Buying stuff for first baby - what do you really need and when?

[lalaa]

I'm 20 weeks pregnant and am starting to think about exactly what I'm going to need when my baby arrives. I'm on a tight budget and don't want to buy stuff until I really need to, but I do want to be prepared - don't fancy shopping for pushchairs, baby clothes, etc, etc once the baby is actually here and don't want to leave it so late that I'm just too big to get it all done.

I've read loads of books and magazines and while some of it is helpful, there's not a consistent approach, and I feel like some of them are just on a major selling crusade. My gut feel is that I don't really need all that much for when the baby arrives. I could really do with pointers as to what is crucial and when other people got it all together!

Thanks :-)

I had been a confirmed chocoholic prior to all three pregnancies but once the hormones kicked in I had no desire for the stuff whatsoever right through to a few weeks after the birth. That happened all 3 times. Completely out of character.

I would buy some lavender oil for the bath water, it has wonderful healing properties, it's relaxing and smells lovely. It is also safe during later pregnancy and for your baby too (good with olive oil for baby massage).

You definately do NOT need babybath and baby shampoo - see new thread

Speaking of baths, we have only ever used our conventional baby bath once - I intend to use it for relaxing foot soaks instead! We found it better to put dd in with one of us. However, I have found one of those baths shaped like a bucket really useful for bathing dd when on my own and for a quick dunking after a particularly spectacular nappy. You can get them on-line from joJo Maman Bebe.

Arnica 30 homeopathic pills (Boots) for post-birth bruising.

I would have quite happily purchased nothing until the baby was born, but luckily my husband (who had 3 kids from previous relationships) dragged me out a month before I was due and made me buy a few babygros etc. I ended up having an emergency c-section and wasn't able to do any shopping for almost a month after the birth. I would advise having the basics as everyone has outlined and definitely the kinds of things you don't really want your husband choosing for you....ie. pads,disposable knickers (I think mine were from boots, the largest size), baby gros. I got hand me down car seat/travel system from my cousin and hand me down moses basket/cot/bouncy chair from friends. I bought a sling because my friend said it was indespensible and my son hated it so i hardly used it. Go 2nd hand as much as possible for all the equipement. Save your money for new clothes when your child is old enough to wear something besides babygros and doesn't pee/poo/vomit all the time. Make sure you are stocked up on laundry powder! Good luck and have fun. I found having a baby so much easier than being pregnant!

Tea Tree oil for your baths afterwards - helps prevent infection.

I found Boots 14-16 size disposable knickers the best (usually a 14). Nice and roomy for those surfboard pads!! Tescos and Mothercare were both too tight and, yes, like cheesewire

And the #1 item: a Do-It-Yourself vasectomy kit

See those baby baths shaped like a bucket?
Couldn't you just buy a bucket?
We have always bathed our children in with us. It's a bit more fun these days with splashy toddler and delighted squealing 5 month old sharing with you!

The most useful things we got for dd when she was born, which we are still using, are a nappy changing box from Mothercare that sits in the bathroom with all her nappies, cream, wipes and so on in it. And a blue shoulder bag that came free with some Avent baby bottles - in there you can just about fit a couple of nappies, wipes, drink, small snack and nappy bags, ideal for short journeys out. It also has an elastic bit for keeping your bottle or cup upright. Plus it came with this cooling/heating bag with two squishy pads that you either put in the freezer to keep drinks cold or gently boiled to keep them warm. Unfortunately dh put them in the microwave one day and they exploded - so don't do this! I think the bag and bottles came from Boots.

susanmt- I thought the same but ours is a bit bigger than a normal bucket and has nice smooth curved insides. I agree it's nicer to have your little one(s) in with you but I can't manage on my own so the buckety thing has proved invaluable for when dh isn't here.

Has anyone said Handcream? My hands always crack in the first week after the baby's born with all the extra hand washing.

I would definitely second the hand-cream esp if you're using disposables through the winter - I found the skin on my thumbs just cracked and bled with all the velcro handling. Better still - someone else to change all the nappies!

and whatever you do, don't use that antibacterial handwash in the bounty pack - it just exacerbates the chapped hands problem.

I am a hand cream addict and would like to add that Clarins is without a doubt the best one out there IMO.

Snap, Enid - I was introduced to it by my mum, whose elderly hands were literally transformed by it. I get through tubes on a regular basis. It just smells so nice, too.

oh and make sure you get a decent answerphone!!

Enid and Marina, it's divine, isn't it! That's reminded me to add it to my shopping list when I do my Calais shopping trip next month (which I am SO looking forward to - my credit card is in for a right bashing though).

mmm jodee, lucky you...I have just bought a new tube but have now 'upgraded' to the age control one (sob) with factor 15 as to my horror I am developing brown age freckles on the backs of my hands.

Enid, after your comment about anti-ageing I just checked the tube in my bag and am flattered to see that I have been using this version all along. I guess that is what happens when you let your aged mother recommend cosmetics...
Jodee, you should definitely check out that pharmacy in Cite d' Europe - they have the most stunning range of Clarins (and Lancome, and Klorance, and the rest) stuff imaginable!

I will, thanks Marina (I can't wait to get my hands on all that lovely red Clarins packaging!)