Ok so when you have your first baby you become a bit bewildered and think you need everything the magazines tell you. But what stuff does the baby really need and what are a complete waste of money. I think a car seat is essential but then if you dont have a car not that handy. :hihi: So What do you think was a complete waste of time when you had your next children and what was a must?

Well, i'm due in 9 days with my first, but a car seat is essential wether or not you have a car because you need a car seat to take your baby out of the hospital. :) Gina x

not if you get the bus and put him in the pram!

I never used muslin squares, because whenever babybaby was sick when she was very little there'd be enough of it in little dribbles over several possets that you needed a clean square every hour or so. We just used tissues or toilet paper.

What we found to be essential - scratch mitts and 3 breast pumps so that they didn't have to be cleaned after every single usage. Also, the bouncy wire-framed chair was a huge help. We had a carry cot that the baby slept in and that fitted teh pushchair frame, too, and that meant we were able to go out late in the evening with the baby already in bed - fantastic! Sadly she outgrew it at 10 weeks, but never mind, it was nice while it lasted.

I think a lot of what is sold to us is not actually essential at all. Babies are happiest when kept close into their mums skin, many items are developed as a way of stopping that, such as pushchairs, bouncy chairs, carrycots etc.

My only essentials would be a good sling to help spread the weight of the baby over the shoulders, a superkingsize mattress to fit us all in and access to a good breastfeeding counsellor for help. Nappies are useful unless you plan on doing Elimination Communication with your baby (I do know people who do this very sucessfully).

I can't think of anything worse than doing the elimination form of toileting (just my opinion) I watched a documentry about it a few yrs ago and it looked so messy and unhygenic!

Good luck to anyone with the patience to do it though.

I found scratch mits essential with dd1, although they kept falling (or being pulled) off so as I'm really cleaver lol I stiched ribbon on each pair to tie them on. This looked lovely too as she had wee ribbon braclets on.

I went through tons of bibs with Reise, loads so I'll stock up on them this time.

I think a lot of what is sold to us is not actually essential at all. Babies are happiest when kept close into their mums skin, many items are developed as a way of stopping that, such as pushchairs, bouncy chairs, carrycots etc.

My only essentials would be a good sling to help spread the weight of the baby over the shoulders, a superkingsize mattress to fit us all in and access to a good breastfeeding counsellor for help. Nappies are useful unless you plan on doing Elimination Communication with your baby (I do know people who do this very sucessfully).

I've never heard of this What is elimination communication?

Good point anniec about the bus, but then again I can't imagine giving birth then travelling by bus home from hosp. I'd prefer to buy a car seat and have a lift or taxi :D

I've never heard of this What is elimination communication?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elimination_communication

I think a lot of what is sold to us is not actually essential at all. Babies are happiest when kept close into their mums skin, many items are developed as a way of stopping that, such as pushchairs, bouncy chairs, carrycots etc.

My only essentials would be a good sling to help spread the weight of the baby over the shoulders, a superkingsize mattress to fit us all in and access to a good breastfeeding counsellor for help. Nappies are useful unless you plan on doing Elimination Communication with your baby (I do know people who do this very sucessfully).

I would agree with all the above:D ..though Im not into elimination communication (cloth nappies are my thing) - find that a bit odd personally but know it works really well for some people:)

i would say cheap white babygrows, plenty of them! along with cheap white vests. asda ones are awesome.

my baby was a c-section birth and brought vast quantaties of mucus up. we went through our entire hospital bag in one night. poor mite ended up starkers on the first night. other half had to go shopping for more clothes for her.

i love muslin squares but i confess to having loads! i put under her chin, over her shoulder then down round my side, when she is feeding any leaks from her mouth go on the muslin square not allover my bra or her sleep suit.

cotton wool, loads of it! along with nappies :)

if you know anyone with a steriliser, see if you can try them out.
we started with a microwave one, (till overuse killed my microwave) then we got the steam one out, then we ended up with a cold water one. the stuff remains sterile for 24hours and milton only takes 15 mins to sterilise everything. depends if your breast or bottle, were breast so we dont need loads of bottles, but for my pump, cold water was best. saved having the steam steriliser upstairs and i can pump when baby wakes for a feed, rather than waiting for the steam one to work

I found Riley's bouncy chair very useful, hate the fact that I've got to let it go as he is now too big. Bottle warmer was probably the biggest waste of money for me, I ended up using the microwave when he was around 2 months old, because the bottle warmer takes to long in my opinion and I think as long as you make sure the milk is mixed afterwards correctly and check the temperature then it's fine (just my opinion) Moses baskets are ok and look cute but I only use mine for a few weeks, he grew out of it sooo quick and ended up in the cot. If you have a small baby they are ok but if you have a near 9 pounder like me then they are pretty useless and you might aswell put them straight in the cot. Hope thats been helpful :)

Essential?

