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Pregnancy

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Original poster

Buying feeding equipment before baby's arrival

16 replies

cannonball8726 · 04/02/2019 12:18

I'm 30 weeks and wondering whether I should buy feeding paraphernalia before baby is born? Hoping to breastfeed and will buy a box or two of the pre-prepared newborn bottles of formula just in case. Will also buy breast pads and a couple of nursing bras beforehand. Not sure if it's worth investing in bottles, breast pump or sterilising equipment before baby has actually arrived? It's a minefield and I'm feeling very silly! Thanks.

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SuzieBishop · 04/02/2019 12:38

I would definitley get a steriliser and bottles if I was you - I hoped to breastfeed with my first but it didn't work out so after we got out of hospital we had to rush about getting everything and it was stressful!
You'll probably need these anyway if ever you're going to be leaving your DC to express into if you do manage.
Better to be prepared than not!

GummyGoddess · 04/02/2019 12:41

I don't think there's a definitive answer, I bought stuff for bottle feeding dc1 and after a short while of mix feeding I decided to just breastfeed.

ClaraLane · 04/02/2019 12:43

If you’re hoping to breastfeed I wouldn’t bother buying bottles and a steriliser - you don’t need to sterilise bottles if they have breast milk in. We got a free MAM bottle from Boots from their parenting club and that’s the only one we used. I would suggest buying a Haakaa or Naturbond silicone pump as you can use it to catch your let down which can then be collected for a feed.

I really wouldn’t bother buying formula if you’re serious about breastfeeding because it’s very easy to turn to it if you’re having a bad day feeding. Do you live somewhere near a 24 hour supermarket? We live just down the road from one so my reasoning was that I could send DH to get formula if I really really needed it.

I would also suggest having a look to see what support is available in your area for breastfeeding mums and maybe joining a few Facebook groups. I did this while I was pregnant so I knew where to turn to for help when I had problems rather than going to formula.

Belmo · 04/02/2019 12:50

Literally the only thing I ever used was lansinoh nipple cream and nursing bras - definitely don’t spend a lot of money if you’re planning to breastfeed.

GroggyLegs · 04/02/2019 12:51

Likelihood is that you'll still use a steriliser & bottles at some point, even if you breastfeed easily, and they're not big money items so wouldn't hurt to have a few.

As a minimum I'd put in the effort now & decide what pump/bottles/steriliser you would want, then if BF isn't quite as seamless as it could be, you can send DH with a clear list to Mothercare, or get on Amazon Prime.

Depending how adamant you are that you want to breastfeed, I'd also recommend you keep the number for a BF expert, a local BF group and a tongue tie specialist in a safe place, just in case. Trying to do this at 3am with a baby that won't latch is...stressful

Matilda1981 · 04/02/2019 12:55

I wouldn’t bother to get too much - you can buy a pack of 6 pre made bottles with sterilised teats from boots so if just get them as back up in case breastfeeding doesn’t work.

Breastfeeding is HARD for the first week - please don’t give up on night three (if you’re getting on ok by then) when all the baby wants to do is feed - they are hungry and if you’re milk hasn’t come in they will cry - you’re not doing anything wrong and as soon as your milk comes in things get easier.

Helsvamp · 04/02/2019 13:01

#clarelane you do need to sterilise bottles when got breast milk in it as milk still touch's the teet

IWouldPreferNotTo · 04/02/2019 13:10

We're breastfeeding but still have bottles, pump and steriliser because

While in the hospital (for 4 days) he needed topping up with formula to flush the jaundice

Expressing milk helps keep up the flow and means we have a bottle available we can top up his feed sometimes allowing for me to night feed or just to make sure he's completely satisfied.

We're not going to regret having a bottle available for formula if we need it

Steriliser - reusable microwave sterilising bags are just so useful (although we also have the giant Philips steriliser someone gave us)

All bought before birth because the only thing we thought might never get used was the pump and didn't want to have to rush buy things in case we needed them.

Endofrelationship · 04/02/2019 13:34

Helsvamp you don't need to sterilise anything when using expressed breast milk. Unless you want to. Hot soapy water is enough. This is what the milk bank told he when I expressed for them.

daipaned · 04/02/2019 13:52

We used a tiny travel steriliser for dummies.
I only expressed for DC4 as he had to be syringe fed, he had jaundice and low blood sugar and wouldn't latch but that was with a hospital pump. Once he was well and latching I stopped expressing as it was a faff.

With DC1 I caught milk in nipple shields from the side I wasn't feeding from but never leaked milk in subsequent pregnancies to do the same.

Unless you live miles away from anywhere I wouldn't bother. My bog standard corner shop sells bottles and formula and Milton.

Helsvamp · 04/02/2019 14:13

Really my health visitor didn't say not to

Nothisispatrick · 04/02/2019 14:15

We bought a steriliser with bottles as I planned on pumping once breastfeeding was established, but breastfeeding never was established so it ended up getting a lot of use. And we had to buy more bottles!

Narya · 04/02/2019 14:21

You don't necessarily need to buy everything in advance if you are planning to bf but it's worth looking into which formula and bottles you'd want and where you would buy them from. I was very committed to the idea of bf and as such did no research into bottle feeding, but had to supplement with formula because DS was jaundiced and my milk didn't come in for over a week. We were totally unprepared and DP had to scramble to get stuff in while DS and I were readmitted to hospital.

Nothisispatrick · 04/02/2019 14:33

ChocolateChipMuffin2016 · 04/02/2019 15:13

I breastfed and still brought a cheap steriliser (milton cold water one) and some bottles. Bottles didn't really get used, steriliser did, not so much initially, but I used it when I tried dummies (those were also a waste) and also teething toys, especially when DS was ill, so I didn't think that was a waste.
I also did buy some pre-made formula, only 2 - 4 bottles I think because I had friends who had to go out at 2am when they were desperate to feed their screaming baby something and were struggling to feed! For me, it was a security blanket that I didn't need, I didn't find it made me want to use it/take the easy way out, but I was glad to know they were there.

confuddeledconfuddel · 04/02/2019 15:37

With number 1 I didn't prebuy any formula equipment as I really wanted to breast feed. Breast feeding is hard and I definitely would have given up if I had of had formula to hand to turn to. I reasoned that there is a 24 hr supermarket nearby and so a trip could be made if needed. You can buy little starter kits https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/shop/gb/groceries/cow---gate-first-infant-milk--starter-pack-6x70ml that don't need sterilising. I got some of these to have with number 2 as I knew I wouldn't turn to them as easily this time.

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