What do I actually need for a baby?

[AlbusPercival]

Does anyone have a definitive list?

Baby boy, due end of Octiber. Plan to breast feed. Planning a chicco next to me crib for our room and also a normal cot for the nursery.

What other furniture do I need?

In terms of clothes, bearing in mind the seasons. How much of each item in each size? Thinking of sleep suits most of time in at least first few weeks

You need as much OR as little as you have money and space for.Brought up my 3dcc in dire poverty.No maintenance, no benefits. Keeping them fed and dressed for the weather is all that is necessary.The rest is optional depending on available money and space.

I think you need:
6 short sleeved vests
6 sleep suits with built in scratch mits
2 hats
A cardigan
A snowsuit
2 cellular blankets
2 packs of muslins
A car seat

All clothes in new born and a set in 0-3 month. I've only ever known one baby go straight to 0-3 month clothes, my 10 lb 5oz nephew, my 6lb 5oz and 6lb 11oz babies would have been totally swamped in them. You could always keep half of them in the wrappers so you can exchange them if you have a bigger baby. Even with tiniest they don't wear newborn for very long so don't spend a lot. If I had my time over I'd buy only plain white because you can easily boil wash them, they're uni sex and they are simply the cutest thing to dress a baby in! Prepare for an avalanche of new born outfits from friends and family- all of mine seemed to like buying them!

In terms of kit I have over two babies bought it all I think. I would recomnend:
A bouncy chair. I got the Fisher Price woodland one and it's been great. We paid £45, it did for both babies for 6 months each and we've just sold for £15
A sling. I had a Caboo then a Connecta, both of which I loved. Look up your nearest sling library.
I love our Quick Buzz and now love our Phil and Teds. What sort you need really depend on how you live though!
Baby bath. Unless you have a huge sink. I found our really useful.

Wrt nappies I couldn't even consider re usable with ds as we didn't have a washer and used the laundrette. Considered them with dd but I knew a couple of friends who used them and decided very much against it. I would definitely go for a mixture of the two if my bins were only collected every three weeks though. Some local councils run schemes to help with the initial outlay.

What is a cellular bksnket?

Please don't buy a radar key, it's meant for disabled people.

Great advice

A cellular blanket is one of the ones you see that's got little holes in, like a crochet one rather than a fleece. They're more breathable. I got some from George at Asda really cheaply and they're still going strong for dd 2 years later. They both slept under them until they were big enough for a gro bag and I used them in the pram.

I have approximately 15 blankets from my children. Ds was born in December and I was obviously concerned he would be cold.....So was his grandma..and our old neighbour....and three of my friends....and the lady I did craft fairs with....you get the picture! I honestly am the cautionary tale for baby purchases. I have had five change bags ffs. Baby towels?? I've ended up with 6- bought 4 and got one free with each baby. Pop up cot?? Yep, waste of space and money that one. Bumbo , poo bin, mothercare baby carrier......My dd is about to turn one and I'm currently trying to sort through The Baby stuff. 7 metre squared vacuum bags, 3 storage boxes and 3 ikea bags of clothes. So much kit. Some of it is actually worth money so needs sorting but it's a pita! Think of silly NickyEds when you're about to buy your new born another pair of dungarees or some booties/shoes. Babies don't need shoes until they can walk outside. I know that now!!

We used reusable nappies. Loved them. One size fits all ones and me at we could use same ones when we had a 1 year old and newborn. we just hung on railing to dry in flat also and they dried overnight mainly. I prefered just a wash in evening every other day than remembering to buy nappies for two, and carrying up flights of stairs to our flat etc.we used from around 6 weeks old. Had disposables for travel

You might want to wait a little bit before trying reuseable nappies - the different types will fit different shaped babies and it'd be ££££ to buy every option, plus you'll probably have enough going without worrying about reuseables. Though people do use them straight away too.

Also remember different things suit different families hence the choice, but no need to buy all. A winter baby would need different layers to a summer.

Buy some 3 - 6 month clothes, DS was a stonking 9lb 12oz and didn't fit into anything I bought for him.

As much as a radar key is for disabled people, most of the baby changing rooms near me also need that key.

Clothes for newborn
10 vests
10-15 babygrows ' never have enough
Muslins
Hats x2-3
Scratch mits 5-8 pairs easily lost
Cardigans ×2
Blankets/shawl depending on when baby is born but id say 5

Coat just one in newborn
Bibs as many as possible
Snowsuit x1

Crib-pram-car seat -baby bouncer
Playgym soft newborn toys cot mobile

Can I recommend a website if you're planning to breastfeed?

Www.kellymom.com

I was glued to it with both DS1 and DS2, wondering if what was happening was normal. The Next2Me crib will be helpful if you're breastfeeding.

(I never bothered with vests btw, unnecessary faff)

I second a sling. I have shitloads 2 Moby Wraps, and Ergo Baby and a Manduca.

I have never used the pram.

I only bought 2 packs of babygrows and vests in newborn. Then same in 0-3. Plus some bibs. Most nb and 0-3 grows have the turn over cuffs. I never used scratch mits.
Didn't bother with any other clothes until after DD was born. People will buy gift etc and no point buying to excess. It's easy enough to buy more of needed. Same with toys and things.

a big flask like the ones you get in hospital that dispenses brews throughout the night - put it next to your bed

I have approximately 15 blankets from my children. Ds was born in December and I was obviously concerned he would be cold.....So was his grandma..and our old neighbour....and three of my friends....and the lady I did craft fairs with....you get the picture!

This. DS was born in October and we got given about a dozen blankets and various playmats, so I really had no idea what to do with them all! Depending on how big your extended families are, you will also get given more than enough clothes to last you the first months! So whatever you do, don't buy much. Buy much less than you think you will need.

My advice would be not to panic buy! Remember, almost anything can be ordered and collected from a supermarket within 24/48 hours. So as long as you've got the basics, you're covered!! Congrats

Hmm got everything out today. Seem to have quite a lot.

Completely get blanket issue. Baby has 4 already and not due for another 4 months

See Albus! It's started! You will often hear on mn that 'the shops will be open the day after your baby's born'. My baby was due on Christmas eve. The shops would, in fact not be open the next day so I would need everything to be ready. As it was he arrived early and dp ended up shopping on Christmas eve anyway to buy a light up, singing frog and a Gro egg.

If you follow Janet Lansbury thinking about baby development you don't need a Jungle gym, bouncy chair etc

Third baby here and already looking at what we need

I need to buy a chicco next to me and this will be only bed we have until we reconfigure some space.

A car seat and base ( buying base off a friend)

I've chosen a blanket I like. My big regret was not having one I liked with DC1, with DC2 I chose a stunning and its in all the photos etc.

Snowsuits are useless. Can't use them in car seat. Buggy has blankets footmuff etc. We use light fleece all in ones.

A stretchy wrap or close caboo- invaluable.

If first baby you'll get loads of clothes so don't buy too many . No idea if we'll get given as much this time around but I'll buy 7 vests/baby gros with an eye on extras to order last minute if necessary.

Muslins or cheap hand towels - we had loads with DC2. Buy at least 6!

I'v 12 muslins.
The whole 'can never have too many muslins'
Ha now 18 month now, and I haven't even washed half o them

Never used scratch mitts. Don't own a snowsuit (DS born in January). He wouldn't tolerate hats. You need one cardigan and one blanket. Get the bare minimum and if you need more you can get pretty much anything delivered the next day from Amazon.