Lots of bibs, you don't need those muslin squares, no! But they're good for having on your shoulder when burping. Good steriliser that you've learned to use beforehand, some 'ready made milk' for emergencies and lots of formula, about 8 bottles, bottle brush, lots of nappies, lots of wipes, lots of nappy bags. Wash bowl, baby bubble bath (more kindly than putting soap on him), sudocrem and cotton wool balls.

Decent pram/pushchair that you can fit a car seat onto and shove your shopping underneath. And a raincover. Changing bag - but big ones are a faff, so long as you can stuff a few things in, a separate thermal bag is good for bottles. Changing mat - keep one upstairs and one downstairs.

Lots of vests and sleepsuits and some non-bio washing powder.

Moses basket - this is good for dragging to the side of the bed unlike a big cot. Soft fleecy blankets - for his bed and for making him a cosy nest out of his bouncy seat during the day and evening - saves you trekking upstairs while you're watching telly if he wants attention.

Some dummies, for comfort.

Don't need any of these feeding chairs - we used ours once and I am fuming about wasting that money. Don't need feeding cushions either if you have pillows. Don't need a bottle warmer if you have a kettle! Don't need a changing table - use the bed or settee with a mat down, you'll save your back, save space and not get ripped off!

I found Riley's bouncy chair very useful, hate the fact that I've got to let it go as he is now too big. Bottle warmer was probably the biggest waste of money for me, I ended up using the microwave when he was around 2 months old, because the bottle warmer takes to long in my opinion and I think as long as you make sure the milk is mixed afterwards correctly and check the temperature then it's fine (just my opinion) Moses baskets are ok and look cute but I only use mine for a few weeks, he grew out of it sooo quick and ended up in the cot. If you have a small baby they are ok but if you have a near 9 pounder like me then they are pretty useless and you might aswell put them straight in the cot. Hope thats been helpful :)

I wonder if our basket's big as he's still using it and he's now 3 months and was over 11 to start with! He needs a cot very soon but I'm reluctant to give up the basket because its so moveable - and I can get a hand in when he won't go to sleep unless you're holding his hand ;)

I wonder if our basket's big as he's still using it and he's now 3 months and was over 11 to start with! He needs a cot very soon but I'm reluctant to give up the basket because its so moveable - and I can get a hand in when he won't go to sleep unless you're holding his hand ;)

I did actually get mine second hand (the only thing I did get second hand I might add) and didn't really look at other moses baskets maybe mine wasn't a very good one. I'm gutted, oh well :)

I think babygrows, vests and plenty of bibs!

Moses baskets keep baby nice and snug but don't last long so if you could borrow one thats a good idea.

a bottle warmer is a COMPLETE waste of money. Babies do not need their milk to be warm, most will drink it however it comes if that is what they are used to...I actually get angry about bottle warmers, lol - I feel like they only exist to ratchet money out of people who need all the money they've got for actual important things.

It's interesting what else people think are real necessities and what are not - for instance, I am on the side of muslim squares completely - they are great for keeping clean, and come in useful in all sorts of situations, e.g. as make-do hats, sun shields, for cleaning soggy playground equipment, bibs, mini blankets, etc etc) whereas the only use I ever found for baby mittens was to protect my mobile phone from getting scratched.

I wouldn't consider having another baby without a simple wire frame bouncy chair. And yes, you need a biiig supply of bibs, vests and babygrows (sooo cute).

I never touched the vaseline, baby lotion, or talcum powder supplied to me by sooo many people...but I still swear by Metanium for nappy rash and Dentinox for cradle cap.

I had a steam steriliser, but wouldn't do without Miltons for cold water sterilising, wiping things down, etc.

Baby baths are unnecessary, you can get a cheap little wire frame and terry cloth 'stand' for baby, and by the time they've grown out of that, they can sit (aided) in the bath, as you shouldn't for an instant be leaving them anyway.

Cups: 2 beakers that are leakproof and control flow (one clean, one in use), 2 inexpensive plastic cups with beaker lids for when you don't have an eye on them, but the lids can be removed for practicing proper drinking...I must have spent bombs of money on a variety of cups and beakers, but really this is all I ever needed.

