Getting close now. Anyone else totally unprepared?

[AmberRose17]

I'm 30 weeks and haven't bought a single thing for the baby yet. I've been given some clothes by my sister, and have a promise of a pram and a moses basket. But reading MN posts where people start buying things at 12 weeks is freaking me out. Anyone else in same boat?

I've been waiting for husband to hand in his masters before we can babyify our spare room. Now he has (phew) I'm a bit unsure where to start!

Oh dear I don't think I could have waited that long. My baby shopping was all done by 26 weeks ( bet this doesn't make you feel any better) ,
I'm just one of those whose mind is thinking what if I go early and I've done nothing? I'm now 29+1 and I'm already organising my hospital bag ;-)

If I were you I would start with what I would need if the baby arrived tomorrow and work from there.

So:
Somewhere for them to sleep. If you're being given a Moses basket then you will need a new mattress as it isn't recommended to reuse them. You can buy online cheaply if you know the size.

Baby grows and vests. Supermarket. Cheap and plain. Lots of if you don't want to be washing constantly in the event of a sicky baby.

Lightweight blankets, cellular are very good. Also muslins. Again, lots of and supermarket cheapies.

Feeing- breast or bottle then go from there.

Baby monitor, not essential but handy.

Thermometer for the room, not essential but again handy and can be very cheap.

Nappies, cotton wool, wipes suitable for newborns if you want to use them. Nappy sacks.

Flannels and towel for bath.

A way to get them home from the hospital, so pram or car seat depending on whether you have a car or not.

Have you bought things for you? Maternity pads, breast pads, arnica etc?

Speaking as someone who was in your shoes last year, it will be OK! We were told DS was going to be big at every scan and I am sure he would have been if he had not come 6 weeks early. We had moses basket and a pram and clothes that would not fit him for quite a while. I went into hospital expecting to go home again so had no hospital bag. We were very under prepared. But in the end it was fine. My mum was a saviour though!!

Congratulations on your pregnancy :)

My husband and his family are Jewish, and there's a big taboo about buying anything for the baby before it is born. Which is driving me CRAZY! All I want is to start laying in supplies for my little-one-to-be!

My husband is not into the superstition, so I have gotten a few tiny things (a fuzzy bear suit I couldn't resist), but I'm honestly a little peeved that people from his side (which is much richer than my side) won't buy gifts until after he's born...how will I know what will be gotten, and what I need to buy, and what I need to budget?! It seems like such a weird pessimistic thing, too, "don't buy anything for the baby, IT COULD ALWAYS DIE." :(

I'm in the same boat! 30 weeks too and just have a few bits of clothes bought in the sales and a baby carrier (half price bargin!) I keep telling myself there's still loads of time......

33 weeks, I've for two babygros and that's it! I'm still recovering from moving house, busy at work, partner is away and I feel like crap - it's all going to have to wait till I'm on maternity leave at 37 weeks, frankly! So you're really not alone.

Also I'm totally in denial about having a baby anyway, to be honest...

I'll be 31 weeks on sat and nope I'm not prepared in the slightest! Been given my SILs car seat and an ancient cot from the MIL that is at least 45 years old (not sure how I feel about this, but we'll see), and been promised a Moses basket. Planning on bfing, but maybe I'll get some emergency formula just in case it doesn't work out.

Will probably be given clothes from other mums I know (been told by a few I can have their dcs cast offs) and I've crocheted a blanket.

What mire can the little fella possibly want!

Seriously I ought to start thinking about the hospital bag etc, breast/maternity pads, big(ger) pants and muslins etc.

Kind of feel like the first proper thing I buy my son should be special, nit just a multipack of Tesco babygros, but I don't expect he'll care!

Very relieved to find this thread. I'm coming up on 31 weeks, and my mum got so pissed off with me not having bought anything that she booked herself a flight and frog marched me to the nearest mothercare where she then bought half the shop.

If it wasn't for her, this baby would have a blanket and that's it

Haha. Glad I'm not the only one. Will do some shopping this weekend, so thanks for your list missmargot.

If only we had the nice Finnish baby box here, then there would be nothing to worry about!

Good luck everyone!

Oh yeah, nappies...shudder...

Having a baby is a procrastinator's nightmare - there's only a vague deadline to work to, which could come at any time but could equally be a couple of weeks late!

