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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Are any of these must haves?

108 replies

Flyingchimps · 11/04/2018 01:13

Hi all,

We have started getting ourselves ready for baby’s arrival and have made most of our significant purchases. We’ve tried to steer clear of gizmos but want to gauge opinion as to wether we have missed the boat on some of them:
*sleepyhead (I don’t really understand what this is for!)
*Next to me (we have a Moses basket and baby box so unsure why we would need this)
*perfect prep/breast pump- I intend to breastfeed so we figured we would just see if that works out first then purchase one or other of these
*ewan/my hummy mummy- again I don’t really understand why we would need one
*video monitor- we figured baby will be in our room to begin with then we can pick up a sound monitor when it goes into its own room.

Would anyone suggest we have really missed the point and should have purchased some of these items. We keep seeing them everywhere! Just looking for opinions I guess!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
stressbucket1 · 11/04/2018 08:17

From your list I would wait and see. All if those things (except next to me) can be bought straight away if you need them. You won't need a monitor at first baby will be with you all the time. I thought ewan was nice and relaxing for me! Baby seemed to like it too but not essential and good for someone to buy as a gift.
I had mine a few years ago before the next to me cots were available. I had a c-section both times and they would have been fantastic. I really struggled at night for the first couple of weeks with a moses basket as getting in and out of bed was difficult

Passthecake30 · 11/04/2018 08:21

I had a time tippee manual breast pump, that's all from your list.

BlueTablecloth · 11/04/2018 08:38

None of them. Wait til the baby's born and find out what kind of baby they are and what kind of mother you are

Pinkvoid · 11/04/2018 08:41

I still have Ewan from my six year old DD, she always really liked it (as did my 5 year old DD).

Breast pumps are invaluable but you are right to wait and see how well breastfeeding works out first. Plus with amazon prime, you can get one delivered the same or next day!

Video monitors always seemed a bit OTT to me. I always kept newborns with me downstairs and they would go up to my room with me when I did.

The next 2 me looks useful but not necessary. And the sleepyhead thing looks a bit dangerous imo...

dementedpixie · 11/04/2018 08:45

I had none of them. Used a swinging crib at the end of our bed and used a reclined pushchair downstairs for dd/carry cot bit of travel system for ds. Perfect prep not recommended as hot shot doesn't stay hot long enough to kill bacteria in the formula powder. Just used a normal monitor and only for when we were downstairs and they were upstairs.

RubyBoots7 · 11/04/2018 09:09

If you have a Moses basket in your room, you can put it next to your bed, so no need for a next to me/snuzpod etc.

Sleepyhead is not a sleep positioner (hence why it's still for sale at reputable places) but it technically does not follow safe sleep advice (lullaby trust). Some people say baby only sleeps when in one as more snug. Other people use for convenience (e.g. on sofa when downstairs), but if you have a baby box you could have that downstairs and Moses upstairs.

Perfect prep - have heard horrendous things about mould and bacteria growth.
Pump - Maybe get a manual breast pump or let down one (cheap on line - like a tenner). No point in electric until you know you can bf and express. You can hire hospital grade ones too, which are prob better unless you're going to spend a lot of money on one.

If you're mainly going to bf but perhaps occasionally an expressed bottle, you can get cheap self sterilizing bottles (e.g. mam) that go in microwave and negate need for bottle steriliser.

Ewaan etc not essential and totally personal choice. Ewaan you have to activate whereas some of the others the baby can activate by movement. Lots of people have white noise apps on phone (free) that do a lot of the same job.

Monitors - we got a good deal on the angel care so got it early but I don't think it's essential at all until baby sleeps in own room (post 6 months) as they shouldn't be on their own to sleep any time if following lullaby guidelines.

Honestly there's so much stuff that people tell you that you 'need'. It's totally personal choice as to whether it's useful/financially viable. But those companies do love to pull on the heart strings where babies are concerned!

thatsmyjoomper · 11/04/2018 09:11

Love my video monitor! Only had a sound one with dd but now I wonder what she got up to when I thought she was asleep! Can't hear DS doing anything but when I watch it's actually quite fascinating!!!

GeekyWombat · 11/04/2018 09:17

We got something similar to the Next to Me and found it invaluable - basically DD didn't sleep except on one of us for the first three weeks of her life. We were utterly broken. A friend who visited suggested we buy one and we did so straight away out of desperation. The first night after we set it up we woke up in a panic at 7am worried something had happened to her because she'd slept without waking either of us for six hours (I know it's not much but to our sleep addled brains it felt like a lot!). Both of our DC loved it and it's the best money we spent - everything is easier with sleep.

We didn't bother with video monitors because we didn't need them much. The few times we have used them (eg when staying with family and wanting to be extra sure the DC are ok in unfamiliar surroundings) we used an app could Babymonitor - basically it cost £3 (on iphone) and we can set the ipad with the camera surveying the room and then view it on my phone once we've synced the two together.

GeekyWombat · 11/04/2018 09:18

PS Ironically we found Ewan the Dream sheep did nothing for DD (bought in desperation before the Baby Bay) but made both of us fall asleep!

kiabella · 11/04/2018 09:23

Sleepyhead - definitely not essential and worries me about SIDS risk
Next to me - not essential especially if you have a Moses already (but they do look nice and will last longer than a Moses!)
Perfect prep - nice to have, not essential
Breast pump - I would see how you go and even hire one before buying as the good ones are very expensive
Ewan - don’t waste your money. White noise app on your phone will do the same thing
Video monitor - one of our best buys. Daughter settled really well from an early age probably because I wasn’t in there every 5 mins checking on her as I could see her through the monitor

elQuintoConyo · 11/04/2018 09:23

We bought none of those. In fact a couple of them i have no idea what they are Grin ds is 6yo, perhaps they have been invented since 2011?

