Morning all

This might be a stupid question to some or maybe all but I'm really quite confused on where to start! I'm normally a very organised and proactive PA but when it comes to baby buying I'm not quite as good!! HA.

How do I know what to buy, what are all the essentials, what are the best makes etc etc. Does anyone have a list they are working from? If so, could you put me in the right direction of finding this list??

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks, Nic

xx

The best thing to do if you dont know where to start is to look for a list online or in a catalogue. Babies r us have a great list at the back of their catalogue that will really help you along the way. I found that starting with the big stuff like the nursery furniture helps and it usually follows from there. Hope this helps xxx

25+4

Brush and comb, even though Michael has quite a bit of hair, I have not used this in the last three months. And some babies stay bold for over a year. (my oh when he was a baby)

I would also recommand to use maternity pads, rather than normal sanitary pads. They are bigger, softer and I found them better for the first week after birth.

I did not bother with dressing gown, the wards where hot and warm, just walked around in pj's. After birth I did not really care how I looked, only found time to take shower or brush my hair when husband came over anyway. And when you are in labour it is the last ting you think of.

Hospital will say that you should not use wet wipes for a couple of weeks, but instead need to use cotton wipes with water? We used wet wipes from the start, and had no problems. But a friend could not use it till a couple months later, her sons skin was terrible.

Scratch mittens seems a good idea, but they never stayed on for longer than 30 seconds. We gave up on them. Same with booties.

For your own, just take what you would take for an overnight stay. And than include labour items. Don't take to much, half of the stuff I took I never used and I had to send oh out to get some more stuff in.

Queen bee gave a good list for essentials, if you have all that stuff you are better prepared than I was. (Michael came 6 weeks early, so did not finish all the shopping yet)

I think the essentials you need are;

Baby's Bag
2 or 3 sleepsuits (but maybe put spares in a bag to keep in the car - babies nappies tend to be very leaky to begin with, and can also be quite sicky)
2 or 3 vests (same as above - keep some spares in car bag)
Scratch mitts
Shawl/blanket
Going-home clothes
Newborn Nappies
Hat
Muslins
Towel
Cotton wool
Cardigan
Car Seat
(You could take baby wipes but a lot of hospitals don' like you using these to begin with, saves space in bag if you don't take both cotton wool and wipes - but definately need cotton wool, for cleaning eyes, etc)

Hospital Bag
Maternity notes & birth plan
Money/Change
Camera
Make-up/Hair brush
Nightie for labour
PJ's for after labour ( acouple of pairs - again maybe some spare in the car)
Dressing gown - not neccessary unless your planning on wandering round the hospital, maternity and delivery are kept VERY warm
Slippers
Nursing bras X 2
Knickers, cotton ones you can throw away after
Going-home clothes
Hairbands
Shower gel
2 x Towels,
Toothbrush & toothpaste
Flannel
Maternity pads
Breast pads
Nipple cream
Disposable knickers - didn't find these any good but up to you
Socks
Watch
Deodorant
Sanitary Towels- take maternity pads not sanitary, take up room in the bag, and unless you're lucky - will definately not be enough to do the job
Eye Mask/Shade - probably won't get the chance to use them
Books/Magazines - maybe good for labour but useless after - you'll be too busy staring at baby

FOR DADDY
Contact List/Mobile Phone
Food/Drink
T-Shirt/Jumper
Toothbrush & toothpaste

After baby is born
High chair - can always but this later
Playmat

Essentials
Pram/Pushchair
Car seat
Sun visors for car
Rain cover
breast pump - if breats feeding
Bottles/teats
steriliser
Bouncing seat
Breast pads
Changing bag
Muslins - can never have enough
Bibs
10 Vests
10 Bodysuits/Sleepsuits
Hats
Socks
Scratch mitts
couple of cardigans
snow suit for winter or lightweight jacket for summer
Baby thermometer
baby bath - nice but not a neccesity - i used a new washing up bowl in the (Clean) sink - hurt too much after the birth to bend over baby baths, lift to empty etc
Cot sheets
blankets
Crib/moses basket

Nursery
Cot /cot Bed
Mattress
Cot Bumper - shouldn't use these until at least 12 months old
Sheets
Blankets
Changing mat
Nappies
Nappy sacks
Wipes
Nappy rash cream
Cotton wool
Baby monitor
Bath thermometer - not essential you can test water temperature with your elbow
Towels/hooded towels
Bath wash
Scissors
Brush & comb - i never bothered - baby hair won't get knotty and so fine it will do what it wants anyway!

also my advice would be -
I would get a few more sleepsuits/baby grows than on the list, I got through six in the first day with my dd, but i wouldn't worry about 'proper' outfits as you will be bought loads once baby arrives
and I stocked up on loads of size 1 and two nappies when they were on offer - a newborn can get through up to 10 nappies a day so a normal size pack can last just 2 and half days for some babies! Also stock up on non bio washing powder and the sensitive fabric conditioner whilst its on offer - you will be doing ALOT of washing, particularly if you don't have many babygros and vests!

