Nesting frustration amidst crazed panic buyers

[SarahD19]

Ok so got to rant here a bit. I’m 8 months pregnant and having an urge to make sure we have everything in ready for baby - I guess typical nesting. Nothing extreme but just trying to ensure we don’t get caught out in the midst of the first couple of weeks with a newborn.

However all these basic essentials including baby wipes and basic household cleaning and food items are low stock or sold out in so many places.

It js driving me crazy that this response to coronavirus is not only leaving truly vulnerable people such as elderly and sick people at risk - but also now posing major barriers just trying to do basic preparations for baby.

Anyone else finding this all extremely frustrating??

Yeah its annoying.

But just buy it all online?

Why do healthy, normal people who have neither toilet training children, infants or newborn babies, require so many baby wipes and toilet rolls etc anyway??!! I just don’t get it! 🙈

@Letsallscreamatthesistene I thought I was being smart by trying exactly that. Unfortunately been notified half the things on my orders are basically out of stock - hence trying to shop around. Even right down to just a single pack of paracetamol and ibuprofen for the postpartum period! It’s complete madness.

I know - the other day I saw someone buying 12 bottles and UHT milk and 4 crates of Shandy.

I actually think its quite interesting what people are bulk buying! I go to my local supermarket everyday (because im terrible at planning weekly meals/shops etc) and ive not seen one person bulk buying frozen veg/meat/fish etc. If I was going to bulk buy, this is what i'd do I guess

FYI if you need toilet roll you can get some from Cheeky Panda www.thecheekypanda.co.uk/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw3qzzBRDnARIsAECmryrw68PdImkZQbr0KXrQgX1BPlKRn58o4tPh8GjSWbA-WMNCTqRT6poaAozdEALw_wcB

They come in boxes of 48. This is how I buy toilet roll anyway because its more convenient, but seems extra handy now.

All my local supermarkets have been sold out of cotton balls! I’m not sure what the panic is on those but I wanted some for new baby’s bum!

@Letsallscreamatthesistene thanks for that! Luckily we are actually ok for toilet roll.

@singme I know it is crazy! To add insult to injury we’ve had an issue with online delivery today (the one that had half our list missing) and had to make a rushed dash to the local shops to get through the weekend. Everything has been extortionately priced and/or out of stock.

I’m high risk to have baby early and still working full time with a toddler so it’s enough a nightmare trying to keep on top of it all at the best of times. The selfishness of people running off with cotton balls and baby wipes drives me mad! Especially as most of these people have no use for these items.

I completely feel your pain OP! I’m in the exact same position - currently going through the house with a fine tooth comb trying to make sure I have everything ready for baby. I need to buy so much essential stuff and am worried I won’t be able to!

FYI if you need toilet roll you can get some from Cheeky Panda

Just clicked on this and apparently they’ve sold out until next week!

Is anyone having trouble getting hold of nappies? Please say they’re still available!

@wondering7777 I’ve been able to get some nappies but that’s one of the only things tbh. Some places have been a bit short but not as bad as the essential day to day stuff.

I wanted to get things in so I could even make some soup in advance and just ensure I had enough sterilising equipment and laundry stuff to last a few weeks. It is all these practical things and stuff like painkillers that is an issue.

The local Sainsburys have limited hand wash to 4 bottles each and had had to restock everything. To me it blows my mind people would buy more than that to begin with! Even 4 hand washes is plenty imho for a busy family with small children.

You’d think it was Armageddon and people were stocking up for years, I just don’t understand the hysteria. It’s infuriating as this response is actually causing a crisis more so than the actual virus from what I can tell 🤷‍♀️

Morrison’s, if they deliver to you, are generally great. I only had one substitution and that was one brand of hand wash for another. They source direct from their warehouse, rather than off the shop floor. Things will be restricted though and you’ll have to wait at least a week for a delivery slot - got an email earlier about this.

When you go into hospital they should be able to prescribe some meds to take home given the circumstances. Good luck with everything.

@Daphine2004 thanks for the tip. I may consider it at this stage. And that’s pretty big as in the past have had very bad experiences with Morrisons delivery service so have vowed never to use them again!

