Shopping!

[LondonRoo]

I just had my 20 week scan and am realising how little time there is between now and January - we are hoping to move house before xmas and time is ticking away.

I've convinced DP that we probably need to go and look at baby things in shops. The intention is probably not to buy things immediately but to figure out what we want and then order online ideally after we have moved house and maybe in the January sales.

The question is - what's essential and what should we be looking to buy? What's not essential or a waste of money?

Grateful for any advice from those who have been there before!

Roo

I'm in the same boat.

So far I have bought a pair of dungarees in the gap sale and a vest.

So, doesn't matter that they've got nowhere to sleep, nappies, babygrows etc, baby will look cute when they fit 0-3 months

Sounds about right!!! Baby gap is soooo cute - probably best I avoid it or there'll be no money left for essentials!

Essential? Co-sleeper cot.

We've got one for DS2 (now 5 months) but didn't for DS1 and its revolutionised my life! I know DS2 wakes up to feed in the night, but I hardly wake and hardly remember. With DS1 it was all sit up, light on, reach over into the crib or get up and traipse to the cot, sit in a cold chair, feed, get up, back to the cot, try to put him down without him waking and traipse all the way back to bed (it's not a big house, just feels like it in the dead of night!). And then repeat it a few times.

Now: half open and eye, scoop DS2 over, feed, scoot him back, zzz.

I don't want him to grow out of it ever!

*AN eye

A car seat!! A place to sleep, some basic vests/sleep suits, muslins, nappies.

I'm 20w too! We have bought a cot, car seat, pram and Moses basket as essentials. We have been given a steriliser (essential if you're planning to formula feed). We have a couple of baby gros we bought in sale.

I'd probably recommend not waiting till Jan for cot and car seat/pram. Sometimes they need to be ordered. Anything else can be bought quickly from most supermarkets.

As long as you have something for baby to sleep in, blankets, baby gros, sleep suits, hats, socks, scratch mitts, nappies and a car seat most other things aren't essential. The nhs and mothercare websites have a list of essentials.

I have a 17 week old baby and I regret buying everything first hand. Look out on gumtree etc for a jumperoo, baby gym, cot and other stuff.

You should buy matresses, car seat and bottles.

I would start pram shopping now as it took us ages to decide and the bigger your bump the more difficult it is to try folding and lifting them. Mothercare has a shocking range. John Lewis has a good range.

Buy baby clothes and Muslims from supermarket. Baby grows with buttons in a straight line down the front are the easiest. Aldi has its baby event starting 15 sept online.

Muslims from the supermarket

Sorry, just snorted with laughter at that typo!!

Surely Muslims are not essential??

Buy a poddlepod it has been amazing for ds2 wish I knew about them first time round. We have a diy ci sleeper again amazing.

Supermarket sleepsuits and vests, a few packs of wipes and nappies that can last a few weeks and a car seat & pram I recommend the armadillo flip.

Are you likely to be offered anything by friends who've finished their families? I inherited loads of stuff and it was really helpful. Eg given a cot so just bought a new mattress.

Dh thinks it's hysterical the number of times I've written Muslims on lists of baby things!

I've bought so many things that are probably non essential. Baby is due in 5/6 weeks and there isn't a nappy or wipe in the house!

Don't go too mad on clothes as you're likely to get some as gifts and also probably some hand me downs and the grow out of newborn stuff at lightning speed anyway. I think as long as you've got somewhere for baby to sleep, a few nappies and wipes, a few basic vests and sleep suits and probably a car seat you're alright. You don't have to have EVERYTHING ready! If you start to panic remember, Amazon deliver next day, the supermarkets will still be there, there's something to be said for waiting and seeing what you actually need.

Car seat. Pushchair. Something to sleep in. A few nappies & basic vests & babygrows. These are the things that you wouldnt want to be caught out without if baby decides to arrive a bit early, or need a bit of research, or you can't easily get by sending DH to the supermarket.

The dread Muslims autocorrect. You would think being an RE teacher I would know the difference but apparently not!

My lo r fused to sleep in co sleeper and repeatedly tried to throw herself out of the poddle thingy. All babies like different things.

Ha ha - I told DP last night be needed to buy muslin cloths and he misheard!!

Thanks for the tips - good to have some ideas about what we need st the beginning. Don't want to buy too much but also don't want to not have something we need!

I keep asking my husband to help me pick a travel system. All I get from him is "we have til January, its ages away" grr half way and nothing sorted. I have some nappies, wet wipes, 2 baby grows and a cardie. That's it.