Your top 3!!

[New2020]

As a FTM it seems like there are so many things out there it's difficult to know what will actually be really useful..and what you could live without that you're being suckered into. I'm due in Nov and trying to figure out things I might need for a winter bubs.

I know it's really dependant on how every baby is but I'm still curious..

What would be in your top 3 recommendations and top 3 buying regrets?

Thanks!!x

I have something similar to this (sorry can’t find the exact one as had mine over 6 years) www.safetots.co.uk/safetots-princess-and-pony-baby-box-organiser.html If you’re like me and don’t have much storage space then it’s so convenient to take things back and to from bedroom to lounge. I used mine every day with DC1 from newborn to being toilet trained and doing same now with DC2 so definitely worth the money.

There’s loads out there but I’d recommend one with a lid otherwise once they start moving they’ll have everything out of it!

Great thread!
My favs are
Snuggle bath - great for leaving baby in if you are trying to get a shower too (with no water I mean)
Ikea high chair - love love it. You can put the tray in the dishwasher and powerhouse it. Transports easily too.
Sensory toy set - our house is full of toys and my little one couldn't care less about anything other than bubbles, flashing lights and maracas. You can get great sensory kits on amazon for £20.
Sorry I've another Books - it's never too early to start. We've been reading with my little girl since she was born. She's 18 months now and loves books.
My not so favs
What everyone says about clothes under 6 months. No point in them.
Shoes until they are walking
Don't buy blankets as you will get given about 50 as presents. Same goes for teddy's!

Good luck! Xx

As I’m reading this thread I’m realising how different everyone really is ! So many recommendations were my regrets and so many regrets were my recommendations 🤣

My advice is to buy the basics and decide as you go along if you need more . I’m
pregnant with baby number two, also due in November, and I’m so temped to buy the items I thought I could have used with my first . But I’m holding back until I have the baby and I have a better idea of what might work . Every baby , every family is so different !

Shamelessly marking as a ftm

Definites:
Next-to-me crib - only gave in and bought it when he was about 4 months, moses basket utterly useless and we ended up bed-sharing. The crib stopped my doing myself serious injury!
Baby carrier - (mine is an Izmi which no one has ever heard of) - I found my local sling library and tried out hundreds- so it seems. Helped me to feel really confident though.
360° car seat so I could put him in and swivel him round. Still using it now he is 2.5, absolutely the best investment.
knitwear my DS was born during the Beast from the East, hand knitted boots and cardigans were fab when our gas heater bottle ran out in -9°!

Wouldn't bother:
To be fair there wasn't a lot, we waited to see what we needed and then usually got them second hand when we did...
Moses basket- we got a snuzpod type thing from Aldi for about fifteen quid which he lay in downstairs but more often than not he slept in a carrier on me.
Any clothes that are not baby grows no point, they puke and sh*t too much to be farting about with buttons.
maternity pads/ tena pads/ disposable underwear - scratchy, synthetic and tight on poor old c-section scar. Used reusable xl postpartum bamboo sanitary towels (or disposable ones), and reusable breast pads in the end. Was doing so much washing anyway I just got one of those little peg hangers and stuck them over the heater.

Good luck though all new mummies... I am currently 20weeks with DC2 and trying to remember all this stuff... 💜

@MichelleOR84 so true!! I've noticed it when asking for advice on a couple of things now. It's true when they say every baby is different!! It's still so useful for me though to make a decision based on other people's experience especially as I'm starting from nothing!

Question for those recommending the perfect prep machine..Did you breastfeed and if not would you say it's needed right away?

Best:
Sling
Breast pump
Video monitor

Worst:
Bouncer chair
Moses basket - he hated it, we used the cot part of the travel system
Bumbo

Best:

1. Baby bjorn sling/harness. Much more practical than a huge pram when they're newborns, kept baby close and happy and it was the only way I could get anything done around the house

1. Baby sleeping bags. No fear of covers over face that way

1. More Muslins than you shake a stick at

Worst:

1. Baby bath - Pointless. Take baby in bath with you

1. Ewan the Sheep. Cute, but did nothing to help baby sleep

1. 'Outfits' outside of babygros - Outfits are useless and uncomfortable for baby, baby gros are practical, have built in gloves to stop scratching and are the most comfortable

Best:

1. Baby bjorn sling/harness. Much more practical than a huge pram when they're newborns, kept baby close and happy and it was the only way I could get anything done around the house

1. Baby sleeping bags. No fear of covers over face that way

1. More Muslins than you shake a stick at

Worst:

