Due February 2022 (thread 3)

[Winterfellismyhome]

Our other thread about to max out so welcome to thread 3! How is everyone doing?

20 weeks scan today and much to my surprise it’s a girl!! I was convinced by the heartbeat at 16 weeks it was going to be a boy. All as it should be and we’re super happy!

I’ve been wearing maternity jeggings (H&M and New Look) as I’m just finding them super comfy. I’ve also been going for maternity tops as well as they're that bit longer. I’m all about the comfort now 😂

I’ll also take any recommendations on baby carriers. Think they will be much more practical for taking the dog out. Just no idea where to even begin with it all!!

@Sunshine8888

I’m in my maternity jeans and leggings already, dug them out from last year! Also Seraphine had a 20% flash sale off coats so I’ve splashed out and treated myself to a winter coat that I can also wear baby in when he’s here and also a nice big zip up hoodie I can also wear him in 👍🏻 I didn’t wear my daughter much as she was very happy in her pram but think this time round I will need my hands free more for my toddler! I’ve been looking at the ergo baby 360 or baby bjorn mini - anyone recommend these or alternatives?

I’ve had the worst cold all week but also went for a PCR test this morning just to make sure!

I had my second jab this week so great timing if I’ve managed to catch covid before that’s had chance to kick in 🙄

Ergo baby 100%

You can see whether there is a sling library close to you?
You can rent a sling there and can help adjusting it/finding the right one.

When my son was older, I loved the Tula, but they are not ideal for newborns (in my opinion even the free to grow ones).

Congratulations @0Scapes!
I am in leggings all the time too, I have some maternity jeans from my last pregnancy but I just never found them that comfortable and I haven't even dug them out yet this time. I normally quite like wearing longer length skirts but my waist line has almost disappeared so they don't look very flattering atm. Maybe when I have a bigger bump...
In terms of carriers I think it is really quite personal, definitely good to try them out in person but we really loved the beco Gemini carrier, and know a few others who got on well with it. We had a ergobaby at first, but DS really didn't get on with it and we found the straps overly bulky.
Anyone got any advice on double buggies or whether people are going to go for a double or just sling/buggy board it. DS will be 23months when new baby arrives and I'm just not sure if we could manage without a double.

@AtomicSquash I’m also wondering about a double pram. My toddler will be 22 months if I go full term. We do have the Uppababy vista which can convert so I may do some more looking into that. The adapters aren’t too bad but the cost of the rumble seat isn’t so great!

@AtomicSquash thank you :)

@Peachi82 I had no idea that that was a thing but it looks like there are sling library sessions local to me so will definitely be checking that out. Thanks for the recommendation!

Has anyone used reusable nappies before or planning to this time?

I've bought the newborn kit The Nappy Lady recommended - the one using Muslinz and warps. The wraps are actually super cute! I'm just at a bit of a loss as to what's the best next steps ones - an all in one pocket nappy or a two part system

Same as with the sling library, there are nappy libraries!

I've used reusables with my son for 2 years, then we started our house extension and it all got a bit too much, so we've been using disposables until he was potty trained. Only one nappy for the night now.

I had quite a big stash of bambino mios, which were good for nursery, but the older he got the more compression leaks we got. I've sold them all now and will just use muslins and prefolds and bamboo boosters with a wrap. And not drive myself insane with trying to use cloth exclusively!

@atomicsquash as there will only be 15 months between DS1 and DS2 weve Just bought the ickle bubba venus double pram. With the newborn cacoon. Were going to keep DS's current stroller for when the older one is at nursery xxx

@Peachi82 thanks! I read good things about Bumgenius elementals, and one of The Nappy Lady's recommendations was the Blueberry. Sounds like I should see how I get on with the muslins and wraps, and maybe look at babies weight and shape and buy a couple to try out after baby is here.

Thanks, hope the extension is finished!

We didn't have any of those. I think they are quite expensive?
We had a couple of totsbots AIO that I liked (I kept these because they were more absorbant than Bambino Mio). And wraps we had Totsbots and Milovia (they were really good but I think they are discontinued).
In general AIOs especially if they are not microfibre take ages to dry and you can't really put them in the tumble dryer or too close to a radiator. That's why I would prefer just wraps and then prefolds, muslins, boosters. I think this time round I would send to nursery in disposables. They did use the cloth nappies with my son but he often leaked because they didn't change him on time. Disposables are a lot more forgiving.

Try not to buy too much before baby is here. Usually in April is nappy week and all the retailers offer really good discounts. Same with earth week/day and black Friday.

Extension is kind of finished. Still some snagging. I hope it's all done before baby comes. It was worth it though.

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7

Has anyone used reusable nappies before or planning to this time?

