Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

20 weeks pg - should I be stocking up on baby things? And if so, what?

66 replies

oliv · 29/12/2004 20:00

Hello! I'm a new girl, first baby due in May. I've got lots of hand-me-down newborn clothes but nothing else. Now I'm over the halfway mark I'm thinking maybe I should start buying in the sales/ begging for essentials but I don't know what I really need and all the baby shops obviously tell me I need everything ever made. Any advice?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
DoesntChristmasDragOn · 29/12/2004 22:41

Muslin squares. Invaluable for amultitude of tasks.

misdee · 29/12/2004 22:46

i;d leave bras til llast few weeks, tbh as my expanded in the last few weeeks.

from the supermarket, along with usual shopping, get nappies on offer if using disposiables, bottles, bottle brush, blankets, (tescos tends to sell everything these days, some asda stores as well), baby grows, vests, socks, scratch mitts, muslims, room thermomotor (never got one with my dd's, but the babies room here the temp tends to go from one extreme to the other), small grooming kit (nail clippers etc) and one lovely neutral going home outfit.

and for you, cheap knickers or paper ones, maternity pads, breast pads, baggy nightshirts (primark do cheap ones), dressing gown and slippers if having hospital birth,.

Cinderellascarrieg · 29/12/2004 22:54

Seconding the advice about NOT buying anything in tiny sizes...not only will baby grow out of them in days, but everyone who buys you gifts will get newborn or 0-3 months. If you see anything you love buy it in size 6-9 months - that's when the supply of pressies dries up & you're skint after 6 months of baby stuff-buying/Maternity Leave, etc!

hunkermunker · 29/12/2004 23:24

Yes to buying in bigger sizes! But just remember what season it will be when your baby is the right size for them. I bought stuff in the Next sale today and had to do hard sums to work out what size I should buy shorts in

Uwila · 30/12/2004 00:19

Agree with buying 0-3 and not newborn. But,I don't agree that a changing table is a bad thing. If money is tight, you could get by with a mat on the floor. But, it's not ideal for your back. And if you should have a caesarean, you definitely won't want to have to get up from the floor several times a day. DD is 21 months, and I still use the changing table.

Another tip, if you plan to use formula. If you don't heat the formula and just give it at room temperature from day one then the baby will likely accept it that way. However, if you do heat it up, the baby will always expect it heated. This is a problem when you are out with no way to heat it up and baby is screaming.

Gwenick · 30/12/2004 00:30

HAve to disagree about cotton wool - we tried that with DS1 (and for about 3 days with DS2) was a complete nightmare

a) used HEAPS of it

b) very hard to get the poo off (especially that horrible sticky stuff when they're 1st born)

c) Unless you've got sensitive skin in the family wipes are unlikely to affect your baby.

Moses baskets are nice but not essential - cots are just fine LOL

Baby bath I would say to get one - babies held in the bath can be very slippy and if you're short like me it can be quite dangerous to try and keep hold of them over the side.

kinderbobsleigh · 30/12/2004 04:08

I would get loads of face cloths in different colours and use them for different things. I had white for bums (no cotton wool faffing about here) and the coloured ones for burp cloths, sticky hands etc. Still using the large pile of 24 now and they are brilliant. Must have saved a fortune on wipes. Buy the cheap thin ones for bums as they get in the cracks better. Thick ones for possets as they absorb more.

A polar fleece blanket is also very practical as it resist 99% of baby emissions and dries in seconds.

jingleoooggs · 30/12/2004 20:22

Didn't bother with the baby bath, had one of those sponge things and you can lay the newborn on it. DS 12mths still like to sit on it in the bath. Muslims are great. Didn't bother with a moses basket, had a travel cot with bassinette instead and still using it on travel ocassions travel cot now. Fleece blankets are great and can save your carpet, easy to wash and dry very quickly.

Enjoy your pregnancy and relax.

tiredemma · 30/12/2004 20:24

nappies, nappies and more nappies, not so much newborn but more the next size up. they appear so expensive when being purchased from a measly maternity pay!!

lockets · 30/12/2004 20:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Fran1 · 30/12/2004 20:38

Congratulations and welcome!

Beg, borrow or steal a moses basket, cos they are very very useful, but only for about a month if you have an average size baby, so quite expensive to pay out for.

For you - millions of paper knickers, supersize maternity pads, breast pads and really unattractive maternity nighties (with buttons if you plan to breastfeed). And some totes toasties, so your feet don't have to come into contact with hospital floors! A couple of nursing bras also if you plan to b/f, but get those at the end of pg so you know more appropriate size.

Baby - Bath towel, nappies, cotton wool, hat and one big cardie, blanket, vests, baby grows. Don't go overboard, my dd was never sickie, so one outfit a day was enough, on the other hand sickie babies can need several changes a day.

For home, lots of toilet roll, biscuits and teabags for the guests!!

A good idea, is stock your freezer with a few meals so you and your dp don't have to think about cooking for a few days.

And i would recommend one of those banana shaped bean bags as it is useful for many things - sleeping comfortably when pg, propping baby on to feed, and later acting as a support cushion when baby is learning to sit.

Good luck!

pootlepodinapeartree · 30/12/2004 21:02

A very good washing machine and access to cbeebies.

DelGirl · 30/12/2004 21:05

ok, so where do you get a banana shaped bean bag from Fran, they sound comfy. I'm 24 weeks with my 1st so reading this with interest. definitely needing some extra support at night but not sure what's the best to buy and they all seem so expensive

popsycal · 30/12/2004 21:06

moist toliet paper and fybogel

SantaClausfrau · 30/12/2004 21:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DelGirl · 30/12/2004 21:10

it's ok, i've googled. anyone know of any cheaper? the one i've seen is £40, at that price I think i'll make do with extra pillows instead

popsycal · 30/12/2004 21:12

delgril - they sell on ebay quite cheaply

DelGirl · 30/12/2004 21:18

thanks popsycal

stabilo · 30/12/2004 21:21

mothercare £20 delgirl

popsycal · 30/12/2004 21:24

ebay have some buy now ones for 19.99 but i have seen them much cheaper on there

DelGirl · 30/12/2004 21:25

will have to invest I think. are they really really worth it though? I've tried supporting my bump with an ordinary pillow but it just doesn't seem to do much. tho my bumps isn't that huge yet but getting a bit uncomfortable at night some times.

popsycal · 30/12/2004 21:25

delgirl if it is just bump support you really needa a cheese pillow......
my life saver

DelGirl · 30/12/2004 21:27

really? they look a bit hard to me, oh I don't know!!!! decisions decisions

lockets · 30/12/2004 21:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

popsycal · 30/12/2004 21:28

the xheese wedge thing form mothercare is brill - got it with ds and am using it again this time - i really find it much easier to sleep with it. just for preg though - othing to fdo with babies!