Infrastructure: What is essential?

[phdlife]

We're on a v tight budget and in a tiny tiny flat - I reckon we'll need a cot, a carseat, and a pushchair since I mostly do walking/public transport. Anything else?

What about a carrycot? I've no social life to speak of but sometimes take myself out for coffee. Are they useful for anything else that a pushchair won't do (if I get a total recline pushchair, that is).

Any advice on how to compromise and minimise greatly appreciated!

No need to get a carry cot. You will obviously need some bedding for the cot, and a blanket for the pram but may get a shawl bought. A sling might be useful with a very LO on public transport. Also only get basic clothes - vests, babygros etc because you usually get bought tonnes of outfits. Don't need a baby bath but I had a beanbag mat I used in the big bath. It just hung up so didn't take up much room.

I'm relying on rellies to help with the bedding/clothes etc - all the fun stuff! What's a beanbag mat and where do I get one? Sounds cool.

BUMP

Have you thought about how you are going to feed baby? I would get some bottles, milk and steriliser just in case bf doesn't go well...you can get an advent sterilser (microwave) for about £20 and it has bottles included. We got one of these and it's great, stays in the microwave when not in use, so less clutter in the kitchen.

I can't think of anything else you MUST get...

I got a car seat and a frame for it to pop onto - very light and easy to unfold. - much better than a big pushchair.

I would definitely NOT get any milk bottles or steriliser - you may never need them and that would have been a huge waste of money.
what about somewhere for the baby to lie/sit down when s/he isn't asleep? a bouncy chair? just a cheap one is fine. it isn't great for baby's back to be in a car seat for too long.
you can get those travle systems with a car seat integrated but tbh if you are on public transport I wouldn't bother. I would just get the lightest one you can find. baby can sit in a pushchair when you are out or you can hold him on your lap or go in a highchair when he's older.
have you tried and nearly new sales if you are on a tight budget.

Agree about sourcing from nearly new/freecycle/ebay (but postage can be prohibitive) because some of the items are really used for a little time. I think I got the beanbag mat thing mailorder from Perfectly Happy People but it was not cheap so you might decide you do not need it.

Baby can go on the floor when s/he wants to lie down, though, don't think a bouncy chair is essential unless you have hard floors and no rugs.

Oh, changing mat. Don't bother with a changing table, expensive and less safe than changing on the floor.

is there s sink you can bath baby in? I always bathed my newborns in the kitchen sink.

I just checked freecycle and someone's offering a mothercare pram in my area of London- so there is stuff on there!

and a carseat!

One package newborn nappies
One package newborn vests
That's it really.

Ikea do changing mats for about 3 quid, and supermarkets are great for babygros. Ikea also quite good for cots I think and v cheap. Can you beg from any friends? We actually found that there was very little we needed to buy, as so much was handed down to us from pals. Even if it's a borrow from friends who haven't finished their families yet it would save you money.

I figured a light push-chair rather than a travel system since we don't use the car that much - easier to get a carseat in there and leave it. Plus I have 16 very narrow stairs to get into the flat so a TS seemed a bit much. (Though tracyk you've got me wondering what make/model you had??) All the rest of it very helpful indeed - thanks, mums!

also got tiny tiny flat with many stairs and a 7 week old.

Have a recline pushchair suitable from birth. Car seat fits onto it (don't have car but parents visit!) Means just 2 trips up stairs rather than 3 if had a carry cot. I go out for coffee lots and pushchair fine. I use a sling lots too. Cot of course and bedding. All clothes other than gifts are from charity shops and e bay. Great bundles to be had on e bay. Think they take up the most space. As he grows out of stuff I'm going to get some vac pack starage bags I think. Nappies (reusable, at first take up stacks of space but one half are in the wash at a time just a bag on a wall hanger.) All toys also in bag on hanger, saves on much storage space.

I have a playmat and a bouncy chair. He does love the chair as he can see more but it folds flat so when not in it it slides under an armchair or the coffee table. I have to express to go to uni and def if you don't need to don't buy bottles etc as it takes up so much space.

Friends/family all the other side of the planet - they will send blankets and clothes galore but not the big stuff. Nobody we know here has kids under age 12 so baby stuff long gone. To freecycle or ebay I think...

where are you phdlife? I am sure someone on here has stufff they could let you have
I have lots of lovely newborn stuff

I am in exactly the same situation as you and LO is due in May. I have picked up quite a few bits from freecycle it is definately worth looking and posting a request. Its worth letting people know that you are looking for things as I have been offered things by friends of friends for a token amount and at least then you know where it has come from. Havent bothered buying much in the way of clothes but have had a look and the supermarkets are so cheap that I am not going to bother getting second hand stuff. I have been advised to get the Maclaren XT buggy as it is compact, lightweight, suitable from birth and not too expensive. My parents have luckily offered to buy it for us but I think you can pick them up on ebay etc.

re buggy - could you keep that in the car as well? We live on 2nd floor and usually just leave ours in the boot - much easier than negotiating flights of stairs.

And do let us know where you are in the country, in case there's stuff people can hand on.

The one cheap thing it's useful to get (whether new or passed on!) are those muslin cloths. Seriously - they have many many useful uses.

Those cheapo shops like Ethel Austin are surprisingly good both for changing mats and in fact also for baby clothes. Primark also does fab baby clothes. However, I second the view that once you can get onto that circuit, many parents are dying to pass on their old baby stuff. In fact you'll find yourself inundated!

Oh, and when I was expecting DD1 my sister helpfully pointed out that 'all you really need are your tits to feed it and some nappies'

Thanks all. What's the emoticon for big hugs?I'm already being inundated with clothes, blankets, teethers, and yes, muslin squares from family - these are easy to post! It's just the big infrastructure/furniture-type things I wasn't sure about. Space is more of an issue for us than the budget.

If someone's desperate to give away a Maclaren techno classic I'm in Cardiff but I've looked on ebay and they're way cheap there. Plus I will post on my local freecycle. Thanks again.

I have never used a muslin square!

I did use terry square nappies though with ds so had a large supply of absorbant material...