Doing a boots order- what do I need?!

[AluckyEllie]

I’m 35 weeks and I’m doing a boots order, what essentials or useful bits do you recommend? So far I’ve got on the list:

Maternity pads
Breast pads
Movicol!
Spatone iron sachet things
Lanisoh nipple cream
Mini toiletries for the hospital

For baby:
Nose Frida
Saline drops
Child’s farm wash/moisturiser
Wet wipes
Baby sponge/flannels
Thermometer

What am I missing? I’ve already got some newborn nappies and a baby bath. It’s got to those last few weeks and I just feel like I’ve forgotten something big lol!

I wouldn't bother with the bubble bath/wash or moisturiser for a newborn. Plain water is better early on.
Look into cheeky wipes instead of wet wipes much kinder to baby skin.
Nappy cream I personally like weleda calendula it's soothing.
Vaseline for helping to get the meconium poo off delicate skin.
Bath thermometer and in ear thermometer. Nail clippers
Nail file
Nappy sacks if using disposables

Can't think of any other baby essentials off the top of my head!

Make sure the maternity pads are the ultra thin ones - the thick ones do not help!

I'd also ditch the baby bath and get and AngelCare baby bath support instead. They're fab. Don't bother with baby wash, water will do.

My experience (after 3) is very different to the last post. I would only use the hospital type super thick ones for the first couple of days. I've also heard of people keeping them in the fridge though I didnt.

Look at a Shnuggle bath. Absolutely the best thing I bought for our kids. You are (almost and only safely) handsfree from day 1 and don't have to run a full sized (albeit shallow) bath like with a bath support. You have the freedom of bathing baby anywhere which is great in the early days.

I absolutely swear by Multimam breast compresses. Never got on with lanolin, didnt think it helped. The compressses (kept in the fridge and cut in half to save them as they aren't cheap) were a god send!

Nappy creams varied on all of mine. First didn't seem to get on with any and had terrible rashes. Second only ever needed vaseline and nothing else. Third got a nasty nappy rash when I only used vaseline, HV had me use metanium (which never did anything for my first)... worked a treat but has to be applied very very thinly (may be where I went wrong previously) and then switched to bepanthen and never had another rash since.

Don't get wipes from Boots! You want to use cheeky wipes with water for wee, and wiping hands and face, and Tescos own for poo. I've been nannying for 15 years and never found any other wipes to be so effective.

Perfect- thanks so much! I’m glad to hear someone mention the angelcare seat- that’s the one I’ve been given secondhand. I’m also planning on cheeky wipes so just getting a pack or two for the hospital/emergencies. Bath thermometer is a good reminder and completely forgot about nappy cream! Nail clippers- good point, I’ve been warned about tiny talons. Can you tell it’s my first and I’m trying to be prepared but a bit clueless 😂

metanium Is the best nappy cream out there! A lot cheaper on Amazon tho so worth searching around!

After a couple of days struggling woth the maternity pads I swappes to pull on disposable incontinence pants - way better for post birth stuff.

Ps a lot of people say metabium is the best napoy cream. It is very good but Burts Bees nappy cream is even better.

Spritz for bits for you, can't recommend it enough

Would also recommend a shnuggle bath as an absolute must! Fits in the kitchen sink so you can easily fill it and empty it and bath standing up which saves your back! Also saves on water.

@AluckyEllie

Perfect- thanks so much! I’m glad to hear someone mention the angelcare seat- that’s the one I’ve been given secondhand. I’m also planning on cheeky wipes so just getting a pack or two for the hospital/emergencies. Bath thermometer is a good reminder and completely forgot about nappy cream! Nail clippers- good point, I’ve been warned about tiny talons. Can you tell it’s my first and I’m trying to be prepared but a bit clueless 😂

Don't use nappy cream as a habit. If baby's bottom is OK, there's no need to apply. Congrats and enjoy your baby 👶

I read your post and instantly thought 'nail clippers'. Their tiny little nails are like razor blades that grow quicker than you can cut them.

@Snowywintersundays123

metanium Is the best nappy cream out there! A lot cheaper on Amazon tho so worth searching around!

Yes. If nappy cream is needed, Metanium is amazing!

Distilled witch Hazel to take down the swelling in your vadge!

I used water wipes instead of baby wipes at first, they’re expensive but if you are in hospital you can’t be washing cheeky wipes etc. water wipes are better for sensitive newborn skin than a baby wipe.

