What baby stuff do you need/did you find really useful?

[qazxc]

Have been looking online for baby stuff and have managed to totally baffle myself.
What is best dropside cots or ones that turn into a bed?
If you plan to breastfeed, do you need bottle stuff in case it doesn't work?
what features should you look for in a travel system?
Do you need a baby monitor? if so what kind (there seems to be a bewildering array, Sound, sound and motion, video?)
what stuff did you never use/ what stuff could you not have lived without?

You need a car seat to get you home from hospital if you go in to have the baby.

Somewhere for baby to sleep. My elder two went crib - cotbed - bed. My youngest went crib the cotbed then cotbed as a bed.

Blankets/ sheets

A few lotsof sets of babygrows/ vests

Nappies.

All the rest I believe is nice to haves and very much depends on your lifestyle and how you want to use it.

Travel systems are a personal thing and it depends on what your needs are. Do you do a lot of driving, how big is your car, what sort of walking will you do, city or countryside. Best thing to do is go to a big store like John Lewis or Mothercare and go play.

You'll need a car seat and some clip on the frame of the pram, although newborns can't spend a long time in one as it squashes their airway and bends them in the wrong position so you'll need a lie flat pram seat too.

We used a crib then bought a cot bed for when DS moved into his own room at six months. It's recommended babies sleep in the same room as you for all sleeps til six months as it lowers the risk of cot death.

You won't need a baby bath, the sink will do then you can use a big bath, up to you.

We have the summer infant baby touch video monitor. But we didn't buy one until DS went into his own room.

I bought bottle stuff and was glad I did as bf didn't work out unfortunately. So you'll need a steriliser, bottle brush and bottles.

Nappies, but don't buy tons as everyone has a favourite brand. Some leak.

Vests and babygro's

Blankets and sheets.

Change mat or table.

If you get bottle feeding stuff, keep it in the box and keep the receipt, then whatever you don't open you can return.

I planned on breast feeding but I was given some advice to have bottle feeding stuff to hand just in case. This was really useful and after 6 weeks I wasn't able to breast feed anymore for medical reasons and having the stuff there meant we didn't have to panic getting it... So perhaps that might be something to think about?
In terms of formula feeding I found a milk dispenser so helpful and still using it now with DS who I almost 1. It makes night feeds easier because you have already prepared it.

We got DS a cot bed and it's brilliant and will see him through for years. And it has different height levels.

Can't think of anything else... Hope some of that has been useful?!

Muslin squares and wet wipes are essentials ime. A monitor can be reassuring first time round but we only used sound ones.

video monitor was really good... even now with DD at 22 months we still use it. so many times we would have gone into her room after hearing her making noises but could see she was fine & no need! also good for when/if u start putting baby upstairs in moses basket at a proper bedtime but before u go to bed. You can see eyes open/closed & breathing if close enough :-) my friend had a motion sonsor thing but wished she'd not bothered & got video one.

travel system SO handy for me, car seat clips onto wheels for quick shop trips - those car seats soon become too heavy to lug around. but, we also had a carrycot attachment for longer periods out etc so bab could lie flat.

still use the flower floating bath thermometer now... still use baby soft brush & nail clippers. still use changing table (probably shouldn't but I'm preggers again & saves my back/knees etc!).

found plastic bath seat for newborn really really useful... I found it really difficult to hold & wash a baby all at the same time!

cheap bouncy chair much much better than swing/rocker chair/ all singing all dancing stuff.

a pack of plastic links were best toy/teether ever... clipped onto car seat/shopping trolleys/high chairs & was one of the first things dd gripped as so easy for little hands.

I could go on and on...!!!

Right bottle feeding stuff goes on the list. I'll leave til last and keep receipts so that I can return if i don't use it.
I might hold off on the cot until after the baby is born, so that i can see how DSIL got on with hers.
I'm planning a trip to mothercare this weekend to try out a few travel systems.

