What do I need to Buy for the Bump?

[StaryNightSky]

Hi Guys

Sorry I don't know where to put this.

I'm 18 weeks and trying to get everything sorted. I know alot of you will say its too soon. But we are really strapped for cash, so have to buy things every month or so.

So Far I have a lovely M and P 5 in 1 travel system thats, carry cot, pushchair, car seat, all of which attach to a common chassis. My thoughts were that Baby could sleep in the Carry Cot as a first bed with a proper mattress and that would free up buying a cot untill baby needs to move into one.

I plan to use reusable nappies - I preffer them.

What else to I need, for say the first 6 months?

I need to do most if not all of my shopping on ebay etc. I am great at getting a bargin besides I think that if I had to buy new I would have to buy really poor quality, by buying second hand I can buy things I would never be able to afford and as long as you are careful the quality is amazing. Sorry had to justify - FIL is disgusted that we are buying things second hand.

Please help oh wise and wonderful women.

Check out www.ethicalbabe.com They have a category called product of the week, where each week they promote one product at a really low price. If you are strapped for cash, then last week you'd have loved their organic cotton baby sleepsuits for £7.50. This week, they're featuring a soothe & calm baby balm for just over a fiver. If you're looking to make a saving on your newborn to be it'll be worth taking a peek.

(sorry, but rofl at organic cotton sleepsuits for £7.50 - if you're truly strapped for cash you'd do better to get five for that in the supermarket, seven for that on ebay or 14 for that in a charity shop...)

Speaking of charity shops we have a great one here in Harrogate. Its called Everything But the Baby and people take their old baby stuff in there and the shop sells it on their behalf and takes their cut. All the stuff is good quality with a lot of designer stuff at cheap prices. They really do sell everything but the baby. They have a website but I don't think you could buy from there.

Try Gumtree instead of ebay...loads of baby stuff going secondhand and it is always in your area with fixed prices so no bidding.

if going for re-usable nappies definitely don't get any tiny ones as baby will grow out of them with breath-taking speed! maybe if you're happy with folding nappies then go for squares rather than the shaped kind as cheap to buy, quick to dry...also you can make good nappy liners out of end-of-roll fleece (keeps baby's bum incredibly dry).
i also had a sling that never got used...
best of luck

why not join freecycle? it's an online community where people give away things they no longer need... go to yahoo, get yourself an ID and search the groups section for freecycle. then look for your local one. I got loads of stuff for my baby on there. you reply to the offered ads (you can do a search for particular items) and once you've offered something yourself you can put a wanted ad (freecycle etiquette). I also have given quite a bit of unsuitable baby stuff I was given to charity shops and have noticed they do have some really good baby items in a lot of the charity shops now. well done for not giving in to the pressure of having to have everything new and just think what a green eco baby yours will be with its reusable nappies as well!

If you are going to breast feed - buy one pair of Lilly Padz (you can get them from amazon amongst other places)for £15 instead of using breast pads. They are marvellous.

Don't bother with...

layette box, top and tail bowl,baby bath (they much prefer the 'cosiness' of a washing up bowl and can go in the big bath when bigger), nappy stacker, moses basket (creaky, uncomfortable things that the baby will outgrow within minutes of birth!, baby bath products (soap and shampoo will do).

I couldn't have done it without...

Lansinoh cream for boobies but DON'T buy it (a tenner a tube!). Wait till the baby comes and then ask the midwife to get it for you on prescription or else request a script at the GP surgery - prescriptions are still free for year after baby born.

Ethel Austin blankets (a fiver each and they're the softest you can buy).

Hi StaryNightSky

There is so much marketing directed at new mums, just think of all of the glossy, expensive things advertised in the bounty/welcome packs.

You really don't need half of what is directed at us mums.

It is sooo lovely to see how generouse u guys all are on here!

I did it all on the cheep. We had no choice and I can say that the little person did not care less what we payed for stuff. You are priceless to the baby and you matter more than any designer organic cotton baby grow or fancy toy. Sorry if this offends anyone or if it sounds a bit corney.

We used terry nappies, very versatile, changed the folds as needed. If you want to spend a bit more then the pre-fold one size fits all are good. Some people buy birth to potty packs and descover that they don't like the particular type of nappy, kind of a bit wasted money. It may be worth chatting to a local nappy advisor, see if your local area offer any financial help in purchasing cloth nappies, there are those who do.

You can actually make nappies out of old wollie jumpers if you or anyone you know are up for something like that. I can give you links to these if you like. I have web sites for knitted nappies if you have any keen grannies!

We were given loads of stuff, eg. clothes, yes they are in them 5 mins, don't get the use. Agree with getting several babygrows from supermarket instead of buying 1 that still costs a fortune despite being half price.

