Waste of money?

[redbird79]

Hi all, I am a a fretful first-time mum, 14 weeks pregnant and trying to decide whether to hire a Doppler to hear the baby's heartbeat. It is totally down to me being paranoid- although I am sure it would be lovely to hear how lil bean is doing - but I am wondering whether others out there have found them useful (and reassuring!) or a waste of money. Have seen decent-looking ones on eBay for £10 a month.
Also, all being well I am starting to look out for prams, cots and other paraphenalia- any advice on what you have found really useful and what is just a waste of cash?
(Don't mean to sound like a skin-flint, but there's so much stuff out there, it's hard to know what's just clever marketing!)

Don't buy a napper wrapper - total waste of money.

I think dopplers just cause more worry personally. Once the baby is moving you will feel more reassured.

I found a play mat useful, although a blanket would do, a bouncy chair and lightweight pram that faces you while the baby is tiny to be useful. Useless things in my opinion are baby baths and too many newborn baby clothes.

Hello - I can only give you one side of this! I chose not to get one mainly because
I am pregnant after a MC, so very paranoid and was woried that if I couldn't hear the HB I might freak - when it was actually there but I just hadn't got the right position.

Anyway - I started feeling quickening at around 17 weeks - and more movements at about 20 weeks - which I kind of think make the dopplers pointless - cos you know something is moving in there... and really you are only a couple of weeks away from that stage, so I wouldn't bother

Having said that - I know some people get them and like them - so maybe also wait for their opinions too!

God yeah...the dreaded nappy wrapper...they stink in more ways than one.

If you think you are paranoid then don't get a Doppler. You'll only get upset if you don't hear something, and worry that there's a problem when there isn't. Babies are notorious for wriggling so much that even the professionals can struggle to find a heartbeat.

One tip for buggies is to get one with a removable seat. Much easier to clean, even by hand. Sheepskin fleece buggy liner is brilliant - ours has been in constant use by two dc for 6y winter and summer.

Some people buy one but tbh
a) how many times are you going to use it
b) you will get to hear the heartbeat at appointments
c) what if you can't find the heartbeat (I assume your not medically trained and sometimes midwives take a while when baby is in the wrong position) - it could just make you worry more.

For other stuff there are 3 main areas you need to cover

Transporting baby - so pushchair, car seat, sling if you want one.
Pushchairs best to buy second hand as they cost a fortune new and you can pick them up in almost new condition for often less than 50% of original price. Gumtree/ebay/NCT sales are good places to find them.

Car seats best from new so you know that a) they will fit your car and that b) they haven't been in an accident.

Slings - ask for advice online

Clothing Baby
vests and babygros (around 7 of each to start with and get more if needed)

A couple of pairs of socks

Sleeping

Cot + mattress + bedding. Bedding needs to be basic. Sheets, and the either blankets or gro bags. No to cot bumpers, duvet/pillow sets. Make sure mattress has machine washable waterproof cover and see if you can get spare (or ikea sell flat waterproof sheets for cots for £4.99). If you buy cot second hand make sure you buy mattress new. I found it cheaper to buy new cot from ikea for £39 (mattress was around £20) as with 2nd hand ones I then had to get mattress made to measure which pushed up cost considerably.

Moses basket can be useful but they aren't in it for very long so get one second hand. Best to get stand with it otherwise you are bending to floor level to pick up baby.

Other
Nappies
Bottles and steriliser if not bf
Muslin cloths
Cotton wool balls (can't use baby wipes for first few weeks)
Baby monitor (though worth waiting to see if you need one)

I like a bouncy chair as found it useful when dc1 was tiny to stop him crying when eating etc. And there may be other things you find more useful but worth waiting and see what you feel you need.

Conversely I have a doppler because I had two miscarriages and I found it hugely reassuring and quite exciting.

If you are going to buy one, for gods sake don't get an Angelsounds or similar that you strap on, you need a fetal doppler with probe, like the midwives use or you won't hear anything till you are so pregnant you can actually feel the kids anyway!

Actually I must get rid of mine soon, I'm not going to be pregnant again! Thanks for the reminder.

I used baby wipes from birth, mw never said anything?
Wy shouldn't you use them?

Muslin cloths!!! My SIL bought 20 yes 20 metres cut it into various sizes and hemmed. And i will say they were the best gift we got.

And a car seat is a must have if your in the UK as they won't let you home without it! Argos do one for £30

I was always told to use water & cotton wool for first couple of weeks cos very newborn skin can be extremely sensitive.

Ds also had very dry skin that cracked and they could make it worse until it cleared up (mostly due to being overdue).

It's not a matter of life or death though if you do.

I brought cotton wool when I had ds and used that... but completely forgot with dd and used wet wipes from birth! I think the only thing is that some newborns have sensitive skin and wet wipes can be a bit harsh. However DC3 on the way now and I won't bother fafing about with cotton wool! wet wipes are much easier!

Doppler wise - I brought one off ebay when I was preg with dd as I was worried and wanted reassurance she was still ok in there. I felt that it was very reassuring and from 12 weeks I have always managed to find a heartbeat realitively quickly. I have also used it with this pregancy.
I'm now 23 weeks and feel movement all the time so no longer need to use it. As this is my last pregancy I'm now looking to sell it. If you're interested let me know and I'll give you more details on it.
helenot at hotmail dot com.
I decided to buy as in theory its cheaper as you can sell when your done.