1. Baby bath - Pointless. Take baby in bath with you

1. Ewan the Sheep. Cute, but did nothing to help baby sleep

1. 'Outfits' outside of babygros - Outfits are useless and uncomfortable for baby, baby gros are practical, have built in gloves to stop scratching and are the most comfortable

Sleepyhead

Bugaboo bee

Gro products

@New2020

Re perfect prep - we FF as BF didn't work out but you can get them fairly easily. I wouldn't get one in advance of birth unless you are definitely going to FF. We used ready made milk for the first week or so while we worked everything out - it was handy as they only take small amounts for the first few weeks and the perfect prep makes 4oz minimum which would have been a bit of a waste most of the time.

Regrets:

1. Mobile for the cot - maybe we got it too late but she was old enough to pull at it so has to take it down and never used it.
2. Glow in the dark dummies - she was too little to notice them
3. Angelcare bath thing for her to lie in - looked really uncomfortable a s we got a schnuggle bath tub thing. Much better and lasted ages even though she's very tall.

Top 3:

1. Somewhere to put her down in all main rooms ie living room was baby bouncy chair thing, kitchen was buggy, bedroom was bed, bathroom was another baby chair thing.
2. Blankets dotted all over the house.
3. Sling! Didn't use for first as it was too hot but DD2 born in Dec and she has lived in the sling until now.

Next to me crib
Baby sling or wrap
Nipple cream- after every feed & shower
Thermometer
Baby monitor with breathing sensor
Easy clothes- baby grows
Change table
Lots of pillows/ cushions, esp if bf to prop yourself comfy
Waterproof & breathable crib sheets you'll go through loads in a night if baby has reflux
Somewhere flat/ comfy/ safe for baby to lay
Chair/ rocker for when older.
Car seat with base that stays in car and clicks onto pushchair frame. So easy when having to nip out to transfer a cosy baby from car- staying in car seat to trolley/ Drs/ hospital (on pushchair) or out visiting. Just don't leave them in there too long. I used mine for quick trips til dc was 14 months (nearly at max weight limit) it was so quick/ easy.

Waste of money
Nappy bin- most nappies were poos so wanted them in outside bin ASAP not sitting in a warm plastic bin all day!
Muslins- never used
Feeding pillow- too hard/ not adjustable. Better with some new cheap washable pillows/ cushions with washable covers.
Bottles & steriliser (in case bf didn't go well)

Next to me crib
Baby sling or wrap
Nipple cream- after every feed & shower
Thermometer
Baby monitor with breathing sensor
Easy clothes- baby grows
Change table
Lots of pillows/ cushions, esp if bf to prop yourself comfy
Waterproof & breathable crib sheets you'll go through loads in a night if baby has reflux
Somewhere flat/ comfy/ safe for baby to lay
Chair/ rocker for when older.
Car seat with base that stays in car and clicks onto pushchair frame. So easy when having to nip out to transfer a cosy baby from car- staying in car seat to trolley/ Drs/ hospital (on pushchair) or out visiting. Just don't leave them in there too long. I used mine for quick trips til dc was 14 months (nearly at max weight limit) it was so quick/ easy.

Waste of money
Nappy bin- most nappies were poos so wanted them in outside bin ASAP not sitting in a warm plastic bin all day!
Muslins- never used
Feeding pillow- too hard/ not adjustable. Better with some new cheap washable pillows/ cushions with washable covers.
Bottles & steriliser (in case bf didn't go well)

Placemarking too 😊

Not playing the full game but....

I highly recommend a proper white noise machine that you can run all night. Plug in, so no batteries running out at the wrong time and spending a fortune on them. The sound is superior.

No losing your phone into the baby’s room for hours.

Gimmicky toy ones (Ewan sheep, My Hummy, Olly Owl etc) are over engineered waste of money. Honestly, just buy a proper white noise machine.

And Love to Dream arms up swaddles.

Does a bottle warmer fall into the regrets category? Did anyone find it useful to have?

My top 3:

1. Swaddle Me Blankets
2. Pram with a good basket size
3. Chicco Next To Me

I found a bottle warmer useful oh and if FF a flash!

Flask 🤦🏻‍♀️

Placemarking :) 2x FTM's here

@SpillTheTeaa thanks! I was in two minds whether it was worth getting a bottle warmer or to just put the bottle in a pan of hot water to warm it.

I've decided against the tomee prep machine until I'm regularly formula feeding so have two thermos' on the list!

For the white noise did anyone just use the amazon echo?