What else do I need to add to my newborn list? Also need recommendations.

[erised]

I've compiled a list of things to buy, trying to keep things minimal and inexpensive due to low income because of the pandemic. Here's what I have so far:

• x14 bibs
• x10 baby grows + x3 sets of t-shirts and leggings (mostly in 0-3 months and some 2nd hand)
• x6 pairs of socks
• x7 vests (might add more)
• Cardigans (being handmade by family)
• x12 muslin squares
• A few scratch mits
• A couple of hats
• changing mat for home and travel
• x2 dummy clips
• Purflo sleep nest for downstairs
• Next 2 Me crib for bedroom (will be 2nd hand)
• x3 bottles (planning of BF)
• Nuby silicone breast pump
• Bath support
• Nappy bin
• Changing bag

Things I'm not sure on (quantity wise and brands)

• Sheets and blankets (not sure how many to get or what kind)
• Dummys (how many?)
• Breast pads (what kind is best?)
• Nipple cream (what brand?)

Things I've left out are nappies, back up formula, wipes etc. I know I have to get these but will leave it closer and hope the stock gets better. Also left out the things we already have like a travel system, bouncer chair and BF pillow.

Am I missing anything else?

I've yet to put my daughter (5 weeks) in a cardigan.

Most rompers have scratch mitts incorporated into the sleeves. And it's important not to have the hands covered all the time as they use their hands to explore. Don't use socks as her rompers cover her feet (they're just something to lose imo).

Bibs were useful when cup feeding, not for bottle or breastfeeding. Obviously you'll need them when weaning though.

Sleep nests aren't recommended.

Our most useful presents have been a really soft blanket and a sterilizer (planned to bf but have to combi-feed for various reasons).

Ok, so in terms of the stuff you’re not sure on:

• sheets and blankets: I would get 3 fitted sheets for the crib and the same number of mattress protectors - then you can have one on, one spare, one in the wash. I would also buy the same number of baby sleeping bags, probably in 1.5 tog if baby is due in the summer, and maybe just one small blanket for the car seat/sleep nest.

• dummies: buy a pack of two, see how you go.

-nipple cream: Lansinoh is good.

• breast pads: for disposable ones, Lansinoh or Boots own brand are fine. Only buy one small pack as you may not need them.

For bath time, we have a Shnuggle bath and it’s so much easier than a normal bath. Because it’s so portable, you can bath baby on a table or side, which is better for your back. It is basically a bath and support in one. You’ll need towels (you might want hooded towels) and flannels for baby, though of course you may have these already.

We had about 20 vests and 18-20 muslins so I'd say you need loads more. We did 1-2 (sometimes even 3) loads of laundry in the early weeks.

Reusable breast pads from boots worked best for us as did cheeky wipes.

babygro’s have built in hands and feet so you don’t need scratch mits or socks. It’s the summer so you don’t need hats and are unlikely to need cardigans for a few months.

I wouldn’t bother with bottles / breastpump / etc until you know if you want to express. It’s a right chalk on and not always worth the faff if breastfeeding is going well so I wouldn’t waste my money just yet.

If you are breastfeeding you need:

A water bottle you can open with one hand because bf makes you thirsty!
All the snacks!
Netflix or similar and a working remote control
A long phone charging cable
Multi mam compresses (I found lansinoh useless, despite the massive hype around it)

Xx

Gro bags were the best thing I ever had for my baby, often you can’t use them until they’re a certain weight (over 8ib for one of the brands) but it’s not long until they’re that size and it takes away the worry of how many blankets and tucking them in securely

Oh, and for bottles, I’d buy a couple of Mam self-sterilising bottles and see how you go. This would negate the need for a separate steriliser.

For changing, I’d also recommend two change mats (one for upstairs, one for downstairs) and a changing caddy for each place if you don’t have a change table. This is the most useful thing anyone gave us second time round - we’re now in a house with stairs which is logistically different from when we were in a flat with our first. The caddies are cheap and keep clothes and nappies/wipes etc together.

We never used a nappy bin - just put wet ones in a normal bin and took soiled ones outside ASAP.

We never used a dummy clip. Not all babies like dummies!

I don’t think you’ll need that many socks, or bibs until you start weaning. We found 10 vests and 10 sleepsuits plus a couple of cardigans to be a good start point.

You might want to look at a baby gym.

Thanks everyone.

Is it worth getting the swaddle style sleeping bags at all?

I'd say a steriliser good for bottles (if needed) but also dummy's and teething rings when teething

I don't think I'm going to get a steriliser due to BF and the bottles I have on my list are the Mam self sterilising ones.

I’ve never honestly used many bibs or scratch mitts, I think most people don’t end up using scratch mitts.

My first spat up quite a lot but I didn’t find bibs really helped and he didn’t seem to like having them on. I’ve never once put one on my second.

Most sleepsuits have the cold over sleeve thing so you don’t need scratch mitts, not that you definitely need them anyway (I never tended to fold over).