There is nothing you can't buy in one hour in a large supermarket or chain baby store.

Put it that way there is an awful lot of time.

I'm 31 weeks and have lots from previous dds but it seems very early to start getting it all out.

Didn't start getting stuff until about 34 weeks! Apart from a load from my amazing SIL and a book of nursery rhymes. At that point it occurred to me to go through the hospital bag list and start buying that lot.

It is eminently possible to send DP out for more stuff if you need to. I gave birth at 2.30 on Sunday so the worst possible time for shopping given we didn't get to the ward until 6ish so had to wait 16 hours for additional supplies.

Essential was nappies, water wipes, a blanket, vests, babygrows and a hat. Method of transport (car seat and knowing how to attach!). Place for baby to sleep and sheets. 4 babygrows was just enough for that period - regurgitation including of what she swallowed on the way out and new parent ineptitude with nappies meant we got through a few!

At home we went straight into grobags (lent by SIL) which are great as blankets don't stay put!

coffeeandoranges I hear you about procrastination. I work in a very deadline driven field and am more used to having a matter of days to pull stuff together rather than weeks! You must be due around the same time as me. Let's hope these little ones stay put until the end of Nov so their mummies have time to get ready!

Yes, I figure that I'll try and get organised and if necessary will throw money at the problem late on! Luckily live close to hospital and have a sister whose LO will be 6 months when I'm due so hoping to get more stuff from her.

Well I've bought loads of stuff but I'm not sure I'm mentally ready IYSWIM. I still can't believe it's a real baby in there. And it's my second!!

Yes there seems to be a few of us on this thread due about the same time. I'm kind of hoping for a week/few days early, so I don't Sta start to stress to much, but knowing me, I'll probably go over by the full fortnight and need to be induced!!

Remember the film Jack and Sarah? That little bub was carried around in a jiffy bag with a sock on her head and she was fine. Bet that baby must be at uni or something now...

It's fine. Even if you didn't buy anything in advance it wouldn't be a massive disaster although might be a bit stressful at the time.

Second baby, 22 weeks and I can guarantee I am not doing half as much faff this time round! I'll sort a cot, dig out last baby's clothes, buy a pack of nappies and wipes and a changing mat and that's me done! Oh, stick the car seat in. I guess it's different when you have the stuff but honestly mine never even used the bloody nursery. What a waste of decorating! Co slept until we moved house so this time it is straight to a co sleeper cot and Moses basket in the day. They don't need much really except love and booby!

If you go into labour early and aren't ready for the baby, every single female friend and relation you gave will rally round helping your dH get everything set up while you are still in hospital.

You need:

A car seat
Somewhere for baby to sleep (and bed linen)
Nappies
Some vests
Some baby grows
Cotton wool

Everything else is optional.

Although a pram is nice.

Don't worry, I was really late getting all my baby things too but I was fine in the end. At 30 weeks, you still have enough time to get everything so don't worry. In terms of clothes, don't worry about getting anything too fancy, my baby lives in sleepsuits and I never bother dressing her in dresses as I find sleepsuits much easier when it comes to nappy changing. I would recommend you get at least 7 of them.

I'm 30 weeks and the same! All we have is a handful of baby clothes and I ordered a bf pillow which hasn't even arrived yet . But OH said this Sunday off we go to mothercare! (At least we are already decided on the cotbed/pram/car seat etc.

You still have time but don't leave it too late!

Thanks everyone. Going to do some shopping this weekend. Bunny I remember you gave me some good advice when I was feeling gross in 1st trimester. Hope all's going well for you!

Amber, glad I managed to help, I'm a first timer myself and usually not good at pregnancy advices as don't know much, so feeling proud now! Yes all well thank you except for some GD (happens, what can we do!). What about you? When are you due? I'm on the 25th Nov, think you must be very near?

Ha! I'm also due on Nov 25th. Poor you with GD. I had to have the test as my sister had it in her 1st oh but luckily have escaped it so far (when I got the all clear I did nosh on cakes for a bit). Hope you're managing ok, and good luck with the next few weeks

Ah so nice, we are due date buddies then (even though they said they want to induce me a week earlier due to GD!). Good to hear you escaped it, GD sucks. I'm having dreams about cookies and ice cream every night Good luck to you too, end is in sight for us now!