 2 packets and they were nearly all gone within 24 hours, by the time we got to DS3 I had 7 packets before I'd even gone into labour but they were still nearly gone with 5 or 6 days

but aren't paper knickers uncomfy

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I got given some quite comfortable sort of fishnet jobs at the hospital - they were lovely!

not strictly essential but on my wish list I'd add a digital camera and if the baby's to be born in high summer then an electric fan. oh and lanolin ointment for your poor sore nipples.

Essential? Nappies, clothes, blankets, rags or something to wipe up messes (paper towels would do, really), some way to transport them in addition to in arms (sling, carseat, whatever suits you). Working Breasts.
That's about it.

Pain killers and if not breast feeding the stronger the better. (probably only allowed paracetamol if you are)

I found the pain/feeling of my milk coming in worse than labour.....honestly, that is the most agony I've ever been through.

Muslin squares - fab.
Protect the sheet from baby sick (just move the cloth, don't faff about changing the sheet),
protect shoulders from baby sick/dribble,
make inpromptu bibs from them,
I made an emergency baby sun hat complete with flap at the back from one once too
Knot them into a comforter (cheap and easily replaced) - DS2 has a rabbit somewhere.

Mine were indespensible!

Savoy cabbage leaves for when your milk comes in.

Clothes for winter. Everyone has bought me dresses for 4-6 months thinking that everyone else (or me) will have bought newborn clothes but noone has and I need clothes now!

DD looks like a tomboy dressed in her brother's hand-me-downs.