Please tell me what else I need

[Peaceloveandbiscuits]

First baby, no friends with children, no family babies, never even held a baby. I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing! We're not that well off so have been picking up bits and bobs every now and then to spread the cost, but now I've done an inventory I don't know how useful this approach has been! So would you mind looking through my list and telling me what other clothes I need? I don't know the sex, so all babygrows rather than outfits, due 27/12, and I suspect baby will be over 8lbs (three generations of big babies in the family), if that affects how many newborn items we need.

NEWBORN:

• 7 long sleeves, no legs
• 5 short sleeves, no legs
• 3 no sleeves, no legs
• 2 hand-knitted cardigans
• 2 hand-knitted hats
• 3 pairs of socks
• 2 pairs of hand-knitted booties
• 1 pair of hand-knitted mittens

0-3 MONTHS:

• 3 long sleeves, no legs
• 9 short sleeves, no legs
• 1 sleepsuit with feet
• 3 no sleeves, no legs
• 2 hand-knitted cardigans
• 1 fleecy snow suit

3-6 MONTHS:

• 3 sleepsuits with feet
• 1 hand-knitted cardigan

Also got 5 bibs, about 25 muslins, 1 hand-knitted blanket and 3 cellular blankets.

I can definitely see we need more newborn and 0-3 sleepsuits.

Similarly, how many sheets do we need? I've got four each (all jersey) for Moses basket and cot. Apologies for my absolute cluelessness, and thank you in advance!

I never used scratch mits, just kept finger nails short, the tommy tippee scissors are the best I've found, (I have 3 pairs, as I misplace things a lot) the baby nail clippers you can buy are awful.
If you have a baby that scratches a lot put socks on their hands they stay on easier.
But mits for going out when it's freezing.

I wouldn't bother with mittens either. They don't stay on newborns. Some sleepsuits have fold over scratch mitts as a poster already pointed out. I have seen them in next and sainsbury. But I just bite the sharp nails off. I managed to cut my DD1 with the scissors so have gone off them.

Don't go crazy on the muslin. Though I must be te only mum who never used them. I have a 3.5yo and a 2wk baby. Neither of them needed it. I have a drawer full of barely used muslin clothes.

Socks make far better scratch mitts than actual scratch mitts.

a lot more sleepsuits and some more blankets aswell. 4 sheets is plenty you will need a newborn coat aswell. i didnt find i used socks hats or scratch mitts much if im honest as coat had a hood always had raincover over the pram when it was cold and scratch mitts keep falling off they are pointless. and didnt put socks under sleepsuits because of overheating and my dc's lived in sleepsuits for first few months

also you have enough muslins. i brought loads for ds they go used but could have managed with a lot less. this time i have brought 6 muslins and am buying 3-6 burp cloths. ds was breast fed and wasnt really sick at all so used the muslins more for clean ups and as bibs during the weaning stage and then after that i used them to wipe their hands and faces after meals and after that i used them to mop up spills they were useful just not for what i first brought them for

To maxx for sleeping bags. Few more baby grows. If you have a tumble dryer I'd say you've got the basics ok as washing can be turned around quick.

Get more sleep suits with feet and plenty of vests, and that's all they need really. Mine lived in sleep suits for six months

ouch tumble dryer and baby clothes i am sooooo not looking forward to putting my hand in the tumble dryer with all those sleepsuits when its just finished

Thanks everyone, this is all very useful advice. We have a combination washer/dryer but haven't lived in this house during winter yet so don't know what the clothes drying potential is like! We have a garden and a conservatory (la di da) for hanging out.

Peace I picked up a couple of gro bags from eBay for 3 quid each.

Aldi do cellular blankets cheaply too. :)

Hello stranger I got a load of cellular blankets at Aldi the other week

Instead of buying a coat, I'm planning on using wrap style sling and putting DP's coats over both of us - might be more cost effective?

I don't have a baby yet (due any day!) but one thing I would strongly suggest, from looking at what I have already bought, is to look at the WEIGHT rather than the SIZE - some of our newborn size is the same as 0-3 from different shops.

Also, look at the design - some of the sleep suits (ie those from Primark) don't have in built feet/mittens.

I have a 6 week old baby. So have a bit of experience but not tonnes. We've had loads of gifts but only 2 sleep suits to fit him now, people have been buying 0-3 up to 6-9.

I like small babies in sleep suits rather than outfits. My tip would be to make sure they have integrated scratch mits and feet. Also make sure they open down the front, the ones you have to put over their heads are difficult.

As well as some baby friendly washing powder, get some napiSan/stain remover for soaking.

I've got changing stations set up upstairs and downstairs, no fancy furniture but a changing mat with nappies, wipes, cream and spare clothes. Same again for changing bag (which is just a big normal bag).

I'd be cautious about bulk buying any particular brand of nappies/wipes/cream in case you don't get on with them.

Aldi have some cute baby towels at the moment. I had been using hand towels but the baby ones are bigger and better.

If you have a poo explosion, you can pull envelope vests off down baby's body instead of over their head. I've been surprised that sleep suits get dirty (from leaks) more often than vests. I thought it would be the other way around.

m.marksandspencer.com/mt/www.marksandspencer.com/2-pack-pure-cotton-assorted-design-bundler/p/p22243370
Things like these might be good for night time, makes it easier to change nappies.

We bought a cheap plug in nightlight, makes it easier to see a little when you wake up to a crying baby. If nothing else, it's good enough for me to find my glasses so I can switch a lamp on. I also have a dimmish bulb in my bedside light.

I've managed with 2 sheets for the cot, 3 sheets for crib (day time) and 1 for carrycot. (I have more in reserve). I think as a minimum of want 2 for every sleeping location. Even though you get through a lot of items, it's quite hard to fill a washing machine as baby stuff is tiny.

You can also use muslins for drying off their bum after wipes and before nappy cream (friend of mine swears by it) and making a plastic changing mat feel less cold. I sometimes use one in the same way as the fancy blanket with handles mentioned above - warm muslin and then put it down with baby.