Having a Baby.... What do we NEED?

Having a Baby.... What do we NEED?

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Dan_1981

Original Poster:

17,351 posts

198 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
quotequote all
Right then...... I could use mumsnet but i'm here instead....

We're expecting our first - due in November so getting to the point where we are buying things..... and being terrified.

Obviously as first time parents we will go massively over the top and buy loads of thing we probably don't really need.... however i'm sure there are some things we are missing.


Existing PH parents what were your 'must have' items

So far we've got a list that contains the following.....

pram / pushchair type thing
Isofix base & car seat (if we choose to go for isofix)
Nursery furniture - cot etc including bedding & mattress
Baby monitor - undecided on video, sound, motion sensing etc etc
A bouncy chair swing type thing

a steriliser for the bottles - again i have no idea about these - microwave, plug in, water, steam who knows???

clothes
nappies / wipes that end of things


What am I missing?!













IanCress

4,409 posts

165 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
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Time, patience, 3 hands, the ability to function on just a few hours sleep.

eybic

9,212 posts

173 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
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You can never have enough muslin cloths, you will have plenty of clothes so if people ask what they can get you, ask for larger clothes for when the little'un has grown a bit.

Is your OH planning on breast feeding? If not get one of these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Tommee-Tippee-Closer-Perf...

We didn't need it but a few friends had them and said they were a real time/ hassle saver.

ETA: A moses basket will save a lot of hassle as you can just move it around rather than have to wake the baby up to go anywhere else.

We used one of the tommee tippee steam sterilisers and it was great, only takes about 5 minutes too.

David87

6,648 posts

211 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
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Seems pretty good. You could spend a fortune on tons of st, but I'd avoid it all if you can.

I'd definitely recommend getting an ISOFIX car seat and would try and go with the good old mother's boobs rather than having to fk about with trying to clean 100 bottles a day! Other than that, just enjoy it. The whole not sleeping thing doesn't last forever and they grow up quick!

David87

6,648 posts

211 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
quotequote all
Oh, and stay away from the video monitors. I didn't allow my wife to have one as I just know she'd have sat up all night staring at it, checking for signs of life every few seconds. hehe

jshell

11,006 posts

204 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
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Yeah, breast feed, get a breast pump.

Oh, camera for a later pic of your wife's boobs prior to deflation.

Hugo a Gogo

23,378 posts

232 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
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bouncy chair, not for a couple of months

pushchair, not for 6 months, flat base pram or pram attachment only


as a bloke, I also support breast feeding, waaay easier - 'babybay' is a bed that attaches to adult bed, makes night time breast feeding much easier - like co-sleeping without them actually being in bed with you

clothes, just sort of pyjamas is all you need at first, loads of bodies
remember, bodies, most pyjamas etc can be removed downwards as well, to avoid lifting pooey things over their hair

agree, a moses basket thing in the living room is a good idea

Edited by Hugo a Gogo on Tuesday 23 August 09:51

Issi

1,782 posts

149 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
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I'd just advise not to go mad.

£30 changing mat or a folded up beach towel?

And as somebody else said, if people are asking if they can buy baby clothes, ask for some bigger sizes as you'll only end up with 500 newborn babygro's and nothing from 3-6mths.

Have fun and don't worry about it, just think your Great Granny didn't have a video motion sensing monitor or microwave steam sterilizer kit.

BoRED S2upid

19,641 posts

239 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
quotequote all
Somewhere for it to sleep for the first few months it's not going straight into the nursery it will be in your room in a xxx.

Steriliser - wouldn't bother hot soapy water.

A rocking / bouncing chair thing and a play mat to keep them entertained / send them to sleep.

Drugs (for the baby)

Wine (for you)

Probably plenty of other stuff I've forgotten. Our second is due in November (or October , who really knows).


Jim AK

4,029 posts

123 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
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A Volvo V70!

biglaugh

Congrats btw.

andy-xr

13,204 posts

203 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
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We're due next month. We've got loads of st that we wont need for at least 3 months if not more. Like a cot - they're going to be in a Moses basket at the side of our bed, so that technically could have waited. Same with the Beatrix Potter full set - I reckon I've got a few years before they get picked up.

Full express pump set up - no idea whether we'll need that, depends how she takes to breastfeeding.

What we actually need when we whittled it down was a car seat (they all seem to be rear facing now for babies?) for the drive home, I'm told they wont let you leave if you dont have a proper seat. Which is pointless spending a load of money on, because after a while you dont want them facing the rear window, you want to be able to see them in the mirror.

We've got Muslin squares, newborn sized and first sized clothes (lots) plus 0-3 and 3-6, a Sainsburys gift card with £100 on it for buying 'stuff' and we've got bottles, cleaners, sterilisers and the usual creams and stuff. We were given a travel cot from her Dad, her brother bought us a room temperature sensor and we've got a baby monitor with a sensor on it that detects lack of movement. We'll likely be staring at her 24/7 for the first few days anyway.

For my wife, we went hypnobirthing, and it was really good. She needed that, and I probably did a bit as well. For the labour, disposable pants, or a set of granny knickers from M+S. Lucozade, and an iPod filled with all her music and hypnosis episodes. For after the birth, and the first few days - a new camera and a few nice outfits

For the first week, we've not bulk bought nappies because there doesnt seem to be a ration on them right now, and there's every chance we'll swap brands, so we dont want to stockpile. Anything else we think we really really need, I'm sure we can find either at the supermarket or on Amazon.

