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[PsySquirrel]

I am due mid-late May this year with my first and wanted some advice on what we actually need to bring baby home and start making my mental list into a real list. People so far have said things like 'you'll need more bibs than you think?' And I am like I dont even have a bib-ballpark figure. Do I need 10? 30? I have no idea. I'd rather have too much of somethingg than too little.

Kinda breaking it all down into the following categories-

Clothing baby
Feeding baby
Bathing baby
Transporting baby
Sleep-time
Feeding mum and dad

Have I forgotten a category? Probably. Definitely. Probably. Please help! And tell me what I need.

So many lists on online are sponsored by brands and products and I am not really sure if they are for real or not.

[born.a.girl]

I think it's a common concern - I remember being paranoid that I'd forgotten something quite significant and would look a fool.


Then I read some early Australian literature where the baby came home to sleep in a drawer, in some clothing that had been cobbled together from donations.  Rather put it in perspective for me that if I had the wrong number of singlets it wasn't the end of the earth.

Some of the things you might worry about, like bibs, are available at the same place you buy milk, and you're more likely to need them once they're upright and dribbling every waking moment.

If you intend breast feeding, one thing I'd encourage you to think about is finding a comfortable spot to sit - not all furniture - especially the modular stuff around now - is conducive to supporting your back, and your arms if you're there for any length of time.   We supplemented for a while,  and I found that easier on my back as I could sit on my leg, wriggle around a bit more, plus wasn't always the one doing it!


In regard to parent food - stuff you can eat with a splayd!

[Daffy2016]

People told me not to buy much. I didn’t listen and bought so many essentials... that were not, as it turned out, essential.

Buy half a dozen weather appropriate onesies. Then buy more once baby is here if you need them.

Buy two packs of the old fashioned terry nappies for burping and other gross stuff (you can get them at big w).

Buy a packet of baby rag/flannel things from big w.

Packet of nappies.

Some bottles (no need for expensive ones but eat the 250ml, not the 150ml) in case you need to express/ use formula.

Two or three wraps - the jersey cotton ones are good as they stretch.

Bath the baby in the sink or bath - don’t buy a special one.

Then buy other things once the baby is here and you know what they’re like! DD outgrew clothes like a demon and lots of pretty ‘outfits’ went to waste. We also didn’t need to bath her that often when she was really little.

As she got a little older we found a bouncer really useful, plus a portable mobile. Also a sheepskin rug that she napped on (on the floor next to the couch) got a lot of use.

But you can always buy more - but you can’t buy less!

Edited by Daffy2016, 29 January 2019 - 03:15 PM.

[seayork2002]

As little as possible

What we used was

moses basket (here bassinet?) then cot
car seat/pram all in one thingy
baby bath and stand
I FF so bottles/teats/sterliser/formula
nappies, baby wipes, face cloths, cotton buds/'makeup' dry round wipe things
bottom sheet plus sleeping bag
maybe some bibs/muslin cloths
Oh and DS lived in the onesies (bonds type all in one suits with the press clips)

What we bought but did not use was baby monitor/baby carrier thing, baby toiletries and I never needed maternity clothes (and thanks to another post who reminded me) we spent as fortune on some posh wrap thing - he screamed when we tried so that was that - I think we spent more in total on the stuff we didn't use than the stuff we did

Feeding mum and dad was exactly the same as before DS was born

Edited by seayork2002, 29 January 2019 - 03:34 PM.

[RichardParker]

Yes, a good feeding chair with a stool to put your feet on so your back doesn’t get wrecked.

Everything else, you can get on the fly.

[Mrs_greyhound]

Definitely don’t buy too many nappies!!! Babies grow out of newborn nappies quickly, especially Huggies. One thing that really surprised me was that different nappy brands are really, well, different to each other. For instance, baby love are bigger than huggies and ALDI is somewhere in the middle. My niece didn’t fit newborn huggies ever, she was leaking through them in hospital! So just get a box of huggies and maybe a pack from Aldi and go from there. I have used various brands depending on what was on sale and what was the best fit at the time.

[Mrs_greyhound]

I would also add, research what brands and models of items you might want now, so you have an idea of what to get if you need them. Eg try out the various baby carriers and decide what you like best. You can always go out and buy it later when you need it, without feeling rushed to make a rash decision when you’re sleep deprived and muddled.

