things you couldn't have got by without

skeptik

Hi, I'm due my baby in July and am buying everything in sight at the minute. I'm a one for being well prepared well in advance! Just wondering if any parents had any items during the first few months that made life easier? Big or small, it doesn't matter. If it helped you I'd like to know! Thanks

Kalimah

skeptik wrote: »

Hi, I'm due my baby in July and am buying everything in sight at the minute. I'm a one for being well prepared well in advance! Just wondering if any parents had any items during the first few months that made life easier? Big or small, it doesn't matter. If it helped you I'd like to know! Thanks

Heaps of bibs and glass feeding bottles if you can get them!

sillysocks

Have been thinking about this and every time the Babybjorn Babysitter bouncer comes to mind. It was expensive but we use it numerous times every day and have done from 3 days old until now 14 months later. It's great for putting her in so I can get some jobs done and she loves sitting in it.
Use it to sit her in for feeding too.

Daffodil.d

Angel care mat.It sets an alarm off if it doesn't feel heart beat. i was very nervous coz my daughter was a month premature. Even though she was 8lb 6oz she still was breathing very quietly. They're probably about 70 quid now but it's just for piece of mind.I have a son now too and used it with him and also lent it to a friend. its just a very good modern thing that helps parents sleep a little easier.Its also a monitor so you can use it just that way and turn off the heart beat detector with it. The only thing is that you can't have a wind up mobile over the cradle or cot as it detects that and the alarm would go off once the mobile was finished running. best of luck. its such a special time and passes by so fast.

Gloomtastic!

Babygrow. Made night times so easy.

Plus my wife. Parenting is all about teamwork.

angeldaisy

I used the old fashioned 'nighties' for my son, they look like a cross between a sleepsuit and a grobag- but the bottom kind of pulled together - like a drawstring idea - made changing nappies in the night a breeze:D

littlefriend

I got a wicker basket and put a pile of nappies, wipes, creams, infacol etc in it. I used to bring it upstairs at night and down again in the morning. Found it really handy having everything in one place in the early days.

From about 2 months I have found she loves watching the mobile above her cot. Even if its just while I have a shower or something she is really happy to lie there and look at it. She also gets a good bit of use out of her bouncer.

She's 3.5 months now and I recently bought a play mat for the floor with an arch thing over it which has toys hanging from it. She LOVES it. One thing I recommend when buying one of those is that you get one that also has stuff for them to play with when they are on their tummy as well as on their back. The one I got doesn't have anything like that so I can see myself buying another one soon enough.

One other thing I'd hold off on buying a load of wipes. I bought a lot when they were on offer before she was born - you'd often see them 5 for 5 euro. Anyway, I got the pampers sensitive ones and she had a pretty bad reaction to them so I ended up giving them away.

Good luck!

Neyite

I'm in the middle of a freezer clear out, and plan bulk-cook dinners and freeze them so that we can just feed ourselves quick and easy when baby comes home.

Any kind of "wet" meals - pasta sauces, curries, stews, casseroles, lasange, soups, shepherds pie, cottage pie, homemade pizza, are all contenders - the lasange and shepherds pie will go into those foil trays (tesco's) and the other ones that are ok to just microwave will go into the plastic chinese takeaway containers which are perfect portion size and stack neatly in the freezer.

Since I hope to breastfeed, I am concious that I want to eat healthy and home made where possible, and they taste far nicer than the shop bought ready meals that are full of salt and preservatives anyway.

The baby changing basket is a great idea. Gonna steal that

My sister found muslin cloths invaluable.

Daffodil.d

I used the basket idea too on my 2. I had 2 ,one upstairs and one down. Also what was handy was a pack of those terry towel nappies. I never used them as nappies, I threw them over my shoulder to catch the burp ups, they are thicker than those muslin things so after at catching the spills. Then as the kids got older they've been put on laps to keep meals from being to messy,they've been used to clean up sick and eventually they were used to clean up accidents while toilet training. The great thing is that they can be boiled for hygiene. The list goes on. There's 6 in a pack and I got 2.;-)Lol they were never used nappies!

How Strange

Muslin cloths from ikea - they covered a multitude of purposes
A microwave steriliser from mothercare - a lot cheaper than an identical one in boots and very useful as I breastfed so had no need for a big steriliser
Arms Reach Co-sleeper Cot - another invaluable thing for a breastfeeding mother and baby. It folds up so doubled up as a travel cot

This was the best, most useful present I got. Again as a breastfeeding mother I didn't need a big changing bag for carrying bottles so this was fantastic.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B000EDJ19Y

An amber teething necklace - I put it on my son at 7 months and has saved us a fortune in calpol.

