first time parents... whats needed??

Nicky987

So only a few pay days left until our new arrival comes so just wondering whats needed. For example how many sheets etc... And everything. Im assuming we will get clothe gifts but surely still need a few bits so whats needed???

Gee_G

Lots of babygro's and vests anyway, they go through a lot of them as for sheets, I had a few but Then I seen is the hospital they were sometimes using pillow cases aNd I started using them for my moses basket as they stay in place all the time no matter how much they wriggle also, I would try and stock up on all the necessities like wipes and nappies because the last thing you will want is to have to be going To the shop or sending someone for the first few weeks! Not really telling you anything you don't know ha ha

highly1111

Car seat, pram, Moses basket, maybe 3 sheets, vests and babygros. Tesco, dunnes, penneys. Don't get any basics in the likes of next etc. you'll probably get lots of outfits as gifts but rarely the basics. A tip is to go somewhere with cash and get an ex display model of a buggy etc. I'm not a buggy person (you've the dun laoghaire pier bugaboo brigade!!) and we got car seat pram, buggy all for €350 from tony kielys - navy and cream and gorgeous. Just ex display and made them an offer.

You'll need bottles and sterilising if you don't plan on breastfeeding but I would recommend it if it works - go with an open mind - its so so relaxing not having to worry about bottles, sterlising, formula etc. If breastfeeding isn't for you - you'll need all of these.

A bouncer is great if you can afford it - we got one for €29.99 in Smyths - turquoise, light, vibrates and our baba Ioves it.

Get a few doodies - just in case.

Stock up on nappies and wipes

A few blankets - cellular. But lots of muslin clothes.

And for you - freeze a few lasagnes and currys. After one week post birth you'll be mortified phoning the take away (again!) and sick of them too.

Best of luck. Remember all your baby needs is love love love and milk milk milk!!

Enjoy - nothing like it - all the cliches are true for a reason.

X

Princessa

• Moses Basket
• Baby Bouncer
• Vests ++
• Babygrows++
• Bottles (Breastpump)
• Steriliser
• Baby monitors
• Sheets and blankets (the cellular ones are recommended)
• Scratch Mittens
• Hats
• Car seat
• Pram
• Jacket/ All in one thingy to bring baby home
• Bibs
• Baby towels
• Baby bath/ basin
• Changing bag/ Changing mat

Baby products:

• Nappies
• Vasoline
• Wipes
• Cotton balls
• Powder

People will ask you coming to the end what do you need and you can mention some stuff.

Some mammies wont agree with my list but thats the things that i had in before my little girl arrived and il be the same for this one.

You will need to have bits for yourself ready too like breastpads, maternity towels, big unsexy underwear, maybe nursing bra's....

liliq

Princessa wrote: »

• Moses Basket
• Baby Bouncer
• Vests ++
• Babygrows++
• Bottles (Breastpump)
• Steriliser
• Baby monitors
• Sheets and blankets (the cellular ones are recommended)
• Scratch Mittens
• Hats
• Car seat
• Pram
• Jacket/ All in one thingy to bring baby home
• Bibs
• Baby towels
• Baby bath/ basin
• Changing bag/ Changing mat

Baby products:

• Nappies
• Vasoline
• Wipes
• Cotton balls
• Powder

People will ask you coming to the end what do you need and you can mention some stuff.

Some mammies wont agree with my list but thats the things that i had in before my little girl arrived and il be the same for this one.

You will need to have bits for yourself ready too like breastpads, maternity towels, big unsexy underwear, maybe nursing bra's....

Agree with a lot of this list, bar a few
As an aside though, it may be better to wait a couple of weeks until your milk supply is settled before buying nursing bras as there can be a huge variation in size. I was an E cup pre birth, I must have gone up to a H once my milk "came in", and settled back to a G from around 10 days/ 2 weeks for nearly the first year post birth.

