Kitting out baby's cot - what do i need?

[questions2008]

OK, so i have the cot, the mattress and a bumper. what else do i need in terms of sheets/protectors/blankets/grobags (i have one 2.5 tog so far for june baby)? and where can i get them cheapest?

3 sheets - easily accesible to change in the night due to explosive poo/wee/vomit

2.5 tog grobag - i think you can only use grobags from a certain weight and not from newborn

you need 2/3 cellular blankets - and a cotton sheet for swaddling - babies find it really soothing

a mattress protector is a good idea if you have a very pukey baby but i never bothered

Ebay is excellent for bargains

i believe its from 10lb for a grobag

I got one from a car boot sale for £2 a month ago

Agree with ruby

Also, I don't think the bumpers are meant to be put on from birth, but I'm a bit hazy on that as I never had one - do check

In would get three or four fitted sheets for the cot. They can only go in grobags once they're ten lbs so you'll probably not be able to use one for a few months (unless you have a big baby, of course)!

You need to assess what you put on the baby on the temperature of the room, really, but I should think a body suit plus one layer of a cellular blanket would be plenty in june. You could always double the blanket or put a vest on as well if it's cooler.

Hopefully the baby will be in his/her grobag by the time the cooler weather comes so you won't need any other sheets or blankets by then.

If you do have a big baby and use the grobag sooner, you will need to get a 1.0 tog one for summer use.

HTH

X with Ruby and Mama!

I didn't have a protector, I used to fold a muslin under the baby's head to catch anything. Easier to change!

the proper grobags can be used from birth if your lo is over 7lbs so check the packaging to see what it says. I did use a swaddle sheet thing for the first couple of weeks. I used the grobag swaddle from here

Bumpers are ok from birth until your lo gets more mobile as they could then use it to try to escape. ( I never used one though)

I would get a few fitted sheets and a couple of cellular blankets and a lighter weight grobag for the summer months e.g. 1 tog. (you can always put more clothing on if your lo gets cold.

I didnt use any sort of protectors as ds's mattress had a removable washable cover and was wipe clean underneath that.

that's great guys, thanks. now i just need to go out and buy

This isn't really a cot accessory but I found it really useful:
Digital room thermometer which tells you the current temp and the lowest and the highest it's been since you pressed the reset button. It's good because it tells you how cold it got during the night so you can adjust the LO's clothing layers or number of blankets
I think I got it in Boot's.

jojo maman bebe do fab sleeping bags, they do a newborn size in all different togs. you will be needing some lighter weight ones definitely for a june baby.

a mobile is also a good investment as ds still uses the music box bit of his at 2.6 years. He has this one

Bumpers aren't a good idea, i think they're illegal in some countries due to SIDS, and not good once SIDS risk is over as babies can use them to climb out of cot.

Essential things are 3-4 fitted sheets. Muslins to put under baby's head so you don't need to change the whole sheet for sick/dribble.

Newborn swaddle/sleeping bag x2

Mobile with music, doesn't have to be expensive, second hand is fine

we used these from 5 - 8lb (grobag with popper under the arms are fine from 7lb, or as soon as their head cant slip through the neck hole!)
www.babysleepshop.com/acatalog/Swaddleaze.html

really really fab, as can swaddle or be used with the swaddle bit wrapped under their arms like a grobag! was one of our best buys!!

Also would have a couple of 1tog ones for summer! we had a 0.5 tog one we used quite a bit too!