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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

One thing that you bought/received that was a 'lifesaver'?

74 replies

Ymamiss · 12/04/2015 17:55

Hi, I'm expecting my first baby, and am really overwhelmed with the choice of baby things available to buy, e.g. bouncers, cribs, bumbo seats, playmats, etc.

What was the one thing that you had that you definitely felt made a difference to your overall wellbeing/sanity?

Thanks in advance!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Whatabout · 12/04/2015 18:03

Gin.

AbbeyRoadCrossing · 12/04/2015 18:07

whatabout

I know it's a mumsnet controversial one but I loved a cloth sling for doing things round the house. Some babies hate them though so worth seeing if you've got a clingy one after they arrive.

Oh and Netflix for the night feeds.

If it helps I had a preemie, and had very little ready. It meant we didn't buy too much unnecessary crap, they really just eat, sleep and poo in the early days

TheWintersmith · 12/04/2015 18:16

Dry.shampoo.

Revelation.

TheWintersmith · 12/04/2015 18:19

Me too Abbey. We had jack shit ready. It all works out in the end. I didn't even have decent bras because bloody MotherCare refused to fit me, as it was too early in the pregnanc despite me telling them I was in and out of hospital and high risk of premature birth and wanted to get fitted whilst I was out of the bloomin hospital for once.

I'm still cross about that now and the child in question has been at school for some time now!

passthewineplz · 12/04/2015 18:20

Cot top changer! I ended up with an emcs, couldn't bend, or get up properly from the floor for months and it saves your back.

Baby car seat that fits on a stroller frame, and muslins.

straighttopudding · 12/04/2015 18:20

For our first, we bought a tommee tippee baby bath with an in-built support - so useful to be able to reach for the cotton wool/baby soap/shampoo whatever without having to support baby with the other arm. She loved it too because she could splash her arms and legs about freely.

It's since been passed around our friends as they've had babies and hopefully will come back to us for dc2

Bobian123 · 12/04/2015 18:23

It is so overwhelming OP!

My favourite thing was the baby bjorn bouncer (think its called a balance bouncer or something similar). DS was quite unsettled and I tried him in one at a friends house. He was miraculously soothed and I bought one on eBay immediately. They can bounce themselves quite easily. I know several people who have loved theirs.

Also, my kindle for night feeds!

Pantone363 · 12/04/2015 18:23

Rented a bed nest. £90 odd for 6 months, attaches to the side of your bed and the side drops down for access. You get a brand new mattress with it.

So easy for nighttime you can comfort baby without getting up, no lifting or carrying if you've had a section or stitches and really useful for breasfeeding.

Cerealchanger · 12/04/2015 18:27

I was given one of those really flexible laundry baskets that mean you can carry them with one hand. It was genius as I was carrying the baby in one hand but could still carry other things round the house. It saved me a lot of trips up and down the stairs!

JoyceDivision · 12/04/2015 18:29

Vouchers for local beauty place for a pedicure.

May sound nuts but I had bad cankles, and I lived in birkenstocks. Having pampered feet and fab toenails lifted me out of post pg mess to slightly more sorted in appearance

AbbeyRoadCrossing · 12/04/2015 18:30

Same here WinterSmith on the bras, although I was at bravissimo and got told not to by them yet

5YearsTime · 12/04/2015 18:36

Lifesavers...

Packing a large hospital bag, we ended up staying much longer than I would have thought my over the top packing for me, DH and the baby paid off.

Products wise- Snuzpod is great, having baby at arms length is great as I can do quick checks and sooth the baby quickly.

Dogsmom · 12/04/2015 18:39

Dd1 spent hours in her Jumperoo, it was so useful to have somewhere I could leave her safely while I got on with housework although it's not something they'll fit into until they're a few months old.

We were also given a bath support which was very useful and I'm using it again with 6 week old dd2, I find it really awkward to hold them safely with one hand when they're wet and wash them with the other but with the support I can lie her on it and use both hands.

A lot of things depend on each babies preference, dd1 hated being wrapped up up in bed so loved the freedom of a sleeping bag whereas dd2 hates her arms free and loves being swaddled.
Dd2 also detests having her clothes changed so is living in sleep suits whereas dd1 was very laid back so I'd put her in an outfit for the day then change into a sleepsuit for bed, it's such a shame because I now have loads of beautiful clothes and sleeping bags that I'd hoped would be reused but they're hanging in the wardrobe untouched.

tictactoad · 12/04/2015 18:41

Dummy.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 12/04/2015 18:44

LoveFilm subscription and a sling ...

Somersetlady · 12/04/2015 18:50

We were kindly given an Angel care monitor with pad to detect if baby is breathing. Meant when baby slept i could sleep without needing to do the new mum thing of constantly checking his chest was going up and down!

We bought a bugaboo donkey as I knew i was having a section and it's got a basket on the side and is superlight and easy to push. Have since borrowed/ tried a number of different buggys and not one comes close to the drive and ride.

theDudesmummy · 12/04/2015 18:51

Three things:
Ring sling.
Very good breast pump.
Sponge bath support.

StarSpotter · 12/04/2015 18:52

I second the BabyBjorn bouncer. I got one off eBay when baby was a few months old, but wish I'd had it from day one. Brilliant.

GlitzAndGigglesx · 12/04/2015 18:52

Breast pads!

DextersMistress · 12/04/2015 18:54

Loads and loads of muslin cloths.

StarSpotter · 12/04/2015 18:54

And only Lansinoh or Tommy Tippee breast pads. Cheap ones shift around and then nearly wax your nipple off with the sticky side when you take your bra off. Ouch!

Wendied · 12/04/2015 18:58

Definitely the Jumperoo. DS loved it and it allowed me to have somewhere safe to put him when I was making dinner, mopping the floor etc.

PazRaz1975 · 12/04/2015 19:01

Lanisoh
A thermos hot cup - to at least attempt to get a hot cup of tea inside me!
A play mat - perfect when little one is a bit too old to place in a Moses basket, but needs distraction whilst you shower. Fisher Price Rainforrest one is great.

McFox · 12/04/2015 19:04

Either the bedside crib, the puj tub (a little seat for bathing your baby in the sink, a total lifesaver after an unexpected csection) or the baby bjorn bouncer - it's too hard to make a call, they were all fantastic.

Gingerandcocoa · 12/04/2015 19:06

Stokke sleepi crib. It was a gift, as I wkhld never have bought it myself. But an absolute life saver because I can wheel it around the flat. Probably not as useful if you live in a two storey house, but when my son was a newborn I'd bring it into the living room during the day and then wheel him around the house as needed.

Now he's on the bigger setting, I still wheel it between his and my bedroom depending on where I want him to sleep or nap (we have had guests, work on the flat etc that made this necessary.)

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