No, don't get one. They do generally cause more anxiety then reassurance. Like others said, you will start to feel baby move soon, which will help.
Armadillo's list covers it really.
Look at e-bay for most things, although car seat and cot bedding/mattress (not cot itself) should be new. Waterproof mattress cover essential.
See if you borrow a moses basket from someone - you will only use it for a few weeks.
Otherwise look at local ads, NCT nearly new sales and e-bay.
Gro-bags (can be used from 7lb 7oz depending on make) are great. Can be got second hand. If planning more than one child (in future) then go for gender-neutral designs (same for most baby clothes).
Remember that super-cute baby clothes look lovely but they are expensive and will hardly be worn before they grow out of them (bear in mind that most babies go through several changes of clothes a day). Again, look at charity shops or multi-packs if new.
Don't buy nappy wrapper - waste of money IMO.
Don't rush in to buying play mats/gyms/toys for baby - wait and see what you want/need and what you get given. The baby won't be interested in any such thing for several weeks. However, agree that bouncy chair potentially useful - but beware, some babies hate them so again would ideally borrow (at least at first) or get second hand.

I was thinking about getting one I am just 15 weeks. Have changed my mind now though as I think I will panic if I can't find a HB.

As for pushchairs with DD, I bought a chicco multiway and found it perfect for my needs. Only downside was is wasn't parent facing, but it had a nice peepy hole at the top so I could see her perfectly.

Think I will look out for the same again as it was a reasonable price and perfect for off road walking and lightweight for getting in and out of car boot, and had a huge shopping basket.

Car seat I was restricted on, as it needed to fit in 3 cars, one of which only has lap belts so I got a britax one as it was the only one suitable for lap belts.

I was told at ante natal classes not to buy too much newborn as most babies either never fit in them or are in them for a very short time. We got tons of 0-3 and 3-6 and only a couple of bits of newborn. My DD was born at 5lb 13 and took almost 6 months to get into 0-3 . At least it left people plenty to buy for her, everyone went out shopping for tiny baby clothes, so we ended up with enough.

Hi
my don't bother list:
nappy wrapper.
changing table (it's not long before they wiggle so much you spend more time keeping them on it. Floor is better)
cot bedding (use grobags once baby big enough).
room thermometers (source of anxiety).
baby monitor unless your home is massive.
shoes for babies who aren't walking (unless it's winter)

very useful IMO list:
those play gym mats with toys dangling over the top. If a toss up between that and a bouncy chair, get the mat. Although bouncy chairs make a nice change of view for a baby too, but they need their mat to roll/crawl etc.

A sling (wrap one not baby bjorn type they are bad for spine/joints)

bath seats to go in the big bath, and later a bath mat is essential.

Thank you for that Armadillo and stick - I'm 29w with dc3 and only ever used cotton wool when bathing them, once they got to 4 weeks old we used a soft baby sponge.

I've never heard of not being able to use wipes.

I have a Doppler, I found it very reassuring in my first pregnancy, didn't try using it until after midwife had listened at 16 weeks so that I'd know where to try it and never had a problem finding a heartbeat. Used it probably once a week until the kicks were constant

Even after you are feeling kicks though I had occasional paranoid moments which are quickly swept away with a quick listen!

I'm 12 weeks pg now and have not been able to pick up heartbeat yet but know it's too early really and looking forward to being able to listen in again!

I don't think a doppler with help because even if the heart does stop, you can't do anything about it, so it won't help in any terrible situation.
You're more likely to just not be able to hear it , as sometimes you can't due to positioning, and then just freak out!

I never heard my baby's heartbeat once during the pregnancy as even my midwife said they don't bother anymore as it just causes worry if they can't find it and it doesn't mean much anyway. Movement is the most important thing they said.

Are you trained to use a doppler? Would you recognise a problem with heartbeat if you heard it?

Have a look at news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8343317.stm

Thanks so much to you all for the advie on here, it really has reassured me and given a good list to buy/not buy. Thank goodness or these forums

Hi, sorry to hi-jack the thread but I was wondering why everyone is thinks the nappy wrapper is such a bad idea? I saw one for £10 and thought it seemed a good idea and when I worked in a nursery years ago we had one in each room!

refills expensive.
You can buy a pack of 100 nappy bags for £1 and put them in the bags yourself and in the bin. Once tied up it's just as 'sealed'.

Waste of money.

ok, do NOT buy a nappy wrapper - they stink, even with only one or two nappies in them.

Do NOT buy a changing table - you will rarely use it. You'll end up with a changing mat and nappies in the living room, and you wont even bother changing the nappy in the baby's room. Plus, once the baby moves around, you wont use it, cos you often have to dash off to get something, and the baby would end up falling off!

Doppler - I am 11 weeks and I hired the one thats £10 a month off ebay. I heard the heartbeat at 10 weeks, then had two attempts where I heard nothing. It actually didnt worry me, cos I knew I'd found it hard to find the first time. Last night, we heard it loud and clear for about 15 seconds, then I couldnt find it again. So actually, I dont worry, cos i know its nigh on impossible to find sometimes, even when you've just heard it.
The doppler is just a personal thing. If you'll get stressed when you cant find a heartbeat, then dont risk it. But if you want a bit of reassurance in the weeks before you feel it moving, then it might be worth thinking about.

nappy-wrappers are useful if you're in a flat with communal bins miles away - other flat-dwellers have said so too.

I gave away all my baby gear last time (this pg is not so much unplanned as a medical miracle) and will buy or borrow:

moses basket
bouncy chair
playmat/baby gym thing
sling
grobags (well, supermarket copies thereof)

can't think of anything else!

Muslin cloths are currently on offer in Tesco £3.20 for 6, which is much cheaper than I've seen them anywhere else.

This is my first pregnancy and I've been told you can't have enough of them... I've bought 4 packs, DH thinks I'm mad!

I still use our changing table and dd is 20 months! Everything is in one place, nice and easy.

I wouldn't get a nappy wrapper though, just put them straight in the bin and cut out the middle man