I'm sure I'll think of more, lol.

A steam stereliser is a god send, so quick and easy.

Yeah bottle warmers are a waste, I got one but never bother with it. I think babies like it at room temp, well mine did

Sorry about the change of title and momentary loss of thread there, guys...I accidentally merged the wrong thread - d'oh.

I've had stuff with the older 2 that were a waste of money - namely the baby bath as it killed my back emptying it! Bottle warmers (although mine have all been breastfed if I gave expressed milk I heated it in a bowl of water), and those awful baby carriers. The things I've found a godsend with number 3 was a proper baby sling as I could carry her laid down in it, breastfeed in privacy with it, and even take her off me and wrap her up in it for a blanket. A bumbo seat was fab, although not every baby likes them and they are pricey, so 2nd hand or borrow if possible. Same as a baby swing, my son had one and hated it, but I had one for my daughter and she loved it. Moses basket - I've had the same one with all 3 of my kids, and its lasted ages, this time up to 8 months. as for the bathing issue, i used a washing up bowl when she was tiny and then progressed to the big bath with a baby bath seat.

I did actually get mine second hand (the only thing I did get second hand I might add) and didn't really look at other moses baskets maybe mine wasn't a very good one. I'm gutted, oh well :)

So is ours! My neighbour was going to whizz it out but then I said I'd have it - just added a new mattress, which cost a tenner. If there are no more nippers to use it, as it's so tatty on the outside I doubt anyone else will want it for a baby, and the cats can have it then! Or I might turn it into a nest for his toy dragon...

Baby shampoo shocks me - it's only in huge bottles and you literally need a dab of it once a week - this bottle will last until he's three I think!

And why have a bottle warmer? All you need is a bowl and a kettle and some water. You can even just sit with the bottle of milk tucked in your armpit to get it to room temperature! ;)

Best buys for me where the pre sterilised bottles and the little cartons of milk for those days when you end up in town longer than you expect

Best buys for me where the pre sterilised bottles and the little cartons of milk for those days when you end up in town longer than you expect

Yes I've used them, brilliant!!

Best buys for me where the pre sterilised bottles and the little cartons of milk for those days when you end up in town longer than you expect

Ditto. Actually, we used them all the time for a few months, even at home, because it was just so quick getting it into a bottle and we'd had such a horrendous time feeding her. Still got a few lurking around actually...might just check the use by date now that they're over a year old :gag:.

The baby bath seat was brill especially for number 2 as i could throw them both in together, a pram with a carry cot is an absolute must in my opinion and preferably one where the seat faces you.
My first pram from mamas and papas didn't have either of these it looked flashy but was the biggest waste of cash, 2nd time we bought a bugaboo and it is brilliant costly at first but when you think of the money we wasted on the first heap of junk its nothing and you can use it as a moses basket.

here's what I'd reccommend (thought it would be best to list) in no particular order:-

Baby gym/playmat (with dangely toys above)
bouncy chair
sling
LOTS of sleepsuits
long sleeve and short sleeve t-shirsts
trousers (the reason I recommend this is because our lad's cord got a bit infected and we had to dress him so that air could get to his belly button to dry up, it took 10 days to drop off - but had we done this from the start it wouldn't have got infected)
tie on booties (so they cant be kicked off)
baby monitor
mosas basket
lots of mosas basket bottom sheets
top sheets
blankets
breast pump
fold up baby bath
changing mat
steraliser
bottles & teats (for feeding expressed milk)
lots of bibs
pram
car seat

and during the first few weeks when I was up all night and day breastfeeding I pretty much lived off nutri grain bars and bananas (couldnt stomach anything else for some reason)

hope that helps :)

The baby bath seat was brill especially for number 2 as i could throw them both in together,.

ah I'll remember this for if/when we have no2;);)

Best buys for me where the pre sterilised bottles and the little cartons of milk for those days when you end up in town longer than you expect

I'll third or fourth that! It's basically the same stuff that they give you in Jessop if you're bottle feeding - where, incidentally, you can choose the brand of milk you plan to use at home - and you just ask the midwives for it when you need it at any time. So no need to worry about how you're going to do the bottle thing in there.

I forgot to say that a good baby book is also very useful for info and setting your mind at rest about questions. The best one we've had is What To Expect In The First Year - like a doorstop and very comprehensive and well written. The Miriam Stoppard one is also good (get the small format paperback, it's cheaper). You'd get these on eBay cheap.