0ctober

Lots and lots of muslin cloths! We have them scattered all over the house so there's always one within arms reach. Great for mopping up any spit ups or spills, popping under their head when they're lying down to protect the bed sheets/whatever surface, or for draping over your shoulder to help with breastfeeding discreetly. I'd be lost without them!

Also- not something you can buy, but buckets of patience...not with the baby more so with each other! :P

cyning

Definately muslins: muslins everywhere! However many you think you might need double and wash them too: they're much more absorbant once they're washed!

Personally I wouldn't buy too many bottles before babs gets here: if you breastfeed you might only need a few and just in case your babs doesn't like the teats: mine could take an hour to drink an oz from a Nuk bottle but guzzles from an Avent I bought the Avent newborn started kit and steriliser from Smyths for about €25: and the steriliser is great!

Don't buy too many nursing bras: I went from an a-c cup and I'm up to a d now so it makes a huge difference!

I got one 0-3 month outfit as a gift so make sure you have enough clothes and aren't relying on gifts for then!

Also I didn't really buy any newborn size because everyone told me it was a waste of money etc: even though babs was 7lbs 15 0-3 was swimming on her so I would definately buy a pack of newborn vests and babygrows if I was to do it again.

pushkii

A lot of people would disagree but if you have space a changing table can be a real back saver. i have a changing mat on a set of drawers same thing really and a few small changing mats around the house, baby poo and wee get everywhere!!

dublinlady

Totally agree with the advice given about muslin cloths, bottles ( we now have 6 of 3 types! Crazy!) and changing table ( or like previous poster we have changing mat on a sideboard in living room!

I think we have about 6 cellular blankets!!! I love them - so handy!
We swaddled (how very controversial ) our little one until she was about 15 weeks - she loved it and couldn't sleep otherwise! Someone gave us a gift of a gro swaddle blanket and we used it EVERY night!

Have some baby socks to put over their hands to stop them scratching themselves - the mittens are crap and fall off! Have little baby hat for out in the buggy in the cold!
We used and still use the water wipes - much handier than cotton woll and water but very very gentle also! Our lady gets a rash if we use Johnsons ones!

Digital Forehead thermometer - brilliant! Braun do one!

Vaseline - handy for nappy and also dry skin patches elsewhere!

Lansinoh sore nipple cream - great for 1st 2 weeks or so!

Some sleep suits and vests - we got heaps of 0-3 month clothes but none were practical - all dresses etc!! Plus as age was only 6lb 5oz she was in newborn size for at least 6 weeks!! I'd say about 7 would do - until your sure about size and then can see how ya go!

QPDB9

I didnt feel right buying anything before ds was born so the week he was due all I got was a pack of nappies and that newborn babygro set from the supermarket, you know the one with a babygro, a pyjamas, a hat and scratch mits. What I didn't realise was that the babygro only had buttons at the bottom instead of all the way down the front so it was really hard to get him in and out of it.

We ended up needing:
A few packs of sleep suits
A few packs of vests
(depends how often you do your washing)
Breast pump
Bottles
Steriliser
Soothers
Thermometer
Swinging seat thing

We'd ordered:
The pram
Carseat
Crib (think we had 4 sheets)
Dh picked them up while we were in the hospital

Never used muslins, just face cloths & kitchen roll, might give them a go this time since people seem to be very excited about them.

Got loads of presents of clothes, snowsuits, sleeping bags, so like everyone else has said its just the basics you need to get yourself.

Neyite

Get makeup pads to use in the hospital instead of the cotton wool balls - the balls fluff and stick to babys butt, your hands etc. Easier to use too.

I got muslins too. I use them for mopping up spills, draping over visitors for cuddles to save their clothes, drool, when he is teething and putting stuff in his mouth, knot the end and let them chew on that - he is only 3mth and not able to grasp the teether toys properly and bumps them off his face. they have mopped up poo, pee, and I use them as nursing covers - wind the corner around your bra strap on the feeding side and drape over babys head.

