What do I need for the baby as first time mom

[Alegra8176]

I know this is asked all the time but I'm not sure what I need as first time mum. I managed to create the below list based on ...some reading but it may be not very accurate so any help please is appreciated

What i plan to buy:
Cot ( I liked one that can become a todler bed)
Pram - with carrycot and seat for later
Pajamas ( will be summer so I suppose baby can go out also wearing those ?)
Nappies, some sort of rash cream and bath gel
Bottles and milk if i can't breastfeed
Some small toys ?
Something to put on top of chest of drawers to change
Some hygiene things like brush, small scissor and stuff

I don't plan to get the below:
Sling - with good pushchair I don't see the point)
Baby monitor / noise machine - small flat no need for monitor
Fancy tiny outfits that will be worn once
Wet wipe warmer
Fancy changing bags ( any bag can be changing bag)
Car seat as I don't drive or have a car.

That sounds like a good practical solution!

Main issue I have is that if I get a generic cheap one will it fit my pram ? If I need to go anywhere one way what to do with it after the trip I can't just hold it. They are quite bulky so more space to take at home. I noticed in London you can request a taxi with a car seat in it plus I live very central and there is tube, busses and many more options...

Main issue I have is that if I get a generic cheap one will it fit my pram?

you google the pram make and purchase a compatible one.

If I need to go anywhere one way what to do with it after the trip I can't just hold it

clip it back on to the chassis of the pram and put baby in it and push them around.

They are quite bulky so more space to take at home

i agree storage can be an issue with babies - its just a matter of priority. Those who do need carseats find a space to put them.

I noticed in London you can request a taxi with a car seat in it plus I live very central and there is tube, busses and many more options

Sounds like for the most part you'll be absoloutley fine without one, and as I said earlier, you can get one delivered quickly if it becomes something you think is necessary.

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

For me, these were things I was very grateful we had:

Muslins - millions of them and we always ran out lol

Dummies

Bottles and formula (as much as I wanted to BF we just couldn't get the baby to latch on so it was a good job we had formula in "just in case" - you could buy an express pump. I did that for 3 months to express breast feed

Changing bag - honestly, any old bag doesn't do. Most changing bags have sections for bottles, have a changing mat included, clip for your keys, etc. Having a decent changing bag was a game changer from the plain bag I thought would be fine to start with

Sleep suits & baby gros/vests

Blanket or play mat for them to lie on

Cot mobile

Make sure you have a decent changing station set up - you need to be able to reach everything one handed whilst stopping your baby from falling off!

Don't underestimate how many nappies you might need - subscribe & save on Amazon is a good way to buy them cheaper

Have a bottle of Calpol available in the house ready for first lit of immunisations.

Nappy sacks & wipes

Decent chair for night feeds - sitting up in bed can be really painful on your back, I had a wonderful rocking chair. I won't let my husband get rid of it 20 years on because I have so many fond memories in that chair. One with pockets on the side to stash snacks for you when you're starving or just trying to stay awake lol.

Most un-useful thing we had (was a gift) - nappy bin. It stank!

@Alegra8176 word of advice....if you live in London and plan to use tube and buses frequently get the SMALLEST and most easy to fold pram that's suitable from birth.
There will be times you HAVE to fold it and take your baby out and hold her (this is where a sling shoved in your bag will come in useful). Always be prepared to have to do this. 9 times out of 10 it's fine but never assume the space will be available.
As for the car seat, most major car seat brands are compatible with the major brand prams - so you can probably buy it as a package. Car seats take up very little storage space. Just pop it in a cupboard when not using.

If you live central London a pram with bassinet isn’t that helpful

to take tubes or buses when busy you need to be able to fold pram. Which you can’t with bassinet. So you end up potentially having to miss several buses until space

theres a reason 99% of people in central London end up with the stokke yoyo pram with newborn nest. And small fold sling like ergo embrace. You can then put baby in sling and fold pram to take on then for example. Same in bus when busy. Same when cafes packed. Etc

If you get a basic car seat that’s compatible with the yoyo you also have the option of using car seat on pram on days out with taxi. Again take sling to move baby into as needed.

I would still look into having a sling, my baby is now three months and it’s only just going in the pram. Without the sling I’d never be able to do anything or leave the house! She screamed in the pram or when I put her down otherwise and it became unbearable however she suffers quite badly with silent reflux but now we have medicated she is much better. I rented a sling for £3 a week from a local sling library who fitted one for me to her. As she grew I ended up changing for another so wouldn’t recommend buying one definitely rent if you do need one.

I think changing bags are maybe more useful if you bottle feed. I breastfed and never used bottles. Someone got me an expensive changing bag and it was swapped within weeks for my own rucksack as it was just a big nuisance of a thing with a million pockets for stuff I wasn't carrying about with me.

Normal rucksack had nappies and changes of clothes in the main compartment, a fold-up change mat in the laptop sleeve at the back, wipes, sudocreme and nappy sacks in the front pouch, and a bottle of water for me. Nothing else was needed. I use the same rucksack now that he's 3 and fits everything we need.

This 💯%
I never had a bouncy chair, Moses basket, changing stations, changing bags or any fancy baby specific things like towels or blankets. I could have done without a cot too as I ended up co-sleeping.
A pram/pushchair/car seat combo thing was useful and a sling was used every day.

Thanks

I was considering the yoyo but it looks really weak and unstable with those small wheels compared to bigger prams . Not sure how it will perform when used for walks. I walk a lot and really only take transport if super urgent . Everything is within walking distance and during maternity leave I think I can avoid rush hour anyway .

@Alegra8176 the yoyo is really great. We had a large mountain buggy as live rural with few pavements. I bought the yoyo for travel when Ds was 1 and I wish I have bought from birth as would have used in town and shops far easier as the mountain buggy took up whole boot. We still needed both due to location, but the yoyo has coped fine abroad in parks, cobbles, dirt tracks and we have used all over London when visiting

The yoyo just lives on a large coat hook, takes up no space. Both prams we still use very occasionally at 4 years. The yoyo has been on planes, trains, fits under restaurant tables in city etc

If you go to John Lewis they usually have a selection of prams you can try

I live in a city in France and everyone has yo-yo’s so I guess they are okay, I know a family with a boy the same age as my youngest 18 months who have a yo-yo and a dog and they seem to use it several times a day and it looks good still. We have a bugaboo bee which is also great.

Not as much as people would have you think.