I have never bought a pack of baby wipes in my life. We have a wet bag for nappies, and a wet bag for damp flannels, soiled flannels then go in the nappy bag.

Only 1 expensive thing we bought new was car seat.

There is nothing wrong with charity shops. Great bargins, use them myself. Car boot sales are great too. Just think how eco-friendly you are being by getting things second hand-all that recycling!

Make sure you are aware of any benifits that you are or will be entitled to.

Breastfeeding is free!
Breastfeeding tops are nice if you could afford them but wearing a vedst under another top works well. I never got a breast pump, hand expressed, not everyone gets away with it but i got miles more milk off than when i did have the oppertunity to try a pump.

We all have our little things that we would not be without but it does vary from each individual. If it is free and on offer then take it. You can always sell it on e-bay.

Sorry if this is rushed, my spelling is terrible, a bit rushed as have small child on the loose!

Good luck and just think how lucky your baby is going to be.

All the best things that matter to the baby are freexxx.

Did you get the pic of the pic of the cot?

Also...

Don't buy special Nursing tops from e.g. Motherare - they just expose your boobs to everyone when you want to feed your baby. Much better to buy loose fitting tops that you can lift up a bit - no-one can see a thing once your baby is latched on.

I have found Nursing bras really useful, but I wouldn't go as far as to say they're essential. Worth buying good quality though as they get some hammer! Mothercare do packs of 2 for about £15 and they measure you up for free.

ASDA smart price baby toiletries (soap bar 18p, baby shampoo 44p) are good quality and fine for my baby who has sensitive skin.

i bought more than most but used it all:

WIPE CLEAN changing mat
made an air freshener spray out of lavender oil and rose water. would spray it before bed and nap time and it helped settle him off.
crib - couldn't fit the big cot in my room
sling
baby gym
pushchair with a carrycot. would have used the sling full time but have you tried trying on clothes with a newborn attached to you!!
cot bed
baby beanbag seat
push along walker
high chair
baby cutlery - get the metal stuff. plastic forks are crap.
doidy cup
avent magic cup/tommee tippee easiflow cup/normal sippy cup but take valve out
insect net for cot/pram
travel sleeping bags with zip off arms
swaddle blankets
cot bumper (to stop baby getting stuck between bars!!)
dreamshow thingy
baby monitor with camera
respisense breathing monitor (but i am over cautious cos my brother died of SADs)
plug in night light
books - to tilt the cot when baby has a cold
sleepcurve mattress
vicks vaporiser
prince lionheart slumber bear
top and tail bowl
nappy stacker, cot tidy helps save space in drawers and wardrobes.
fisher price cot piano and various cot toys keep
my ds amused in the morning when i want to get things done upstairs
nice toy boxes you don't mind being on show in your living room
drawer tidy for keeping little socks and hats and gloves etc in
elasticated cot sheets - ds used to pull the flat ones off
net for washing machine for above items
UV sun shade for pushchair and car seat
pram/car seat toys
cool bag for bottles and ice packs(an ordinary one will do)
electric breast pump
v cushion
bottle brush, rack for drying bottles on, silicone orthodontic variable flow teats
tiny scratch mitts
elasticated bootees so socks don't fall off
snow suits
wrap style vests
large handbag for nappies, clothes, small toys etc (and don't forget the obligatory carrier bag for all the wet bibs and clothes you will collect)
vegetable steamer (but we had one already)
ear thermometer (i have the nurofen one that plays music)
comb if your baby has masses of hair like mine (i just use an ordinary one for 15p as opposed to some stupidly priced baby one. wouldn't bother with a brush as babies hair is generally too fine)
cotton wool
bath thermometer
bar of baby soap
baby shampoo

this is stuff we didn't bother with or bought and was crap:

any other baby toiletries other than those mentioned above
matching nursery furniture and wallpaper. just buy ordinary chest of drawers, wardrobe, bedside table etc, paint the walls in whatever colour you fancy and buy accessories to make it look nice for a baby, then change accessories as child grows up - does anyone like decorating? much easier this way!!
pram/moses basket sheets - just use normal ones
anything that is meant to stick on to a high chair
blender - do baby led weaning
sun parasol
changing table
baby bath
bath support
moses basket
cat net
cot mobile - you can't use them once they sit up and ds was sitting before he went in his cot
blankets (used sleeping bags)
play nest - wasn't big enough for ds to be able to lie flat in it
sun blinds for car
electric swing
baby walker, exersaucer, door bouncer, bouncy chair
play pen
stair gates
baby toiletry box
baby scissors
dummies
buying a standard sized cot - mine wriggled so much it wasn't big enough after a few months

oh and baby cape

wrap over tops with poppers are better than anything that has to be pulled over the head, buttoned up or done up at the back. i liked zip up things too but a lot of people think these are uncomfortable for newborns.

and poncho towels are good too.