A list of things to buy for first time parents! Hope this helps

[WhyTheHeckMe]

I just found an email that I've sent around to a few people that they've found really useful, a lot of people may not agree so feel free to add any extras or comments if you don't agree. Bear in mind this was aimed at a winter baby :-) hope it's of use. I'm pregnant again and I'm so glad i have this!

CLOTHES FOR WINTER
Necessary

• Short Sleeved Vests
• Babygrows (with integral Scratchmits, the ones we got without mits barely got used)
• Hats
• A few packs of scratch mits (we didn't use them much as they don't stay on)
• Bibs
• Snow suits (for out walking in their pram really as they're not allowed to wear them in the carseats)

Optional

• Cardigans (we got lots and he just never wore them! Maybe as he was a boy?!)
• Outfits - see below
• Long Sleeved Vests
• Socks - only need once they're in outfits

Long sleeved vests weren't really useful because they say in the winter, babies should wear short sleeved vests and baby grows so they don't overheat. We bought lots of long sleeved vests and he didn't wear them.
We also bought lots of proper 'outfits' but honestly for the first month or so, they just wear babygrows (also known as sleepsuits - I didn't get the difference and there is none! Probably obvious to everyone else haha) So all the outfits went to waste. They are asleep so often and you will probably barely leave the house initially, so its pointless putting them in anything else really.

BABY BEDDING

Necessary

• Something to sleep downstairs in - probably Moses Basket
• Cot for Nursery
• Mattress for Cot
• Fitted Sheets
• Cellular Blankets
• Baby Sleeping Bags (get 2 or 3, these have been a god send. In winter they need 2.5 tog and wear with sleepsuit and short sleeved vest)
• Cot Mobile (not really needed for a while)
• Something for baby to sleep in in your room. You can use your Moses Basket from downstairs but is a nightmare to keep carrying and they only last about 3 months. The Snuzpod we bought has been brilliant, costs around £220 including mattress but lasts a lot longer. Then if baby does outgrown moses basket, at around 3 months you can start putting them to bed upstairs anyway

Optional

• Cot Bumper (some links to SIDS, but still widely sold and they stop baby from hitting their head. We got a breathable mesh one)
• Sleepyhead Deluxe - mimics the womb, large pillow. Has been amazing! Costs about £100 from John Lewis but most women from my NCT group ended up buying them. The transition from cosy womb to large, open matress is too much for most babies! Wont fit in Moses Basket so only buy if you plan on getting baby to sleep in something bigger such as the Snuzpod (or cot in your room)

NURSERY

Necessary

• Cot (a cot-bed is a good long term investment, they don't cost that much more. Ours was around £180 and in the East Coast range which is sold widely but also in Asda)
• Chest of Drawers
• Baby Monitor (we have the Angelcare Movement Monitor that comes with a Sensor Pad. Highly recommend. Also has a thermometer and nightlight built in. Other people love video monitors but we decided we'd spend our lives watching it!)

Optional

• Cot top changer (doesn't really get used that often but a life saver if you end up having a c-sec. Cost around £30)
• Changing Station / Chest of Drawers with Change unit on top. - I personally wouldn't recommend these. They're expensive and can't use once baby rolls over (which was @ 9 weeks for us!)
• Gro Egg - really useful for giving you the room temperature. Glows either Blue, Amber or Red depending on temp. Doubles up as a nightlight
• Nightlight - if you don't buy the above
• Rocking Nursing Chair (we used allll the time for night feeds)
• Baby Coat Hangers (Ikea do wooden ones really cheap and they're lovely)

BATHING & CHANGING

Necessary

• Nappies (plenty of size 1. I bought Micro too which i didn't need (for if the baby is around 5lb or less!)
• Nappy sacks
• Baby Wipes - honestly don't bother with cotton wool and water. Total waste of time you'll be there forever especially with the awful tar-like poos in the first few days. However the hospital will only let you use Water Wipes (sold in Boots for about £2.50 a pack. They're very pure. Use them for a month, then switch to a standard sensitive baby wipe (Mamia / shops own are fine)
• Nappy Rash Cream (we use one called Weleda Candula Nappy Cream and metanium are great. Don't get on with sudocrem one bit
• Changing Mats x2 (one for downstairs / one for upstairs)
• Basket to put all your nappy change stuff in
• Hooded Towels for Baby
• Bath Thermometer
• Sponges
• Nail Clippers or Files
• Baby Massage Oil / Shampoo / Bodywash - ANY BRAND BUT JOHNSONS! Notoriously terrible for babys skin as they're so perfumed. I ignored this advice and ** developed awful rashes for days till we stopped using it. Asda own is good
• Cotton pads for wiping babys face and eyes (don't use balls, they shed like mad)