[QuirkyMum]

Bibs for newborns?
I used 0 with both of mine. If baby is a chucker, you will need dozens ( but I think then you have a bigger problem needing dozens of change of clothes for yourself). Do you need to buy extra clothes for yourself and extra bibs before baby comes? Nope.
Bibs for when baby starts solids? Dozens of fabric ones. Or just 1 good silicone catch-it-all one.
All you really need is a cot, pram, car seat, nappies, good maternity bras, a blanket, a couple of Muslin and couple of flannelette wraps and a couple of changes of clothes.
Sleeping bags, bassinet for early days, nursing clothes, sling/wrap/ergo would be good to have.

[Ellie bean]

Some things I didn’t use or barely used:
Breast pump
Pram (my first hated the pram- I know that’s unusual though)
Bassinet
Wraps- I found the love to dream swaddles awesome and normal wraps useless
So many clothes that we’d been given
Overpriced bf pillow

I’d buy as little as possible and get it as you go along as all babies are so different

[Silverstreak]

Re bibs, I had about ten bibs, which were fine. I also had a few suits in 0000 and a few in 000. Babies go up a size every few months in the early days, so I didn't buy heaps.

I had a winter baby, so bought a couple of cute wool knit cardigans and some little socks to go over the onesies.

Stretchy wraps are good and you can get muslin ones for warm weather.

Re cot, you just want a fitted sheet for the cot, then, if necessary, a thin blanket that goes over the waist of the baby and tucks in either side of the mattress, if you know what I mean?

A baby  monitor is good too. We actually held onto ours for years and used it when I was in the house, DH was in the garage and I needed his help lol.

A few soft microfibre or cotton blankets for the pram (muslin wraps were good too, as shade on a hot day

Face washers are very handy, I bought in navy, so they didn't stain as easily

Nappy bag with a change mat is great for going out and about and you can hang it off the back of the pram, depending on the style

Baby bath is handy, although I started off bathing DS in the bathroom sink, then the kitchen sink (washing it out carefully before and after)

Change table with change mat, nappies and wipes stored underneath and a nappy bin next to it is very handy. You can change on the bed, but it was easiest on my back if I had the change table. I also had the change table in the corner, to be a bit safer

Transporting baby: I never had a capsule car seat thingie that could be carried from the car, but they seemed handy! I carried DS in a sling / carrier from 3 to eight months, after that he got too heavy. Otherwise, it was arms or a pram and he started walking just before he turned one. And an approved car seat that's been properly fitted (from memory, a baby shop fitted ours.)

Bottles, bottle steriliser and a breast pump if you decide to express

Baby nail clippers are really handy, plus a baby thermometer

A recliner for feeding is nice, but we just used the couch

A baby recliner is a good thing! DS was one of those babies who was very alert and liked being vertical at all times. So when I couldn't carry him I would pop him in his recliner and he could watch what was going on. I would move it around the house if I were cooking, take it outside etc

Soft blankets to put on the grass, so baby can lie down and look at the birdies and clouds etc

Parent food: anything that can be reheated in the microwave and eaten one handed. I craved carbs when breastfeeding, so lasagne was really good for this.

[Silverstreak]

Oh yeah, those cute little mats with the arches that have mobiles hanging off them and play music, they were a life saver. DS loved his and would have a ball playing with all the mobile thingies whilst I snuck in a cup of coffee.

Baby sleeping bags were great, too, DS was in them by five months, as he was a houdini who would get out of his swaddle!

In terms of baby wash, I always liked Mustela and DS used it for years

Maybe a suction cup window screen for the car for the backseat, if the days are hot?

[Ellie bean]

Silverstreak, on 29 January 2019 - 03:36 PM, said:

Oh yeah, those cute little mats with the arches that have mobiles hanging off them and play music, they were a life saver. DS loved his and would have a ball playing with all the mobile thingies whilst I snuck in a cup of coffee.

Ha ha that reminds me that’s another thing we didn’t end up using as I couldn’t lie my babies down flat. Bouncer got excessive use though!

[Ellie bean]

Oh and while this is a way off for you, when it comes to high chairs, don’t buy an expensive one that’s hard to clean, the ikea ones or similar are great

[afterlaughter]

Items that should be well researched are - Car Seat (capsule or a extended rear facing car seat. Pram - many of my friends bought one when they later realised either they preferred baby to be able to parent face or they wanted a lighter pram. Everything else go with your gut don’t get to much and buy as you discover a need.

[bluesilk]

Defo lots of towelling nappies to use as burp clothes, singlets, onesies - not too many NB nappies as they grow out of them quick, nappy bags (don't get one of those nappy bins - they're expensive to replace the cartridges).
I'd have bottles, sterilizer or microwave sterilizer bags and breast pump ready to go too because if you need to formula feed or express in the early days, you don't want to be running to the shops or waiting for an online order. If you don't end up using it you can sell it. I needed it straight away bec newborn baby stopped latching onto the nipple, but would take a bottle for a couple of weeks before he reverted back to bf again.

