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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Pregnancy

What do you need? First born.

128 replies

OnNaturesCourse · 02/05/2017 10:52

My list so far:
Pram/travel system
Cotbed
Changing mat/table
Moses basket
Car seat
Bottle warmer
Bottle sterilizer
Bottlrs
Bouncy chair
Sling

I have no idea how many vests, bibs, clothes etc, or what else?

Sounds terrible but it's our first, likely our only, baby so I'd like to have most things... Why I have a sling and pram on the list... Am I missing anything? Baby gates? Bedding?

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Sparklyuggs · 02/05/2017 11:20

I'm in the same boat, hopefully someone more informed will come along soon!

My friend who is v sensible and had 2 July babies told me to buy 5 short sleeve vests and 5 sleepsuits in newborn, and 10 short sleeve vests and 10 sleepsuits in 0-3 to get started with, but to keep an eye out on Facebook/eBay/Gumtree for clothing bundles. The charity shops near me are excellent and do 3 vests for £1 so I'm probably going to end up closer to 20 in total but at that price I'm not worried :) Everyone has told me not to get outfits etc but I've bought a couple as I really wanted to.

The pram I want has a carrycot suitable for overnight sleeping and I'm getting a Sleepyhead so not getting a Moses basket.

Bouncy chairs again you can get second hand, most local to me are in great condition for £15-20.

I don't think I have anything useful to say but hopefully that helps a little.

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OnNaturesCourse · 02/05/2017 11:30

Thank you... Everything helps!

I've got ages to go so just getting the big stuff sorted just now like the cot, dresser, pram etc but be good to have a idea of what's next... List is never ending really lol

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Sparklyuggs · 02/05/2017 11:43

It's tricky and everyone has a different opinion on it :) I know some people who only get 5 vests and buy once the baby is here but I've loved buying the odd item in the sale since I found out. Also, we don't want to have to do the washing every day and can afford to buy in bulk, but if I wasn't happy to buy secondhand I'd feel differently about it as I could have easily spent hundreds!

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Eeeeek2 · 02/05/2017 11:48

Always best to get basic first aid stuff so thermometer, calpol (will need for 8 week jabs) calpol nasal spray - good for blocked nose, infacol.

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OnNaturesCourse · 02/05/2017 11:51

Yeah I've got the first aid stuff already, thank you xx

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OnNaturesCourse · 02/05/2017 12:27

List reads :

Pram
Cotbed
Mattresses
Changing table
Moses basket
Car seat
Bottle warmer
Sterilizer
Bottles
Bouncy chair
Sling
Door gates

Nappies

Newborn: hats x 5
Bibs x 10
Socks x 10
Mitts x 5
Long sleeve vests x 10
Short sleeve vests x 10
Sleep suits x 5
Sleep bags x 5

0-3: hats x 5
Bibs x 10
Socks x 10
Mitts x 5
Long sleeve vests x 10
Short sleeve vests x 10
Sleep suits x 5
Sleep bags x 5

Blankets
Bedding

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welshweasel · 02/05/2017 12:33

You don't need a bottle warmer or changing table or door gates at the moment. Buy the bare minimum and wait to see what sort of baby you get! Mine had reflux and hated the pram so the carrycot went unused and I ended up with a nice selection of slings, for example. Anything you suddenly need can be got within 24 hours from a supermarket/amazon.

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summerfruitsquash · 02/05/2017 12:36

If you need it, a cot-top changer is a fantastic space saver rather than a changing table. But really, they get through so many nappies it's easier to just have a mat downstairs and a mat upstairs. Once the baby starts moving more, it's much easier to do it on the floor anyway!
Bottle warmers are just unnecessary gadgets.

Definitely consider weather when buying clothes. And the fact that your child might grow quicker/slower than you expect!

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BasinHaircut · 02/05/2017 12:46

You only need a couple of hats for hospital. You won't bother once you are home and I'm not sure it's recommended anyway.

5 sleepsuits could last you a day, you need at least double that but buy 0-3 and get smaller after baby is here as you might have a whopper! If you buy small keep in the packaging until you are sure you need them and if you don't you can exchange for bigger.

Don't bother with a bottle warmer. I still can't work out in what situation I'd have ever used it. Completely useless!

No sleep bags until 3 months. You will need several light blankets, no duvets for a newborn.

Big changing bag. Get the biggest one you can.

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ButtMuncher · 02/05/2017 12:52

When is your baby due? I have to say I barely used hats at all. Same with scratch mitts - I used bought gros that had them integrated.

I can't really remember what I did/didn't have. TBH the more vests and gros you have the better and I barely took DS out of them until he was 3 months old. we had outfits but as you're changing them so much it barely seems worth it unless you've got a specific occasion.

