Baby stuff, equipment etc - views on where to start, what to buy and when! Thanks!

[MrsMcJnr]

Ladies ? clueless first timer here the more magazines I read and shops I go to the more clueless I feel! Any tips on what I should be buying and when would really help. For example, electric breast pumps ? seem expensive and obviously only needed one if I find I can BF but will I really be able to go and get one after the birth or should you get all that stuff in advance? Baby clothes ? I?ll need to wash them all won?t I so need to do that in advance? Also worried about the cost implications. Thanks in advance for all your tips! I?m only 14 weeks so suspect you?ll all tell me it?s too early ? I just want to be prepared

i bf and when i was expressing i expressed by hand as it was easier for me,
dd was in moses basket all of cpl weeks glad mine was second hand and i hadnt spent too much, make sure your pram is what you want comfortable to push try a few as if you buying car try folding it down and up one handed etc.
get things whilst they on offer had cot sheets from boots on 3 for 2. only buy one pack size one and one pack size two as they grow very quick dont buy too many clothes dd lived in her sleepsuits to start, then when i did put her in clothes they were gifts.
I had a monitor as a gift but only used cpl time hear her don the stairs first check can you her dh up stairs whilst talking moderatly quiet?
steam steriliser.
any more info shout

pack size one/two nappies sorry my typing pants

Look out for local NCT sale - lots of opportunities for good quality 2nd hand items - particularly things that you will not use for long, this is a great place to buy.

Breast pumps - I bf for nearly 2 yrs (amount reducing to 2 feeds by end) - only had hand pump and this was fine - as was microwave steriliser. Suggest that you need to have some bottles and a steriliser in just in case things don't go right with bf - but do try as its good for you and dc.

You will need bedding/cot. Car seat is essential.

Nappies. Friend that bought washables before birth never used them, whilst we got a trial pack of lots of different sorts when ds 8 wks and this meant that we could decide whether we would use them and what fitted him best - children different and some types better for some shapes. (We did go down this route and don't regret). CHange mat.

Clothes - see if you can get any from friends that already have babies - they grow out of them so quickly. Also depends on size - ds was into 3-6months at 1month, and never used newborn size - so don't go over the top! Sales are great though. Really useful items are sleepsuits - probably need at least 6, and vests (ds in vest under sleepsuit much of time to start with).

Hope this helps!

I am just starting to look at the moment but need to buy soon (31 weeks). How much bedding do I need?? Are two sets of cot sheets to start with ok or do I need more? We are getting a moses basket as well and I was hoping only two sets of sheets would be ok for that also?

Also nappies - how many packs would you buy to start with and what sizes??

It is confusing when your just starting out.

Not much advice on what to buy as its all so varied but do learn from our experience in one regard - make sure the essentials are out of the boxes and put together before bump arrives.
My DH was cursing as everything we wanted/needed was still in its original packaging when DD & I came home.

I had 3 mcs before DS so I bought very little before he was born - car seat, 2nd hand moses basket, bedding & mattress for same, some vests, sleepsuits and a cotton hat, a trial pack of 6 different reusable nappies and a pack of disposables. You will also need some cotton wool. Other than that, you can get everything afterwards. Oh, and we had a borrowed pram, that we've just re-borrowed for DD, although I cannot recommend a Hug-a-bub sling highly enough. If you are planning on getting some kind of sling then I would suggest hiring a couple to try out, unless you have obliging friends who can lend you theirs.

I manage with 2 sets of moses basket sheets (tho have more if needed) but my LO isn't a sicky baby so some people probably need more than 2 sets.

I bought 1 pack of newborn size disposables (to use in hospital) and 24 flat terries & some plastic pants. I found I got on well with the terries and went on to buy more expensive (and much cuter) reusables.

I've had a lot of use out of my moses basket (dd is still in it at 3 months) and it's been handy to have downstairs during the day for her to nap in.

Would definitely reccommend a wipe clean changing mat, mainly because my DH manages to get poo everywhere when changing nappies .

Don't bother with room/bath thermometers. Also I haven't used my monitors yet.

HTH

Hi Mrs!
I never bothered with an expressing thingy. Only really worth it if you plan to be going back to work and need to be expressing milk for baby whilst he/she is away from you.

