What do you need? First born.

[OnNaturesCourse]

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?

Oops think I posted on an existing thread and not somewhere more relevant! Sorry!

Have you considered breastfeeding OP?

Yes, and unless I can express straight away I'm not interested. I had a previous post about it. I have some problems both mentally and physically with it. 😟 so although I'd like to try it might not happen.

I won't derail your thread any further then.

Can I just add about changing tables (for balance!) - I absolutely love mine, wouldn't have been without it for the world. Bought a really decent solid wood one secondhand off eBay for £50 and it was one of my best baby purchases.

Thank you.

We are looking at a full nursery set of solid wood which I just absolutely love. It's a set of drawers too and the changing part can be removed at a later date much like the cot goes into a bed so should last... I hope.

That's like ours! The drawers got used for clothes when my oldest was past the stage of being changed on a table.

Also I don't know how many children you are planning but a changing table is handy for keeping a newborn and their pooey nappy away from a toddler. Ours was secondhand and is still going strong, two kids and another due soon!

I brought a Tommee tippee prep machine and my DH had a right grump on saying I'd wasted money. OMG - how he has changed his mind!! Best thing we ever brought - makes the feeds at correct temp within seconds. Quicker than boiling a kettle - amazing for night feeds. On days out, I buy the pre-made cartons and warm it whilst out in a cup of hot water.
Just remember you gets lots of people buying you clothes so I barely brought anything before hand. I just topped up with sleepsuits from a supermarket when I realised I didn't have enough.
Baby swing or vibrating chair (buy second hand though as I don't think they're worth the money new).
Socks - they're good for holding sleepsuits in place!
Personally I don't think you can ever have enough bibs and dummies!! I think I'm going to be finding these things round the house in years to come I've lost so many!!

Yes! I have a regular toddler who stays for weekends etc so it will be good for that. I might relook at the prep machine...

Prep machine is great. I'm considering buying a variable temperature kettle for making up bottles at the right temp as our prep machine is out of use at the moment. Don't make bottles up with boiling water as it damages the formula and that can make the baby deficient in certain nutrients. I've got a proper Thermos that I'm using for now and that I take with me when I go out for the day as you can't make bottles up in advance for that unless they'll be used very quickly. I make all bottles up fresh because it's quicker than warming them and the baby will absolutely scream the house down in the meantime.

My best buys (other than the obvious):

A Tommee Tippee bath and room thermometer
Cuddledry towel
An old fashioned, whistling kettle from Ikea that I use to boil water - I just leave it on the hob for a bit afterwards, then pop the whole thing in the fridge. It's all sealed sothe water stays sterile and no cleaning required. Makes things much easier
Swaddle blankets
Muslin cloths (better than bibs in the early days I found)
A new clothes horse for hanging all the extra washing

Good luck!

Also, about making bottles when out - this is my method:

Take Thermos of hot water
Take little pots of pre-measured formula
Take an empty bottle
Take a bottle with pre-measured boiled and cooled water

Measure hot water from the Thermos (About 10ml per ounce, minimum four ounces otherwise the water cools too quickly to sterilize powder). Add measures formula. Shake. Add measured cold water. Shake again. Voila!

Water requirements are on the back of the formula pack so I just work out how much cooled water I need.

If your not breast feeding the tomee tipee prep machine is best purchase we made. Takes 2 mins to make a bottle at right temp and amount.

not essential but me and DP have found ewan the sheep very helpful in the night! plays white noise/heartbeat sounds. Also water wipes if you dont want to use cotton wool and water

I don't think I will be able to breast feed but if I can it'll be a mix between formula and BF x

I caved and bought a prep machine.

I bet you don't regret it!

Greatest purchase we made too tbh!

I've 2 children and bought way too much with my first. If I was to start again I'd only buy 1 pack of vests and baby grows. The reasons for this are:-

I didn't know what I was having and as soon as I found out wanted colours.

I had loads bought when they were born

My first born was 11.3 lb so didn't fit in most that we had bought

Shops are open 24/7 so you can always get something if urgently needed

You won't regret it - promise!!
Second the PP who said about swaddle blankets - they were a god send!!
And if you can't afford a Ewan the Sheep, download 'womb noises' on your phone. Got our DS2 to calm down when newborn. A hot water bottle to warm their Moses basket or cot was also a god send.

I make up 6 bottles to cover 24 hour period and my 6 week old is absolutely fine and healthy. This is how my family have made up formula for many years. I store them in the fridge and heat as required (in a jug of boiled water which is quicker than the bottle warmer I also got free as part of my kit).
See NHS common questions for more info: www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Pages/infant-formula-questions.aspx#whatif

I returned my prep machine as didn't feel satisfied following all the recent reviews about mould and find that making the feeds in advance much easier anyway. Hope this helps

Just some pointers/ramblings:

1. Remember that you don't know what size your baby will be when born, so don't buy too much 'newborn' stuff. Example: best mate is 5'8", very slim, size 8... baby came out weighing 10.5 lbs. My first was 7 lbs, second was 9 lbs, etc.

1. This is totally personal preference but I kept my baby in sleepsuits until he was 4 months. Did not see the point in putting him in tight, uncomfortable clothes. They're easy to put on, easy to change nappies, they can sleep comfortably, etc.

