so what else is completely unnecessary?

[star6]

I've just found out - thanks to many helpful mumsnetters, that bottle warmers are a waste of money. There are plenty of threads telling 1st time mums what is most necessary. I would like to know this:
What is out there that is completely unnecessary for a new baby? I don't want to waste money on silly things I will never use

The best doesn't mean "stuff". Honestly it doesn't.

I totally agree with you, seeker! We've discovered ebay, netmums (FANTASTIC) and nearly new sales which save loads of money. While we could certainly afford the things we need brand new, why bother? It's not like these things are dirty or less functional... same thing, less money - more money saved in our bank and equally happy baby.
This thread has been incredibly helpful!!! We've passed by loads of stuff that we previously thought we "Needed" and it feels GREAT. We've gotten some stuff second hand, but bought bottles, sterilizer and breast pump all brand new - stuff like that I need new - I'm absolutely crazy about cleanliness.. yes, I realize this is going to be a huge problem when our baby arrives

Baby monitors don't work in big stone buildings we found.

We have a tummy tub which was marvellous value and the only thing to treat DDs colic.

A bouncy fabric chair was worth the money in our case, it was nice not to have to carry her round constantly.

Best buy was a large pot of vanish to clean the stains off the sofa.

The bumbo was great but she only used it for a month before learning to escape it - so get one used or borrow one if you can.

I have yet to open the packet of muslins we bought prior to DDs birth and she's now 20 months. I just didn't understand what they were for and still don't. Kitchen towel is just as effective and you don't have to wash it. (Sorry I know it's ungreen but she was sick about four times in a year so it's not like I was going through a lot of it).

wmmc - what were the stains on the sofa from? Putting varnish on my shopping list now....
and what's a bumbo?

Babies leak constantly. Breastfed babies have explosive liquid poos which no nappy known to man can contain when they really get going. Also kids are just generally quite sticky. Who knows where it comes from, it's generally green or brown ick of some description. Baby wipes are pretty good at getting to it and taking it off if you spot it but it's generally once you've got them to sleep and sat down you notice the crusty stain on the cushions

A bumbo is a seat made of foam which helps the baby sit and can be put in the kitchen while you cook so you have hands free while you misguidedly assume the baby is behaving and watching you rather than chucking carving knives at the cat.

Puss - I have a dishwasher but you also need a DH to load and unload it.

Short sightedness is good value when you have a baby, if you can pretend not to see the dirt it's not there so you don't have to clean.

Overzealous attention to cleanliness or tidiness is definitely completely unnecessary! If you aren't actually going to catch the plague from the floor, it's clean enough IMHO

(Oh and DD has a superb immune system as a side effect too!)

Thanks all! I was having pre-baby stresses similar to my pre-wedding nerves about all the stuff you apparently "have" to have!

I'm five months pregnant with DC1 and so far have decided that all I will need until proved otherwise is:

Pram (no car and so will be walking loads)
Sling
Bouncy/vibrating chair
Nappies
Muslin cloths
Changing mat
Baby grows
The bassinette my mum used for me and my siblings
The cot my former boss is lending me
New bedding for the above
Blankets
Wipes
Washing up bowl/towel in bath
Car seat courtesy of Freecycle - for parental visits/trips with friends

(Breathes huge sigh of relief...)

xxx

seeker I think you're banging your head there

Things you do not need:
Top/tail bowl
Gallons of baby lotion
Tons of toys
Outfits
Baby sleeping bags - DS hated his, we love blankets in this house

Things you cannot have too many of:
Muslins - buy what you think you'll need and then double it
Vests
Blankets
Small towels (not those silly things with hoods)

I disagree with people who say you don't need a changing bag, I have used and used and used mine. It is still in use and DS is 2 although it's beginning to look knackered.
I am already thinking about which one to get for DC2 DH has his own as well which he uses loads.

you get a free changing bag if you join boots parenting club if you are not sure if you want one or not - you can always get a classier one if you really want to later on.

Am I the only person to find a top and tail bowl and baby bath useful?

They came in a set from the market for a fiver, the top and tail bowl is great if you are using cloth nappies, I put the used flushable liner in one end while I cleaned the baby up with the water from the other end.
I found bathing a newborn in the big bath really painful to my back and under arms, I used the baby bath in the kitchen next to the sink for ages.

comtessa I would be wary of using a second hand carseat unless you can be 100% certain it has never been in a crash etc.