Car seat
Buggy
Cot
Bouncy Chair

packet of newborn vests
packet of newborn or 0-3 mths sleepsuits
little hat
something warm for Jan baby.. ie snowsuit type thing
socks

Blanket x2
(Fleece and cotton ones)
Sheets for cot
cot bumper stuff if you fancy

Nappies. Probably easier to go for disposables on a newborn for a first timer. But you could then try reusables when baby about 10lbs.

Anything else I think of, and I'll let you know!
x

Muslin squares!

I second the suggestion to go to your nearest NCT nearly new sale - we had one locally when I was 8 mths pregnant and we picked up loads of stuff - bedding, baby bjorn sling, clothes, grobags, some washable nappies, a few toys etc. You have to get there well before it opens to queue to be in at the beginning. Dh and I had a list each in order of priority as the good stuff goes quickly!

In terms of clothes I wouldn't bother with anything other than vests and sleepsuits plus a jacket/hat for going out to start with. Dd lived in vests and sleepsuits for most of the first 3 mths - I think the Tesco ones are great and good value (£2 for 3 bodysuits, £4 for 3 sleepsuits). I washed two packs of each, half to go in the hospital bag, half to have at home then bought more (in a bigger size as she was 10lb 7 ) once she had arrived. Once she was 3 mths I started dressing her in "proper" clothes for going out.

I didn't worry about a pump and steriliser until a few weeks after the birth - you're not likely to need it straightaway and you can always send someone out shopping if urgent!

get a glider chair if you can afford it, second hand, ebay etc. I thought it was a luxury but have found it a godsend for nightfeeds. Definitely don't spend much though, ours has been drenched in sick/milk/orange squash (me not ds ).

Haven't used thermometers at all, you will know if room/bath is too hot.

ds hasn't worn half the clothes he had before growing out of them, so don't go mad buying cute outfits like we did..
Only 2 sets of moses basket bedding to start with, ds is out of his basket already, he's 9 weeks.

Definitely only a few nappies to start with, you don't know what size you need and they change up sizes so quickly.

Lots of muslins, lots of vests - ds gets through at least 2 vests a day. Get the ones with envelope neck and short sleeves, not the sleeveless round neck kind - they are much harder to get on and off and babies hate things going over their head!
We've got a bath support not a baby bath. It's brilliant, baby rests in it in the main bath, leaving your hands free, and you fill main bath v shallow, easier than filling/emptying baby bath I reckon.

Thanks meandmy ? I was hoping that a Moses basket would last a few months! My sister is lending me hers and as we are moving abroad when the baby is a couple of months old, I thought we could wait until then to get a cot, is that not going to work?

Mistlethrush ? thanks all really useful ? particularly handy tips about NCT sales and about the washables, we want to go down that route, getting trial packs and seeing how we get on sounds like a plan ? which ones would you recommend?

Cupcake78 ? not long to go for you!

OhNo40 ? good point!

CorrieDale ? sorry to hear that I lost my baby in March at 10 weeks ? I cannot imagine how it must feel for lightening to strike more than once. Glad your DS & DD came along your list was lovely and manageable and not too scary, thank you!

NormaButty ? thanks which reusables would you recommend? That?s good to hear about the Moses basket!

Hey Honeyapple thanks hon.

Littlemisslate ? thanks your NCT sale tactics sound good! Big baby!!

Thank you Flowerybeanbag ? congratulations on DS, enjoy the Babymoon!

Ds10lb5 and a week early (thank goodness). Which is why he was never in newborn size...

Despite size, we used moses basket for at least 2 - 3 months - bascially until he started thrashing about too much and waking himself up as he hit the sides. We had lots of spare sheets as we'd been given them - probably go for 4 sets to take account of drying without tumbledryer.

Nappies - it depends upon the shape of your baby which works best (also depends whether you (or indeed your dp) wants to bother to fold or rely on pre shaped nappies). This is why it is great to get a box on trial that has everything in. If we hadn't had trial we would have got lots of shaped nappies, but ended up with a few shaped and mainly prefolds (these just fold into rectangle and lie loose within a waterproof wrap) - and this saved us lots of money - also dry quicker.

Ds went into Size 2 totsbots at 6mo when we stocked up on some new shaped for nursery (as it is more difficult to get wrong, although the way he came back sometimes you wouldn't have believed this) - we found that Nature Babies wraps fitted him best - but, agian, or even perhaps, more, this depends upon the shape of your baby.