1. People will buy you a lot of clothes.

1. If you like something, buy it in a bigger size instead, or buy both. They grow very quickly.

1. During these winter months my baby wears short sleeve bodysuit and sleepsuit at night, or body suit with a top and trousers and socks during day in house.

1. Visit funkygiraffe dot com for funky dribble bibs - necessary from about 3 months old and will stop their clothes getting soaked from all the dribble.

1. I found it useful to keep all the nappy changing stuff in a smaller bag within the changing bag - means you can just pop to the changing room with a smaller bag instead of faffing around with the big change bag.

1. The Lamaze character toys are cracking.

1. Rocker chair/bouncer is a godsend, as is a nice big soft playmat for tummy time.

10. Lastly, have a changing station upstairs and one downstairs... both with wipes, nappies, mat, spare clothes... very useful.

Don't get baby gates yet.

I suggest looking into baby sleeping bags for bedding, the gro company do nice ones but supermarkets do their own versions these days.

Join a sling library instead of buying one, most are actually not good for babies hips, and you'll get to meet new people.

Also, I've yet to meet a baby that likes a moses basket, yet we all have them!

Why don't you start with about 9 short sleeve bodysuits & 9 sleepsuits in 0-3 months, maybe 4 bs/ss in newborn. You'll need a spare change of clothes in changing bag in case of blowouts too!

m.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-baby-bath-support/p/619603

This was something I found so useful. My children lay securely in it and with it being made of cloth I could still wash their backs but it meant I had much better control over their safety in the bath. Ever since I've bought them for friends about to have a baby and they have then gone on to rave about them. You can wash the cloth too.

I never bought a moses basket and didn't miss it. So many people buy clothes for your baby I would concentrate on the basics and then pick up stuff as you need it. I used to buy things a year ahead in the sales once I could predict what size my children would be wearing.

Tons of muslins and bibs!

Ditch the bottle warmer they take bloody forever, use a jug filled with just boiled water and dunk bottle in that! Cold water to cool freshly made bottle. Making too far ahead not advised now though I did it with every baby I cared for and they're all still alive to my knowledge! I cooled bottles made ahead by popping in freezer for 15 mins initially. I'd say you need another 4 bottles for a newborn as they feed little and often.

Get a variety of teats as not every baby likes same shape/flow.

Only get one lot of formula just yet - again different babies different preferences plus allergies/irritants

Nasal sucker thingy

Changing table - i never bothered as 8 times out of 10 you won't be home or be downstairs where it's easier to do with a towel on sofa

For you:
Incontinence pants! They're more secure and gentler on tummy esp if you end up having c section.
Deo wipes
Warm comfy night wear (your temp drops dramatically as no longer containing body warmth of 2 people) bed socks and slippers! It's one of the reasons maternity wards are so warm.
Tissues - lots! For various leaks and uses
Cash (inc coins)
Cold/heat patches for any sore areas
Lavender and tea tree oil for bathing in to soothe and speed healing.
Bio oil I've heard great things about but can be pricey. Best thing I've found to prevent scar formation is Holland & Barrett aloe Vera gel (comes in a green tube).

If you're going to co sleep - mattress protector for YOUR bed 😉

And back to baby:
Clothes - gifts tend to be newborn or 0-3 size, I hardly needed to buy any for that stage for dd I was swimming in em! But 3-6 months on I needed to.

I always preferred pampers nappy wise and having taken care of quite a lot of babies before dd I grabbed them whenever they were on offer. Ditto wipes.

Also don't bother with baby bath pita and used ours once! Instead we used a frame thing which suckered to bottom of real bath and held dd up.

Like this:
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00CMR3H04/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1493834192&sr=8-2&keywords=baby+bathing+seat&tag=mumsnetforum-21

There's loads of options along that line now :

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s_ss_i_1_13/261-8350442-1173410?k=baby+bathing+seat&sprefix=baby+bathing+&tag=mumsnetforum-21

Have to confess I'm not a fan of perfect prep, seems expensive and faffy for as you say doing essentially same job as a kettle. I had a travel kettle and jug in bedroom once dd went onto ff. (I bf till she was around 8/9 months but then my milk dried).

Slings - I've used with some babies but not all like them. Dd didn't.

Those saying toys aren't really necessary at this age, it may seem they're not having much effect but different colours and shapes to look at and different textures to touch do help develop eye muscle strength and neural pathways. You only need a few and you'll probably be gifted a fair number too.

Yes! To hooded towels - dd was still loving using hers aged 5 or 6!

Stock up on your preferred laundry detergent, fabric softener, stain remover etc when they're on offer (have people keep an eye out for you if you tend to stick to one supermarket) also if you don't have a dryer get another main airer, over bath airer, radioator airers you're gonna need them (actually I did have a dryer and still needed them ).

Learn the roll DOWN technique and make sure your partner does too, with vests for poonamis!

I've just started to transition dd2 on to formula from bfing. To make a fresh bottle, I sterilise the bottles on waking and then put a bottle full of boiled water into the fridge. When she has a bottle, I put two oz of freshly boiled water into a bottle, mix the powder and then add three ounces of cold water from the bottle in the fridge. It means the bottle is made fresh and is the perfect temperature.