Help!! - What is really worth buying, what isn't?

[LozC0411]

Hiya everyone!

I'm expecting my first child and I want to be as prepared as possible. I am starting to buy things and just want to know what is really worth it, and what isn't worth it?

I also want to know if there are any random things or things people usually forget about that I need to buy.

So far I have only really brought clothing items as I wanted advice on other things that are really worth it before I buy.

Any help is appreciated! Thank you🤗

I think you should buy what makes you happy. I saw somebody posted cute outfits are a waste of money. They weren't for me! I used to love dressing mine in something cute then wandering round the supermarket,basking in being told how wonderful they were and how clever I was by random strangers-it did absolute wonders for my mental health.

A Moses basket for downstairs, an upstairs and a downstairs changing mat and basket of supplies and maybe a bouncy chair. A V pillow for feeding.

Apart from that, I also got a kick out of being as minimalist as possible. Mine never had cots- but that's a bit extreme. If you and your partner are very different in height, go together to try push chairs-otherwise one of you will end up with a sore back. Ditto slings-try before you buy. Oh, and something warm and soft to wrap round your shoulders for night feeds.

Also-remember that practically anything you need can be delivered the next day. So only buy more than the basics now if it's making you happy to do it.

Yeah I really would like a next to me, this is really helpful, especially the things I will need for me, as I keep forgetting about that! Thanks x

-thermometer
-baby paracetamol
-1st aid book, or even better, you/partner and grandparents attend a baby CPR/1st aid course

As someone upthread said, sometimes the baby version of things are useless. A friend bought baby nail clippers, which were so miniscule- she could barely hold them. She just used adult nail clippers.

Lots of baby grows. Lots and lots and lots. When I went into the hospital I had loads of wee cute outfits and went through them all because he vomited and shit on everything and my husband had to go buy more baby grows

I only want to be prepared as we are due to move into our first place in January, which in itself is stressful enough! I have brought a few cute outfits, as I cant resist, but have also brought plain white baby grows, vests, hats, mits etc. This is so helpful though, thank you :) x

Yeah I try to pick a pack up of plain ones when I go out, as I have been told you can't have enough

Please buy a good car seat and do your research most seats that come in bundles aren't great and are minimally tested . There's a very good Facebook group careseat safety Uk I learnt so much and bought my car seat in their recommendations.

When mine was a few weeks old I bought a nest she slept. During the day as was impossible to get her to sleep in her Moses basket.

White noise machine
Bottles if bottle feeding we found the timer tipper absolutely shit and switched to dr browns

Get the nuby rapid cool for making bottles it's a life saver I fill the flask and bring that and the rapid cool to bed for making bottles during the night

Soothers these ones are great and flat so good as they get older anything with a round bulb top not great for them and teeth

amzn.eu/d/bjm8qsR

Don't buy too many clothes I've a box full of stuff mine never got to wear grew out of them before she had a chance

A lot less than most people think!

You need:

Sleeping
Somewhere for baby to sleep (this can literally be a box as in the baby boxes) but typically it's a choice of a next to me, a Moses basket, co sleeping or can go straight into a full sized cot.
Bedding, modern trend is for sleeping bags but blankets worked well for millennia and one size fits all.

Transport
A car seat is a must if you ever travel by car, you can get ones that can be lifted out or ones that stay in the car, there's pros and cons on both
A pram, pushchair and/or baby carrier. You'll need something but at first you can keep it simple until you work out what works for you - and second hand/borrowed is a great idea at first.

Nappies
At first it's usually easiest to use disposable because it's such a short time they need the tiniest ones and you'll be tired and adjusting. Afterwards there's lots of options for reusables and they save money, especially if you have additional children.

Clothes
At first it's easiest to stick with bodysuits and sleepsuits, plus cardigan if you have a cold house. If midwinter you may need a warm snowsuit but again if you can get second hand i highly recommend because I rarely needed it. You don't need many of the above by the way, 6 is plenty if you have a washing machine and tumble dryer, perhaps a couple more if you don't have a dryer. You do not need fancy clothes yet.

Other things
Muslin clothes - at least half a dozen
If breastfeeding, get reusable bamboo breast pads and buy a sleep bra and a nursing bra very close to your due date (get one only of each at first as you may change size up to 2 weeks postpartum or so)
If bottle feeding you'll need bottles, steriliser etc but I'm not up on the options as I breastfed mine

The car seat information is really useful and important, thank you! And I have heard crap things about the tommee tippee bottles, so was wondering which the best bottles were as well!
Yes, the nuby rapid cool has been recommended to me as well! Thank you x

A good monitor pref with more than one camera

snugglbundl - £2 -4 second hand on vinted
good for first 3-4m

if you do use formula Nuby Rapid Cool ALL the way.
just a great invention

Thank you! 🤗

All of the above but also massive pants for you! I loved the M&S and Sainsbury’s ones - full briefs in black, ridiculously comfy for the early days postpartum and for using maternity pads. Also comfy pyjamas/loungewear with buttons if you do breastfeed. A massive water bottle to keep by you. I know this isn’t a specific hospital bag thread but I froze a few bottles of lucozade and had some cereal type bars to hand to actually take in with me - think I saw this tip on here and it was a godsend to have a cold drink on the Labour ward.