The Big Red Button

I got a "baby hoodie" for my friend - she says she uses it LOADS when she's bringing the kid in the car etc. Handy thing to have, apparently!

Fittle

A Braun thermometer! They are about 70e in the chemist - but 10yrs on, I still use it!

My lad suffered with throat infections for years until he got his tonsils out when he was 4, and I always knew when to get the calpol in, once the thermometer showed the signs. A great investment imo.

marley123

Dr Browns Bottles if you are Bottle Feeding
Stock up on things like Wipes & nappies
Decent baby sling
Thermal Themometor
Gripe Water

marley123

Oh and the burpy cloths from IKEA - invaluable.

ghosttown

I think i said it before when the same question was asked, but for a summer baby, get black-out curtains, you will glad of them for the next few years when you need the baby to sleep.....and for you too !

Sleepy

A break before the madness begins: book a week somewhere (sunny preferably but anywhere in reality) that'll just be you and the other half and chill with some good books / dumb magazines / whatever you're into. Times like that become incredibly rare for parents!

And secondly: start collecting babysitters!

Daffodil.d

ghosttown wrote: »

I think i said it before when the same question was asked, but for a summer baby, get black-out curtains, you will glad of them for the next few years when you need the baby to sleep.....and for you too !

yes, I 2nd this and there is actually a portable one you can buy and stick up over windows because baby will probably start in your room and then move when a little older. I think it won awards. Nearly sure I have seen it in smyths

Daffodil.d

http://www.allbabyneeds.co.uk/Shop/gro-anywhere-blind-nursery-and-travel-black-out-formerly-baa-baa-blackout-blind-/prod_1436.html

Redpunto

For yourself

Loads cheap knickers (pennys great) that you can throw out
Maternity pads
breast pads
feeding bra - if feeding babes yourself
Front opening nighties/pj tops

For first few weeks baby actually doesnt need a lot if feeding yourself

Wipes
Nappies
nappy sacks
sudocream
vests
babygros
blankets
bouncer comes in handy

good luck

skeptik

Thank you all so much, all the info I've been given is gonna be invaluable, I can feel it!:D

hunnymonster

I'm actually going to go against the grain and say not to buy stuff yet (apart from the essentials of course). I say this for two reasons

1. all babies are different. yours may sleep like a log in broad daylight so no blinds needed or hate the bouncer (mine does) etc so you might end up with a lot of unused stuff

2. being at home with a baby can make days very long. If you have a reason to get out and about (to buy that bouncer that it turns out he actually likes etc) then it does give your days more structure.

How Strange

I totally agree with hunnymonster. We bought so much stuff in advance that we didn't use or our little lad had no interest in. Also your days on maternity leave probably won't be filled with long lunches with other mammies so it's definitely nice to have things to do. I spent most of a day choosing a high chair/booster seat. What I actually bought at 5.5 months was totally different to what I would've bought when I was pregnant.

ash23

If you don't know the sex of the baby, don't buy anything other than a couple of babygrows and vests for the hospital.
I had loads of lemon, green, white babygrows and the day after the baby was born everyone had brought in something pink and the neutrals never really got a look in

Redpunto

Forgot to say dont buy newborn babygros/clothes, get the up to 3 months stuff. Most babies only get one or two uses out of newborn stuff then outgrow it. With our first he didnt fit into the stuff we had when he was born, OH had to run over to Dunnes to get bigger clothes for him.

You dont need loads of "baby equipment", all they need are cuddles and milk! And we only ever had one of the basic bouncers for our 3, none of those ones that play music or are battery operated. Once they are mobile, they wont go near them anyway.

Neyite

hunnymonster wrote: »

I'm actually going to go against the grain and say not to buy stuff yet (apart from the essentials of course). I say this for two reasons

1. all babies are different. yours may sleep like a log in broad daylight so no blinds needed or hate the bouncer (mine does) etc so you might end up with a lot of unused stuff

2. being at home with a baby can make days very long. If you have a reason to get out and about (to buy that bouncer that it turns out he actually likes etc) then it does give your days more structure.