Its ok though to leave stuff to see what you will need when baby is here - it gives you outings to go on, and stops the cabin fever!

Gatica

Could I resurrect this thread? We're not halfway our term yet but considering we've quite a bit of travel planned over the next 3 months, we would like to at least get an idea of what we'd need to get...

Love the posts here and suggestions for first time parents. Only things I'd have known about are what they list in the hospital info booklet, like car seat, muslin, nappies, vests, etc...

Has anyone found they needed bottles/steriliser from the start? Planning on breast-feeding but worrying not having an alternative if it doesn't work out for any reason.

Hubby's quite techie so he's really into the different expensive baby monitoring systems, which I think are just unnecessary for first few weeks as I've no intention of leaving her alone in a room to sleep. Did anyone actually use the ones with video?

How about baby washing equipment? basin, shampoos?

Checking out reviews for car seats and isoFix and car-model compatibility, as well as adapters for buggys. Cannot believe the heaps of info out there :eek:

cyning

If you live in any sort of a small town it's desperately easy to pick up bottles if you need them. A steriliser might be slightly less so so may be no harm to pick one up.

Muslins great if you have a spewy baby. If not great for bins, wiping faces/hands, cleaning messes... Still use them daily with a just 4 & 2 year old.

I have this bath http://www.mamasandpapas.com/product-acqua-bambino-two-stage-bath-pearl-white/4538472/type-i/

I was terrified of the thought of a wriggly baby in the bath. They just lie in this... And it's great until they are about 2.

I have an ikea changing unit still used daily now: my 2 year olds never had a problem using it.

Baby monitor with video is so handy: more so when they get older. Again still use it with 4 & 2 year old so can see what they are up too particularly as both have a tendency to talk in their sleep.

My big regret is not buying a co sleeper cot: especially if planning on breastfeeding. If I ever have a third I definitely will.

Enjoy it it's great fun buying stuff!

xalot

You can never have enough muslin cloths! When Aldi do their next baby event stock up, ours are still going strong nearly three years later.

I wouldn't bother with a moses basket, we had a 9.5lb baby who got a grand total of 4 weeks use from it, total waste of time. If you do have one dont bother with sheets just use pillow cases, perfect fit and at least you can use them after.

Dont buy too many bottles as you dont know which brand baby will take to. I breast fed but went through at least 5 different brands before I found one he'd take for expressed milk.

I got the Avent microwave sterilizer for less than 30quid in Smyths and found it perfect, and easily stored.

Dont buy too much newborn stuff, we ended up giving the majority of our stuff to other mams on the ward as it was too small for our monster baby.

finooola

Get a proper crib not a Moses basket.

Neyite

Gatica, you can get a little box of pre-made formula in little bottles, complete with a pre-sterilised teat. We had one of those in the house as a backup plan in case the breastfeeding hit a roadblock. It would have given us six feeds I think so enough time to dispatch someone to the shops for more or to get bottles, formula and steriliser.

Plus if you were to give formula, some formula's don't suit some babies so it's best to try out the smaller versions of a brand before paying the money for the big drum. My lad didn't take to powdered formula at all - it just gave him the runs. I was mostly breastfeeding at the time anyway, so the pre-made stuff wasn't too expensive for me.

We got the sensor mat monitor, not the video. Some say it's unnecessary to buy a fancy monitor but it was really for my peace of mind because a relative had a near miss with a potential sids case.

We borrowed the moses basket, but otherwise I wouldn't have bothered with it, they grow out of them so quickly!

I found J&J toiletries quite harsh so I avoided those. MooGoo is one I've heard mentioned favourably. Again, depends on the child, what suits one child might not suit another.