Recommend not worrying about washables for #1 for the first few weeks, you'll probably have enough on your plate!

Hi

if you are due after xmas, use the sales for clothes-much cheaper! i started getting in a few bits after my scan.

We found a swaddle blanket really useful, although if you are clever and your baby doesn't thrash around too much you can use a normal blanket/sheet to swaddle.
However this is the sort of thing you can easily buy after baby is born. Internet shopping is a wonderful thing!

Mistlethrush ? wow! big baby! Thanks for all the additional info

Good idea Scorpio ? wonder if I?ll feel like it though ? EDD 15/1!

Claraq ? you are right about the internet! Thanks for the tip!

Quick hi-jack. Hi Mrs Mcjr - we chatted on the weight loss thread earlier in the year. I occasionally see your name on ante-natal threads and always send you positive baby growing vibes!! Hope all is well and that you are getting Fat

Ah theheadgirl thanks hon, that is really nice! how are you doing?

Its def worth making a list of everything that you think you want to get (now that you have some ideas!) so you can look for bargains!! My dd was born in feb this year and I got a lot of stuff for her in the january sales or as christmas presents!!

Would not worry about getting a breast pump as they can be expensive, and you may not need one esp not to start with. I was advised by bf councillor to wait at least 6 weeks to allow bf to become established. You can also hire them through your local NCT.

The best thing I bought before the birth was a fisher price infant to toddler rocker from Argos. It is like a normal baby bouncer but it converts into a toddler chair. It is one of the few things you can use from birth that can be used for a long time. Mine also vibrates which was invaluable for settling a grumpy baby!! Would not be without it!!

MrsMc - stressful times recently in headgirl towers. Look at this
Think all is well now tho, and the little tinker is improving and back at school!

Thanks Theabear

Theheadgirl how awful for you all and scary too. So glad she is ok, must have been a horrible experience

I'm perpetually skint so here are some moneysaving tips:

I'd recommend joining your local freecycle, we had the majority of our nursery items for free: oak cot and changing unit, wardrobes, highchair, and loads of other stuff too numerous to mention. Means you can get rid of all the baby crap which soon accumulates too. I got an avent steam steriliser off freecycle but if you're intending to bf you probably won't need a heavy duty one so you could get away with buyng a travel steriliser from tesco for £5, or 3 resuable steriliser bags (20 uses from each one) for £4.

Mine's not here yet but I can tell you some of my best buys so far:

£6 hospital bag from barratts
£25 graco travel system from ebay
£8 tummytub from ebay
£3 changing mat from wilkinsons
£4 baby gym from a carboot sale (still on sale in shops at £50, and was immaculate)
£5 battery operated vibrating musical baby swing from carboot
£18 freedom sling from ebay

I have bought far too many clothes though, I have MASSES of newborn outfits/0-3 months outfits, I'm hoping he won't be massive cos it'll be such a shame. Wash half the clothes and leave the tags on the rest as much as possible, either take them back or if they won't have them back cos it's been too long, sell them in bundles on ebay. Brand New With Tag (bnwt) clothes sell for more.

Oh and if you're having a girl, be aware that the more frills on the clothes the more time consuming they are to iron, and you will have to iron them!

Before the event stock up on nappies (but not tiny size, you can guarantee at some point he will be 6-13lbs) just get one or two packs of newborn size, you can always buy more when you know how big he is. Also stock up on washing powder, loo rolls, toothbrush, all the basics you'll definitely use so you don't have to do massive shops, make it as easy on yourself as you can (I just spent a fortnight making meals to freeze for after the birth, dp is now munching his way through them)

Haven't bought a breastpump, but if you are going to get one, ebay has loads of nearly new ones because some people try them and decide it's too much hassle or they don't need one, or go onto formula. You can expect to pay around £20-£25 (less than half the price in mothercare) for an electric medela breastpump if you're quick on the mark, but they get snapped up quickly!

Look out for 'bundles' of clothes on ebay or even on here - often much cheaper that way (than getting single items) and usually a lot softer for dc (to have preloved items).

Thank you ladies - fabulous tips!

and use old pillow cases as bottom sheets for the moses basket - they're just the right size and I bet you have a stack in the airing cupboard already.