I used the thick maternity pads. You need to at least double however many are in your basket. It doesn’t matter how many you think you will need, you need more.

Congratulations @AluckyEllie 😊 How exciting! Not long to go now do you know if you’re having a boy or girl? 😊

Some things I found useful:

• Multi-Mam compresses (they’re like moisturising sheet masks for your nipples and they were a lifesaver for me when I had a rough start to breastfeeding!)
• LOTS of maternity pads. Boots own normal ones were great for me 🤷🏻‍♀️ Get more than you think you’ll need. I knew to expect heavy bleeding but I didn’t know to expect quite THAT much 😅
• Spritz for Bits
• Metanium Nappy Cream
• Lansinoh nipple cream (also handy to use as a barrier cream if baby has any wee dribble rashes etc 😊)
• Maternity sheets (like puppy training pads is the only way I can describe them 🤣 I slept with them under my bed sheet for the last few weeks juuuuuust incase lol and also kept a couple in the car to protect the seat on the way too and from the hospital)
• Lip balm for you during labour (gas and air makes them very very dry)

@TolkiensFallow

Distilled witch Hazel to take down the swelling in your vadge!

I used water wipes instead of baby wipes at first, they’re expensive but if you are in hospital you can’t be washing cheeky wipes etc. water wipes are better for sensitive newborn skin than a baby wipe.

I used the thick maternity pads. You need to at least double however many are in your basket. It doesn’t matter how many you think you will need, you need more.

@TolkiensFallow Clearly you and I had the same experience with the maternity pads 🤣 I knew to expect heavy bleeding but I didn’t know to expect THAT much 🙈🤣

@BDavis exactly!! I got the amount I guess I would buy if I was buying sanitary towels for my period…they lasted maybe a day 🤦‍♀️

The thick incontinence pads I found really helpful, the thin once I found irritated my skin and made me feel super sore even though I didn't have stitches.
Just a note op that many of the things on your list will probably work out cheaper from a regular supermarket than from Boots even with the points earned on the advantage card.

@Sh05

The thick incontinence pads I found really helpful, the thin once I found irritated my skin and made me feel super sore even though I didn't have stitches. Just a note op that many of the things on your list will probably work out cheaper from a regular supermarket than from Boots even with the points earned on the advantage card.

Maybe that was it - I had a 2nd degree tear with 30 something stitches. I started on thick pads and got no comfort, even with a donut cushion to sit on! Thin pads felt so much better with stitches.

OP - lavender oil. Just a couple of drops in a full bath can help with any healing.

[quote TolkiensFallow]@BDavis exactly!! I got the amount I guess I would buy if I was buying sanitary towels for my period…they lasted maybe a day 🤦‍♀️[/quote]
@TolkiensFallow Oh gosh, you really did underbuy 🤣🤣 I definitely bought more than that but absolutely nowhere near enough 🤣

Do they still do those premade formula bottles?? Even though I breastfed both of mine, these were invaluable in those early weeks when I was knackered and needed more than 3 hours sleep.

Keep your receipt.

Also consider Superdrug. It's cheaper.

@AluckyEllie Meant to also say - make sure you’ve signed up to the parenting club and check your app for offers and freebies 😊

@BDavis it’s a girl! We were trying for quite a few years so very happy but it’s flown by. I had all these ideas about lovely homemade decor and things I’d do but nope it’s 5 weeks to go and I’ll be running round boots (or Superdrug!) chucking basics in a basket. I’m definitely getting more maternity pads, and that’s a good point about some emergency formula- I guess I can donate it if I don’t end up using it. Is it worth getting some dummies do you think? I don’t know why I’m overthinking so much, I live near a pharmacy and Amazon prime is always there for next day delivery. I guess it’s the unknown… I’ve just washed and sorted some teeny tiny super cute baby grows so I feel a bit more organised now.

Ah yes to the puppy pad things.

The thing noone tells you is that if/when your waters break it isn't just a case of a gush and your done. They can just keep coming. The whole labour. Constantly soaked.

(And on the protecting the car thing, I'd thoroughly recommend keeping a wsshing up bowl and kitchen roll in there).

Sudocreme but invention ever, I used night always sanitary towels with dd2 as this was the recommendation (USA) so much better than the boots maternity pads I used with dd1. Get cheap black knickers though, a size bigger than normal.

I also got the disposable knickers with ds1 and dd3. In the first two days or so it was really helpful to just get rid of them rather than send stain laundry home with oh everyday.. They tear down the side so easy to remove especially when soaked through