I regret not getting our buggies/ prams second hand. The cost of them for the comparative time you use them! In fact, if you can borrow one initially from someone, even better - you see what you like and dislike about the buggy /pram when out and about with your baby then you have a better idea of what you need to shop for. Some heavy ones suit bus-users, but not so much car users. Ditto with wheels v's terrain - depending on where you live and how you use your buggy your choice could be very different from what you envisaged.

hullaballoo

Don't bank on getting clothes gifted to you... yes, you will certainly get lots and lots of clothes as gifts but you will invariably end up with literally hundreds of 6-9 months stuff and nothing from 0-3 or vice versa!

People, friends and family will constantly ask you do you need anything and it's a great saviour to have the confidence to ask for a pack of nappies, since they will usually be within a price-range that people are happy to pay. Most of us would in our minds immediately jump to the most expensive thing we need when asked is there anything we want, discount that as too much and answer, "no, we're ok" out of politeness but it's perfectly fine to take people up on the offer and give them something reasonably cheap and easy to get as something they can bring along.

ChewChew

+1 for the clothes!! We got loads and loads from age group 3-6 months and upwards. Don't be fooled by people saying you won't need loads because you will for the early days!

Water wipes and cotton wool was super handy here and lots of caldescene powder for that super sensitive bottom.

Car seat, buggy, cot +/- Moses baskets and blankets. I've read on here before that people say not to worry about some of those things that Dad can collect/pick/buy once the baby is born but realistically that can be a bit of a panic scenario whether baby has a scheduled arrival or spontaneous arrival date! If superstitious leave them in someone else's house

Beanybabog

Gatica wrote: »

Hubby's quite techie so he's really into the different expensive baby monitoring systems, which I think are just unnecessary for first few weeks as I've no intention of leaving her alone in a room to sleep. Did anyone actually use the ones with video?
:

I bought one for a friend and she and husband swear it's the best thing they got. Got the tommy tippee one on sale at baby fair. Hubs is into technology too so he already bought a monitor on sale :-)

Little Miss Cutie

I really regret not buying a co-sleeper cot, my little man is 4 months and I have just moved him into his cot which is working as a co-sleeper and is literally life changing!

I would also highly recommend a breast feeding class before baby arrives and a consultant for after. I had no issues with feeding however the little tips from the consultant were super helpful and have definitely made the journey easier

Joeseph Balls

Surgical spirits or whatever is used now. Easy forget

cyning

Joeseph Balls wrote: »

Surgical spirits or whatever is used now. Easy forget

What are surgical spirits supposed to be for?

Joeseph Balls

cyning wrote: »

What are surgical spirits supposed to be for?

Cleaning the chord. Think that's what its called.

cyning

Cotton wool and water now is all they said in hosp anyway! I was wondering what I missed out on

Joeseph Balls

cyning wrote: »

Cotton wool and water now is all they said in hosp anyway! I was wondering what I missed out on

Is that the new thing ?

scarepanda

cyning wrote:

Cotton wool and water now is all they said in hosp anyway! I was wondering what I missed out on

It's on our hospital list.....

cyning

Different hospitals probably: Kerry didn't in 2012 or 2014

Gatica

finooola wrote: »

Get a proper crib not a Moses basket.

Planning on getting a cot for the baby room but our room's just too small to have one in beside me. Need something for the baby to sleep in an don't think the car seat would be fair to her. Any alternatives to a Moses basket? ... will have to ask friends if can borrow one.

moving_home

Gatica wrote: »

Planning on getting a cot for the baby room but our room's just too small to have one in beside me. Need something for the baby to sleep in an don't think the car seat would be fair to her. Any alternatives to a Moses basket? ... will have to ask friends if can borrow one.

A small baby isn't supposed to spent more than 1.5 hours in a car seat in a day anyways. Obviously if you are doing a long journey that's the exception but going around the shops or for a walk etc or any long term sleeping isn't safe. It's to do with their airways being compromised.

xalot

Gatica wrote: »

Planning on getting a cot for the baby room but our room's just too small to have one in beside me. Need something for the baby to sleep in an don't think the car seat would be fair to her. Any alternatives to a Moses basket? ... will have to ask friends if can borrow one.

