Nappies, wipes, what else?!

[Turt]

I'm keen to be as prepared as possible prior to baby's arrival.

We have around 3/4 packs of Size 1 and I think 3 packs of Size 2. Do you recommend to keep buying up the sizes or wait until they're here?

We also have a million packs of baby wipes too

Anything else to recommend stocking up on?

Don't overbuy size 1! I did, both times!
Best thing to stock up on is batch-cooked food for the freezer... you can buy nappies almost anywhere!

My baby was in size 1 nappies for the first 12 weeks so we needed loads. I wouldn't buy anymore yet the shops won't run out :)

I wouldn't stockpile one particular brand in case it doesn't agree with your baby's skin. Having said that, I did recently but 6 packs of newborn nappies for my impending DC as they were on offer

Imo it's usually the stuff you stockpile that ends up gathering dust on the back shelf. Hard to resist though when you want to be super prepared, isn't it!

Tea bags - coffee and some treats for you and your partner x

Unless you’re in the middle of nowhere and miles from the nearest shop there really is no need to overbuy and stockpile (unless maybe there’s a really good offer on something). Just buy as you need - you’ll have to go shopping for it again everntually.

You don't need any more nappies, they'll still be in the shops when you give birth. If you overbuy you'll just waste money because the baby outgrows the size quickly/the brand leaks or irritates the baby.

Freezer meals you can cook quickly are indeed a better thing to stock up on. Healthyish snacks you can eat one handed. Say five baby grows in newborn and size 1. That's really all you need (assuming you want to breastfeed). If you want to bottle-feed a few bottles and tubs of formula would also be wise, but seriously there's no need to stockpile stuff especially before you even have the chance to see if it suits your real life actual baby.

Don't stock up on nappies as your baby may react to some brands. My DD1 couldn't wear pampers or huggies, can't remember which bit I had a load given to me by my sister that her child had outgrown and we couldn't use any of them! She also outgrew them really quickly, it was a couple of weeks at most (big baby!)

I think I'm just trying to be savvy so when I am off work the outgoings can be as little as possible and also I am a little panicked as it is my first so it's all very new to me.

I'll hold fire with the nappies and look for some cupboard treats and freezer foods also!

Babies are very uncomplicated creatures really. They need

1. milk
2. a clean bum and reasonably clean, warm clothes
3. mummy to hold them. A lot.

Thats about it if you have the milk, bum and clothes angle covered for the first week and have food you can eat/get to while holding a baby, you're as prepared as anyone will ever be. Amazon Prime and supermarket delivery can cover anything you discover you need after the baby is actually here. But 1) you need less than you think and 2) you'll make much better decisions about what you need once you have your actual baby to learn on.

I was glad I’d stocked up on:
-(batchcooked) freezer meals
-muslins

I’d also recommend
-reusable nappies
-reusable wipes
-a stretchy sling

Before baby is born, practise
-folding/unfolding pram
-tying sling (with doll)
-folding nappies (if applicable)

Good luck!

@CmdrCressidaDuck thank you so much! I definitely think I am worrying more than needed 🥺

@FriedasCarLoad thank you! I'll definitely get practising with the pram, car seat etc. I want to be come a one-handed pro

We used cotton wool and warm water for the newborn days as we thought it would feel nicer for baby then moved on to water wipes.

We now use cheeky wipes (wet with warm water when we need to use them and chuck in washing machine afterwards) - much nicer on baby's bum imo and we're saving a fortune! Wish we'd started sooner!

Do you have outfit changes for baby in with your nappy changing stuff? Essential for sorting out poo explosions! Good luck.

@firstimemamma I have heard cotton wool is better for the first few weeks so will grab some more of that.

She has plenty of clothes from 0-6 months as my fear of explosions is real! 😂💩

Tbh, cotton wool and water is one of those things you do diligently as a FTM and never bother with again. It's a pain in the arse. I just went straight to sensitive/water wipes with baby #2 but I've never had a baby with a particularly sensitive bottom. Or you could just go straight to reusable wipes and water, which is more practical.

Vests,bibs and babygros can never have too many.
Plus cot sheets

Muslins and bibs imo

TBH (to be honest), cotton wool and water is one of those things you do diligently as a FTM and never bother with again.

Yep. Even as a FTM I did this with the first nappy and thought no what’s the point in this. Water wipes even normal wipes will not do any harm unless baby has particular skin sensitivities/issues.

We used newborn for over a month, size 2 are 4 months + in my experience. Don't over buy, just get a supermarket delivery pass!

I’ve never had a new born because we adopted both of ours at 8 months old, but no one has mentioned bum cream?

There are lots of brands - you just want a light barrier cream unless there’s actual nappy rash, in which case you need yellow Metanium.

That's true, but all you need for that really is one tub of Vaseline (tip for the FTM - coat baby's bum in Vaseline at each change for the first few days - it protects bum but more importantly makes meconium much easier to clean off...)

Try not to worry OP. Life doesn’t stop after you’ve had baby.. you can still go out (or your partner can) & buy things or indeed prime them. For example, I ended up formula feeding & we just bought everything either online or in Mothercare that we need a few days after she was born. I optimistically waddled around Mothercare, probably should have just sent the other half, it was agony 😂

If you are worried about money & budget, just start putting what you would have spent now into a basic savings account so it’s there once baby is born?

Lots of vests and baby grows ... don’t worry too much about the ultra cute outfits at first comfort is key
Muslins x lots and bibs ... cotton wool for initial nappy changes as they may be sensitive to wipes? I have a about 5 bags left over from my stockpiling blunders ( baby is 11 months now and Defno need wipes not cotton wool for what he produces 😂) so don’t go too crazy.

And you have enough nappies for now ( says me with 6 months supply at home encase brexit takes away my lad nappy supply ) 😂😂

Defno stock up on quick and easy meals for you and partner especially stuff you can just eat as you move past the kitchen ( has a non sleeper and my nans cake she kept sending kept me alive for the first month x x

Another vote for washable wipes here (cut down some flannels). I'm a ftm to a 7 month old and I use reusable nappies and wipes because I'm cheap- I tell everyone its an environmental thing but honestly I've just always resented paying for something I'm going to throw away. Anyway. Wipes. How the hell do you cope with baby poop with wetwipes? Last week ds held on to his poop for a solid 14 days and explosion that resulted.. I'd have needed the whole packet of wetwipes

I wish I had used reusable wipes and will next time. However I'd argue to just go with Waterwipes rather than cotton wool and water, much less of a faff and easier to change when you are out and about.

There is so much you could get but just get basics for now. A baby pillow for your lap or for feeding is great (bottle or breast - I did a combi feed and loved mine). It's a good place for them to be to give your arms a rest!