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Original poster

Experienced mums: what did you wish you bought?

139 replies

Spooples · 09/12/2018 09:40

Currently 26 weeks with baby number 1 and trying to start buying in bits for when she's here.

Ive had a look through the recommendations in my books and online about what to get, but is there anything in your experience you found was really useful but you maybe didn't know about it in advance?

What would be your top recommendation of useful things to buy for baby? Or even for child birth?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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Bananabus · 09/12/2018 17:59

Oh, and I wouldn’t get a wink of sleep without a sleepyhead.
Also wish I had bought a rucksack changing bag.

ItWentInMyEye · 09/12/2018 18:04

Even if you plan on breastfeeding I'd recommend buying some bottles/powder/steriliser. Not popular, but if you can't feed or express etc on a Sunday when the shops are shut they come in bloody handy.

Original poster
Spooples · 09/12/2018 18:04

This has been fabulously useful and I'm so glad I posted asking. Thank you all so much. Lots of great insights here about what is and is not necessary. This is a perfect example of why Mumsnet is excellent! 😊 Thanks all!

OP posts:
ImagineAllThePeople1 · 09/12/2018 18:23

Spritz for bits is a godsend after labour!

AnneLovesGilbert · 09/12/2018 19:18

So so useful. My gut is screaming don’t buy too much, despite what so many people and websites say, so both timely and appreciated OP Smile

Good luck with your pregnancy and baby!

Babyno2mamabear · 09/12/2018 19:30

If you are an extremely paranoid mama like me (Like super paranoid!!) I bought a snuzahero which is a clip that goes on their nappy at night and is a breathing monitor. No wires or anything. I found it super helpful as one of my friends had an awful experience one night...I won't go into it but the snuzahero meant I could actually sleep when baby did at night instead of panicking that he would stop breathing. Again, only needed if you're super paranoid but I really needed it!

GreyCloudsToday · 09/12/2018 19:36

Next to me cosleeper crib
Gro egg room thermometer and gro bags (get them v cheaply off eBay)
Buckled baby sling
Good quality Pram that suits your transportation
Many muslins
Bouncy chair
Do not get that terrible tommee tippee breast pump

GreyCloudsToday · 09/12/2018 19:45

Forgot to add: star wrap type thing (I whizzed up my own on my sewing machine to save cash)
Baby bath support
Dummies! Personally I think the whole nipple confusion thing is a load of guff

Tens machine for labour (eBay again)

hammeringinmyhead · 09/12/2018 20:09

Oh yes, Isofix. If you try and seatbelt a seta in in this weather you will be absolutely soaked.

Jackshouse · 09/12/2018 20:18

Netflicks

Lollyice · 09/12/2018 20:32

I wished I'd had a next to me crib. Neither of mine liked sleeping in the moses baskets.
Sleeping bags are great, much easier than faffing with blankets.
Best buy was a foam giant sponge to lie on in the bath, saved so much space compared to the baby bath.
Luxury item was a sheepskin liner for the pushchair, was nice in winter but stopped the kids getting sweaty in the hot summer too.
Have a look at the IKEA things for babies, the cots and high chairs are a bargain.

maamalady · 09/12/2018 22:24

Oh yes isofix seats are the way forward.

Baby baths are pointless - either do it in the sink or just get in the bath with baby (loved doing that with DD1).

Absolutely agree with Netflix too Grin it is really nice to be able to watch something that takes you out of the babycare drudgery. I used to love watching a murder police procedural type thing in the afternoon when baby was feeding-napping-feeding.

Muslins are really baby dependent. We had more than we needed for DD1, but then doubled the quantity for DD2, who threw up all the time.

And read up on safe cosleeping! We hadn't planned to do it for DD1, but she wouldn't sleep unless with bodily contact with an adult, so it was cosleeping as the only method that allowed me and DH enough sleep. It's also very handy if you go away, as no travel cot etc required.

If you're hoping to breastfeed - kellymom is an invaluable resource. I worked on the idea that if the baby made a noise, I stuck a boob in her mouth. It worked pretty well (fed both babies for 12-13 months each).

MrsMartinRohde · 09/12/2018 22:33

Muslins and bamboo flat cloth nappies - still using some of ours as general cloths and DC are 9 and 7

Tripp Trapp high chair - an investment but it's lasted. It is now DS1's computer chair, it is indestructible. We also had a Baby Dan copy but it fell apart with DS swinging on it

Azure83 · 09/12/2018 22:35

Sleepyhead

Harveyrabbit76 · 09/12/2018 22:50

I have a 3 week old boy and so far it has been very different to my DD. I use more muslins and need more clothes as there are leaks all the time. I have an angelcare bath support which I really wish I had used the first time. Amazon prime may be useful so you can order stuff quickly.
I would also stock up on formula etc just in case. Ewan didn't work for us and in fact I nearly threw it away a number of times! Whisbear was much better.
A jumperoo was also invaluable but buy second hand!