Optional

• Baby Bath (we've used ours a lot, still use it now. Others say they're rubbish)
• Baby Comb
• Bath Support (for when they're in the big bath)

FEEDING

Necessary

• Lots of Muslins

Optional

• High Chair (for when u need it. Ikea are great and cheap and used in loads of restaurants)

IF YOU BREASTFEED

• Breast Pads for Leakages (you'll need these anyway as when your milk comes in you'll know about it!)
• Lansinoh Nipple Cream (trust me!)
• Nipple Shields

IF YOU ARE EXPRESSING TOO

• Breast Milk Storage Bags
• Breast Pump (Medala Electric Pump is brilliant)
• Steraliser (Tommee Tippee Electric one is fab and comes with all bottles / teats / Bottle warmer etc that you'll need so no need to buy anything else! This is the same for if you choose to forumla feed, it literally comes with everything)

IF YOU BOTTLE FEED

• Steraliser - as above
• Also if you plan on bottle feeding from the start, i think you have to take your own formula and bottles to hospital as they only provide them if you can't breastfeed for medical reasons. I'm sure that's what they said to me!)

FOR YOU

Necessary

• Maternity Sanitary Pads - get the maternity ones not normal ones. They're absolutely massive and hideous but they soak up a lot!!
• Cheap big pants - I bought them from Sainsburys, a pack of about 5 black size 14 pants. You'll be so grateful for comfy knickers!

Optional

• Nursing Bras if you breastfeed (your boobs will be huge and hard for a few weeks, but then go back to normal size once you're milks calmed down so don't buy too many huge bras. I made that mistake and now none fit me as they're all too big)

The rest of the stuff for you is under the hospital bag bit!

OUT AND ABOUT

Necessary

• Travel System (you get carseat / carrycot / pushchair all in one. These are great as when baby falls asleep in the carseat, you don't have to transfer them to a seperate pushchair, just put the carseat straight onto your wheels)
• Changing Bag (get one that includes a fold up change mat)

Optional

• Sun blinds for the car
• Sling for carrying baby in (can't recommend one as my Baby Bjorn really hurts my back)
• Toys to hang off carseat / pushchair
• Mirror for car to hang off the back headrest so you can see baby in your rearview mirror as they're rear-facing (I recommend the Hauck Mirror which you can buy off internet)

MISCELLANEOUS

• Bouncer (just to sit them in and give you a break, they don't need to do anything fancy as long as you can bounce baby to sleep!)
• Playmat (Mamas and Papas Stargaze one is brilliant for keeping them entertained as has twinkly lights)

NEXT IS WHAT I WOULD PUT IN YOUR HOSPITAL BAG!

FOR YOU

• Lip balm (gas and air absolutely dries your lips out)
• Throat sweets (as above)
• Phone charger
• Hairbrush
• Hairbands
• 10 x pairs of cheap big pants
• Paracetamol (the only form of pain relief you can take till you're 4cm dialated)
• Ear plugs (for if you end up on a shared ward after)
• Facewipes
• Drinks Bottle with BENDY STRAW! By far the best thing i took in - needs to be something your partner can just hold while you sip without tilting your head back!
• Carrier bags (for bringing dirty stuff home)
• Flip flops for shower
• Nightdress for labour (preferably one with buttons down the front if you plan on breastfeeding. Ysou dont wear hospital gown unless you have c-sec)
• Nicer pjs for after birth
• Loose, comfortable going home outfit
• Birthing plan / Maternity Notes
• Maternity Sanitary Pads (10 or so)
• Dressing Gown
• Slippers
• Nursing Bras (1 or 2)
• Breast Pads (10 pairs or so)
• Nipple Cream
• Wash Bag
• Toothbrush / Toothpaste
• Shampoo / Conditioner
• Face Moisturiser (skin can get dry)
• Thick socks
• Dark Towel (from memory i don't think they provided any towels!?)
• Tens Machine (I didn't use one but some swear by them - you can hire them or buy them)
• Money
• Snacks (crisps / chocolate / etc. I also took pots of 'Just add water' Energy Porridge. Absolute godsend!)
• Glasses / Contact Lenses

FOR PARTNER

• Phone Charger
• Clothes (he should wear layers. It'll be winter but can be really hot. My husband wore a jumper and was roasting. A casual shirt is ideal as he can have skin to skin with baby too which is lovely for bonding)
• Toiletries
• Handheld fan (to use on him and you!)
• Change for the carpark
• Camera

