Hey girls, As a first timer just looking for a bit of advice from those of you who are already mummys, there is so much that you seem to need to buy and i was just wondering if anyone has any top tips or advice on things that they bought first time but never used or were a waste of time?

Thanks so much! x

top and tail bowl - it never got used. and if you do need to do a top and tail it's just as easy to use an ordinary dish. waste of money! x

i never rly used the baby bath. Or hooded towels. Or talc...lol

I've got to second the hooded towels, bit of a waste!

oooh I picked up 4 hooded towels from Tesco for ??5- nice quality as well (cant believe some places want ??12 each) I couldnt have got any smaller towels for much less!

I asked the same question of my sister in law the other day and she told me not to bother buying a baby bath or a nappy bin for the nursery. She also advised to hang fire on the grow-bags/sleeping bags as both her two wouldn't sleep in them as they felt restricted.

we got a buckle/adjustable baby sling - but then both prefered the cloth tie it round yourself one instead - OH had been nervous about tying it - but its much easier than fiddling with all of the adjusters if you are swapping between two people with a big difference in build (hes tall & thin I'm well the opposite ;\) )

I must say, i love hooded towels, and still use them for my DD who is 2!! i wrap her up in a hooded one then put a bigger one round her as well

i second the nappy bin, wate of money!

but i used the hooded towels, and the gro bags
xx

i agree with top and tail bowl never really used it and muslin squares either really didn't use them at all. I hardly used my baby sling carrier either after the first month as my son hated it

I think it does depend alot on baby sometimes...I used loads of muslins and they are still a godsend for mopping up, my mil cut all mine into 4's so I got more use out them. Agree on the top and tail bowl, we used ours once, bottle warmer was a waste of money as b/f and when we did use bottles hot water in a jug was fine. Jack hated his sleeping bag at first but now loves them so I would only buy one rather than loads and then you can always get more.

Sling we never used, baby toiletries...you cant use anything for a few weeks anyway and now we only use johnsons baby bedtime and massage cream but have loads of lotions still untouched!

I wish we had bought a babygym sooner than we did and also definately invest in a decent highchair as we got a cheap one at first and it was a waste of money as Jack hated it!

Some stuff is a personal choice and what one mum will swear by another wont use...tricky I know..

Disposable nappies, disposable nappy bin, a baby bath, baby toiletries, quite so many clothes, a changing unit, the heinously expensive and hugely uncomfortable Tomy baby carrier, a baby bucket type carseat, a cheap breastpump, a forward facing only pushchair.

What I wish I'd bought with that money - lots of nice reusable nappies, a decent wrap sling and a ring sling, a Concord Ultimax to use from birth and a pram with a proper carrycot and lieflat function, a bar of African black soap, tub of shea butter and bottle of olive oil, a decent breastpump. That's what I've done THIS time round!

A sponge/foam bath support - I did use it but could never get it dry properly so it went mouldy really quickly! - looking for something different this time round.
Also, I bought an electric steam steriliser which never came out of the box as I breastfed exclusively for over 6 months, so he only ever had 3 bottles a day maximum so the small microwave steriliser box that came with the breastpump was fine (didn't buy a standard microwave steriliser to start with as our microwave is too small).

I did use hooded towels, til ds was nearly one - but they were mostly presents and I do agree they're expensive, definitely go for supermarket ones if you do get these.
I also used Muslins loads.

i love the hooded towls. And the nappy bin its a quick easy place to put the stinky poopy nappy, and disguises some of the smell.
I had a tummy time mat which i never used, and all the chew toys etc we never really used untill she was 6months. bought loads of baby shoes which never get worn as always in all in one or cosy toes xx

hi im on baby number 3 and have to agree baby baths are a waste of space!!!so are nappy bins i also had a changing table/ baby bath unit thing and never used it i hated it all it was ever used for was storage also top and tail tubs never used either and talc i wet mad and bought loads but my kids have exzema so never use it the only use it has is to go in my hubbys work shoes in the summer lol oh and a really expensive travel cot i spent a fortune on mine it has now been used with kids and still not been used a dozen times lol oh and cot beds never turned it into a bed as they went straight into a propper bed..

but i love hooded towels, muslims were a god send as i had a very sicky baby, but now at almost 3 he still has them as they became his comfort blanket as of about 6 months old and still loves them to bits now! and sleeping bags were fab and a cheap bouncy chair to start with i had the fisher price rocker cost a fortune but he never looked comfy in it so got one that bounced and it was fab xx

Top and tail bowl, lotions , talc, nappy bin all a waste imo, electric room themometer, use a cheap one they are just as good.
Did make use of baby bath but if you can get from from a friend who has had kids i would do this for better value, did use hooded towels and still do, if you BF and good breast pump is a must. Sleeping bags were great and he didnt find any issue with them. Bouncer and later door bouncer have provided great fun. cant think of anythign else , happy shopping x

hmmm, my changing unit? its useful for storage but i change baby on her mat on the bed, and i dont use the built in baby bath? also gro bags, hospital said not to use them on newborns so now im used to blankets and find it easier to judge how hot/cold she is with blankets? love hooded towels :lol:

Definiteyl agree with the baby bath

I have to say my best buy was the sleeping bags! x

Best buys so far have been a Tinylove mobile (keeps Adam entertained while I grab a shower), a tummy tub baby bath (Adam hated the big bath, even with one of those special supports), our pram (iCandy Cherry) and the Isofix car seat base. I could not live without any of these things! For feeding, the Medela Swing breast pump is fab, as are Dr Browns bottles.

Waste of money has been the bath support (although will prob use it when Adam is a bit older), newborn baby clothes (he grew out of them at two weeks), cot divider (can't see the point?), TT Closer to Nature bottles (LO nearly choked on them!), and manual breast pump. Finally - Huggies nappies (we get on much better with Pampers!)

xx

toby loves his bath time - every night for at least 30 mins he splashes away - we bought the mamas and papas with the integrated support and it is just amazing - the only problem is we struggle when we go away as us just holding him in the bath isnt so much fun