What do I really need

[belle365]

Hey!

I am pregnant with my first baby, I am only around 9 weeks so I appreciate this is really early but what do I really need for a newborn. I have things like pram, nursery furniture, bottles etc on my list but i'm thinking more baby toiletries and clothes. I don't know how much of each thing I need.

Money is tight at the moment and this was an unexpected pregnancy so trying to think about how much i need now so I can start to put money aside.

I am a spender and I know if i'm not careful i will be buying clothing for the sake of it. Also not going to find out the gender of the baby for this reason. I'm trying to take into consideration gifts/outfits we will receive from friends and family.

I'm not buying yet but I like to have lists lol

What and how many of each thing do I need for the first few weeks? My partner will be around to pop to the shops for me so I don't want to stock pile too much stuff my house is not big enough!

Thanks :)

Clothes are fairly easy. I’d aim for ten sleepsuits (all in one, long sleeves and feet) and ten vests (I’d probably go for a mixture of short and long sleeves or just short if baby is due before October). That allows for 3 or 4 changes per day and some in the wash. Personally, I wouldn’t bother with much else clothes-wise apart from a couple of hats and cardigans. Outfits if you must, but they’re never in them for long!

You may not need a coat depending on your pushchair and blanket arrangements - we have a cosy toes type cocoon for our 4 week old, and a star blanket, so he has never worn a coat.

Toiletries: we have only used bepanthan (nappy cream) and a bit of coconut oil on dry skin. You’ll need nappies (size 1), nappy sacks and wipes.

I would also suggest a couple of hooded towels, flannels and several muslins.

Oh, and for other stuff:

You’ll need a change mat - I find it handy to have one for upstairs, one for downstairs if in a house, and a changing caddy in each place. A changing table is nice but not essential.

Something for baby to sleep in (Moses basket/crib/cot). Bedding - sheets, mattress protectors, blankets or sleeping bags.

If you plan to breastfeed you may not need bottles.

For a pram, you could go for a pushchair with a carrycot or a lie-flat stroller. You’ll need a car seat.

I would say nursery furniture is optional - baby will need to sleep in your room for the first six months.

Very little in reality.

Toiletries = sudacrem or bepanthan nappy cream incase they get a sore bum. They do not need shampoo or soap, just clean water and a soft flannel. They usually do fleece flannels in a pack of 3 in the pound shop.

Nappies - you'll need lots of these, they get through around 10 a day for the first few months.

Clothes - vests and baby grows only, no need for outfits, jeans, socks etc. But multipacks from the supermarket or used from bundles on eBay. Most will end up with yellow stains from baby poo or soaked through with vomit or spit.

Pram or sling, you do not need to spend £1000 on a pram, we got a brand new Hauck travel system with car seat on amazon for £75.

Moses basket, very handy for moving downstairs in the morning for naps and upstairs when you go to bed for the first few weeks. Top tip, you can pop the mattress into a standard pillowcase instead of using special sheets, much cheaper and really easy to change.

Cot - probably won't use it till around 3-6 months depending on how quick baby outgrows the Moses basket.

Blankets/sleep sacks - you'll need multiples, makes it easier at night if they wake up soaked to just switch out then sort the washing in the morning. Ikea do nice sleep sacks and reasonably priced.

www.ikea.com/gb/en/cat/baby-sleeping-bags-22157/

Bottles - at least 5, we used cold water sterilisation so just a plastic storage tub filled with cold water and a Milton tablet each morning. Wash bottles normally then pop into the sterilising tub, they need to be in there at least 20 mins but can stay in all day and be used straight from the tub.

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Thank you that has been really helpful. My parents are buying the pram so going to get a travel system with the car seat, carrycot etc included the one I have my eye on is suitable for overnight sleeping so may use that instead of a moses basket for downstairs. Planning to buy a 2nd hand next to me crib for upstairs.

Ok so I am aiming for 10 sleeps suits, vests etc. and I'm sure I will get more as gifts or my partner can pop out to get more if needed. With regards to nappies, would you stock up or just buy a few packs and see how the baby gets on with them?

It is a lot to think about, the email from bounty this morning said the average baby costs £11,498 in the first year and I almost fell off my seat so thank you for your tips and reassurance :)

The bounty email will be factoring in lost income from maternity leave. I would buy 2 packs of ALDI mania newborn nappies, no more because they move through the first sizes quickly.