A butler also might come in handy if you can afford one :D

I'll do a list too :)

muslins
nappies
vests
sleepsuits
a few bottom sheets for the mattress
protection cover for the mattress
car seat
a good quality sling/ wrap (not a "done" carrier like the baby bjorn)
cotton wool (in little balls as the stuff that comes in one long bit is useless)
Metanium (hate Sudocream, ds got a rash from it)
Weleda nappy cream
hats
a couple of nice outfits
a crib
a bouncy chair (although only for short periods of time as not that great for the back I believe)

Ds only started being interested in his play gym once he was about 12 weeks old, same with toys.

Books, well, I did not read any as I found the ones I did have a look at very patronising and going totally against my style of parenting.

Addresses of playgroups to meet fantastic new people who were far more reassuring than all the hv's I met.

A bottle of water and snacks to eat while ds was bf or sleeping on me.

Weleda nappy cream is brill.

I've never heard of half of these nappy creams.. My MW recommended Bepanthen (Sp?) So I've bought 2 big tubes of it. Smells nice :hihi: the sample I got was wasted by me smelling it going "MMM..could eat this stuff" :loopy:

gina2007, if you ever find the bepanthum doesn't work, try the metanium...it is amazing. I used sudocreme for months until he got a nappy rash I couldn't shift, and I read about this disgusting yellow gunk that quite literally works miracles - metanium - and by gawd, it does.

I thought of another must have as I put out the clothes to dry tonight...a quick, sturdy washing machine. And oh, how I wish I had a tumble dryer!

I'll take a note of the name of it then. Thanks for that. Hopefully he'll never get a bad nappy rash!

I've never heard of half of these nappy creams.. My MW recommended Bepanthen (Sp?) So I've bought 2 big tubes of it. Smells nice :hihi: the sample I got was wasted by me smelling it going "MMM..could eat this stuff" :loopy:

Are you actually planning on having this baby or just talking about it ?! :hihi:

Metanium rocks! Youngest DS sufferes really bad with nappy rash even at 2 1/2 it was the only thing that works for him.

My biggest waste of money - Nappy wrapper, smelly bags work just as well if not better

He'll come when the times ready..although I want him to stay til i've decorated the new house... So for now (hopefully) i'm talking about him not having him :hihi: Ahh...I can't wait now. 9 Days, Has anyone seen Em around? Me thinks shes gone into labour..she's due saturday...?

Ok so when you have your first baby you become a bit bewildered and think you need everything the magazines tell you. But what stuff does the baby really need and what are a complete waste of money. I think a car seat is essential but then if you dont have a car not that handy. :hihi: So What do you think was a complete waste of time when you had your next children and what was a must?

All you need to start with is ear plugs and a ready made babysitter (lol).

Forgot the nipple cream in the purple tube is in Linsim or something - ask for some while your hospital just incase your nipples do crack this is THE best cream for soothing sore nipples and might help you b/f longer if you have porblems.

Stop buying stuff as most of it will never be used.

As long as you can get baby home safe (car, bus pram etc) your ok and you have some baby grows to keep it warm.

I bought all sorts the Johnsond box with all the lotions in (Never been used) dd was born Oct 06 and I am still using the same shampoo from day 1 (hair cut 3 times as well).

BUy loads of sanitry pads and comfy knickers for yourself as well as sweets for while your in hospital.

My biggest waste of money was a baby bath as you can buy a scoop thing which baby can go in from day one.

See how you go with breast feeding before buying all the bottles pumps etc you can normally borrow stuff or get someone to go out and buy the stuff if needed.

I have also got loads of blankets which we have never used as we use a sleeping bag which has been a god send.

Best buy we had was a bath thermometer (getting late re spelling) when ever we bathed dd she would scream like mad becasue the stupid women at the Jessop wing had us bathing her in near freezing water, Emma like her baths nice and warm boardering too hot on the thermometer just like mommy.

If you need to do anything before baby arrives stock the freezer with nice food put your feet up and enjoy.

Good luck.

Yes I've used them, brilliant!!

Pre sterilised bottles and carton milk is ok but expensive I found the powder milk dispenser loads better as I got used to feeding dd at room temp so just mixed the bottle when needed. Also god for nights feeds in winter when you don't want to go downstairs and warm the bottle jsut add the powder.

Pre sterilised bottles and carton milk is ok but expensive I found the powder milk dispenser loads better as I got used to feeding dd at room temp so just mixed the bottle when needed. Also god for nights feeds in winter when you don't want to go downstairs and warm the bottle jsut add the powder.