FOR BABY

• Vests (I'd take 5)
• Sleepsuits (I'd take 5)
• Scratchmits (if not on babygrow)
• Hat - absolute must
• Blanket for baby to sleep under in hospital
• Blanket for carseat
• Snowsuit
• Water Wipes (1 pack)
• Nappies (probably 20)
• Dummy
• Nappy sacks
• Changing Bag
• Car Seat

What I did was had my main bag, but also had a 'back up bag' in the car with extra clothes / nappies / toiletries / breast pads / maternity pads etc incase i stayed in longer than 24 hours (which I ended up in for 5 days in total so was totally worth it!!)

Bloody hell no wonder people think babies are expensive! Ha!

Very early on in my pregnancy but this list looks amazing so I'm saving the thread! Thank you

It's been a while (DD is 3.5) but can I also recommend the AngelCare Monitor? Saved DD's life when she was a baby.

And an addition to the hospital bag: a handheld battery operated fan. Hospital was boiling and they didn't have any fans!

Also a sling or carrier. God send when DD was refluxy. I never managed to work out how to tie the sling properly so ended up buying a Caboo. Ooh one more! Love to dream Swaddle Up. Really helped when DD kept waking herself up

By number 4 I promise you your list will consist of vest, sleepsuit and nappies and wipes

I've only had one.
Necessary:
Babygros
Blankets
Moses basket
Muslins
Nappies
Wipes

Nice to have:
Everything else.

I'm about to have number 2 and I think this is a great list and perfect reminder - thank you x

• if buying a baby bath, get one with a plug hole - makes it a lot easier to empty.

-In the crib at night I lined it with a fleece blanket well tucked in around the mattress base. -Set up a changing place both up stairs and down stairs so you'll have less moving around when changing. -Have a good support for you back when sitting or feeding and however you choose to feed, set up an area with your book/drinks/snacks/muslin cloths/TV remote/phone. -Buy stuff as you need it. There will be lots of expense with a new baby and only buy what you need. There are so many expensive gadgets, half of which you may never need or use. It's very easy to get carried away or overwhelmed. -Buy nappies/wipes in bulk when they are on offer but shop around. -Online home delivery can be useful if you don't have time for traipsing around the supermarket. -A rain cover is always handy if putting the car seat on the buggy base. It keeps out the draft, keeps the baby dry and cosy and will prevent people breathing/coughing/spreading germs and touching them with unwashed hands

So I live a teeny tiny cottage and have PFB due in 10 weeks (eek).

So have trawled the internet for essentials/ minimalist baby lists, and tried to strip it back a bit (although it still feels like I have a tonne of stuff already.

Clothes for winter (up to 1 month, 0-3 months) For each size bracket:
Short sleeved vests
Baby Grows
Scratch Mitts
Hat
2 Cardigans
Bibs
Tuppence and Crumble star wrap
(+ random assortment that has been given to me, will see what I do and don't use)

Baby Bedding/ Sleeping:
Armsreach Co-sleeper (works as co sleeper, freestanding bassinet, full size cot and playpen)
Fitted cots sheets (must remember to order them!!)
Mattress protector
Carrycot from travel system (for daytime naps)
4 Swaddle Wraps
4 Sleepbags for 3+ months onwards
3 Cellular Blankets

Nursery - She will be in with us for first year (her nursery is not ready...are bedroom hasn't got plaster board up yet, so that is the priority...DH has just this minute come into the living room and announced that he thinks we will be ready for plasterer after this weekend...yeh!):
So....3 Drawers in our chest of drawers
Philips Avent bath/Room thermometer (as I didn't want one with a night light)
Changing mat on windowsill (deep cottage windowsills are great!)
Have been given a really cute toddler bed by a friend, ready for when she does have her own room.

Bathing/ Changing:
Changing Mat (for windowsill)
Philips Avent bath/Room thermometer
Plan to bath in normal bath...How advisable is it to have a baby support for doing that?
Baby Towels

Nappies:
One pack Newborn disposables for hospital/ first few days
1 pack disposable wipes
XS Motherease Sandy's X 17 + covers (for from birth)
Small Motherease Sandy's X 10 + covers
Selection of Birth to potty All in ones and pocket nappies
Cheeky wipes (plus fresh bag and box)
Stay dry fleece liners (we are on a septic tank so flushables are not an option)
Nappy bucket & mesh bags
Wet bags X2 for out and about
Old back pack as changing bag
Thin folding changing mat