Toys wise - we bought loads and barely used them until he was 3 months. A playgym is great for tummy time and for them to learn to focus on. Rattles and teddies perhaps but he's only really started playing properly with things at 7 months old - so I wouldn't bother with any interactive toy. My sons favourite toy is a bunch of stacky cups he bangs together that cost £1

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TeaAndPjs · 02/05/2017 13:08

I agree with above, bottle warmer is a waste of money, I got 1 as a gift with ds1 and it got used twice as it too so long as it really was just useless!! I never got a changing unit either, mat on floor or changed them on my knee! I got 10 vests and sleepsuits to start, my youngest was a very sicky baby to start and brought up loads of gunk for 1st few days so needed them! Everything else otherwise i picked up as I went (and will do same this time)

I always had sterilizing tablets in the house as even tho I used a steam sterilizer they were always handy to have when going out for a day to family etc or if we were away for a few nights as didn't need to take big sterilizer with us!

Scratch mitts, I had about 8 pairs as 1 always went missing lol

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TeaAndPjs · 02/05/2017 13:09

When I say going to family for a day I didn't mean I'd normally take sterilizer, if just travel lighter with bottles as always had loads in bag and made up as needed

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OnNaturesCourse · 02/05/2017 13:16

The changing table is set on a chest of drawers that will be used, we are in a flat so it'll be easier that way... It's 5 steps from living room lol

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hellomay2017 · 02/05/2017 13:17

So glad I found this thread! Baby no 1 due in July and have a lot of the bigger bits and pieces but finding it hard to know how many babygrows, vests, etc to buy.

Bless my husband, I think he's in for a big shock. He said 'surely you just need 7 babygrows, one for each day of the week'. The look on his face when my mum told me the baby will likely go through 3 or 4 a day!

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OnNaturesCourse · 02/05/2017 13:19

We have the warmer, was part of a set. Warms in 2 minutes which is quite good I thought? How else would you warm the milk, hot water?

Due November so plenty time and baby will need warm clothes as they will be out and about in the first few weeks plus our home can be drafty

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OnNaturesCourse · 02/05/2017 13:20

We need babygates ...to keep cat out bedrooms lol xxx

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OnNaturesCourse · 02/05/2017 13:22

Hi HelloMay... Your husband sounds like my partner. Thought baby would need two bottles and the dishwasher would clean them with the other dishes. Lol

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ElspethFlashman · 02/05/2017 13:24

2 mins is endless once the baby spies the bottle and starts screaming for it.

Read up on making bottles. If you make them one by one the powder has to go into hot water to kill any bugs. Then you top up with cold to cool it down to lukewarm.

If you're talking about a premade bottle there's no need to heat it at all. It's fine. They'll drink it cold.

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OnNaturesCourse · 02/05/2017 13:27

I don't think I'd make them one by one.... Family members normally batch make formula bottles for next day and store in the fridge. My brother wouldn't take a cold bottle as a baby. Maybe I've been mugged by information !

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Batteriesallgone · 02/05/2017 13:28

Be aware of what you need to care for yourself too. Proper maternity pads, not sanitary pads. Witch hazel oil on the pads is very soothing if you have a VB. big pants that pull up above the scar for if you have a CS.

If you are decided you won't breastfeed, do you have a plan for coping with your milk coming in / engorgement. You don't want to get mastitis when you have a newborn.

Mine lived in either short sleeve vests or sleepsuits. I would recommend buying a few supermarket multipacks rather than fewer more expensive ones. I found quantity was what I needed - putting a wash on wasn't my first priority!

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BasinHaircut · 02/05/2017 13:29

You are more likely to need to cool a bottle than warm one (assuming you are talking about formula) as generally you will make them fresh.

If I made in advance and then cooled and stuck in the fridge I warmed in the microwave as it's much quicker. I know that is frowned upon but it worked for me.

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Batteriesallgone · 02/05/2017 13:29

If you have cats consider getting cat nets to keep cat out of pram / Moses basket

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ElspethFlashman · 02/05/2017 13:32

I'm pretty sure that there's quite a short limit to how long you can store bottles in the fridge. No way should you make them up the day before - no way. Too long.

You really really really should look up the NHS guidelines. Your baby, your responsibility.

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Funnyonion17 · 02/05/2017 13:36

Good rule of thumb is 10 vests and baby grows. Couple of jackets or coats of winter, plenty of blankets. Scratch mittens and appropriate hats. Bibs i would have loads!

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OnNaturesCourse · 02/05/2017 13:39

Yes, I am aware of that. Which is what I'm doing. Researching and asking questions. I did not come on here to be reminded of my responsibility.

From my knowledge they could be made up at night for the over night feeds and next morning. However having read up they now say you can do this to a point... Boil the water, pour into the bottles and store to add the formula when needed. This saves having to boil the kettle more, cool the bottle etc especially in middle of the night.

I'll be running all my info past my midwife in a few months.

But back on topic... Anything else I need to consider? Points have been brilliant so far

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