Best brands...what do you suggest??

[makecakesnotwar]

First timer planning on buying: breast pads, disposable nappies, creams, lotions and potions, bottkes, formula, breastfeeding bras etc. I'd appreciate recommendations if you have any....

Awesome tips....is it worrying that I am excited to be buying nappies??

Another vote for Waitrose Bottom Butter, gorgeous.

Lansinoh was a lifesaver.

Also Lansinoh breastpads worked for me.

Lots and lots of maternity pads, Mothercare ones were great, Boots one were absolutely awful.

I used dispoosables for first 3 weeks (Huggies I think) then got out the cloth nappies and havn't looked back. I do use nappy bags for transporting wet nappies home and will only use the Nature Baby ones because they are unscented (can't stand the perfumed ones) and are made of cornstarch so will degrade.

Don't use baby wipes at all so can't recommend any. I use cloth wipes with plain water and wash with the nappies.

Don't use soap/shampoo/bodywash either so can't recommend these either.

lansinoh breast pads and cream

pads - mothercare maternity ones for the first few days then always thick huge ones

nappies - pampers then reusables

bottles - tommie tippie closer to nature and aptamil milk (got them in incase breast feeding doesnt go to plan)

Bottles - Mothercares own brand, the ones you can just sterilise in the microwave. mine have lasted years and no need for a bit steriliser thingy.

teatree oil for soaking reusable nappies in until you wash them.

bumping for more great suggestions...

Hi makecakes [wave] Have you seen this thread here with lots of useful tips. I really have to start writing all the best suggestions/advice down somewhere...

Find a steriliser too, as if you want to express milk, you'll need to sterilise the breast pump and bottles/cups you'll feed baby from. The electric one I had was rubbish, as it took way too long. This time I'm getting a microwave one which can double up as cold water tablet steriliser. 'Closer to Nature I think it's called? £16-19 from Amazon, including bottles.
When ds finally accepted formula (at 7 months, the fussy mite) he'd only take Aptamil.

I have thanks Dramaqueen....I have also heard that Tescos have sterilisers on half price at the moment, along with wipes and anppies....

Metanium is the business if you (or rather your DC) get nasty nappy rash. It stains any clothes it touches yellow, though, so you don't want to use it unless there's active nappy rash.

Don't buy disposable knickers, they feel really horrible. Buy really cheap cotton ones and chuck them away! Lansinoh breast pads, Pampers new baby size, and then nature nappies. Can't remember the nipple cream, think it was Lansinoh, but buy some in advance rather than getting DH on the phone in the supermarket talking about nipples . Sudocrem for bottoms. Johnsons fragrance free baby wipes (can't be arsed with cotton wool!). HTH

I have been reading this thread with interest - basically, to cut it short is don't buy lots of everything as baby might not like!

Hated disp knickers so bought cheap black ones from asda the second time round that I didnt mind chucking later. Also maternity pads are crap IMO, last time I bought the super super heavy flow normal sanitary pads adn they were so much better.

Bump

I remember buying first pack of nappies on my way home from work a few weeks before DD was born - it was a very strange and lovely feeling.

Agree with a lot of suggestions:

Lansinoh.
Ordinary big knickers rather than disposable ones
No creams or lotions - I did use almond oil as I did baby massage - olive oil just as good.
Aptimal when moved to formula but a friend's DS had a bad reaction to this.
Only bottles DD would take were Nuk (latex teats - my sisters DCs were the same).
DS has a boy and a girl - pampers were best for girl and huggies for boy!
I also got Arnica for internal bruising - homeopathic remedy which doctor actually recommended post birth - I already had it in my hospital bag.

Don't buy too much of anything in case it doesn't suit.