Top essential newborn item....

[ralv]

Hi All,

I have volunteered to help out at an NCT nearly new sale this weekend as I've heard they can get pretty manic and helpers get to pre-shop. Whoop!
I've not had any time yet to compile a list of the must-have-before-baby-comes .... but want to go in prepared so if you could all offer me your top suggestions that would be fab!!

Thanks.. in advance

Some babygrows in newborn size, and some in 0-3 months. Because you dont know how big he or she will be. And I mean all in ones.

Have you got somewhere for the baby to sleep? Bedside cot? Moses basket? Bassinet?

Have you got somewhere to put hte baby during the day? A bouncy chair or a nice mat.

Chocolate.

that's not what you mean but it's an essential for the early days

Very little really. Baby grows and vests. Bedding. A sling is useful and a bouncy chair if you can get a bargain but they don't use them for very long.

If a winter baby, a tumbledrier for the additional washing they generate. Never ceases to amaze me how something so small can create so much washing up!

Otherwise, baby monitor, sling, somewhere for them to sleep, a play mat/bouncy chair are good and lots of vests and baby grows (0-3 months)

A sling.

DS didn't like to be put down for about the first 12 weeks so I'm expecting DC2 to be the same! I have bought a moby wrap type one this time as more comfy to wear than a baby carrier with clips etc and with a two year old running around I might need my hands free!

That's fantastic thank you!!
Conscious that I don't want to go on too much of a spree before DS gets here!
Are slings OK to get second hand? I've been recommended Baby Bjorn but would love any suggestions?

What about swaddles/ grobags as they don't use duvets in the early days? I've heard swaddles are good as they can help baby sleep when they are very small.

I was wondering about the Grobags... they won't keep their little arms warm.. is that OK??
They do a good range in TKMaxx

Stretchy slings like close caboo or manduca or soft structured ones like an ergo better for newborns.

My babies liked being swaddled in early days rather than gro bags - ergococoon do great zip up swaddles

More seriously, you might want to look at the sling thing. Baby Bjorns don't hold the baby in a great position for their hips or your back (I'm not a sling expert, more recent models might be better). There are loads of slings which do better than this, so worth looking at options. Or even better is to see if there is a local sling meet so you can try options out before buying something.

We inherited a BB but bought an ergo at 6 months which we still occasionally use now - 2 1/2.

I've volunteered at a lot of Nearly New Sales. In your situation I would be looking for babygro and vest bundles. Should be around 50p-£1 per item depending on brand. Maybe some outerwear like snowsuit/jacket for £3-5. Also, first size gro bags. I'd pay around £5 for a gro brand one. Playmat (fisher price one is good), up to £10. Bouncy chair (around £5/10).

I sound always pick up anything I might want to buy then sort through bags later. Worth checking ebay prices on phone to check things are good deal. NNS prices are normally lower than ebay.

This sort of sling is much better for baby's hips and your back www.johnlewis.com/ergobaby-bundle-of-joy-baby-carrier-black-camel/p231802286?kpid=231802286&s_kenid=6e1a73c7-09c1-8808-bb63-000015d9cc95&s_kwcid=106x66587&tmad=c&tmcampid=73&kpid=231802286

If there's one of those going nearly new, get it!

I used this list and found I had what I needed and didn't overbuy. www.babycentre.co.uk/a559809/buying-for-baby-what-you-really-need

I liked the john lewis towelling bath support for the early wobbley head days. Much easier to bath with two hands.

I don't think you'll get a good sling at a NNS. The seller wouldn't get anywhere near a good price for it. I never got on with babybjorns. Baby seemed comfortable but once baby was older than a few months became incredibly uncomfortable. With dc2 I used a moby when he was tiny then moved to ergo and that has worked well.

I second the Ergo carrier as well, we have one of those too! DS loved it in there and you can wear them on your back when they get bigger. It's a bit easier to get on than a wrap sling.

Bouncy chair, was a godsend with both DSs, somewhere safe to put them down for 5 minutes and they could still see everything going on so would be happy for a bit while you nipped off to do something essential (shower/wee/make and coffee and grab a bar of chocolate!)

White noise! An absolute lifesaver. You can get free apps on the iPhone and android, we have one called 'sleep baby sleep'.

tarka I think things usually sell for about the same as ebay prices but obviously without the postage charges which can really hike the prices. Don't know about NCT sales as there are none near me- but at the mum2mum market sales there are certainly a lot of slings. I paid £20 for my Ergo and got a never used Moby also for £20 I usually aim to pay 30-50% of the retail price so it helps to know what you want and do some research in advance. The biggest savings seem to be on the big stuff like cots and feeding chairs (if you can get them home!)
I don't have direct experience but have been told the NCT prices are overinflated for secondhand as they take 30% of the sale price so sellers bump up their price to compensate

If your unsure about the expense of a wrap sling you can normally get an unbranded stretchy for £15 to give it a try. Victoria sling lady and Loveslings on Facebook will both be super helpful and do lovely colours.

Ergos are amazing but quite pricy even second hand although you can get loads of use out of it as it will just a easily fit a 4 year old as a newborn.

Baby Bjorns and any carriers which have a narrow bit at the bum will knacker babies hips and your back.

I'd be concerned that a £20 2nd hand ergo was a fake tbh. They go for about £50+ on ebay NOT including postsge.

Maybe mum2mum sales don't have as good deals as NCT sales then because the prices I've seen (as a volunteer) are always significantly below ebay prices (even before postage).

Also, do you work for mum2mum rightsaidfred? Your posting history would suggest you do?

Muslins to wipe any spill dribble or sick and sometimes they become a bit of a comfort thing you can get them anywhere :)

tarka no of course I don't work for them!
I'm not sure I like that insinuation and surely there is no need to accuse me and report me to MN when I am simply contributing to a thread- same as you. I post on lots of topics and have been a very long term mumsnetter. As a secondhand bargain lover I may have recommended mum2mum market once or twice as I have recommended lots of other things and contributed to lots of discussions. As I said- there aren't NCT sales near me- if there were I would no doubt go and take a look as a bargain addict and form my own opinion- but the reputation they have through my circles is overpriced and unfriendly so I have never felt the need to make a special journey out of town

It's MN call.

Breasts

In terms of products: muslins, baby gros, vests, nappies.