We're getting the Chicco 'next 2 me' co sleeper. It's lovely and compact and perfect for breast feeding. Other than that I'd get a crib (they're longer than moses baskets but still narrow). Another option is the carry cot of a travel system if you get one (make sure it's certified as safe for overnight sleeping as some aren't, and if you buy second hand make sure and get a new mattress)

LegacyUser

Do not put a baby in a car seat overnight.

IKEA do small cots, if you didn't want to get a moses basket. We have a basket, but it's years old so it's quite a big one, we get about 3 months out of it. The ones they sell in shops now are tiny in comparison.

Alternatively, some of the buggies - well, 1 or 2 brands - have pram baskets that can be used as baskets for overnight sleeping .That could be an option too. Xalot makes good suggestions too.

Gatica

Thanks for the info, I just assumed crib was another name for cot :rolleyes:

I did think of the co-sleeper bed, but considering I thought it would only get weeks of use, thought it might be money better spent elsewhere

rainbow kirby

We'll probably get until my son is 5-6 months old from our Next2Me, it's a good size which suits our long baby.

We found a travel system a bit of a waste of time - we live in a first floor apartment with no lift and it was a pain. I got a Baby Jogger City Mini when he was 4 weeks old - the one hand fold is a godsend and it's narrow enough to be very public transport friendly.

We've gotten great value out of our stretchy wrap too - very convenient, have used it as a portable feeding pillow too when I'm out and about with the buggy and he always sleeps when we're out walking with it.

Gatica

xalot wrote: »

We're getting the Chicco 'next 2 me' co sleeper. It's lovely and compact and perfect for breast feeding. Other than that I'd get a crib (they're longer than moses baskets but still narrow). Another option is the carry cot of a travel system if you get one (make sure it's certified as safe for overnight sleeping as some aren't, and if you buy second hand make sure and get a new mattress)

I'd seem pics of this before and thought it needed to be attached to the bed permanently. Can this be moved away from the bed easily as needed and can it be used standalone without the parents bed? i.e. does it have another side attachment to make it safe?

Beanybabog

I'm going to get the mini swinging crib in mothercare. My friend had one and it was great. Sadly she borrowed it so I can't have hers but I think they are only €100 ish

DSN

Hi - friends have gave me a cot & a moses basket which is super cos I'd given everything away after my older two - but I want to buy new mattresses for them - been looking on cotmattress.ie mothercare etc bit bamboozled by the choice! any suggestions?

moving_home

Beanybabog wrote: »

I'm going to get the mini swinging crib in mothercare. My friend had one and it was great. Sadly she borrowed it so I can't have hers but I think they are only €100 ish

I personally wouldn't bother. I borrowed one and my small (under 7lb) baby was out of it by 10 weeks as it's so narrow and hands were banging off the sides and waking up. I'll probably get a co-sleeper next time or buy a baby nest type thing to put straight to big cot. Well baby actually spends most of their time in my bed but for the odd stretch in their own space this is what I will do.

rainbow kirby

Gatica wrote: »

I'd seem pics of this before and thought it needed to be attached to the bed permanently. Can this be moved away from the bed easily as needed and can it be used standalone without the parents bed? i.e. does it have another side attachment to make it safe?

Once the side is zipped up it can be used anywhere.

Beanybabog

moving_home wrote: »

I personally wouldn't bother. I borrowed one and my small (under 7lb) baby was out of it by 10 weeks as it's so narrow and hands were banging off the sides and waking up. I'll probably get a co-sleeper next time or buy a baby nest type thing to put straight to big cot. Well baby actually spends most of their time in my bed but for the odd stretch in their own space this is what I will do.