I'd agree - We got a car seat and a buggy, bedding and a cot matteress new I got a really cheap microwave steriliser and some bottles as they were half price in Argos. Our cot was given to us, as was the moses basket, and baby bouncer chair. Clothes wise, I have just got enough to see baby through maybe the first week - loads of people get clothes, plus the family have loads to give us when we find out if its a boy or girl. The rest we will buy as required. The only other thing I am going to get this side of birth is a monitor.

Moonbeam

Dunnes newborn stuff is quite small,it is alot smaller then Tescos so beware of that too.

Mink

hunnymonster wrote: »

I'm actually going to go against the grain and say not to buy stuff yet (apart from the essentials of course). I say this for two reasons

1. all babies are different. yours may sleep like a log in broad daylight so no blinds needed or hate the bouncer (mine does) etc so you might end up with a lot of unused stuff

2. being at home with a baby can make days very long. If you have a reason to get out and about (to buy that bouncer that it turns out he actually likes etc) then it does give your days more structure.

I'm really glad you wrote this. I'm 23 weeks and was really starting to freak out that I've not much bought.

I'll just get the essentials (cot & car seat & the usual nappies etc) and wait til after I get to know this little person what else to get.

jecca1

Loved the Lodger Bunker. DD is still using it at 3. Well worth every penny.

NextSteps

A tumble dryer!

Ashbourne hoop

Haven't read the whole thread so apoligies if its been said already, but a bottle warmer are lifesavers imo.

MoonDancer

This was a life saver for me, just around the house, or going out when I was breastfeeding! They will be happy in the sling forever!! If you want discreet feeding or on the run feeding!!

LegacyUser

MoonDancer wrote: »

This was a life saver for me, just around the house, or going out when I was breastfeeding! They will be happy in the sling forever!! If you want discreet feeding or on the run feeding!!

Love the look of these slings. Where can I get one?

Knit wit

http://img.comet.co.uk/images/prod2000/644285

This is a great kettle for formula feeding ... U can heat water to 70C to make bottles ...

Lola92

Knit wit wrote: »

http://img.comet.co.uk/images/prod2000/644285

This is a great kettle for formula feeding ... U can heat water to 70C to make bottles ...

But the whole point of boiling the water in the first place is to kill any bacteria present. The only reason you let it cool to 70 degrees is so that the nutrients in the formula aren't damaged. That link did not work for me so maybe I am missing out on something here.

taz70

Lola92 wrote: »

But the whole point of boiling the water in the first place is to kill any bacteria present. The only reason you let it cool to 70 degrees is so that the nutrients in the formula aren't damaged. That link did not work for me so maybe I am missing out on something here.

Actually, the reason you heat the water to 70 deg is to kill the bacteria in the FORMULA, not the water, AND to protect the nutrients from deterioration. Formula powder is not sterile, so needs to be made sterile (as far as is possible) before you give it to your baby.

I agree with not buying too much in advance - our biggest waste of money was a brand new cot. I think he spent one night in it and the rest of the time we have coslept (which honestly is the easiest thing, particularly if you're breastfeeding). We had billions of muslins etc, but he never spat up or threw up, so I never used one of them! It just depends on the baby.

People will give you loads of clothes - presents, second hand - so you really only need the basics. If people ask you what you need, ask for clothes for 9 months, 12 months, 18 months. It seems stupid, but they grow so quickly and it's nice to have the next size up all ready to go.

I found my son was barely out of babygros for the first six months, so don't waste your money on too many outfits. They grow out of them so fast, it's better to just borrow from someone or even just buy a bulk lot on ebay (or adverts.ie).

As for nappies, have you considered modern cloth nappies? They are a breeze to use - just an extra load or two a week - no nappy rash, no need for petroleum-based creams, good for the environment and keeps the nasty chemicals in the disposables far from your baby's pure little bottom! Oh, and these are not the terry toweling rags of yesteryear - they are just like disposables (check out www.ittibitti.co.uk as one brand, but there are lots of them).

pwurple

Plastic backed Bibs and saline drops.

Our babs was a bit snuffly when she was born, and the midwives were way too busy for the saline drops. Just bring your own.

Drool city from 8 weeks old, when the saliva glands start working. We were going through 10 or 12 bibs a day, and she was getting a rash from wet drooly bibs and clothes. Only place i found plastic ones were M&S. Put the cloth bib on top of the plastic backed one. Double layer.

I agree on not buying everything, it's fun to take baby out and about in the sling to get these things after a little while.