I've bought the newborn kit The Nappy Lady recommended - the one using Muslinz and warps. The wraps are actually super cute! I'm just at a bit of a loss as to what's the best next steps ones - an all in one pocket nappy or a two part system

Honestly no. I know people who tried and almost immediately gave up! Maybe I would start when they're more like 6 months old, newborns need their nappies changing too often in my opinion!

@2under2howscary I was looking at the ickle bubba Venus, it seemed to tick all the boxes of what I was looking for but I have a feeling I discounted it because I need it to fit through my back door and annoyingly I think it was 0.5cm too wide! Might have to go measure again though because the price of it is so reasonable.
@Sunshine8888 I was thinking about the tandem option but a lot of the reviews I have read about them say they can end up quite hard to maneuver? and I struggle to pop my 18month old up kerbs in his travel system now, let alone with another baby on-board, he is a bit of a chunky monkey though If you've already got the vista though it must be worth giving it a go. Maybe you could pick up a rumble seat second hand?

I've heard the best double buggy is the mountain buggy double

@Peachi82 thank you, yes this is why I was asking because those all in one nappies are expensive compared! But if they take a lot longer to dry, then two part or pre fold with wraps might be the best bet. I reckon I'll see how I get on with the newborn stuff I've bought first - looks easy enough atm and re-evaluate after. Might be best to buy a couple different ones and see what works best for us. Thank you for the advice

@AtomicSquash oh yes I think it’ll be so heavy! The vista is a heavy pram just as a single. I just don’t want to splash out for a new pram

@Skybooks did you get anything good at the baby show? Debating whether its worth it

@ A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 used reuseables from birth with no1 - had a nappy lady hire kit. Have bought a selection of secondhand reuseables this time (motherease sandys and bubblebubs, and a few newborn baba and boo) partly because the cost of hiring was high and partly because we might have number 3. With my DS I mainly use totsbots 2-parters now but have used a range including all in ones (blueberry, smart bottoms, totsbots) when he was younger. I think they are dead easy to use and no way would I put a newborn in disposables - too many leaks, and washing reuseables for newborns is super easy. We use throwaway plastic nappies now much more than we used to but I think at 2, in childcare, working FT, the balance swings more this way.

@Winterfellismyhome got a chicco sling and lots of little bits, sheets, muslins, cheeky wipes. They had some great deals on travel systems and car seats and I really wish if bought one but to meet it's too early right now to buy one. Also got 2 free mam from birth bottles so as I am plan to breast feed again that's all I'll need as a starter of I chose to express.

Olympia is alot bigger I believe so probably worth it in my opinion.

I've really struggled to buy things for this baby as I was preparing for the worst so for me it was a great way to start the buying and feel connected to the baby.

@CaramelWaferAndTea thank you, I think I'll do similar to you and try a couple out - have been looking baba and boo because of the great reviews (and prints 😍). I might get a couple newborn baba and boo as I've heard the size range is generous and I only got four wraps to try in newborn size.

Yeah I can't see the washing can be too bad, the wet bag is tiny, and the nappies themselves are also. Easy enough just to empty the bag into the machine and run it.

I reckon we'll be the same, do our best, but not beat ourselves up if we have to use disposables on days out etc, holidays, childcare etc. Thank you, it's been helpful to get peoples views who've used them

@Skybooks hopefully there'll be Black Friday deals on all of that stuff too 🤞 Sounds like you got lots of useful bits though

I’m impressed how forward thinking everyone else is. All I have bought is nappies!

Trying to work out if we will need a double buggy - DS will be 2.9 and can use a buggy board, but is very heavy (18kg so officially above the bugaboo bee weight limit!) and I don’t think a board on the back of our bee will hack it. I think I’ll probably just do sling plus buggy and hope he’s completely walking by 3… really need to work on his bike use too.

@Skybooks thanks, that's helpful :)

Any other first timers looking at this last page thinking it just as well be another language?? 😂

Just shows how much there is to think about. Really appreciate everyone’s thoughts/recommendations/suggestions etc. It would all be much more difficult without!!

@0Scapes

Yes! Exactly my thoughts! Just trying to keep up with it all! Trying not to get over whelmed!

An amazing friend gave me a car load if things and kept saying, 'let me know what you need' and my honest answer is I have no idea!!

Thinking about reusable nappies ATM. Friend kindly gave me a heavy duty bag for life's worth but they are like cardboard and she didn't really use them herself (not surprised! I wouldn't want to wear them, nevermind put a newborn in them!)
Looked into nappy lady which I think will be helpful.

There is talk of a facebook group which may be easier to read through and I've pm'd someone who I think can let me on but I've not heard back.