Freaking. Out. Nothing - and I mean NOTHING - purchased yet. HELP.

[Burmama]

Help me please.

25 weeks and still working full-time, have not got round to buying anything yet for the baby or coming to terms with the fact that I will actually have to take a tiny person home from the hospital and somehow figure out how to look after him.

PLEASE TELL ME WHAT I NEED AS MATTER OF PRIORITY. Apart from carseat which I already know.

Also, this may be a separate question but I have to put together a baby registry for my shower - what should go on that? And, more importantly, what shouldn't?

THANK YOU :)

No idea what a gift registry is (are you US?) so cant advise there but basic needs id say are:

Carseat - which you know
Pram/Pushchair - Id always recommend one with a carrycot as its best to have them laid flat as much as possible
Somewhere for night time sleep - moses basket, crib, big cot
Somewhere for daytime sleep - in the living room - moses basket or crib or similar
Box nappies and few packs of wips
Selection of babygrows and sleepsuits in Newborn and 0-3
Nice blanket

Everything else can be bought/borrowed/gifted after baby is here.

No idea about a gift list as baby showers weren't common when I had dd nearly 12 years ago. But basic needs are:
Car seat
Pram where they can lie flat
Sling to make getting about easy, you can make one buying isn't essential.
Somewhere to sleep - Moses basket, crib, travel cot
Clothes - a dozen vests and a dozen sleep suits, hat and scratch mitts
Nappies, wipes, nappy bags, barrier cream
Muslins - the handiest item ever
Blanket or two
You might want to get bottles, steriliser, cartons of formula etc even if you're planning on bf'ing as sometimes things don't go to plan

Oh and don't forget, really big comfy granny pants as you'll need what feels like a matress size sanitary towels in them.
Breast pads too.

I'm 25+2, working full time and haven't bought anything other than a pack of babygrows and that was only because Mothercare had a sale on and my sister had a voucher she didn't want. Personally, I think there is still ages to go and I'm not remotely starting to get stressed about needing to buy anything, so don't be too hard on yourself! I'll be watching with interest to see what people recommend though :)

Just don't expect your friends to buy you a car seat

It's early days, no need to freak out yet! I think mothercare have a list.

With sleep suits I recommend ones that have built in feet, open down the front and have integrated scratch mitts. Can't remember whether other posters mentioned it but you'll need a little hat too.

Baby shower I guess you need to make sure there's a range of prices so you don't force people into spending loads. I like whattogive for gift lists as it's not tied to a particular shop.

I'm 35 weeks and have had an eBay / Amazon / Boots blitz over the last few days. The bit that took longest was working out what (items and brands etc) I wanted to buy, once that's sorted one shopping trip and an evening on the laptop internet shopping will have it nailed

Haha I'm 29+1 and we've only just ordered the pram and car seat. We have nothing sorted!

I would put the low value items on a gift list assuming you are not in the UK. If you are, don't have a registry, its more usual for people to choose their own gift. Things like clothes, nice pram blanket, lamaze toys all make nice inexpensive gifts.
obviously you know you need car seat, pram and somewhere for the baby to sleep. I would have four sheets for the crib or Moses basket. Eventually you need a big cot but you can get that later. For bedding I would get a_few swaddles to begin with and a few Moses size cellular blankets (the ones with holes in). After six weeks or so you might want to move on to gro bags, you would need 2 or 3. They make nice gifts too.

As for clothes I would stick with the basic multi packs and see what you get as gifts. Get 6-10 vests and 6 sleepsuits in the up to one months size, plus a couple of cardigans, and a hat. Get about 10-12 vests and sleepsuits in the 0-3 size, plus cardigans, and warm outdoor clothing. A fleece pramsuit is better than a padded snowsuit as it is better for using in the car. You will probably get little outfits as gifts so go easy on those. Sleepsuits are more practical anyway.

Muslin cloths are handy, get a couple of packs of them. You may want more but its silly to have dozens and not have a Sicky baby.

Thanks so much everyone! Great tips. That doesn't sound too bad. Except for maternity pads which sound less than charming. Not US, the shower/registry was suggested by baby's godmother in London... I should also clarify that I work abroad and will not be back in UK and really able to shop until I am 32 weeks. Hence the imperative to stress obsess think now about what I need without the mind-easing ability of actually being able to buy anything yet. Also what are people's feelings about putting things like carriers on a registry? Bit cheeky? I get that car seat/pram is a no-no

I think you are better to choose your own carrier by visiting vs sling library. But a stretchy wrap or close caboo is a good one for a newborn to start with and because they are stretchy they will be certain to fit.

If you live near a John Lewis, you can book an appointment with them to review pushchair/pram types and everything else you may need (and a million luxuries you probably won't need to boot). We did this, then bought everything off eBay.
At risk of stating the obvious, you only need a car seat if you actually use a car. It is a myth that hospitals will not let you leave if you do not have one.

Trip to a shop dedicated to babies, such as mothercare - bought everything I needed in one trip when I was 35 weeks (bit of denial going on admittedly!)

