Is there anything else we need - aka "What was your best buy?"

[Ozziegirly]

So, we have a few more weeks before Ozziebaby arrives. We think we're pretty much there in terms of things we have bought/borrowed, but I was wondering if you would mind having a look at our list, seeing if anything is glaringly obviously missing, and also if there were any products/things that you had in the early months which were real lifesavers or just really nice things to have?

Cot
Moses Basket
Car seat
Pram
Baby bath
Change mat (will change on chest of drawers)
Nappy bin
Baby carrier
Swingy chair
Bouncy portable chair
Steriliser
Breast pump (I don't have bottles yet, but are on list)
Various sheets, blankets, clothes, towels, wraps, muslins etc
Play mat
Breast pads, nipple cream (just in case!)
Nappies and cotton wool

I think that's it.

Any help would be great -thank you!

[Ozziegirly]

I miss M&S too - I would openly celebrate if they opened a branch here. Just children's stuff and underwear would be fine, I'm not greedy.

I'm amazed they don't, they would make an absolute killing.

[thumbwitch]

Very wise Ozziegirly - see if you can get family to send you regular (twice a year probably) vest sets from Tesco as well! According to my mate who was in NZ until last year and is now in Australia, they're even worse over there! The quality is dire in the cheaper stuff and the better quality stuff is massively expensive. I miss Tesco and M&S...

[Ozziegirly]

I have ordered baby clothes from M&S - even with delivery charge it's cheaper (and better quality) than what you can get here.

You can get very nice things, but not cheap and cheerful babygros etc.

Thanks for your continued tips, I have found it really helpful, and now have a new list of things I need in my "plans for baby" notebook!

[thumbwitch]

Target, BigW, KMart - not that cheap, IMO. Certainly not for baby clothes and undies that I've noticed so far. Tesco much better value (and even M&S for undies!)

[MiniMarmite]

What about Target Thumbwitch? I spent years trying to get DH to ditch the green pants from his $10 Target multipacks .

The boot is on the other foot now as since I embarked on motherhood I still seem to be wearing the M&S three-sizes-too-big cheapest possible multipack knickers I bought to wear immediately after having DS...he's only 22 months old though .

[thumbwitch]

happyH - you'd think so, wouldn't you. Maybe Ozziegirly has found some - I haven't yet. Even supposedly cheap stores come nowhere near the value of Tesco etc.
My disposable knicks from Boots didn't crackle, btw. They were sort of teabag material - perfectly comfy, no crackle or rustle.

[Pidgin]

Just wanted to say thanks Ozzie and all those who have given tips, have found this massively helpful. Also to say the list in the Mumsnet Pregnancy Guide is quite good, breaks things down by essential/ desirable, etc. Right, I'm off to find some reusable breast pads on ebay ... then again, maybe not ...

[MiniMarmite]

Trying to think of some Oz-specific tips. We don't live there at the moment but we took DS to Oz to see MIL at 12-weeks.

Room thermometer was useful as bedroom varied between 18 and 42 degrees...mind you it gets to the point where you can't really take any more layers off! 0.5 tog grobag plus sheet/blankets were best due to varying temps.

Lots of vests with designs on as when you get to summer baby won't wear much else so these will consitute 'outfits' much of the time! Singlets seem to be the norm rather than the ones you get with poppers underneath in the UK.

Full pram UV cover thingy. We didn't have one (having just come from the freezing cold) and I felt like a bad parent as everyone else did!

Hats (to keep baby warm or in shade depending on what the weather will be like when baby arrives).

I found bathing DS quite difficult so a Cuddledry was a lifesaver for me. Not sure if you can get them over there so might be something mention to UK friends likely to buy presents!

Agree with what someone else said about taking dummies to hospital - I was struggling because DS wanted to feed all the time but my nipples were really sore so things were much better once DH had brought those along!

[crumblequeen]

I Second lavender or tea tree oil for the bath afterwards (for you). I also diluted some in a jug of water when weeing for the first couple of weeks as had pretty nasty episiotomy so pouring water over while weeing stopped it stinging!