Supermarket nappies are fine, ALDI ones are brilliant and cheap. Keep an eye out for the Aldi baby events you can get some bargains.

Thanks @TorysSuckRevokeArticle50 I've heard lidl are good too.

I'm probably going to use formula over breastfeeding, i will see how it goes. I've heard Aldi's is very similar to aptamil so will get some of that too.

We've started saving now so this seems very doable for me now, had a bit of a panic this morning

Ignore bounty.

If you really want to do it on a budget, all you need is:

Car seat (must be new)
Sling (NCT close caboo is a good starter)
Clothes- vests, sleep suits, hats, mits, coats, blankets
Nappies
Metatanium (bum cream)
Wipes
Lanisoh (nipple cream)
Bedding for cot or crib
Formula stuff if you're doing that
Changing bag- cheap backpack will do

That's all you need for the first two months.

Bounty are twats. Ignore them!

Useful things to ask for as gifts if you have people who will want to buy stuff are:

Play mat/jungle gym thing for tummy time from about 12 weeks

One of the bouncy seats with vibrating function, DD loved hers when she had an aching belly which is common in babies

Both are extras so not essential but nice to have.

Sounds absolutely nuts but for things for the baby buy some organic coconut oil. We were recommended it for when my DD gets dry skin & it works a treat (& cheap in Tesco). You will also need stuff for cradle cap but that happens a bit later on (baby oil and Cotten wool pads work great but also bought shampoo for it specifically).

We used lots of Cotten wool pads especially when she was first born especially to wipe her bum with slightly warmed water and it was gentle on her skin. They are also good for the babies eye care.

A thermometer. Little baby scissors (their nails grow quick and I found them easy to cut her nails with).

Clothes - I wouldn’t get too many of certain items. My OH’s family bought my DD loads of clothes and she didn’t wear most items. Definitely need hats, scratch mitts (or use baby socks over hands), snowsuits for this weather.

I’d also look into cosy toes for prams if you don’t have one that comes with your travel system!

I wouldn’t get too much bedding for the Moses basket personally. Maybe a few fitted sheets and flat sheets because they grow out of the Moses basket so quickly and then you have to buy cot size!!

I use Fred & Flo nappies from Tesco and find they are amazing & quite cheap!

Also don't buy everything brand new, you've got plenty of time to wait for bargains (I know you're excited and want to start doing a shopping spree I was the same). Get yourself signed up to the local mums and buy/sell FB groups. I bought a fantastic solid wood Boori sleigh cotbed from Ebay, local pickup for the £15 starting bid (it's worth the best part of a grand brand new) It has some minor scuffs but is a beautiful piece of solid furnuiture. I will be buying a brand new mattress for it though.

For you - comfy clothes, food in the freezer/easy cook food and bins wherever you have a loo. Oh and all of the pads!

If you are not working you can claim the Sure Start maternity allowance of £500 for a first baby.

Thank you everyone :)

Plenty of time so I'm writing a list with everything and estimated costs so i have an idea how much i NEED to spend. If we have money left over we can buy some extras but i feel loads better now. I don't want to buy anything till I am maybe 20 weeks but i like a list. I keep checking out facebook market place to give an idea of prices of things second hand.

I know my mum will go overboard with clothes which is why i just want to buy the minimum myself. She is also a knitter so she will do me plenty cardigans etc.

I think we will manage just fine, the bounty email just threw me a little - i'll be unsubscribing from them. We both liked to party and were out a lot so we should save quite a bit by not drinking/going out

Ive just had my 6th baby all mine have went straight into a cotbed.
things i have went through the most is vests & babygrows now my baby is 14wks ive started to use more dresses. Also blankets and sheets as they can be sick alot.
Breast feed if u can will save u lots of money
I did buy a expensive pram but the rest i got good deals on saved about £500 on buying sale or offers.

I wouldn’t stock up on loads of nappies as different brands suit different babies. We started off with 3 packs of size 1 in different brands and have found Sainsbury’s and Pampers work best for us rather than Aldi.

Choosing to breastfeed will save a fortune. I know there are other considerations but that was a big one for us.

I would get a few sleepsuits, vests etc on different sizes because you don’t know exactly what size the baby will be, and same for nappies: I wouldn’t bother with more than about two weeks supply of nappies to start with as they move up the sizes quite quickly.