what we need for baby

[mummytobejuly2014]

just wondering if everyone decorating/furnishing the baby room before baby arrives?
first time parents & we're thinking of getting a crib just for our room (are bumper sets really needed/advised), 2 change mats so one is upstairs and one down, just setting it on our bed/floor when needed? also thinking of just getting a sponge support and bathing baby in our belfast style sink. we would buy a full size cotbed when baby grows out of crib at 6months as they're supposed to sleep in the same room as parents? we are getting the silver cross wayfayer pram, the carrycot is suitable for sleeping so thinking of using it during the day downstairs. we have maxicosi pebble & isofix carseat also. thinking of using a large handbag as a change bag too.
is this realistic thinking? what else do we need or what is useful?
cant decide between a bouncer & a swing or both?

planning on breastfeeding also so haven't bought any bottles etc but these can be got in supermarket if necessary

You can do as much or as little as you want IMO. We have done a 'baby room' knowing in the main its just for show as he wont be sleeping in there for a long time. Got a 2nd hand cot for right next to my side of the bed for overnight sleeping and moses basket for downstairs.

Sounds great. Wouldnt advise on a bumper set - flat sheet (or pillowcase ) for the crib mattress then just a grobag (if baby is heavy enough) or swaddling cloth for sleeping in.

I had a little bath suppport (towelling ramp) for the adult bath.

Get a little basket for nappies, wipes, spare clothes to keep next to each change mat.

I also just used a large cross body bag as a changebag.RRestocked it every time I came in from being out so it was ready to go.

Only other thing you might need is a chest of drawers for the baby's stuff. Even spare sheets, onesies etc take up space. Plus if you need you can put the change mat on the top to save your back. We picked up a few handtowels from Primark to lay on the mat save it being cold precious!!

We also planned on bfing so had none of the bits but by day three id sent dh to the supermarket and he got everything we needed.

Oh amd we had a bouncer not a swing but a friend had a swing and her dd loved it.

i wouldn't buy crib bumper set i found it a waste personally. change mats are good idea as is most of what's on your list. i had a bouncer for my baby be aware some babies hate them! i found personally baby grows and vests according to season were all my baby lived in for the first 8 months. with separates as he got a lot older. will need bedding sheets etc. i also liked to have lots of muslin cloths

about and you might lived want to buy baby towel.yes bottles can be brought at supermarket but

you need to buy sterilizer as well or Milton cold water sterilizer and a bucket with lid. good luck with the rest of your pregnancy exciting times

I'm afraid I don't no massive amounts as I'm also on my first, but I do no cot/crib bumper sets are not a great idea as they can help cause overheating (like any other excess bedding according to the NHS website) and can become dangerous when the baby starts rolling over and moving around more so it's proly just a waste of money

I have a six month old

Best things bought:

Medulla pump
Water wipes
Expensive chest of drawers to last a lifetime - solid wood doubled as changing table
Mama and papa changing mat ( the other cheaper type ripped)
Bouncer - one lasted only twelve weeks ( big baby ) now have fisher price discovery toddler chair
I do all changes upstairs but use a clean towel if I ever need to change downstairs
Borrowed Moses basket
Ikea cot (just started using) can be tuned into toddler bed by removing one side

I think you sound sensible. Bottles are really easy to come by if you need them and most supermarkets will sell at least a microwave steriliser or definitely Milton solution you can use in a tub or sink at home. I wish I hadn't bought that stuff before having the baby. Don't buy a pump now, either. eBay is full of people selling pumps they never or barely used because they didn't end up breastfeeding.

I loved having a crib sized bed instead of a Moses basket because my baby fit in it for longer. There's a good chance baby could outgrow it by six months but if course then you can make the decision about which cot or cotbed you want.

Your list sounds sensible and like a breath of fresh air compared to some. Moats stuff you can buy on a wait and see basis. Amazon deliver pretty quickly.

You might want to add a bouncy chair (Mothercare do one for £14.99 which is perfectly adequate). It doesn't need to sing or dance, but if you can rock it gently with your foot you may get an occasional hot meal.

The other great thing to do now is research - read about bf (the boards here are great), find out where your local sling library is, your local beg cafe, and children's centre too.

Lots of families set up baby's room before birth. We decorated it and planned the furniture, but we're reusing stuff we already owned. DD is 20 weeks so is still in with us in a cotbed, and there's still a double bed set up in her room for guests.

Sensible list.

We've decided to set up the babies room (though we are lucky this room is not currently used for anything other than junk!)
Money wise it's easier for us to purchase cotbed whilst I am working, but another useful thing Ive read is to spend time with your baby in "their" room. Even if they are sleeping in yours.