Oh really. My friend had hers in it until 6 months and she's a big baby. Hmm... what to do now

ChewChew

Op, get a Moses basket and a cot if that's what you want. Both are practical and will be used. Imo, €100 or thereabouts on a Moses that'll be used for 3 months is good value! (You and your oh could go for a meal for two somewhere nice and hand over €100 with little change iykwim!). We used our Moses all the time. It came downstairs in the morning when we were up for the day and back upstairs at night time. We opted for a cot bed as opposed to a cot but that's just what suited us really

moving_home

Beanybabog wrote: »

Oh really. My friend had hers in it until 6 months and she's a big baby. Hmm... what to do now

My baby is very active and busy since the beginning and moves alot in sleep even as a newborn so that's why.

Gatica

So far have decided on getting the Next2me co-sleeper cot. See some for sale second hand on some Irish sites like Adverts, just none in our locale. May look out for one in Dublin for when we go up to visit friends.

Will also have to pick and get a car seat with iso fix (preferably compatible with up to age 4 seats). Tough to pick as there are so many to choose from. Wanted the Ricaro Privia because it tested best safe seat, but then their base isn't forward compatible and the buggy adapters aren't as universal as the Maxi Cosy

Will leave bouncer and moses basket decision to when she's born. As debating need between having a moses basket or maybe a buggy carrycot which could be approved for sleeping.

spottybananas

Gatica seats can stay rear facing until 4+, so a base that did that would be ok.

Gatica

Sorry my post may have been confusing. I know rear facing is best, I meant "forward compatible" as in, using the same base for the next seat size up from baby seat, rather than buying another base with another seat.

Gatica

Pretty sure we've everything now!

Here's my list:

• Venicci travel system with carrycot picked up plus pillow cases for the mattress
• car seat - arriving any day now. We went with the Recaro Privia + base after all. It fits fine with the Maxi Cosi adapters as it turns out.
• got the Chicco Next2me cot, but we've not built it yet. Ordered flat cot sheets from Guiney's
• A diaper backpack from Amazon
• Moses basket stand from Guiney's for the carry cot
• A baby carry sling

A few small things:

• Gro Egg room thermometer and light
• baby nail clippers
• baby two-stage bath
• nappy bin

For hospital bag:

• clothes like baby vests, baby grows, socks, mittens, hats
• several blankets: 5 cellular, couple soft cotton ones and a fleecy one
• water wipes, cotton balls, bepanthen/sudocrem/vaseline, two brands of baby nappies, nappy bags

Picked up stuff on sale for later on:

• Bottle steriliser
• Bottle prep machine

Beanybabog

Everything I went to buy in the shops was vetoed by my husband because he was on Amazon on his phone- to be fair pretty much everything could be got cheaper online even when it's on sale in mothercare and the like. We saved a lot

StarBright01

Beanybabog wrote: »

Everything I went to buy in the shops was vetoed by my husband because he was on Amazon on his phone- to be fair pretty much everything could be got cheaper online even when it's on sale in mothercare and the like. We saved a lot

Totally agree on Amazon, so much cheaper!

stickybean

Beanybabog wrote: »

Everything I went to buy in the shops was vetoed by my husband because he was on Amazon on his phone- to be fair pretty much everything could be got cheaper online even when it's on sale in mothercare and the like. We saved a lot

SNAP!!! I picked the items and he got them all on Amazon, at a huge saving, especially now with the sterling... But he had veto on the baby monitor... he is real tech savy!

What nappy bin did you get Gaticia? We were looking at one with twisted bags... can't for the life of me think of the name of it...

StarBright01

Maybe this one? http://www.mothercare.ie/tommee-tippee-sangenic-hygiene-plus-advanced-nappy-disposal-system.html

stickybean

StarBright01 wrote: »

Maybe this one? http://www.mothercare.ie/tommee-tippee-sangenic-hygiene-plus-advanced-nappy-disposal-system.html

Ah that was the one - any of you guys looked into it? Last time I did this a scented nappy bag was the height of it

Cakerbaker

I have one I got from a friend and hardly use it. It's just another bit of clutter around the place. I find it just as easy to throw them in the bin outside though that may depend on people's houses / apartments etc.