NEWBORN MUST HAVES/ADVICE

[AmandaP86x]

Due my first baby in a couple of weeks just wondering if there's anything you wish you had known or bought that you hadn't when they were born!!xx

Masses of maternity towels, not just a couple of packs. Stockpile ibuprofen and paracetamol as you can only buy a couple of packs per shop. Don't stockpile nappies, they can be out of size 1 and again 2 in a matter of weeks.
I found most people who bought clothes got 3-6 months or at smallest 0-3 but we needed newborn/0-1 month for the first 6 weeks; as PP advise get some simple ones with poppers straight up the middle, and long sleeve vests for this time of year.

Tena lady pull up pants! Most unglamorous thing I've ever however, essential! Those stick on maternity pads were useless in comparison.

Stretchy wrap. My baby sleeps amazingly in hers and I have two hands free to get everything done.

Lanisoh cream- if you want to breastfeed.

Next to me type crib- love ours.

Agree with Rayna no one bought us newborn, so I was glad I had stocked up on vest and sleepsuit multipacks in the supermarkets in newborn and up to one month.

For this time of year, a Tuppence the Crumble star wrap is amazing, it can be used with a carseat unlike a pramsuit.

A shawl for you during night feeds.

For us, the sleepyhead was fantastic.

Next2u cot. Our was brilliant, especially as you can lift one side up higher than the other, for colicky or sicky babies or those that don't like to lie flat. It's like co sleeping; but safe as their in their own Bed! absolute godsend!

A good feeding chair. If you're BF you'll be spending a lot of time there. Mine was constantly stocked with snacks and drinks. Failing that, a support pillow - I liked the Brest friend

Muslins - Aldi ones are the only decent ones I've found so you'd need a baby event to buy some.

If BF - lanisoh nipple cream and breast pads (I found other ones would smell funny).

If FF - mam bottles and perfect prep machine (plus 2 thermos flasks, one with cooled boiled water and one with boiling water to make up bottles in minutes on the go - about 1/4 hot, 3/4 cold water per bottle).

Kindle or Readly app (£5 a month a think but 100snof magazine options) for night time feeds. Also find a MN postnatal group so you will have people to message in the middle of the night who are going through similar things to you.

I wouldn't bother with sleep pods etc as friends have struggled to wean babies out of them. Ewan the dream sheep helped in the first few months though.

Aldi nappies are good for sizes 1-3 (then get a bit leaky).

Water wipes - easier to carry around than cotton wool and water.

Hire a sling from a sling library when LO arrives.

A dummy. I never wanted to use one but it saved my sanity when LO was about to have a crying fit in public.

Weirdly just had this conversation with husband....
Millions of muslins
Loads of breast pads if breast feeding
Dummies
And we loved the sleepyhead

Agree with the above but would add:

Bluetooth headphones +/- Audible audio books - helped keep me sane through endless feeds/rocking

Litter picker/grabber thing - h I had this after my section and couldn't bend down, got it later for when baby lived in the sling and I couldn't bend properly!

Millions of muslins, you might think you have enough but trust me you don't, they just disappear in this house right at the minute that you need one.
If planning to bottle feed a prep machine - life saver, not sure how I got through the first 3 weeks without one!
Zip up swaddles, so much easier than trying to do one yourself with a blanket
Dummies, I always said I'd never use them but I bought a pack just in case and was so glad of them on our third night home.

Sleep pods, mam dummies and a coffee flask to keep my coffee hot.

Amazing thank you all so much!!!!