I wouldn't freak out, it's still early and once the baby arrives so long as you have the basics, it's likely that friends and family (if not you) can pop out to get extras while you are at home or still in hospital.

Fieldfares list looks good, though I personally would add a soft sling alike the moby or k'tan and wouldn't bother with a steriliser if you are planning to breast feed - they are big and cost money, and if things don't end up going to plan with bfing, or you want to give an occasional bottle of formula you can just use some steriliser fluid or plastic microwave steriliser bags and sort out the full version later. A bottle or two may be helpful, maybe an electric breast pump and some people say to keep a tin of formula but others feel it can be too tempting and muck up establishing feeding... Personally I didn't need one, but then we have a local late night pharmacy, so knew that there was an emergency backup!

Congratulations, don't freak out and definitely don't let the stores use your panic to sell you all kinds of rubbish you don't need. Some of it is lovely, but I can promise that plenty of us do really well with no glider, no official fancy change table and a second hand bassinet from gumtree (though new mattress and new car seat are essential).

Don't stress. You're a way off, and as you get bigger you'll probably find people passing on baby things. I went baby shopping about 3 weeks before my first was born.
You really need: babygros, vests, nappies, hat, blanket, car seat, sling/pram, probably a Moses basket though all mine refused to sleep anywhere except in bed with me. Also changing mat, lots of muslins.
bouncy chair is good.
good luck.

I would also say some of the oversized giant muslins, you can use them for all manner of things, not least to cover up if strangers stare whist you're breastfeeding!

What baby needs:

Something to wear (layers are good so vests, onesies, footed sleepsuits, coat to go on top, hats. You don't know yet what size your baby will be (one of mine went straight into 0-3 months, one went into newborn and one I had to go out and buy "early baby" sizes) so best just to buy a few newborn and a few 0-3 month, then stock up when you know what fits. Or just get a big mixed-sizes bundle on eBay)

Something to sleep in (some or all of cot, moses basket, one of those bouncy hammock things, co-sleeper attachment, parental bed with well-trained and responsible parents. And blankets or baby sleeping bag)

Something to poo and wee in (nappies (disposable or reusable) unless you are going hardcore on Elimination Communication. Changing mat not essential but a good idea. Changing bag not essential but give thought to how you are going to transport changing supplies around in regular bag if you aren't getting one)

Something to be transported in (some or all of sling, buggy, carseat)

Milk and something to drink it out of (this may be breasts in which case less shopping is required)

Some means of being cleaned (wipes, flannel, cotton wool, baby bath if you want (although the kitchen sink is a time-honoured alternative)

Sudocrem This will become your new best friend right up until your baby is a toddler and smears a pot of it all over the front of your flat screen television.

What you need:

Maternity pads They are bigger and softer than even the most absorbant regular pads, and you will appreciate bigger and softer.

Enormous knickers

(if you're breastfeeding) nursing bras (not essential but very helpful)
Cushions (help to support baby when feeding). And Lanisoh (I never actually needed it, but if you do you will want it on hand).

Muslin cloths. Impossible to have too many.

And get an ear thermometer because they are very useful.

Ladies, I am in awe of your cumulative wealth of valuable info - thank you so much!!!! John Lewis will be paid a visit for sure and a sling library if I can find one in Dublin. thanks also for advice about registry. On second thought, I'm thinking I really like surprises so might avoid having one and just see what I get! gift certificates also sound like a great idea. And fleecy pram suit, day sleep option (had not thought at all about that yet) and muslin cloths (I continue to be not entirely sure what they are or what they're for but will definitely make sure I have some). Hurray, back to excited! thanks again!

Oh and lol at Sudocrem on the telly BuckSkinnedAstronaut. Sorry to say it sounds like you speak from experience

Muslins - usually about 10inches square. Uses include....
*on your shoulder when windig baby
*under babies chin when feeding
*under babies head in bed (so if they sick up.you just change the muslin instead of the whole sheet)
*draped over baby and boob if you want to bf discreetley (not that you should have to!)
*draped over the car seat to keep the sun off his eyes (similarly over pushchair)
*wiping up mushy faces when weaning
*as a comforter - some babies like them nuzzled up against their face

BuckskinnedAstronaut! That is a very good list and one I will be borrowing!

ThinkIveBeenHacked you have just seriously cracked the Rosetta Stone of baby equipment for me. Need to transcribe this and keep on fridge. Thank you!!

And get metanium (weird little yellow, savlon sized tube). It will save you in 6 months time when you come on MNet and say 'my baby has terrible nappy rash, usually sudocrem does the job but not this time' and every other post is just the word 'metanium'. It is the dogs wotsits of nappy cream for when they get really sore.

What you don't need:
Anything which 'warms' stuff babies might use
Cuddly toys
Anything which is not machine washable
Baby shoes (although they are soooo cute)
A nappy bin

I never used a plastic baby bath either, although I do know others who have. I bought a little towelling ramp from Mothercare and alternated between using that in a couple of inches of water in the main bath or simply getting into a full batg myself and taking baby in with me.