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!

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!

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 ...

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.

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 .

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!)

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!

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...

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.