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Original poster

What are the baby essentials?

106 replies

NewbieOnTheWay · 27/01/2009 14:31

Hi Everybody, I am currently 18 weeks pregnant and have just started to think everything through now, what would you say is the most important things to have when baby arrives?

I don't know the sex of the baby and don't have a huge budget. I have been looking at some things online prams etc but they all seem so expensive I was thinking of shopping at Boots so I got money back in points for everything I buy to balance it out a bit.

What are your reccomendations and pet hates please?

Thanks xx

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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Millie26 · 28/01/2009 13:23

Newbie put down the TT breast pump thing from Boots!

Asda have got a sale on at the momemt and a TT breast pumps is one of the things reduced from £25 to £10 and they've got loads of other stuff too (apparently).

I'm going tonight, but I think I'll take a print out of this thread with me!

scorpio1 · 28/01/2009 13:25

the Tt hand pump, IME, is useless! I have one here you can have for free!

scorpio1 · 28/01/2009 13:27

appleeater - I threw all mine out - as i had planned to FF but ended up BF, and the bottles were too tempting in the night and for my DH.

Millie26 · 28/01/2009 13:37

scorpio why is it rubbish? Maybe I wont get one either then!

scorpio1 · 28/01/2009 13:39

It took me forever to get some out - then another MNer sent me an electric pump and i got out tons of it , although that could be just me iyswim.

mersmam · 28/01/2009 14:06

I really would NOT get a breast pump at all unless you have to (ie. you're going back to work within the next month or so!) The baby will want all of the milk you produce at first anyway - the last thing you'll want to be doing when you get an hour off feeding is using a breast pump!
All of the advisors will tel you that it's a mistake to start 'pumping' too early (!!) It's a mistake I made with my 1st baby and really messed up the bf and took all of the pleasure out of it. The big bonus of bfing is that you don't have to mess around with all of the sterilising of bottles etc... and that is taken away if you express.
I think you just need to accept that if you want to bf successfully you will get very little time away from the baby over the first few months. After that, the baby will go longer between feeds and you'll be able to get out for a meal etc... without needing a breastpump!

mersmam · 28/01/2009 14:14

Re slings - I think it's a personal things whether you prefer them or a buggy/pram. We have a babybjorn papoose but personally I don't like it as much as a good old fashioned pram! I've found that babies always go straight to sleep in the papoose when they're really little wheras in a pram they can wriggle and stretch out a bit more. I really think it is down to personal preference though. I'd just buy everything second hand then if you don't like it you can sell it on again without much of a loss!

Iklboo · 28/01/2009 14:17

Best thing we got for DS was a wind up baby swing. We got it from ebay for about £15. It gave us hours of rest

Bubbaluv · 28/01/2009 14:26

Mersam, I would say the pump thing is personal choice too. I would have given up bf really early if I had not had the freedom that expressing afforded me. Being able to hand over a feed here and there for someone else to do kept me sane. I found it really easy to express though, and I think that was a big factor.
Also, there is no need to steralize if you wash thoroughly in hot soapy water and leave bottles etc to air dry on a rack. Never use a tea-towel though.

Bubbaluv · 28/01/2009 14:27

IME the pump has to be electric, otherwise it's all too much hard work.

thumbwitch · 28/01/2009 14:28

warmth, food, sleep and love.

mrsgboring · 28/01/2009 14:33

ITA with lindenlass. Those are the essentials. If there is any money left after that, the first things you should get if you don't have already:

Cordless phone for your landline
Dishwasher
Multi channel TV with remote (or remote controlled radio and hifi if you're an anti-telly person)
Also ensure your washing machine is up to scratch.
Freezer will come in handy later on

Everything else can wait till the next NCT sale. Find out when your local one is and get there early.

PrincessButtercup · 28/01/2009 14:48

I liked the breast pump because it meant that my DH could do an expressed evning feed therefore giving me MORE sleep time and helping him to bond. I agree you're v unlikely to be doing this in the first few weeks so not technically an essential from day 1.

Original poster
NewbieOnTheWay · 28/01/2009 15:01

Hi all

OP posts:
HeftyMutha · 28/01/2009 15:06

I LOVE the advice about the pillowcases in moses baskets to cover the mattress - genius. Thanks, Mrs Badger!