Midnightpony · 11/04/2018 09:27

The only thing I have is a breast pump. Baby sleeps in the bed with us so we don't need a few of the things on your list.

Currently the advice is not to start pumping until 6 weeks as it gives your supply time to regulate. I had to start sooner as I had low supply but you might not need one at all. Or you might need a certain one depending on your milk. Eg a haaka is no use to me as it catches the extra let down. I don't get extra let down . So I'd say but none for the moment

MsJuniper · 11/04/2018 09:29

We got a bedside crib the week after I had DS as I'd had a CS and it was so much easier. I also really liked having him right next to me in the bed without completely co-sleeping.

We also bought a Ewan the week after the birth as an effort to get DS to sleep. It wasn't a magic solution but it did help over time and was really useful when on holiday etc as a way to create some familiarity.

No sleepyhead as they weren't a thing then.

Sound only baby monitor - we didn't really need it for the first 6 months as we didn't leave her alone, but then it was very useful. I would consider getting a video monitor this time as having babysat for my sister's children it is quite reassuring to see them wriggling around or working out if any murmuring is likely to escalate.

Breast pump - hired one to increase my supply in the weeks after DS was born.

In short I'd say all of these things aren't essential but might be nice to have - you'll only know once your child is born.

One thing we did was put a bit of money aside for non-essential but fun extras - we got the Morrck blanket, an apron towel, Aden&Anais swaddle cloths and nursing chair. Five years on and I'd say they got more use than a lot of the other stuff!

TimesNewRoman · 11/04/2018 09:32

IMO the perfect prep and video monitor are must haves.

GreyCloudsToday · 11/04/2018 09:33

We're expecting baby number 2 and have just bought a Next2me as last time I found dangling one hand over the moses basket really annoying! But it's more of a nice to have than an essential. You can always buy one straightaway if you're struggling with your Moses basket setup.

Breast pump is great for expressing so you can go out, but again no rush on this. You can always hand pump if it's late and you're engorged.

I can echo the PP about getting a Gro Egg or other room thermometer. And baby gro bags are ace!

ginandnappies · 11/04/2018 09:36

Sleepyhead best thing we bought. I loved it. I bought a very expensive breast pump and didn't manage to feed longer than a few weeks so my advice is hold off until you know. Perfect prep machine also amazing x

Maccapacca88 · 11/04/2018 09:46

The only one of these I have is a breast pump. I've managed two babies without any of the other items on your list. I imagine the perfect prep would be nice if you end up formula feeding. I've heard good things about the Aldi version of the sleepy head too!

HerSymphonyAndSong · 11/04/2018 09:55

Next to me / snuzpod is different to Moses basket as the side can be down, and frankly too heavy to be carried downstairs so that is why we have sleepyhead (so baby always supervised)

harrietm87 · 11/04/2018 10:17

Great thread OP - I've wondered about a lot of these (40+3 today!). Haven't had baby yet but fwiw, we got the next2me as I want the baby to be in with us as long as possible and it will last longer than a Moses basket. It's a lot more expensive but ILs kindly bought it.

I've also got a sleepyhead (second hand) to use for supervised downstairs naps (which complied with lullaby trust guidelines).

Haven't got any of the other things - no need for monitor until 6 months as baby will sleep with us till then, hoping to breastfeed, and will buy Ewan if baby needs it.

Flyingchimps · 11/04/2018 10:26

Brilliant! Thanks for all of the advice, it looks like what we thought was pretty much bang on then. We have some money set aside just in case to pick up some of these items if we feel we really need them once baby is here, but I guess for now we can draw a line under our shopping (DH will be happy!)

Thanks for the mentions of the gro egg, my brother actually picked one up for us, DH has already plugged it in and uses it to complain if I ever put the heating on 😂🙈 it does look like it will be helpful with sorting baby out for bed though!

OP posts:
BrutusMcDogface · 11/04/2018 10:55

I would highly recommend a side sleeping crib. My third child used to scoot over and sleep on my mattress (following safe co-sleeping guidelines of course) and I only wish I'd known about this kind of crib with my other two babies!

BrutusMcDogface · 11/04/2018 10:55

Oh and I totally agree with the gro egg!

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 11/04/2018 11:06

Ds was bought a Ewan. He hated it.

We have a next2me and I loved it. Ds was an emcs and I found it really useful. Currently pregnant again and the plan is moses basket in the ground floor playroom, next2me in our bedroom and the baby box in the sitting room on the 1st floor. That way, I should have something on every floor to pop then whilst they are asleep (fingers crossed this one sleeps).

I think breast pumps can wait, ds was in NICU for a bit and the hospital lent me one for the duration of our stay. I ended up buying one afterwards but ds was at least a week old at that point.

bluechameleon · 11/04/2018 11:08

I like having a video monitor and I think it saves us unnecessary get ups in the night. DS1 talks, whimpers, moans etc in his sleep so it's useful to be able to check whether he is asleep or awake when we hear him without having to get up. But no need to buy it yet - baby will be in the same room as you for naps and night time for at least 6 months.
It is also possible that a Moses basket won't last you 6 months if you have a bigger baby, and the next to me is a lot bigger. But it is also far more expensive and there are other options if you do have a bigger baby. We had a wooden crib that was about £50 and lasted my off the charts baby until 6m.

Namechange128 · 11/04/2018 11:11

I wouldn't bother, you've got the basics and any of these can come right away via amazon or similar after the birth.

For the video monitor - you will ultimately want one, but agree that in the early days you'll be mostly in the same room anyway. In my experience the monitors fail after a while so might as well wait longer so the warranty can last longer. Congratulations!