I would like to add a baby dressing gown to the list of uselessness my babies never cared for leisurely reclining after a bath!

notso - agreed. There is no way on this earth I would use a second hand carseat - IMO this is one area not to compromise in.

wmmc - you know those muslins you never opened? They would have helped with the leaking baby . That's why we got through so many - poo, wee, sick, dribble. Endless.

please can someone link to these bath seat/chair things?

This thread is so helpful!

We have been umming and aahing about getting a baby bath with a top and tail bowl. Only thing I thought in favour of the baby bath is that they don't take as long to get the right amount of water in as it would a regular bath ( don't worry I know not to fill it, but surely baby bath is still quicker?!) Also as they are small I thought they would take away some of the fear of bathing a tiny baby?! By the looks of it the bath and top and tail bowl are a bit of a matter of opinion????

When do you start using baby shampoo/body wash? A friend has given us a big Johnson case of toiletries, as you are saying water is fine to begin with when, if at all did you use the toileteries?

By the looks of it I haven't bought anything too gimicky yet, my husband will be pleased!

im 32 wks, and on my 4th, got nothing left from las time, cos youngest is 14yrs. so startin again, i got most stuff from ebay and car boots, i got cot, and changing bag and mat, not all this all singing all dancing stuff, and a hefty price to go with it. I cant beleive places like mother care and babyrus charge so much for stuff. the idea is shop around, i onyl have the basic stuff, i have everything bump needs even a pram system. with lots of extras for next to nothing on ebay, and its a top brand name and not a cheap, comes with a car seat, carry cot, and buggy seat, and bag. so it really is worth it to shop around.

bath seat

DF here you go. If you look around the site you'll see a sort of sponge thing that is also sold as a bath support - don't buy that, it's shite. I'm planning to get one of the fabric supports this time round.

cool - thank you
I found the plastic ones for 6 months and over but not those. Will look into them

RE baby baths, those giant sponges with a baby shaped cut out in them are very handy for washing a baby in the big bath or a sink, cost about a fiver. My baby hasn't arrived yet, but when looking after nieces and nephews, and clearly not wanting to spend any money on random stuff, I found one really useful.

Porcelain - I had one of those and found it rubbish, really rubbish! I guess it depends on how your bath is whether it works or not.

Have to say, that for the first 6 weeks or so of his life DS had his bath in the sink because I'd had a section and couldn't get up off the floor with him.

I found my baby bath really useful. I had SPD and a bad back so used to put the loo seat up and put it on the loo, filling it up with a large jug. That way I could kneel and bath baby. Once finished I could pull the plug out and the water would go straight into the toilet - fab!

Also, I used to put a squirt of babywash into the water. I didn't want to put it on their skin but all 3 dcs were sicky so plain water just didn't get rid of the sour milk smell!

the entire johnsons range of toiletries, and pretty much every bottle on the baby shelf and tubs/tubes of nappy cream. i'm still on the bounty bag tiny tub of sudocrem and sample of bepanthen 2 years later for serious nappy rash - mainly from chaffing elastic on a very mobile baby or teething rash. baby soap and a bit of baby shampoo when his hair got really thick and grotty when weaning was all i needed. johnsons just brought my babies out in a rash till they were over 6months ish.

I can promise you with my hand on my heart the one thing you categorically don't need is the sense of overiding guilt that seems to come free with one or other of the purchases you'll make.

It must have come free with something I bought as is appeared during pregnancy and I never had it before. i can't recall what it was though

Great thread. Seems my only errors so far are-

• Cat net (jury's out on this one as cat is very curious and will sit on anyone who keeps still for more than 5 seconds.

• Change bag (got given Storksak Emily by relative as a gift and I have to say, I love it and would use it as handbag even if had no kids)

• Changing table- actually a chest of drawers with changing top thingy so doesnt take up more space than a chest of drawers

I did buy a lot of stuff second hand, either from ebay (so satisfying) or from friends.

Did also buy a nursing chair. Although prob a bit unnecessary, I'm already finding it lovely and does wonders when I have backache.

I think some of it is definitely down to individual preferences.

I'm definitely getting a changing table for example because with my bad back & joints, I need one! But then I'd buy a chest of drawers anyway, so not a lot of difference.

And I'd need a new bigger handbag to use it as a changing bag, so figure I might as well get a changing bag one with pushchair clips.