Re: steriliser. If you aren’t planning on formula feeding you don’t necessarily need one. I was gifted a second hand one before DC1 and literally never used it for either children as I breastfed.
Only pumped a handful of times and put the pump in the dishwasher.

You need about a million muslins.

Also clothing wise make sure you have some first size and up to one month clothing. 0-3 will drown most babies.

Make sure you get a new mattress for the cot and its worth knowing that sleep nests are not recommended for safe sleep. We found grobags too big initally but gro do a grosnug which is a great precursor whilst baby gets bigger.

Bottle wise the mam ones are great and so are the mam dummies. They come in a box which can be sterilised in the microwave similar to the bottles and they do glow in the dark dummies ideal for the middle of the night.

The sleep nest will only be used for supervised naps on the sofa. Never overnight sleeping.

More vests and babygros. I wouldn't bother with socks or bibs in the early days, you'll be constantly taking them off and on.
A few cellular blankets is useful for the cot, pram and car seat
We liked sleeping bags for nighttime sleep
3 sheets for each cot as a minimum
Nail file & scissors/clippers
Flannels for wiping baby over
Baby towels for after bath (we like the hood as DS had lots of hair from birth).
Mirror for the car so you can see baby in the car seat.

Get some cellular blankets (I’d recommend 2-3 minimum), if you want to get a sleeping bag only get 1 or 2 because baby might not like them (I bought 9, spent a fortune, baby refused to sleep in them)

Get tiny baby/newborn clothes, 0-3 will drown 95% of babies, my normal weight baby (6lb 13oz) was in tiny baby for nearly a month!

Try and get baby grows with built in scratch mitts, they are brilliant!

We had 30 Muslins and that was about right, wouldn’t have wanted any less!

Lansinoh nipple cream is the best thing in the world.

Breast milk storage bags are a must, even if you plan on exclusively breast feeding, you hand expressing when your breasts are engorged is wonderful for relieving discomfort, and it does feel a shame to throw it down the sink!

I use bamboo reusable breast pads, I find the disposable ones incredibly itchy and uncomfortable, can only wear them for a few minutes before it becomes unbearable!

Looking at your list, I would say:
Newborn sizes
More baby grows & vests - you could get through 7 vests in 2 days if baby is very sicky or has explosive nappies.
We never used the scratch mitts, and didn't bother with socks, most newborn clothes have mitts and feet inbuilt.
DS was a March baby and I never bothered with hats for him.
We never bothered with dummy clips.
I'd hold off getting a pump until you see how it goes, unless your intention is to pump from early on.
Nappy bin isn't a necessity, but I found it very useful, as it didn't smell and meant I wasn't going outside to the bin all day.
You need at least 3 sheets for the crib, plus a waterproof mattress protector, because baby will spit up on it.
I breastfed but never needed breast pads. Think I got some freebies in one of the Bounty packs, which I kept in the nappy bag.

You will definitely need a new mattress for the crib.

I agree that it is really useful to have a changing mat upstairs and downstairs.

My most useful gifts were a large blanket and a large muslin. The muslin is especially useful in summer, as a makeshift sunshade.

Some babies don't like to be swaddled, so probably not worth buying swaddle sleeping bags those until you know, but DS was in grobags until he physically didn't fit them anymore, because he wriggled too much to keep a blanket on (and still does!).

Cellular blanket just for out and about
Wouldn't worry about a swaddle blanket, we just used a large muslin

But the most important thing...
A flask.
Your coffee will stay warm and you can drink it whilst holding baby and not worry about it spilling like a cup. Just trust me on this one.

Thanks everyone.

Have another question: How much did you spend on newborn clothing? So far have racked up £300 and I still don't feel I have enough on my list...

@erised - I think we have spent around £150-200 on newborn and 0-3 size clothing, with odd 3-6 item. We have plenty now so won't need anymore. Thats for a couple of packs of vests and sleepsuits from M and s, couple leggings, couple cardigans. A hat or 2.

How much did you spend on newborn clothing?

Honestly I spent about £60. They are in the clothes for such a short amount of time that I couldn't justify buying anything new. I brought from charity shops, car boot sales, facebook market place and bundles from ebay. People are so desperate to get rid and therefore depite the clothes being hardly worn, infact often many still had tags on, they sell them for peanuts.

I spent £25 on newborn clothing; got a second hand bundle from Gumtree which had everything I needed.

A Nature Bond (available on amazon) is absolutely brilliant for catching letdown. I never bothered pumping as the NB did enough. It's only £15 and the best money I spent by miles

Also reusable breast pads are so much better than disposable (get the largest size) and Cheeky Wipes are brilliant as reusable wipes and will save you loads!

If planning on dummies, you will need to sterilise them. You could get a portable mini one. I also have a little round Milton ball which sterilises them, cost about £7 and comes with Milton tablets.