@SarahD that’s hilarious as I rate Morrison’s quite highly - Ocado and Sainsburys also good. Asda and Tesco I found to be awful delivery drivers. However, I think only Morrison’s and Ocado delivery directly from the warehouse - I may be wrong on that. So, with good and poor drivers, plus no missing items or substitutes (other than this current time!), I’ve stayed with Morrison’s.

I’m in Manchester so not sure if you’re in the same area and your local delivery has issues.

Not poor drivers! Lol.

@Daphine2004 I think it must be area specific. Where I am I’ve tried them all. Ocado have failed to deliver all together and not notified us. Sainsburys and Morrisons have also been completely on their own schedule and missed parts of the orders. Waitrose, Tesco and Asda have been the most consistent over the last 8 years where we live now. Previously I had very different experiences living elsewhere... However others who live nearby to me say similar.

I forgave Ocado though as love the range so still go back! And I still go into Morrisons and Sainsburys in person when I can as like the stores, I just tend to regret each time I shop online with any of them 🙈

I love Ocado too and looking forward to the M&S deliveries!

I love Ocado too and looking forward to the M&S deliveries!

Whereas I will miss the Waitrose ones I wonder how long it’ll be before this panic-buying dies down and the supermarkets are back to normal again - hopefully not too long!

@wondering7777 do Waitrose not deliver to you? I’ve had issues with my online account not working properly recently but thought that was probably just me!

It is super frustrating. I managed to get nappies and wet wipes from aldi today. I wasnt planning on having to buy yet at 34 weeks but i decided probably best given the panic going on. It is making prep for the baby difficult

@Aisah I know! My nesting part of the brain honestly thought I was being prepared planning ahead now. However the barriers I’m facing make me think it may not be enough trying to prepare now even if I manage to go to term. It’s causing a great deal of extra anxiety on top of what is already a very stressful situation given the complexity of this pregnancy already.

I just cannot get over how irrational and selfish people are being. My “being prepared” with small kids, including a newborn in the house, and postpartum recovery, is STILL only buying a fraction of what all these inane, selfish tw*tfaced nutters are stocking up on.

There is really absolutely no excuse for how so many people are behaving. And I think I’m in a position of privilege where I have an income and can afford to plan ahead. Many of the elderly and more vulnerable in society do not have the financial or physical resources and/or space to do so - yet are more susceptible to any negative outcomes from corona. Honestly, it is absolutely disgusting 🤬🤬🤬

@Daphine2004 M&S orders sound good!

Can I just join in on your frustration? I'm 29 weeks today,went to Tesco yesterday for some more pregnancy vitamins and nearly lost my shit with the panic buyers and empty shelves. It was worse than Christmas with the queues. I felt physically sick with anger at these selfish people. I live in an area populated by uni students and young families so I've no idea why they're fucking panic buying. They're putting elderly and other vulnerable people at more risk because of their selfishness.

Myself and partner had planned to buy stuff like cotton wool,milk in May. But now looks like we'll have to get it sooner,if we can get it at all. We had planned to use washable nappies and washable wipes on the whole so hopefully they won't be in shortage. But it's just so pathetic. So much for getting through this together and looking out for each other.

And as for those idiots wearing masks that have been proved to do NOTHING when PPE is low in stock for health care professionals.

I have to go for my weekly food shop later,if you see a pregnant woman on the news for shouting at at people in frustration,that will be me!

@Layladylay234 absolutely welcome to jump on board! Glad I’m not the only one jumping around like a crazy person in frustration as have worried I’m overreacting.

Have actually now come across instances people are buying baby formula in the absence of long life milk because it lasts longer ffs!! 😡😡😡

Yeah, I don't know what I would do if I knew someone was doing that!

Have you considered a few reusable options? A pile of facecloths, for example, would be fine as washable wipes, and might save you having to rush around several stores in an emergency. Reusable nappies also a consideration, either new or secondhand.

I'm defo going to be using both reusable options but I still want to get a few packs in for the first few days in hospital/in case I run out.