[archieballerina]

In the nice things to have add a nursing chair and stool. Very comfortable to nurse in and we still use it to read stories at night and comfort my ds if he had a bad dream. I bought one 2nd hand very cheaply off ebay.

[BunnyBaby]

Sawddle blanket, preferably from: www.miracleblanket.com, this was my best buy as DS1 slept through from 2 weeks old thanks to this. It has also worked for everyone else I bought one for.

Also Lansinoh nipple cream for the start of feeding, I would have given up without this.

[Ozziegirly]

Thank you all so much, that's all been so helpful, and I now have a new and improved shopping list. DH will be pleased

[PinkElephant73]

Everyone tells you what to get for the baby and forgets what you need as a postnatal mummy!

cool packs for your bosoms for when the milk comes in and you inevitably get engorged. you can get special shaped ones that fit in a bra.

Breast shells (catch milk when feeding from other side), breast pads, soft night bras.

Kamillosan nipple cream.

Aloe vera cream or pillules to reduce swelling.

Lavender oil (5-10 drops in a bath every day after giving birth, gentle natural antiseptic and helps stitches to dissolve).

[thumbwitch]

Actually I would hang fire on the baby monitor - I never used one at all. Co-slept with DS for the first 5 1/2 months and then he was in the next room, so close to me that I could hear him without a monitor. It depends on how big your place is, and how far away you will be from your baby while he/she sleeps.

Definitely need blinds for the windows - and I can tell you now that the cheaper pull down ones don't seem to cover enough of the rear side window of any car so you might have to invest in a window 'sock' - expensive but at least they a) fit and b) can't be pulled off by the baby.

[Lucy85]

baby monitor.

millions of maternity pads.

blinds for the car windows.

Change mat, nappies, wipes, nappy bags, change bag.

And, for you: chocolate hobnobs and sippy cup for afterwards - when feeding you don't get to feed yourself!

[AKMD]

For you - a plastic jug that doesn't dribble. It sounds like you are planning on breastfeeding and you will be very thirsty. Keeping a jug of water by your bed saves a lot of hassle.

For you again - reusable breast pads in wool or silk. Disposable ones can stick to your nipples - ouch!

For the baby - a baby gym. Absolute lifesaver for when DS was tiny and I wanted a shower. DS hates his swing.

For the house - antibacterial wipes. I was obsessed with cleaning surfaces and these made things a lot easier. Also, antibacterial hand gel for you to keep in your changing bag and in the nappy changing area at home and and excellent hand cream to stop your hands cracking.

One thing I really wanted in the first few weeks was a head torch

[thumbwitch]

Have a read of this as well, Ozziegirly - I prefer to use calprofen for other reasons but this is worth consideration.

[pebblejones]

I would definitely get a digital thermometer, for some reason I was and still am obsessed about my DS's temperature.
I have found my room thermometer which can also be used in the bath brilliant (by Avent) because I am obsessed with putting DS in the correct tog grobag depending on the temperature of the room.
And my best buy us a skip hop (found it on Amazon) changing bag the really small one, not the enormous hold everything one, it has a built in mat and holds wipes, about 4 nappies, nappy bags, bum cream easily, his bigger things, change of clothes, toys etc fit in my regular bag.
Pebble

[Adair]

Not v glamorous but we were given one of these (fabric bath support), and was brilliant. Didn't have a baby bath, just used it the normal bath.

[Ozziegirly]

Ok. Ear thermometer. I will look out for this.

I can't remember having one of these growing up? What did we used to have when we were small I wonder.

[Ozziegirly]

bumbeard. Your japanese steam treated wool sounds extremely fancy.

hendo I had kind of assumed I would go for the old tried and tested "does it seem about right" technique on baths.

I am sure that when tiny defencless DC with new perfect skin is in front of me I will be much less cavalier though.

[hendo77]

I would also say a bath thermometer - our poor dd was bathed in quite cold water the first few times and I wondered why she hated it so much