Nursery furniture - looking for some advice as a FTM!

[iloveorange]

Hello, currently 6 months pregnant with first baby and starting to seriously consider stuff for purchase. We (DH and myself) live in a flat (one floor) with two bathrooms, one large and the other is the ensuite which is the one we both use for everything. Baby will be sleeping in our room for at least first six months, but will have her own room for clothes and maybe hanging out sometimes (we'll see how that goes). Here's what we're thinking of buying, either new or second hand:

• Next to me crib (Snuzpod or Chico Next2Me) for first six months. Probably new as second hand means we have to buy new mattress and protector, so it comes to almost the same price and there's risk of item being wobbly.
• Adult-sized dresser (IKEA Malm) for all baby clothes
• IKEA cot (Gulliver) for when she's bigger
• Changing table. I know this is controversial, but I have sciatica and would rather not have to bend down very often. Changing table would also be a place to store nappies, a few clothes, etc. The idea is to have this in the big bathroom as that way we can have a waste bin there (normal bin with lid, we already have a spare one) and access to water for quick wash if needed. Thinking of buying this second hand as I'd need to buy a new changing mat anyway, so don't see the point in buying new?
• UppaBaby Cruz + Carrycot, probably our biggest expense tbh
• Baby wrap for carrying - should I get this second hand? We'll be getting a sturdier carrier for when she's bigger but the idea behind the wrap is to babywear in the home, as it looks like a lot of newborns enjoy cuddling a lot?

This is really it for now. Thinking of buying some sort of play mat thingy so that she can chill out on it and play with gym later on. If we buy SnuzPod4 we can use that as a day-time moses basket, if not we can always use the carrycot that functions as a pram.

As for clothes I've bought vests and babygrows (Newborn-3 months), a few hats, a couple of shirt+leggings outfits, all second hand, and also bought a few muslin blankets (smallish).

I'm also considering baby swaddles (the ones that come with velcro) as somehow I don't think I'll manage to swaddle with a good old muslin like the pros, and I've heard swaddling works well in getting your baby to sleep.

Is there anything I'm missing that you would think essential? Especially big purchases. I'm going to try to breastfeed so I don't want to buy anything feeding-related until I know what will work for us, but maybe I should have a bottle on hand and some formula just in case?

Would welcome any advice, I don't want to feel like an idiot 6 months down the line and regret buying X or Z. Also if there's anything that was a life-changer for you, please let me know! Definitely could use any advice :)

Thank you in advance.

No need to buy a cot now if you're not planning on her using it yet. Wait until you're ready to put her in it. You might want something different when the time comes.

Put a changing mat on top of a chest of drawers = no need for changing table. Saves a lot of space!

Just thought of another, get 2 bottles and some cartons of ready make formula in, just in case. When it's 3am and you're all crying and she can't latch and is over tired, it's amazing to just have it to hand ready to go.

I'd have a look for local sling libraries, my DD hated the stretchy sling I bought and preferred more structured carriers, you can get some that are somewhere in between, but the good think about the library is you can try a few, hire them for a few weeks and then commit to buying either a second hand one from the library or elsewhere :)

Sounds great to me. Yes you could get the wrap 2nd hand. A moby is a good stretchy for a newborn.

Personally I wouldn't get the swaddling stuff just cos it's not something I ever did, but horses for courses

What size Malm dresser are you thinking?

The only thing I’d bear in mind is that as well as clothes, you’ve got to store cot sheets, gro bags, muslins, blankets etc.

As well as everything you’ve listed there, it’s also handy to have an additional changing mat in the living room (or wherever you hang out the most), along with a stash of nappies, wipes etc in a little basket or caddy. I know you want to do your changes on a changing table but sometimes it really is just handier not to move!

The best thing we bought was a cot-top changing mat. It was about £20 so much cheaper than a changing table but still high up for easy changes.

If you wanted to get a cot now check out mokee as they have a changing mat that attaches on to the cot, rather than buying a separate piece of furniture all together.

I had a summer baby and bought loads of lovely outfits. He never wore. It was too hot. He lived in vests and baby grows. I wish I hadn’t bought so many outfits.

I bought a material wrap sling and was a total waste of money. It didn’t feel secure in my FTM mind. I sold it and bought an ergo baby 360 secondhand (you can get newborn inserts)

I was just going to recommend if you're thinking of breastfeeding there are
Some online classes run by blossom antenatal which are free and really good.

I would switch the malm to a kallax unit with inserts, it can then be used for clothes, toys, nappies etc and useful as baby gets older.

@Rainallnight

What size Malm dresser are you thinking?

The only thing I’d bear in mind is that as well as clothes, you’ve got to store cot sheets, gro bags, muslins, blankets etc.

As well as everything you’ve listed there, it’s also handy to have an additional changing mat in the living room (or wherever you hang out the most), along with a stash of nappies, wipes etc in a little basket or caddy. I know you want to do your changes on a changing table but sometimes it really is just handier not to move!

The one with 4 drawers! I forgot to mention there will be a day-bed in the room as well as we still need a solution for family guests when they come over (we live in the UK but our family doesn't). That day-bed comes with drawers underneath which we could also use for blankets and stuff, although I don't plan on buying any more blankets (I have two, gifted) until I know if we'll need them.

Instead of the ikea malm and a changing table, I really recommend the ikea Hemnes with 8 drawers if you have space.
We still use almost 2 years on every day with changing Mat ontop as changing unit.