Verbena87 · 09/12/2018 22:54

We loved:
Freezer meals, and mates who dropped round home-made ‘readymeals’ then went away again. Will definitely ask for this rather than baby gifts if we’re lucky enough to conceive again - it was a lifesaver!

Stretchy wrap sling for newborn phase (we got a second hand moby wrap off eBay and I learnt to tie it when I was bored and overdue), then a connecta sling for when he got a bit bigger.

Maternity pads. You cannot have too many.

Lansinoh nipple cream.

And I was also very glad that my (mum of 2) sister looked in my first-timer’s hospital bag, said “oooh, dried apricots and organic cereal bars. Nice.” and also brought shed loads of sweeties and some chocolate-dipped marshmallows which, 12 hours into a sweaty knackering labour, tasted of actual heaven!

Definatelydone · 09/12/2018 22:56

Buy second hand. They out grow everything so quickly and its a waste of money. All they need new is a cot mattress.

Lymphy · 09/12/2018 23:10

I second the star wrap great for slings and car seats, the best thing I did when second baby arrived was go to my local sling library to hire slings, it’s great so far I’ve had a stretchy wrap, ring sling and now I’m using a buckle as she’s older it’s cost me £40 and I can chop and change as I wish to suit our needs. The other thing we used was a bath on a stand I bought it from a charity shop for £3.50 I have a bad back after spinal surgery so having the stand was great. Other than that you really don’t need loads at all and I’m a big fan of second hand, oh and socks for gloves in the newborn days they stay on way better than scratch mits!

Nonomore2 · 09/12/2018 23:19

Loved:
Lansinoh cream- my toes curl to think what the first week would of been like without it. I don’t think I would of breastfed.
My yo-yo pushchair. I’m also a Londoner. It’s so nifty!
My Facebook group of mum and dads from local area. Do you have one? My one is so good.. full of people selling stuff cheap. I have bought loads.
-next to me cot.

  • baby Bjorn chair with wooden toy (someone gave it away for free on the Facebook group)
LesLavandes · 09/12/2018 23:20

Smaller babygrows. I bought 0-3 months and my daughter was drowned in them. She was 7.8 lb. For my son I bought new born. He was 6.5 lb and same thing!

Verbena87 · 09/12/2018 23:24

Maybe a range of babygrow sizes but only a few of each? My baby was 10lb9oz and the newborn bits in my hospital bag were hilariously too little!

katmarie · 09/12/2018 23:26

I used loads of lansinoh cream, lots of muslins, and lots of second hand vests and babygros. Ds slept in a moses basket from day one. We found a white noise machine very helpful, and as we have dogs, stairgates kept the house under control. Ds is nearly 11 months now and I still use the cellular blankets I took to the hospital with me.

Pram wise we have a graco 4 in 1 travel system, which has been excellent, but is bulky and heavy. Next time I might go for something lighter.

And definitely get the travel mug. Not only does your drink stay hot, a cup with a lid means less chance of spilling on baby.

DappledThings · 10/12/2018 01:57

Don't know if I was being dense but never understood baby baths. You have to hold a tiny, slippery baby in them which is awkward and nerve-wracking. Anfelcare bath support is brilliant though. Just run a normal, shallow bath and baby goes in the support so your hands are free.

I always felt a bit thick as I don't understand how on earth people cope with anything else!

NotScrewingUpNow · 10/12/2018 02:11

Wish I'd used a sling from birth. Probably would have bought a granny trolley for my shopping. The buggy for shopping at that age was handy.

But I also wish I'd bought a small and compact buggy. No fun waiting in the rain missing busses because there's too many bulky buggies on board.

I wish all of DDs clothes were second hand. Have so many new that have never been worn.

WinterCoat · 10/12/2018 02:45

Spotify Premium for all the white noise, oceans. rain, shushing, lullabies you'll ever need
Amazon Prime for when you realise what you need after baby comes
Cotton nappies to use for burp cloths etc, I bought tons of Muslins and had no use for them
An exercise ball to bounce on- guaranteed to stop my baby crying when nothing else would
But above all else- a comfy rocking reclining chair to sit and feed in. Priceless.

Things that didn't work/don't work for us:

Gro egg thermometer - had a mind of its own
Baby Bjorn bouncer - she hates it
Sleepyhead - as above, she likes to spread her arms