Yes Ive got the tommee tippee ones of these aswell, brilliant aswell, I've tried them all, only trouble with those are you can only put up 2 8 oz in the dispencer so when he was on 9 oz I couldn't use them anymore

Pre sterilised bottles and carton milk is ok but expensive I found the powder milk dispenser loads better as I got used to feeding dd at room temp so just mixed the bottle when needed. Also god for nights feeds in winter when you don't want to go downstairs and warm the bottle jsut add the powder.

We just make up batches of milk and then use them, no adding formula to stored water. But then we're giving him C&G Comfort and that has to be made up with near-boiling water to make it dissolve as it's so thick. I make up no more than four at a time, store them in the kitchen on the side and they stay just right (if you think about it, breast milk isn't hot, so room temp is good), only need warming if it's been a cold night or something. :)

All you need to start with is ear plugs and a ready made babysitter (lol).

Forgot the nipple cream in the purple tube is in Linsim or something - ask for some while your hospital just incase your nipples do crack this is THE best cream for soothing sore nipples and might help you b/f longer if you have porblems.

Stop buying stuff as most of it will never be used.

As long as you can get baby home safe (car, bus pram etc) your ok and you have some baby grows to keep it warm.

I bought all sorts the Johnsond box with all the lotions in (Never been used) dd was born Oct 06 and I am still using the same shampoo from day 1 (hair cut 3 times as well).

BUy loads of sanitry pads and comfy knickers for yourself as well as sweets for while your in hospital.

My biggest waste of money was a baby bath as you can buy a scoop thing which baby can go in from day one.

See how you go with breast feeding before buying all the bottles pumps etc you can normally borrow stuff or get someone to go out and buy the stuff if needed.

I have also got loads of blankets which we have never used as we use a sleeping bag which has been a god send.

Best buy we had was a bath thermometer (getting late re spelling) when ever we bathed dd she would scream like mad becasue the stupid women at the Jessop wing had us bathing her in near freezing water, Emma like her baths nice and warm boardering too hot on the thermometer just like mommy.

If you need to do anything before baby arrives stock the freezer with nice food put your feet up and enjoy.

Good luck.

I think you summed it up Skippy, agree with the nipple cream defff - Lansinoh in purple sachet - miracle stuff, its not cheap to buy in tube but last ages and does the job brilliant, but if you get some from Jessop before you leave, hopefully wont have to buy any, prevention better than cure. X

I think you summed it up Skippy, agree with the nipple cream defff - Lansinoh in purple sachet - miracle stuff, its not cheap to buy in tube but last ages and does the job brilliant, but if you get some from Jessop before you leave, hopefully wont have to buy any, prevention better than cure. X

You can get Lanisol on the Minor Ailments thing at the chemist - if you haven't taken account of this while you get free perscriptions you can get stuff like Gaviscon, Lactalose free then when baby arrives you get your Calpol and Linisol.

Grobags - the best sleeping bag ever!


And for cracked nipplles: Leave breast milk to dry on them, works even better than all the creams (at least for me).

Breast milk is also good for bath water for baby, gunky baby eyes, baby's snuffly nose etc.

Oh, and a thermometer for the bath (even now I cannot get the temperature right for monsterbaby)

you can get lansinoh on minor ailments????

please tell me you are joking! otherhalf coughed up the £10 for a tube, gutted!!!

if you have the time, stock the freezer up with home made food, chilli, bollagnase, this is my life saver!!!

when other half on lates i cook a massive batch of something, then freeze it for when he is on earlies, providing little one goes down smoothly!

[QUOTE=joi5ey;3014811]you can get lansinoh on minor ailments????

please tell me you are joking! otherhalf coughed up the £10 for a tube, gutted!!!

if you have the time, stock the freezer up with home made food, chilli, bollagnase, this is my life saver!!!

when other half on lates i cook a massive batch of something, then freeze it for when he is on earlies, providing little one goes down smoothly![/QUOTE

Sorry not joking you can get it in minor ailments as well as the good nappy cream and most thinks you need but get ripped off with if you go and part with hard earned cash.

So loads of baby gros and vests, how many roughly would you say you need in the newborn size?

So loads of baby gros and vests, how many roughly would you say you need in the newborn size?

Only half a dozen - and they grow out of them very quickly. Also the newborn size isn't worth bothering with for a big baby, you might as well go straight on to the 0-3 months' size. If you can, have a couple of vests and suits ready for the birth in an 'average' newborn size and then if he or she is bigger you can send a relative out to buy some in 0-3 months' size - or get some from your own stocks as people will love to buy you little clothes!