We have all the nappy stuff, socks, bibs, spare muslins etc in smaller top four drawers. And we use washable nappies so they take up more space.
The two larger drawers in middle fit all clothing with ikea drawer dividers into categories. And bottom drawers, 1 has all bigger clothes or out of season. 1 spare bedding, sleeping bags etc.

Also recommend ikea cot bed with the drawers underneath. Even more storage

Sorry, got posted before I was ready.

So even if you live on one floor, you still think we'll be changing her in the living room? That sounds impractical to me, but what do I know lol
I was thinking we could always move the changing mat from one room to the other? Especially for night-time changes, being realistic we might need to use our own dresser as a changing table at night, especially while she sleeps with us.

I wouldn’t recommend over cot changing thing. They can’t be used kept on once baby can move, Ds was crawling and sitting in cot by 4 months so that would have been a pain taking it on and off

@iloveorange - we have never changed anywhere in house apart from baby May ontop of drawers. And we live in a house. I don’t really get how it’s more convenient to move around as everything is in reach with Mat on drawers incase he just needs nappy, or full change. Plus we use warm water for wash cloths as each change and I want to wash hands after, so would still have to go elsewhere anyway.

@HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime

I would switch the malm to a kallax unit with inserts, it can then be used for clothes, toys, nappies etc and useful as baby gets older.

I wanted to get a KALLAX as well, I have calculated the space and it fits, I just wanted to wait it out until she was a bit bigger as being a newborn she won't have that many toys. But it is an absolutely great idea, especially since you can have stuff at her level so she can reach whatever she needs and be more independent!

I'm a sucker for a KALLAX though, we already have five in our house, could probably make some money on the side putting them up lol

@Caspianberg

Instead of the ikea malm and a changing table, I really recommend the ikea Hemnes with 8 drawers if you have space. We still use almost 2 years on every day with changing Mat ontop as changing unit.

We have all the nappy stuff, socks, bibs, spare muslins etc in smaller top four drawers. And we use washable nappies so they take up more space.
The two larger drawers in middle fit all clothing with ikea drawer dividers into categories. And bottom drawers, 1 has all bigger clothes or out of season. 1 spare bedding, sleeping bags etc.

Also recommend ikea cot bed with the drawers underneath. Even more storage

I love the Hemnes, but unfortunately I don't think we can fit the 8-drawer in the room, as we will have both a day-bed and a cot in it (it's reasonably generous, but no palace) :(

@Caspianberg

I wouldn’t recommend over cot changing thing. They can’t be used kept on once baby can move, Ds was crawling and sitting in cot by 4 months so that would have been a pain taking it on and off

It takes no time at all to take it off and takes up much less space than a whole changing unit

@iloveorange yes, I would get a 5x5, then as she gets bigger I would leave the bottom two shelves for her to access toys freely then maybe boxes or drawers for clothes on the third layer and then on the top layer boxes for nappies, bed sheets, toys not on rotation, books etc other baby stuff. I think it's much more flexible as a toy shelf, bookcase, wardrobe, general storage.

I wouldn't get a bottle or formula assuming you live near shops and not super remote. I think it kind of starting from a mentality you'll have issues. Try and do an antenatal class about breastfeeding - it's probably more useful.

Also for changing Id recommend having a place to change where you are sleeping even if just a mat so you don't need to trek to the bathroom for night time nappy changes...

I think there's a lot of pressure to buy things as a new parent and really very little is essential. And all babies are different so one person's essential won't work for someone else.

We had a snuzpod and it really isn't easy to take downstairs. It's really heavy and big and bulky. I had an emcs so it was not an option we had a Moses basket for downstairs and that was fine.

I did try at one point to take it downstairs and I said never again 😂 it was heavy but also awkward to carry it down the stairs. It was maybe when she was starting to get too big for Moses basket.

I can also recommend the Hemnes drawers from ikea. Loads of drawers for everything and looks really nice too. We just put a changing mat on top of that.

@pradavilla

We had a snuzpod and it really isn't easy to take downstairs. It's really heavy and big and bulky. I had an emcs so it was not an option we had a Moses basket for downstairs and that was fine.

I did try at one point to take it downstairs and I said never again 😂 it was heavy but also awkward to carry it down the stairs. It was maybe when she was starting to get too big for Moses basket.

We live in a flat, our living room is literally two metres away from the bedroom

Kallax boxes are really deep and it would be difficult to find tiny baby clothes. But check out NORDLI, it comes in various configurations and I much prefer it to MALM (have both).

Yes to sling library, you want to try various options.

[quote HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime]@iloveorange yes, I would get a 5x5, then as she gets bigger I would leave the bottom two shelves for her to access toys freely then maybe boxes or drawers for clothes on the third layer and then on the top layer boxes for nappies, bed sheets, toys not on rotation, books etc other baby stuff. I think it's much more flexible as a toy shelf, bookcase, wardrobe, general storage.[/quote]
Isn't this going to come up a lot more expensive in the end if I have to also buy drawers for it (£20/unit)? Especially for smaller items of clothing :/

Or are you suggesting we have BOTH the dresser and the kallax?

A structured sling is a lifesaver if you live anywhere that you may need to carry the baby and something else up and down stairs (think underground stations, flats without a lift or the day the lift breaks)