Feeding (intend to breastfeed):
Muslins X 10
Nipple Cream (any recommendations?!)
Disposable and washable nipple pads
Feeding pillow (triangle)
Will need a breast pump at some point when I go back to work after 8 months (think Medela electric pump any recommendations?)
Chicco Pocket Snack Booster Seat (as no room for highchair, just waiting to see if one comes up locally on ebay/ FB)

Out & About (Was planning on trying to just use a sling, but friend advised to get a pushchair/pram just in case so pick one up cheap second hand):
Travel system (Carrycot to be used in house for daytime naps)
Raincover
Lodger Bunker Footmuff (apparently much easier for opening up when you go inside, suitable for car seat, and 2 layers that can be used separately or together for different seasons)
Car Seat (need mirror for car)
Sling -Ergo original & Moby wrap (also been given a baba sling)
Babywearing/maternity Coat

Play
Baby Bouncer seat
Folding Playpen (we have a dog so seemed sensible).
Thick play blanket for floor
A few Lamaze toys
A few soft toys
Splashabout happy nappy and neoprene wrap (want to get swimming ASAP)
Still need to get a selection of books.

Misc
Baby thermometer (not decided which style yet)
Baby Gates X2 (they are as much for the dog as the baby)

I have additional stuff that has been given to me, so will see what gets used. But have tried to be firm with people about what I can take and fit in the cottage (particularly DM & MIL).

Most of this has been bought second hand via ebay or local fb groups or donated by friends and family.

My hospital bag is still a work in progress.

The paracetamol you should not take in to the hospital if over the counter. This will be provided as if you ate within the hospital any medication you need needs to be precribed and written down.

The cot bumper you should really really avoid.

Fab list and pretty much what is on my very similar list. Currently 27 weeks with DC2 and just trying to locate everything from DS1 ken 4 years ago, so helpful to compare to my list.

Excellent about the sleeping bag tog, DD due in January and I have no idea about what level of thickness is good for winter babies

Such a useful list, thank you! Expecting my first in Feb so this is perfect timing.

Thank you! I'm 27 weeks so needing to get more organised too!

This is brilliant, thank you! We are due in March with our first and don't have many friends with babies we can get these useful inside tips from!

Can I ask a dumb question? Where do you bath a little baby? We could put a baby bath inside our big bath and so bathe it there, but what if I ended up having a c-section - I can see bending down and into our bath into a smaller bath would be difficult and hard on the back in the best of times and impossible after a c-section!

Swan we just used to put the baby bath on the floor in the bathroom so we could sit next to it (I ask had a c-section). We had a shower on the bath taps to fill it up with, then at first DH would have to lift it over into the bath to empty it, once I was recovered I could.

Wow such a great list! It does get confusing how many baby items to take and what sizes too. Did you all take a variety of sizes such as Newborn, Up to 1 Month and 0-3 Months?

danadas

"25/11/2017 18:03 Skyechasemarshalontheway

"The paracetamol you should not take in to the hospital if over the counter. This will be provided as if you ate within the hospital "

Yes paracetamol will be provided three hours after you need it

@Danadas yes I can imagine! I have barely a thing to buy for this baby, in fact even at 20 weeks pregnant I've not bought so much as a baby grow but I think that's down to having everything already!

I’d go for long sleeved vests in winter rather than short sleeved.

I'd advise taking paracetamol with you! Unfortunately we had to stay in for a few days and our hospital was seriously understaffed so I had to go and ask every time I wanted some, got told they would bring it to me and half of the time they forgot, the after pains I had were quite bad so I couldn't of coped without taking my own!

Same here Jessiecat! I had a section and the hospital forgot to give me pain relief for 16 hours! ! I was screaming in agony and ended up having morphine injections when there was finally a shift change. They put on my notes I refused my Meds :-( which of course I'd never have done. So all I got from the investigation was an apology if my notes were wrong!
I'd have been lost without the paracetamol I did manage to have on me!

By the time you're on baby number 3 or 4 there's no list.
Good list OP for first timers.

Whytheheckme they didn't mark down me taking my antibiotics either and I couldn't remember the time I took them so a notepad and pen is good too!

I'm on baby no.3. I can't speak for all hospitals only from exsperiance however if you choose to bottle feed the hospital provides you with little mini instant bottles of sma or brand of your choice with disposable teat to feed baby.
If you had to take it in with you there would be no where in the average nhs hospital to wash all bottles and steralise after use as well as prepare feeds for baby.
I could also cut that list in half...first time parent you want the best of everything and fall into the trap of feeling the need for everything however you soon learn half the stuff you buy was a waste of money