What else do I need ? Or don't I need

[Sarah1087]

Hi

Could I be cheeky and ask you to check my list of things we've got for our little girl due in 14 weeks.

I've not included the nursery furniture as were getting that later on.
Got the Moses basket etc

Apart from steriliser my mind has just gone completely blank lol we do have more clothes on the list but they're 3 months etc.

Thank you in advance

Don't be afraid to ask for clothes in different sizes. Once we had everything for the first 3 months we told family that if they wanted to buy ds anything get it in the next size up and he'll lots of use out of it. It's worked wonderfully, we aren't inundated with clothes he'll never get a chance to wear and families money isn't wasted

Get amazon prime. Then anything you find you need can be delivered next day. Also set up online grocery shopping accounts if you haven't already.

Calpol. I think your list covers everything else. All the best OP

You need a car seat and have practised putting it in the car.

You need a place for her to sleep and bedding for it.

You need a way to bathe her which means a bath/plan to use other space, cloth/cotton wool, towels.

Somewhere to put the baby down during the day if you want to.

Don't forget bits for you! :) Breast pads, maternity towels, big comfy knickers, loose clothing. Food!! Stock your freezer.

Sun hat for her. With a wide brim. Ask midwife about current sun cream recommendations for newborns.

Sounds like you have enough clothes - I've decided my minimums are:

10 vests
6 sleepsuits
4 tops/dresses
4 leggings/tights
3 cardigans
pack of socks
cotton hat for hospital

Anything else is a bonus! I expect I'll use more but this seems like a good compromise.

Also if you want to BF - get all BF helplines and stick them on the fridge!

NHS Direct phone number, labour ward phone number too. Or put them in your phone.

Do you not have any vests? They go under the baby gro.

Do you have any vests? The ones that popper under the nappy. I forget what the proper word is (bodysuits?). Some long and some short sleeved.

What size are the clothes? I thought 0-3 would fit a newborn; they swamped DS. For DC2 I'm getting some bits in newborn and some bits in one month and preparing DH for a trip to the shop once we know what size we need.

I found cot bumpers to be very useful when DS started to crawl. I never used them on the cot but would put them round the bottom of the coffee table etc as he didn't seem to stop until he'd hit something! So if they are included in a bedding set don't chuck them!

Cot sheets. About 6. You can get them in packs of 2 cheap enough. I only bought 4 and my daughter sicked on each one within 2 days lol. Good luck and congratulations

I always keep a muslin in my bag for wiping down swings, slides and benches after it’s been raining. The baby doesn’t need a bedding set, just a cellular blanket and/ or sleeping bags. You’re right about cot bumpers, they’re really dangerous.

Definitely think you're well-prepared onbthe bib front . One thing I've found really useful but it might seem neurotic to others is a Gro Egg - tells you the temperature of the room you're baby is sleeping in and glows a different colour depending on whether it's too cold, just right, a bit too hot and way too hot. When I was pregnant someone suggested I buy one and I was like why do I need to see the colour but actually at 4am when you're not sure you can remember your own name it does help to be able to see the right colour and know all is ok! (I have found knowing what clothes DD should wear to bed in different weather unexpectedly hard- I'm sure others don't!)

Don't bother with a changing unit! We just change DD on her mat in the lounge or bathroom, the unit was a dust collector and space stealer. We sold it on eventually

For the thermometer, get a contactless infrared one. Less upsetting for baby.

Get more Muslins and bibs than you think you need as you use them all the time and you always need a few around the house so you’ll through heaps in a day!!

Don’t bother buying much in the way of actual clothes - just plenty of vests and sleep suits

For a newborn don’t bother with tights or dresses - you won’t want to be bothered faffing getting them on or off

Get boxes of baby wipes from supermarket and have a good stock in the house, you’ll use loads. Own brand sensitive wipes will do you fine.

You don’t need to get loads of hats - one or two will be fine, especially now that the weather is changing. Same goes from scratch mits - you won’t end up using them!

If BF then you’ll need box of disposable breast pads & nipple cream

Get a good few packs of maternity towels

Stock up on paracetamol and ibuprofen for yourself for the first week or so - you will need it

Agree with PP that if you can afford it, get Amazon prime, then hold off buying any more until the baby arrives. That way you can get anything you do need the next day. That's what we did and it worked brilliantly.

Nothing to add. In fact I would try swapping some
Of the clothes for larger sizes. I didn't even want to think about putting baby in anything other than baby gro for the first few weeks!

Mattress Protector
Car Seat if not included in the mentioned travel system.
Isofix Base for Car Seat if compatible with it and your car. Can pick those up second hand for much less then the shops.

I would disagree on the gro egg, I think it can just make you paranoid especially if baby is young during a warm summer.

Put your finger down their collar to touch back/chest to assess temperature. They will feel hotter than you expect because you're not used to touching people's skin there, but if they feel cool, they're too cold, if they feel sweaty then they're too hot. Adjust layers accordingly.

I never had a gro egg either or a bath thermometer. Just did the old thing of using my elbow.

Oh I loved the Gro Egg too, but it depends whether you yourself are a normal temperature! I run a couple of degrees warmer than most, so I don't trust myself to accurately know the temperature of a room, as everything is too hot for me! It made me a lot less nervous/paranoid.

As you are going to have a summer baby, check the travel system has an adequate sun shade - or invest in a bendy umbrella type one if not