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!

[nappyzoneloveschinesefood]

Thermometer so you can get neurotic about the temperature,
Cloth nappies were our best buy and our luxury best buy was a cheapo changing table from argos which turned into a real back saver.

[Ozziegirly]

Oh god, I don't want to think about my poor ladyparts after all this.....my friend has recommended a maternity pad soaked in witch hazel from the fridge.

[Ozziegirly]

Do you mean like a room therm or a one for taking the baby's temp (clueless) ?

[thumbwitch]

ooh God - did you say your "friend"? Ow ow ow ow ow - depending on how ragged they are, if you have any grazes even, don't do it. Remember when you used to graze your knee as a child and the sadists teachers or parents would put witch hazel or surgical spirit on it? Remember the knickerwetting pain? Argh!

Baby temp thermometer - pref one that goes in the ear - pref one that is digital (although I recommend practising with it because some of them can be a bit tricky if you don't get them in the right place)

[Ozziegirly]

Honestly, she swears the witch hazel was lovely and cooling. Maybe she secretly hates me.

I see, re thermometer. I think I need to pick up a few first aidy type things actually. DH and I aren't really ever ill so all we have are some manky old plasters, cough medicine (unopened), and probably some Neurofen.

[thumbwitch]

Probably a good idea to invest in some baby meds just in case as well. I wasn't ever going to use them (ha!) but then DS needed an op when he was 7wo to sort out his inguinal hernia and he had to take calpol and calprofen alternately afterwards, so we had to get some. I ended up giving the rest of the calpol to my sis but I use the calprofen when DS is under the weather. Don't know what the Oz equivalent of calprofen is yet - I still have 2 bottles of it from the UK!

[UdderFixation]

I reckon you have to find the right type of cotton wool. Here in HK I get Japanese steam treated baby cleansing cotton (seriously) which is not as expensive as it sounds. It's like little thin sheets, not woolly at all, and has a nice smooth surface. But even that leaves threads everywhere (a bum beard, as my husband calls it) if it's not dampened first.

I have found the Mothercare stuff entirely useless.

My lifesaver in hospital was a water bottle with a straw, like I might use in the gym if I ever go there again.

[Ozziegirly]

I mentioned calpol to someone in my office the other day (their baby is teething) and they looked at me blankly, so I will have to investigate what it is over here.

I've been meaning to pick up some more bits but am never really sure what to get.

[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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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

[thumbwitch]

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

[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

[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!

[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.

[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).

[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

[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.

[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.

[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!