I plan on getting ready for bed and wind down time in there, plus any changes which don't occur in the middle of the night. It should help baby get used to the space, so when you do move them in at 6months theoretically they might settle faster as they are familiar with the environment.

Sounds good to me get a box of steriliser tablets they are great not only if you do need to use a bottle in which case you can use a large pan for 2 bottles till you can get out yourself (my dh never gets what I ask for) but also good to soak white babygrows & vests in when the nappy leaks I found it beret than vanish if you soak them straight away

My most useful purchase was a changing table. We got the cheapest ikea one for £25. I also got some clear plastic boxes and some baskets and stacked them under the table for storage (sheets, clothes etc). i thought a changing station would be a waste of money, but no. Up until our DS was 10 weeks, we were up several times a night, changing nappies, more during the day. I spent a week at my mum's when DS was 5 weeks and not having a changing table was a pain in the bum. Was tough on the back and At night, I had to remove duvet etc from bed, then go get the mat, then cover it (its really cold!), then go get my basket with
cotton wool, then go get warm water (too early for wipes). At home, I'd just pop DS on the table and everything was there.

Storage boxes and baskets were my second best baby buy!

Agree with pp. Amazon will become your best friend! There are so many things you discover you will need as you go along and see what you need. I bought bottles, nappies, dummies, black out curtains, wipes, a sling, swaddle blanket, pram sunshades and what not off Amazon because it was impossible to leave the house in the early months. Tip: use their free month trial of Prime to get everything delivered the next day :)

another q - are cotton balls a must? seem like a right faff to me

Don't get cotton balls. Get cotton pads. Otherwise you have to fight with bits of fluff! More expensive but easier to use.

I would use a combination of wipes and cotton wool and water. Wipes to get off the worst of the poo - tiny baby poo is shocking treacle stuff - and then cotton wool and water for wiping down after so no chemicals stay on baby's skin.

have seen an advert for pampers new baby wipes suitable for newborns, just not seen them anywhere yet

I love my tomy tippee nappy bin - something to consider if you will be changing the baby and don't have really easy access to your outside bin.

So far i have :
Travel system (car seat was never used)
Sling
Changing table (one with bath and storage)
All was bought second hand, i just had a look around shops as to what i wanted and scoured local online ads.

People do offer up a lot of stuff so we are getting donated:
2 moses baskets (one upstairs and one for downstairs)
loads of baby clothes, blankets, etc... basically all the stuff that their own baby has grown out of. Even if we don't use end up using it all, all offers of freebies are gratefully accepted.

I have also been keeping an eye out for special offers (like 3 for 2 in boots for small stuff like maternity pads,nappies, wipes).

I'm also planning on breasfeeding but have picked up one of those microwave sterilisers and bottle starter pack, just in case (special offer in Aldi for a tenner). I'm hoping I won't have to use them but i feel easier knowing that all DP needs to do is pop down to shop for formula if it comes to it.

Bumper sets aren't really recommended/needed AFAIK.

have a look at cheeky wipes. They are expensive but you can make your own version. Would save lots of money on wipes and much better at cleaning.

We aren't doung the babies room up yet so won't have a nursery as such until the baby goes into cotbed.

We have a second hand crib so just need mattress, sheets and blankets (read somewhere that pillowcases make good sheets for crib mattress).

Not going to get bumper - have read bad reports of them safety wise and besides which every other baby in my family has managed without.

2 changing mats are a good idea - we haven't got room for a table in our room but like the idea of a basket to put stuff in.

I've tried to separate out a list of stuff i need straight away from stuff i may need so i don't end up buying loads of stuff i don't need... the more i look at it the smaller the list is getting!

can anyone advise how many breastpads/maternity towels to have ready? would rather not have to send OH out to get these. just a rough guide please

Don't know about sponge supports, but a moulded bath (the Mamas and Papas Acqua one) turned bath time from a screaming nightmare into FUN. Wouldn't be without it, and have in fact gone out and bought it again since the first one was given away to friends.

It doesn't cost much more than most supports from what I've seen, and you'll be able to use it for longer since once they can sit up they can sit at the other end.

www.mamasandpapas.com/product-acqua-two-stage-ergo-bath-pearl-white/4538472/type-i/

Oh, and not only are bumper sets not needed, I think they're actively advised against as a bit of a safety risk.

I don't have a changing bag but I have a melobaby changing wallet. It fits 3/4 nappies, wipes, bum cream, nappy bags and has a changing mat in it. Has it's own handle and fits in my large handbag.

If you weren't planning on getting a changing bag I cannot recommend this enough. It is brilliant and I don't feel I'm lugging loads of stuff around.

In fact, even if you were planning on getting a changing bag I'd tell you not to and to get one of these. Best thing I have ever bought!