People rave about muslin cloths, what do you use them for?
Any other bits and bobs that made life easier?

DD (still tiny) sleeps in a Moses basket next to the bed but we also have a cot bed (secondhand off eBay, new mattress). I've found sleep solutions quite challenging - we're trying a cocoonababy in her Moses basket at the moment and we have an amby nest for naps (also secondhand)... She sleeps well at the moment - I want that to continue! I don't have a monitor because she's always with me or with DH. I might when she's older.

DD is ebf, but I have bottles and a pump and I express a bit do we have back up food. I started expressing quite early so it's built into my supply to produce a bit extra...

Pram-wise we went for two - one super light and tiny that was compatible with our car seat, one big three wheeler that can offroad. I just found it impossible to find one that did everything that I could still lift into the car for quick trips on my own.

Things I use all the time other than the obvious (pram, car seat, nappies etc): big 70x70 muslins, lansinoh, baby books (she's only a month old but she already finds them fascinating, I read to her every day), sling to carry baby in around the house so I can get stuff done, baby bjorn bouncer (keeps her happy for long enough to finish my dinner!), incontinence pads for the change table, weleda nappy cream (clears up redness really fast), led nightlight (have it behind the bed - gives enough light to feed / chane by without waking up DH), comfortable nursing bra, mini travel nappy change kit (lives in the car glove box for when I forget the change bag)... As far as clothes go, it depends on so many factors. I have far too many!

Muslin squares are so useful. They can be used as bibs, wipes, shoulder protectors, extra layers, put on changing mats in public, hangover pram to keep out sunlight and it goes on and on.

I found stacking cups to be a great toy when they are a bit bigger. They can be used in the bath, sand, musical instruments, hide and seek, making towers and putting snacks in. They also fit easily into a handbag.

Boots give you a free changing bag which is really handy

Our bouncy chair has been indispensable. Have used it every day since about day 3. DD is five months old.

I disagree having bottles and formula in promotes the whole What if I cant. Supermarkets are open 24hrs. Get yourself a good book like the womanly art of breastfeeding or baby lead breastfeeding and fill your brain with what is normal as ammo for inferring outdated advice from family/friends That's what worked for me second time round.

Other essentials

Morrck hoody. I LOVED mine.

Babyjogger city mini- borrow a pram if you like the look but by 6mths its largely redundant or if look at baby jogger versa.

If you have room in your bedroom get a full size cot/cot bed and take off one size and covert to a side sleeper.

Blankets at first/grobag later

Bouncy chair with varying reclines.

lansinoh

Close carrier/ manduca / Tula

A decent car seat and base if you can afford it. Borrow if necessary and save money for next stage- look at extended rearfacing before you buy. Britax babysafe is one of the longest lasting infant carriers length wise.

I also had a mothercare top cot changer....not a wooden one. It was really helpful.

Morrck car seat blanket. Or star wrap looks great but not tried

Summer (brand) 'snuggle nest'

Calpol, baby nurofen, infacol, snuffle babe, digital ear thermometer, digital bath thermometer. Mamas & papas acqua 2 stage bath.

Dull but useful.

Angelcare sensor monitor.

Cardigans. Never coats until they can walk!

Avent pots

Boots or other powder dispenser for formula if you need it. Bottle of Milton for sterilising. Manual breast pump. Nipple shields. Lansinoh. Savoy cabbage on day 3. If baby suffers with wind, doc brown bottles are best. Few cartons of ready made formula

Yy to bouncy chair-doesn't need toy bar.

If you can get hand me downs take them. Read up on bf & expected problems as much as poss. Go to a bf group while you're pregnant. Get some candida (?) to put in fridge to avoid nipple thrush.

Research cranial osteopaths in your area, (great if baby has colic)

The thing I have found most useful has been a sling as it allowed me to be hands free and hold my baby close - so I could eat lunch in the early days! A friend gave it to me, I was sceptical, but I still use it all the time.