Wow, I have heard great things about the Nuby Rapid Cool, defo one to look into!

I keep forgetting about myself, and what I will need during labour and post partum... So I really appreciate this! Frozen Lucozade is a great idea as well, thank you so much x

Before you buy a Moses basket, consider whether you could use your pram for that purpose

Our pram had a bassinet section for the newborn stage, and we just parked it in the living room and used it in place of a Moses basket

I also had a dark towel that was specifically for showering after birth and I did have a few nice toiletries to use for afterwards

Yes! Thank you

Oh also a swaddle for baby and when they get bigger a sleep bag , don't use tog sleep suits they aren't safe as they cover their arms and there's a risk of them over heating.

For you
I loved the frida disposable shorts pants they just felt secure and comfortable

Frida witch hazel wipes I used them on top of the maternity pad it helped to soothe down there

A peri bottle

Lots of big knickers that you will be comfortable in for a few weeks

A light night dress hospital is so warm

Different options for newborn to sleep in, arms up option, arms out, traditional swaddle style - you don't know what they will like! DS was a traditional swaddle baby and we were scrambling for a suitable blanket to use!

If you plan on forumla feeding, or think you might do some formula feeding, tommee tippee prep machine is a must. As is the Nuby rapid cool to make bottles out and about.

DS napped in the sling everyday until 3 months old, when we transitioned to cot naps. I bought one second hand on vinted to have as a 'just in case' and really didn't think I would use it and I'm SO glad I got it. DS took nice long naps in there and I either watched TV or pottered about the house.

Lots of babygrows, DS lived in them until 3 months.

A basic gravity bouncer chair. Didn't use for long periods of time in one go, especially when tiny, but very useful to put DS in so I could shower etc and he could see me.

A baby monitor. Spend the time choosing a baby monitor before baby arrives so you have one. We fully thought DS would sleep in same room for 6 months as recommended, however was in his own room at 10 weeks as we just couldn't sleep next to his noisy active sleep anymore (rested parents = better parents) so the baby monitor was then in use.

Buy what you need for when baby comes home (car seat, somewhere to sleep, baby grows, bottle / formula or nipple cream. Nappies).

Remember in this day and age shopping is possible 24 hrs a day with next day delivery for most items.

Buy stuff as you need it

Thank you, I'm clueless on things I will need for after labour

I get that, however I will be on Maternity leave, meaning less pay. I would like to do what I can now while I can afford it easier :)

Lots of great suggestions on here. I’d also say just don’t get too much of any one thing as you never know what specifics you may need/want when baby is here. We got quite a few clothes and bottles and then baby was early and the clothes I’d bought didn’t fit for months and I breastfed even though I’d not expected to. It’s not that all the things we’d got were a complete waste but some of them weren’t used much when it came to it and we still needed to buy things in sizes we’d not expected to need. Also, when our DD was born we hadn’t even got around to getting the pram, car seat and Moses basket/next to me yet but were able to get them delivered really quickly. Obviously having them in advance can be great especially things like the car seat, but also don’t stress too much if certain things aren’t bought until baby is here. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

My essentials

Cloth nappies and wipes
Pjs for night, leggings and tops for day. I absolutely hate sleepsuits with a passion! I hated wrestling 4 limbs into a garment and she was sick so frequently it was much easier to replace the top or bottom that she had been sick on rather.
Muslins - never once used a dribble bib. The sick was more than a bib could manage and muslins were better for dribble
Breast pads but wait until after they are born and by reusable based on how leaky you are. I ended up buying two because I was much more leaky than I imagined and the first set were woefully inadequate
Baby bath - we used it until she was 3
Travel cot with bassinet - used downstairs as safe place as well as well when visiting relatives. Meant we didn't need a moses basket
Spin car seat - didn't bother with a travel system as I didn't have a car so mostly walked. Most of my friends moved to spin chairs by 4 months when baby plus car seat was suddenly very heavy
We didn't get a baby monitor until we moved house when she was 2. In the old house we could hear her wherever she was by the time we needed one a super basic one with just sound was more than sufficient - don't buy anything until you need it as the features that you need might not be what you imagine.

Coffee cup and wireless headphones

When buying start with eBay!
We got out pram for £100 RRP £800 3 babies have now been in it and it's still in very good condition. Our travel cot was £7 new more like £40. Sling new but damaged box £20 instead of £45.

Mix and match shops for clothes so that they don't out grow everything on the same day. Asda first size was the perfect size when my daughter was born. She was 6lb13 and this was 6-9lb. It means we didn't need tiny baby then 1month as a lot of tiny baby was up to 7lb which we wouldn't have got much use out of and the. 1 month was 7-10lb which would have been huge at first. We found a mix of Asda and Sainsbury's good as the Asda ran small and Sainsbury's bigger.

Mam bottles and soothers can self sterilise in microwave so no need for steriliser