Get the drops though!

MoonDancer

guest9876 wrote: »

Love the look of these slings. Where can I get one?

The one I used was a pouch sling, you should google different ways to wear your baby in them as they grow bigger.

http://www.littlepossums.co.uk/slings/pouch-slings.htm

hoodwinked

one thing worth thinking about (althought you would not think it in Ireland) but for summer babies is ways of keeping them shaded when out and about from the sun in case we get a hot/sunny day (as happened to us the day we came home)


you can get parasols that clip to car seats/Buggies/prams or little sun hats.

Morag

Nipple shields if you are considering trying breastfeeding.

LegacyUser

Just wondering how essential people think bouncy chairs are? I was planning on putting my lil one in his pram to sleep or when I need to do do stuff in the kitchen, but my mam insists that one of these chairs will be needed to stop him from crying. I was kinda hoping not to have too much stuff til he's older to save clutter since we live in an apartment, but if he really needs it for stimulation or whatever, I wouldn't wanna hold back.

This thread is great by the way!

Moonbeam

I did not think they were until I had my 1st!
We brought it everywhere,visiting,restaurants,in to the bathroom for showers!
You can get them from about a tenner up and it is very very worth having one,especially one with a few toys on it.
They get bored of the pram and want to look around them and see everything.

Neyite

bizzibee wrote: »

Just wondering how essential people think bouncy chairs are? I was planning on putting my lil one in his pram to sleep or when I need to do do stuff in the kitchen, but my mam insists that one of these chairs will be needed to stop him from crying. I was kinda hoping not to have too much stuff til he's older to save clutter since we live in an apartment, but if he really needs it for stimulation or whatever, I wouldn't wanna hold back.

This thread is great by the way!

I dont have one - I was given one, but it didnt clean up properly,so I'm going to dump it. At the moment, my newborn is in his moses basket usually, or on a play gym (on top of my own yoga mat for extra cushioning) if I think he needs a little stimulation. I think its recommended to lie babies flat from birth for a while, so you may not use the chair much in the begining anyway? I'd say hold off on one until after baby comes along and you will know when they are ready for one. I'm in an apartment too so I'm very concious on not getting loads of little-used equipment cluttering up our limited space.

Moonbeam

The chairs lie flat for newborns

Neyite

Moonbeam wrote: »

The chairs lie flat for newborns

Ah I see The one I was given didnt, so thats why I dont use it.

My partners friend swears by the vibrating one. All I could think about was that episode of Sex and the City where Mirandas baby chair broke and Samantha put a big vibrator in it to make the chair vibrate for the kid.

pwurple

I found the bouncy chair really useful as well. They do like to be able to see you, and moses basket doesn't cut it for that.

In all seriousness, nothing is essential apart from milk, a place to sleep and some way to clean them. A boob and a wet cloth would be all that's actually essential for the baby. But here you would be stuck on the bed with a baby lying on you all day long like some kind of manatee...

Everything else is to make your life a little easier or more pleasant. A bouncer is handy when you need a shower or to go to the loo. Or for downstairs when you are making something to eat and you don't want to haul the bassinet down the stairs again. They are light, cheap and they fold away.

Mr.Wemmick

The Bumbo chair is great as it is light and you can take it anywhere, great in restaurants, very sturdy, supportive and they can't fall out of it. I'm a big fan of the simple chair.

When you're buying the first baby-friendly cuddly teddy or rabbit, do yourself a favour and get two. If that much loved teddy or blanket gets lost one day, you'll be so glad you have a spare tucked away at home especially if it is one that can not be replaced at a later date.

sillysocks

We got a babybjorn bouncer as a present, definitely one of the best things we have. 18 months later and still use it every day. It's great for knowing they're in something safe if you've jobs to do, for feeding when they move into solids, and for watching tv (bad mother alert!).

We got a Bumbo, she hated it and kept trying to arch out of it so brought it back.

The babybjorn folds totally flat in a split second so handy for tidying away or bringing if you're going to someone's house.

It doesn't really stimulate as such as it's not colorful, no toys etc, but we used to just hook toys onto it and that was fine.

pwurple

My friends have that babybjorn one. It has an optional extra toy bar.

Or you can get one of those clip on toybars, that also fit to buggys.

analucija

Good quality ear thermometer. Quick and easy when you are paranoid about your child's temperature.

RebelButtMunch

A microwave oven.