I also second having lansinoh and nipple shields etc in the house. It meant that when I got bitten (only once, but that was bad enough) I had the stuff to help me deal with it without worrying about getting to the shops. Also our bouncy chair has been extremely well used.

And yy to muslins! Mainly used to mop up spills, dribble, sick, etc. I also use one on the changing mat in case she wees while I'm changing her nappy, but have also used them as sun shades, impromptu blankets, etc. I never go anywhere without a handful of muslins!

Yes to bottles - if you struggle, then waiting even an hour while husband nips to supermarket, decides what he needs to buy, get home, washes and sterilises bottles before you make them up - an hour can pass easily. With a screaming baby, it's horrible.

If you are going to BF, having bottles at home won't stop you and if might give you the reassurance that you have the option.

Muslins for everything.

The wee clips for hanging bags on pram.

Dummies - even if you don't like them. Doesn't hurt to have them at home

Dummy chain - not the homemade ones on eBay but from proper shop. If you don't use dummies, you can attach books or little teddy for in pram or car seat.

Bouncer - once the baby is a bit more alert, he or she will like being able to look around and see everything.

Blackout blind for bedroom - make the room nice and dark for naps and bedtime. Helps with routine.

Top and tail bowl - you don't have to bath daily. Quick squoosh about with a soft sponge.

Stacking cups - one of the most played with toys ever.

Everyone will use diff things. Half of above we never used. What's an advent pot?

I would say:

Sling
Car seat
Pram ( but not huge one)
Vests/ babygros
Cardigans with no hoods ( they spend all day asleep so it's in the way)
Nappies/ wipes/ mat

Think that's all we brought. No lotions/ monitors/ singing things/ bouncers/ bath things etc

If water was hot I could tell by dipping elbow in, bathed in kitchen sink then normal bath etc. I held off figuring everything was available with 24hrs if really needed but found I didn't need them anyway. Ie both babies here were happy to lay on sheepskin rug when small, and sit with regular cushions behind when bigger so saved buying bouncer/ rocker/ jumper/ bumbo etc

Avent pots-great for weaning, simple design but totally great as they stack, freeze, microwave & screw top is so much better than clip on top. I didn't have them with my first but think I'll be using the, for years to come! Wait til they're cheaper on amazon-I got them for about £8

www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Avent+pots&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3AAvent+pots

Sling, grobag, bedside cot, vests, , nappies, cloth wipes,

Evelyn- I don't own a microwave and don't think I've ever frozen baby stuff. So they look good but wouldn't have been used here. Shows how different people have diff lifestyles so use diff things

I might be being dense but are babygro's and sleepsuits the same thing?

Yes, they're long sleeved and have legs and poppers. Vests are short sleeved and have no legs and three poppers underneath. So they wear a vest under the babygro.

Thanks pobble. so vests and body suits are the same also, why do they not stick to the same word? Are they purposefully trying to confused first time, baby brained mother's to be?

I thought babygros were footless and sleepsuits had feet?
qazxc, I've found that the best vests are the ones that have no sleeves - the little sleeves get rolled up under other clothes... And if you're going to use a baby sleeping bag, you'll also need some long-sleeved vests to wear at night but that's not until a few months old when they're big enough for the sleeping bag.

We coslept and I breastfed so our Moses basket, cotbed and all the bottles and sterilising stuff was all completely useless. As was our pushchair- I used a sling for the first 15 months.

Useful stuff:

Car seat
Nappies
Bamboo washable wipes (but cotton wool equally good)
Lots of sleepsuits and vests
One or two cardigans
Pram suit
Snowsuit (depending on season obviously)
Baby nail clippers
Stretchy wrap sling
Breastfeeding tops and bras (I never could do the two layers thing)
Posh new pygamas for me- I lived in them for the first month
Bouncy chair- the baby bjorn one is good their slings however are awful I used to eat lunch while bouncing the chair with one foot.