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 28/01/2009 15:13

If you get a pushchair that is suitable for newborns (check the details - it needs to be able to recline flat or very close) and has a good cosytoes, you shouldn't need a pram as well. Also don't think you need an expensive pushchair, some of the cheaper ones are actually much better/more practical than some of the "trendy" brands that cost loads more!

kingprawnjalfrezi · 28/01/2009 15:45

I have never used, with either ds even though I have them

  • changing table
  • baby monitor
  • play mat thing

Use all the time

  • baby bjorn sling
  • baby bouncer
  • blanket on the floor to play on
  • car seat
  • cot
  • change bag - although don't buy an expensive one - to be quite honest I never use the little compartments so any old shoulder bag would do.

things I used but could do without

  • baby bath
  • pram - inherited it from sister and it does come in handy for long shopping trips etc but generally I just use sling and move to maclaren's buggy- click up/down light weight - goes easily into boot of car
  • breast pump - I don't find expressing easy so probably didn't get money's worth out of it.

Hope that helps - you've probably got too much advice now!

MrsTittleMouse · 28/01/2009 16:49

polony - we put DD1's Moses basket on our bed (in between us so that it couldn't fall off). Would that be a solution? With DD2 we have abandoned the bed and just use the mattress so that the Moses basket is on the floor, but at our height. It's useful for crawling babies too, as if they fall/roll/tumble off they can't hurt themselves.

kingprawnjalfrezi · 28/01/2009 16:52

Also I know its not a newborn essential - but be careful of which high chair you go for. With 1st ds I bought pretty wooden chair, here but found it to be useless - small tray, baby can slip onto floor unless harnessed in. This time I have got a second hand plastic much more practical chair with a big tray and bar to stop the child slipping through. I think it is easy, especially with first child to want everything to look lovely and co-ordinated and you soon realise that what you need is practical and wipe-clean.

retailgirl · 28/01/2009 17:10

The best thing we bought was an afterthought. We'd already bought a Bebe Confort Loola Up pushchair and car seat and bought the carrycot on offer. Once she was born we found she hated her crib (we've got floorboards in the bedroom and the wind whistles through them and into the crib) so she has spent every night since in the carry cot on the floor which is nice and enclosed but has a good ventilated interior and which we also use as a moses basket (check that the one you buy can be used overnight as I think some can't). It's one of the few on the market that can go in the car too so it's easy to transport her in without waking her up. Sounds expensive but saved us the cost of a moses basket, crib (if we hadn't been given one), and car seat for a while. It'll be a dark day when she grows out of it

Apart from that I'd say vest and sleepsuits (lots more than the eight of each stated in the books or you'll be washing every five minutes), chair (the cheapest £12 one does the trick), a playmat, some sort of bowl, nappy sacks and as many large cotton wool pads as are on offer.

ScummyMummy · 28/01/2009 18:32

Polony-this looks like it might be good for you. It is expensive but you could take it with you for use as a travel cot, I guess.

funtimewincies · 28/01/2009 19:54

The Tommee Tippee microwave steriliser was a godsend (came with the breastpump), especially when we visited relatives who had no baby equipment.

We also were a bit forward and asked close friends and family who wanted to get presents to consider baby equipment or vouchers rather than outfits and soft toys and most were pleased to get something we needed.

My brother gave us a tummy-tub. Not essential as such, but it saved my sanity as ds (who hated water) loved it from the first .

sparkletoes · 28/01/2009 20:04

BIG Yes to TKMax! Found loads of things in our local one that were at least half the price I paid for them with baby no. 1!

Possibly Yes also to slings but NO to babasling IMO. Needs 2 people to get it on and my little boy is a heavy boy so I found it really hurt my shoulder. Speak to someone who has one they like, look for threads on here but most of all try before you buy if you possibly can... (at least I bought my babasling from TK Max!!)

Congrats and best wishes to you..

mrsleroyjethrogibbs · 28/01/2009 20:24

get advice on slings from either a trip to a slingmeet or one of the larger sling retailers who have agents who can show you slings irl so that you can see what suits you
slingjax
mamanatura
bigmamaslings
to name a few all have agents.

I am (again) not planning to use a pushchair with this one. I didnt use on with no.2 until he turned 3 and then its still an expensive ornament in the shed. Only gets taken out on special occasions when there is shopping to be done - good trolley!!

apart from that all babies need are warmth, clothing, love and a LOT of patience. Dont expect too much regarding 'routines' and 'what they should be doing' . it simply doesnt work like that. Go with the flow and have low expectations - that way you wont stress too much. Sleep when you can and accept help whenever its offered.
Chocolate hob nobs and lots of warm drinks are essential

MrsTittleMouse · 28/01/2009 21:32

More thoughts - another vote here not to get too many clothes. It's really tempting as they're all so cute but you will probably be given lots.

Some pushchairs are suitable from birth, which is great. DD1 has been in the same pushchair from a couple of days old to now (she's 2) and we're only booting her out of it so that DD2 can go in (as she's getting too heavy for me to carry in the baby carrier). It's a Maclaren, and is a little bit worn, but still perfectly sound and I can't imagine buying anything else, except perhaps a very cheap buggy for long walks with both DDs (or holidays).