This is my opinion:

Essentials -
-Moses basket
-blankets for moses basket
-cot
-blankets for cot
-changing unit or mat (think where you want to change or lo, either on the floor, a cot top changer or a changing unit)
- Newborn nappies (don't stack up, buy some from every brand and try them out before sending oh out to buy lots of the ones you really want)
- baby wipes (even though you might not use them on baby, you will use them to clean up pee on the changing mat, to quickly make your hands clean, and generally you will use them for years, so you can not have enough, but again try every brand)
- cotton wipes (for newborn baby)
- nappy rash cream (allthough not used in three months yet)
- baby sleepsuits and baby grows. (we had about 7 or 8 of them, you go through them quickly)
- Pushchair with pram mode or pram
- car seat
- bottles (but again not buy to many, your lo might not take to the bottle you bought. We went through three different bottles before we found one that worked for our lo)
- steriliser (even if breastfeeding, quite handy)
- V pillow for breastfeeding, I could not do without.
- maternity pads


Likes -
- playmat (our lo did not want to be on it till he was about 6 or 7 weeks)
- clothing other than sleepsuits and grows. (I did not really want to dress him in anything else yet as sleepsuits are so easy to put on)
- bath support to keep your hands free to bath him or her. (not nessecary though)


Don't bother -
- baby bath
- top and tail bath


Buy after baby arrives
- toys (3 months and our lo seems to get interested in it, but even than not really)
- baby bath stuff (3 months down the line and still only use water)
- clothing (if you do not know sex and want to get some pink or blue)
- right brand of nappies and wipes

This is what comes to mind at the moment.

Also, dont go out and buy all this stuff new!!

Any soft things can be washed and are hardly ever worn so ive bought lots of sleepsuits and vests from car boots.

I have borrowed/been given -

tons of clothes
baby bath (wouldnt have had one if not)
bouncy chair
breast pump (I want an electric on due to preparing from prem twins so friend has lent me hers)
blankets
top and tail bowl (again, wouldnt have had one otherwise)


Also, dont buy everything from Mothercare etc - ebay is good (not all 2nd hand but often cheaper), bought lots of bits from Kiddicare (cheaper on some things) etc

Babies are expensive anyway (and im having 2, I should know!) so dont make them more expensive than they are!

Gemma and Double Blue Bump 25 + 6

He He, love the length of these lists . Must say i am guilty of overspending but thats partially down to my mum- we now have 3 baby bath themometres which i am trying in vain to get her to return! lol

The lists do help tho

thanks x

my god the baby gonna have more stuff than me!!!

becca
15+6

Sorry to be dense, but what is the difference between a crib and a moses basket and why do some people prefer one to the other?

And what is a cellular balnket? How is it different to a normal blanket?

Why don't I know anything??

Thanks!

xx

Hi I won't do a whole list but wanted to add
we bought a Moses basket (w stand) rather than crib and found it fab as it doubled up as a travel cot and he was in it for a good 6 months
for pram we didn't bother, I got a quinny buzz which took the car seat and could lie flat
highchair you really don't need until they are about 6months and don't bother with a fancy one, I bought the ??15 plastic one from ikea and have to say it was fantastic, wipe clean, big table, take apart for travel, Dont really need to buckle child in as leg partition,did it's 6mths of use and still fine for number 2.
Agree about going home outfit, you won't want to change them if they're snug BUT you might want to add a pram suit so they're nice and warm. I also wouldn't bother with socks or scratch mitts or hat (maybe get one set and if using buy more) I found lo looked so adorable in sleepsuits(with feet) and they were so easy to put on and off I am only going to use sleepsuits this time and save the cutie outfits for when they're slightly older.
Playmat is nice but don't think it's needed straight away and a thick blanket on floor works fine. Bouncy chair is a good investment as doubles up into second pair of hands.
Bottle warmer is waste of space, a bowl of boiled water and bottle left standing for about 5mins does the trick
top n tail I was given at hospital but a jug would have done and just start with face
baby wipes not suggested for first use but def experiment with makes I love johnsons but find buggies too dry and don't wipe enough
nappies I used pampers new baby and loved but again I wouldn't go mad as you may find baby fits a certain make better than another.

personally I liked having a bath and room thermometer as it meant I was certain temp wad ok, they're not exactly expensive
and I found nail scissors good to cut baby nails while they're sleeping, clippers are scarey and some mums have cut Los finger tips using them
A cellular blanket is the one with holes- they don't reccomend fleece as baby get too hot

Phewee that still ended up quite long sorry but hope it helped

oo and I got a change table again cheapie from ikea and mat from mother care, I loved not ha I g to kneel on floor but. Def personal choice

Cath a crib is like a mini cot, it has bars and usually they rock - a moses basket is like a wicker basket that you put on a surface or buy a stand for. My little boy didn't like his moses basket as he couldn't see out and he grew out of it in about 6 weeks, so next time we'll have a crib, but that sort of thing you don't know until you have one unfortunately!

