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?

[AuntieMaggie]

mummy someone on another thread said incontinence pants were better than the maternity pads... think it was this one

[qazxc]

Hospital recommends I pack 1 pack of maternity pads in labour bag and 2 in ward bag. I have been advised that the thicker the better to cushion the sore bits.
I have a half used box of breastpads donated from DSIL who couldn't breast feed to start me off. I'm kind of going to play by ear and see if breasfeeding works out and try a different brand if these don't suit.

[NickyEds]

I'd take 2 packs of maternity pads to hospital and have another 4 at home- it was the one thing I wish I'd bought more of(OH did have to get me more!). I'd get a couple of boxes of breast pads- My DS is 11 weeks and I use 6 over a 24 hour period- Also these are 2 quite cheap thing so it's not the end of the world if you end up binning a few but very unpleasant if you run out!!

Don't bother with a new breast pump as if you need to pump in the very early days the hospital will have a great one- when you get home you'll probably want things to settle down a bit- I bought a posh one and have never managed more than a few drops- total waste of money!!

Get cotton wool pads not balls (2 big packs for £2.50 at asda). Although I now use them as wee-catchers to stop DS peeing in his own face!!!
Asdas little angels sensitive wipes are suitable from birth- after 2 days I stopped using water and cotton wool as it's a pain in the arse running warm water all of the time- just used wipes except when midwife was visiting!!

No to bumpers just bottom sheets(more than you think you need if you have a sicky baby) and cellular blankets until baby is big enough for a grobag.

[elliebe13]

Good list. I had for baby vests, sleepsuits, changing mat, cot, sleeping bag, baby towel, nappies wipes and sling. And a warm all in one for outside. Didn't buy breast pump until left him alone, around 12 weeks :)

Lots of muslin cloths I wish id been told I would need

[sleeplessbunny]

I would add a sling and a baby monitor to your list, OP. Otherwise seems v reasonable. Best wishes for the new arrival

[mummytobejuly2014]

we have purchased; isofix base secondhand, a new maxicosi pebble carseat, a hooded baby towel, a couple of different weight knitted blankets, a new avent natural breastpump for £12, 1 pack of 50ish newbaby pampers, 5 packs of johnsons sensitive wipes, box of 50 tommee tippee breastpads, 3 tommee tippee closer to nature dummies which are for emergency incase they interfer with breastfeeding, 5 pack of up to 1month long sleeve vests, 3 pack of 0--3 sleepsuits 3 pack of 0-3 pattern vests, 3 pack of 0-3 soft bottoms, a 0-3 month knitted jumper & 2 little hats.
going to get some more sleepsuits, the bath sponge support, 2 change mats, ikea change table, mothercare £40 crib & a mattress & some sheets. and to pay off the rest of the wayfayer pram. any other suggestions?

[FabBakerGirl]

Bumpers are pointless in my opinion and can be dangerous. Baby needs to sleep feet to foot in the cot anyway so their head doesn't need a buffer from the cot.

Buy a pram that is a carry cot and I wouldn't bother getting the pram set. By the time the baby is out of the carry cot they will be okay to go into an umbrella buggy and you will be sick of lugging around a large pram.

Sponge support in the bath is a great idea. We had them and didn't bother with a specific baby bath. Heavy to fill and ones that come without a plug hole are ridiculous.

I'd buy a cot rather than a cot bed. Cot beds won't last so you'd have to buy a bed eventually anyway. Cot until 2-3 then normal sized bed with a bed guard.

If you are certain one or the other I would go for a door bouncer rather than a swing as they are larger and take up more room of course. If you mean a bouncy chair or a swing I would say bouncy chair or even a bean bag. They are underused for kids in my opinion and great from about 5 months.

I used to be a nanny before I had my children so had access to a lot of pointless equipment.

[FabBakerGirl]

You will need tonnes of pads, sanitary and breast, and your DH will have to man up and get used to buying feminine products. You need to woman up and realise he won't melt if he has to do this.

[FabBakerGirl]

You could got through 5 changes of clothes a day so you definitely need more clothes!

[mummytobejuly2014]

im afraid to buy too much of wrong size. do I buy newborn or not?

[Boogles91]

Weve not really bithered decirating as we are in one bed flat at mo. We have a silver cross travel system and i can tell you that you will be pleased :) collapses so easy for when little one is bigger and they are so easy to use and big enough :) as i know some are really small.thats the only thing we have got at the mo as i mc last year and feel like wed be jynxing things if we did. We only really got that as its 2nd hand i saw it for £60 the whole lot car seat and everything and couldnt let it go a miss lol its like new aswell hardly been used we are very pleased with it :) but we having a browse everytime we go out :) not gonna bither with a bath, sinks never did me and my bros any harm :) hehe gotta wait till i get my grant now though as we bit short on the money side of things. Gonna live all the shopping though :D hehe well excited xx

[hubbahubster]

Newborn clothes are massive - up to 10/11lb. DS was actually in tiny baby at just under 7lb, and we were told he'd be 8lb+! So newborn stuff really won't go to waste. I found H&M baby stuff amazing as their sizes are much more specific than most - up to 1 month, 1-2 months, 2-4 months... Way better than swamping baby in huge 0-3 months stuff.

[tomatoplantproject]

Sounds good - you really don't need much and then figure it out. We moved house just before dd was born so I bought the minimum and then was given or leant loads of stuff. I bought a few white babygrows, some muslins, a basic medical set (thermometer etc). We were given a crib that I bought a new mattress for and I bought a chest of drawers which we use as a changing mat. I used the buggy for sleeping downstairs in the early days.

I have waited until we really need something before buying so have tried not to get inundated with stuff.

Enjoy your baby!!

[CheeseTMouse]

When your baby is slightly bigger I would recommend baby sleeping bags rather than blankets - look out for them in the sale. I also would get a sling (I was given one, was highly sceptical) but it is probably one of the things I have used most, as it means you can have your baby close and actually have your hands free to eat!

Have you thought about things like a baby monitor? And if you are planning to breastfeed lansinoh cream?

[qazxc]

people love buying newborn sizes, so you'll probably get loads of the smaller sizes babygrows/clothes as gifts. I have also been given loads of baby blankets, so has my DSIL.
If you have an upstairs, maybe you should consider a monitor, so that you can hear LO when you are downstairs in the evenings.
A sling/carrier, as a lot of newborns just want to be with you all the time and it would leave your hands free. you can often pick these up cheap second hand or even better borrow them from a baby wearing library, as different babies like different kind of carriers.
A bouncy chair, so that you can put baby down, again it doesn't need to be new or fancy.
breasfeeding cushion / nipple cream.
a first aid kit (thermometer, nappy creams, nasal aspirator/drops, colic drops, ...).
small bits and bobs (nail clipper, muslins, hats, bibs, .....)