[Silverstreak]

Sorry, I keep forgetting stuff, lol.

For your own comfort, sorry if a little TMI: if you're breastfeeding, get some breast pads (can't remember if they have a special name) to tuck into your bra, so you don't leak onto your clothes. They're also good to wear with a bra at night, again so that you don't leak on your clothes and bedlinen. And also lots of pads for yourself, as there will be lochia (like an extended period for five or so weeks) after giving birth.

[Apageintime]

You really only need a car seat (if you drive), something for baby to wear and netflix.

we coslept so no cot required, I used a change table, but these certainly aren't essential.

Those first few weeks you'll be sitting on the couch A LOT feeding. great time to online shop anything you decide you need.

I brought way too much and regret it.

[Silverstreak]

Ellie bean, on 29 January 2019 - 03:39 PM, said:

Oh and while this is a way off for you, when it comes to high chairs, don’t buy an expensive one that’s hard to clean, the ikea ones or similar are great

Yes, yes, yes, we got given a second hand high chair that had food around the straps and I couldn't get it completely clean, again because of the straps. Threw it out and bought an ikea high chair. By the way, remember to turn the ikea high chair upside down or look underneath it when cleaning ha ha, I got caught out a couple of times.

And one more thing, buy a see-through waterproof cover for your pram, you might still want to go out and about when it's raining, I know I did. I'd just put on a raincoat, put the plastic cover over the pram and DS and I would be good to go.

EFS

Edited by Silverstreak, 29 January 2019 - 03:46 PM.

[seayork2002]

Yes 100% to the simple high chair but I did not add to my original list as we did not get that straight away

One thing I did that helped clean up is bought a few shower curtains that we put underneath then when it was dirty put it in the washing machine with the towels to wash it

Edited by seayork2002, 29 January 2019 - 03:46 PM.

[Ellie bean]

^^Omg yes netflix is the true essential- and I would add wireless headphones, so you can watch multiple seasons of sons of anarchy while feeding your baby (or maybe that was just me)!

[bikingbubs]

Boobs, car seat and a bassinet are the essentials to me

and Netflix.

[froglett]

Here's a pretty concise list:

Box of newborn nappies
Wipes (just cheap Kmart flannels and water works, or Huggies wipes)
6 jumpsuits (long sleeve for winter / short or singlet for summer)
Somewhere to sleep - bassinet / cot
Wrap (bigger than 120cm square) - or the love to dream swaddle (much easier than wrap)
Cloth nappies / Cotton on bibs or old towels cut up for spew clean up

Some method of getting them around - pram / carrier / capsule/car seat

Dummy (handy to have on hand for the 3am "my boobs are on fire and I can't take anymore this kid needs to suck" moment of surrender)

Netflix, water bottle, comfy chair and rite aid hydrogel breast discs (kept in fridge) if you're breastfeeding

You might also want a bouncer - useful for putting them down when you're in the shower / doing washing / eating dinner etc.

Don't buy any toys (unless you want an heirloom) as you'll get approx 6 million.

[BBC]

I never had one of those electric swing things but I would definitely get one if I was expecting now.

Napisan
A big nappy bucket with a lid. Even if you use disposables, heaps of clothing will need a soak.
I washed baby clothes in Lux soap flakes, but I know lots of people think that's not necessary.

Some sort of soap free baby bath stuff and some moisturiser. I liked having a baby bath, but not absolutely essential. A couple of soft new towels and some face washers.

Unscented wipes.
Nappy rash cream (Bepanthen suited me)

A couple of beanies for a winter baby. Also a cardigan that will go over a wondersuit. I also used singlets or body suits in winter.

A dummy. You may never use it, but if you decide you need it, you will be so pleased that you have one!

Human food - stuff you can pop in oven and warm up or simple food like steak and salad you can prepare, eat and clean up in not much time.

Edited by BBC, 29 January 2019 - 04:19 PM.

[PaperCats]

I hardly needed any bibs. I could have survived with less than 5. You can always buy more if you have a spewy baby.

Don’t buy too much as you may not need it. We stopped on the way home from the hospital to get a breast pump as my milk cane in with a vengeance but I was happy to do that than pay a few hundred dollars for something I may not have needed.

My must haves would be:
A pack of cloth nappies (multiple uses)
A box or two of newborn nappies and some wipes
A few onesies/singlets/bodysuits
Some baby nail clippers
A thermometer (we also bought this on the way home from the hospital)
Wraps or bunny rugs
Tub of sudocreme

[seayork2002]

Yes pp a bouncer!

I forgot that on my list, thanks to that i managed to shower