Cellular blankets are the blankets with holes in, they are warmer than normal blankets (i guess they work like a string vest!).

I didn't know anything either - i'd never even held a baby before i had mine! But you'll learn quickly, and this site is fab x

And another lol, I loved my nightime bras as leaking it's nice for support and holding nipple pads........ Sorry

I think everyone has covered all angles when it comes to baby, but i just wanted to add
spoil yourself with some of your favourite bath/ shower products. After all that pushing and sweating, it helps you to feel like a woman again.
Plus nappies, nappies, nappies as you.ll be surprised how quickly your stock pile vanishes.

My brain isnt working too well so just copied and pasted and adding comments if thats ok (my lil one is 12 weeks on Sunday)

Newborn Baby clothes
4 babygros/all in one sleep suits
4 vests/bodysuits - i would get more vests.....there can be many spills!
2 blankets
2 cardigans
All in warm suit for winter days
3 cellular blankets
Hats - dont buy too many newborn hats - my son fit his for a week!
Socks
Scratch Mitts

Baby's Bag
2 or 3 sleepsuits
2 or 3 vests
Scratch mitts
Shawl/blanket
Going-home clothes - make sure they are warm
Newborn Nappies
Hat
Muslins
Wet Wipes - hospital arent keen and its best to use cotton wool at first. Highly recommend simple wipes though.
Towel
Cotton wool - hospital have it
Cardigan
Booties
Car Seat 0 make sure you have practiced using it - took us a while

Hospital Bag
Maternity notes & birth plan
Money/Change
Camera
Make-up/Hair brush - dont worry about too much makeup - you forget
Nightie for labour
PJ's for after labour
Dressing gown - hospitals can be very warm in wards so get a thin one
Slippers
Nursing bras X 2
Knickers - if you end up having a c section you will need BIG knickers
Going-home clothes
Hairbands
Shower gel
2 x Towels
Toothbrush & toothpaste
Flannel
Maternity pads
Breast pads
Nipple cream
Disposable knickers - i bought cheap ones instead of disposable
Flip flops
Socks
Watch - i used mobile phone for time
Deodorant
Sanitary Towels - need to get maternity pads as they absorb differently
Mirror
Eye Mask/Shade
Books/Magazines - i did this and didnt read a thing!! too excited then when he was born all i did was look at him.

FOR DADDY
Contact List/Mobile Phone
Food/Drink
T-Shirt/Jumper
Toothbrush & toothpaste
Tissues
Nerves of steal!

After baby is born
Travel cot - dont need to get straight away unless you are planning hols
High chair - dont need to get straight away
Playmat

Essentials
Pram/Pushchair
Car seat
Sun visors for car
Rain cover
Electronic breast pump
Bottle warmer - havent got
Storage bottles
Bottles/teats
Steam steriliser - using cold water
Bouncing seat - my son has only started to like his now
Breast pads - buy LOADS
Changing bag
Muslins
Bibs
Vests
Bodysuits
Sleepsuits
Hats
Socks
Scratch mitts
Pillow for breast feeding
Baby thermometer
baby bath - only used for first 10 weeks
Cot sheets
cellular blankets
Crib - got a moses basket and he is needing to move out!!

Nursery
Cot Bed
Mattress
Cot Bumper
Sheets
Blankets
Crib
Cellular Blankets
Mobile
Dresser
Changing mat
Nappies
Nappy sacks
Wipes
Nappy rash cream
Cotton wool
Baby monitor
Bath
Bath support
Bath thermometer
Towels/hooded towels
Sponges
Cloths
Bath wash - only jhust started to use - was advised just to use water
Baby oil
Scissors
Nail Clippers - i bite his nails, they move their hands too much for me to clip
Brush & comb - depends if you have a baby with lots of hair!


Might have missed this but i would add room thermometer monitor. I also have a changing mat for upstairs and dowstairs to save the legs.

Thank you Jam Donut!

I like the idea of a rocking crib...

This site has been invaluable so far!

xx