Cars - we both have 5 door hatchbacks.

I've bought a hamper for my wife of stuff she couldnt have when pregnant, so will fill it with pates, chorizo, wine, port, blue cheeses and probably other things she's missed out on.

I think I just need sleep for now - first 2 weeks will be where I'm needed more so kind of saving myself for that. Really would advise hypnobirthing classes, the NHS stuff, we found was outdated, badly presented, stereotypical and not that helpful

Edited by andy-xr on Tuesday 23 August 10:00

louiebaby

10,651 posts

190 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
quotequote all
When you choose your travel system, (isofix base, car seat, buggy) make sure you prioritize in the following order
  1. Safe
  2. Cheap
  3. Light
The first speaks for itself. The second will mean you don't worry when the cafe doesn't have space for all the buggies for your NCT class, so you won't worry about parking it outside. The third makes a real difference when lifting it in and out of a car.

Nothing else really matters.

Also, as said by someone above, baby clothes are designed to be shat in, then rolled down so you you don't get poop on their heads. Buy stuff from supermarkets and Primark, so when it's particularly bad, you can cut off with scissors and chuck.

Re-usable nappies are only an option if you're a cross-fitting vegan who likes to post pictures of their meals to Instagram. Aldi nappies are among the best and cheapest options.

eybic

9,212 posts

173 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
quotequote all
In regard to Nappies, don't think that Pampers are the best, there are a lot of alternatives around. We either used the Tesco ones or Aldi but we now stick to the Aldi ones as they seem to suit our little one the best with regards to leaks etc.

Be prepared for explosive poos too, you'll be surprised how much pressure can build up inside rofl

wilfandrowlf

603 posts

211 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
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My advise would be don't spend many hundreds of pounds on a pram.
There are loads to choose from and some are eye wateringly expensive, it's easy to loose £500.00 on a state of the art machine!
Much bulls**t is talked about them by the sales people, tugging at your heart strings about wanting a safe stable place to put your child but in reality the kid couldn't give a toss really.
Just make sure it'll fit in the boot of the family car........ yes that's what you'll be needing now "a family car"
Good luck, and as mentioned earlier our great grand parents never had all the mod cons we do and they survived just as you will!laugh

Dan_1981

Original Poster:

17,351 posts

198 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
quotequote all
Thanks guys.

Aldi nappies we'd got on the list after hearing good things about them.

The 'travel system' we've bought - well the pram section bit - we need a compatible car seat so are looking at the maxicosi as the base will take the next car size up too.

Decent camera - sorted in that respect.

Sleep - i'm working on that.

Car - i've got a saab estate and the missus is awaiting delivery of her new 5 door fiesta.

moses basket - her sister has given us one so we're ok on that front too.

stumpage

2,099 posts

225 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
quotequote all
Don't bother with....

Nice changing table. A changing mat on the floor works much better, no need to worry about your kid rolling off, everything to hand on the floor around you.
Baby bath. Only useful for the baby when they are 2 and want to wash their dolls. Your sink will be just as good and less agro.
Baby kit bags. A well made everyday rucksack works as well if not better and you will be happier walking around with it.
Those used nappy bins. Just chuck it in your normal bin.

Do get..

A truck load of baby wipes. (Even good for getting oil and grease out of car upholstery)
Huge tub of Sudocrem
Lots and lots of muslin squares.

Dr Murdoch

3,427 posts

134 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
quotequote all
andy-xr said:
because after a while you dont want them facing the rear window, you want to be able to see them in the mirror.

You will need a rear facing one as their necks aren't strong enough to withstand a front end collision. You're right that they will grow out of it, but thats the same story with any baby, it grows out of everything (clothes, toys, cots , tits etc). Its just one of those expenses that come with the territory.

Hugo a Gogo

23,378 posts

232 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
quotequote all
Issi said:
£30 changing mat or a folded up beach towel?
Ikea do a dirt cheap inflatable plastic changing mat, stick a cheap square pillowcase on it if you must

who can be bothered with filling up your washing and drying with fecking massive beach towels?

eybic

9,212 posts

173 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
quotequote all
Ref nappy bins, we got the Tommee Tippee one with a bagging system, there is practically no smell from it whatsoever and we're still using it nearly 2 years later.

andy-xr

13,204 posts

203 months

Tuesday 23rd August 2016
quotequote all
Dr Murdoch said:
andy-xr said:
because after a while you dont want them facing the rear window, you want to be able to see them in the mirror.

You will need a rear facing one as their necks aren't strong enough to withstand a front end collision. You're right that they will grow out of it, but thats the same story with any baby, it grows out of everything (clothes, toys, cots , tits etc). Its just one of those expenses that come with the territory.
We got one with our pram, Mothercare system, so got an eBay car seat from the same range for my car. We have a Renault and a Citroen so the passenger airbag can be turned off from the knob on the dashboard easy enough, and because both baby seats are from the same range, it wont matter which car we take as there'll be a seat in each. Not that they look that difficult to drop in anyway.

The one that got me was the rear facing bit, it'll be a bit strange not being able to see what she's doing, and the wife will want to sit in the back with her.

Halfords do a seat that grows with the kid, I think from around age 2 through to 5, I didnt really look closer at it because it's a way off anyway