2nd timers, what do us first timers need to buy??

[EcstaticEm]

Hi Guys!

Lots of you are onto bubs # 2 or more! :yelclap: :smiliedance: As a first timer, Im freaking out at what on earth we need to buy..

Could you have a think and list the most vital things (and most useful!) that you needed in the first 3 months or so?? I was overwhelmed and confused at the online lists....

Thanks Experienced Mummies!! :hugs:

[Kittylou]

Gosh, it's been so long that I really can't remember!!! I'm sure some of the much more recent Mums will be able to come up with a lot more than me.

The only thing that has just popped into my head that I didn't have and really needed within days of coming home from hospital was a breast pump.

[melbryan]

I have a breast pump anyone never used it, wish I could've though.

Snuggle bed as we didn't have bassinet. I have leant it to 3 friends as well. Goes in the cot and you can put it in you bed if you want.

[Harmony83]

My most used item would have been our automatic swing, we had a very demanding baby that wouldnt let you put him down, we didn't buy it until he was 3 months but it was such a lifesaver, I could actually put him there and have a shower without him screaming in the rocker near me!! He loved it until he was 12 mths and couldnt fit in it comfortably!

[Nan]

I'd make sure you have:
- somewhere to change bubs
- something for he/she to travel in the car in (capsule or carseat)
- somewhere to bath bubs (sink will do if you don't want to get a bath!!!)
- pram or something for bubs to be "on the move" in
- somewhere for bubs to sleep (we got a bassinet with our pram, so DD slept in there for 2 months then went into her cot)
- a few bulk pack of nappies
- a breast pump for if you can't/choose not to BF or your milk comes in late or you don't have lots of milk etc
- a comfy pair of slippers or uggies for yourself!!! You may not see the light of day for a week or so!!!! :D

Happy shopping!! :yes:

[Moops]

Great thread Em I was thinking the same thing!

I desperately want to start buying things i've got nothing so far but everytime I walk into a store I get completely overwhelmed and end up leaving empty handed!

I know its still early days but i want to buy something!! Im not going to buy clothes till I find out the sex but any other ideas as to what i can buy now??!

[mummy2sophie]

Oh good ideas everyone!!

wraps...probably muslin ones because we'll all have summer babies ('cept you Moops - get cotton ones). Wrapping Sophie was the best way to get her off to sleep and we used them right as soon as we got home from hospital.

A nappy pail (bucket with lid) and Napisan for all those leaky nappies and vomits!

A whole pile of cloth nappies to cover the change area and to wipe up vomits and leakages. We recently bought a wet/dry vacuum cleaner which has been great for all kinds of spills!

I swear by a nappy wrapper bucket thingo (we got a Tommee Tippee one), it has been a godsend, you cannot smell Sophie's nappies AT ALL. It's a bit pricey particularly when you realise how much you spend on the refills but once bubs is on solids the pong is just unbearable (especially if you're pregnant again!).

[caitcam]

I secong mummytosophie as far as cloth nappies go....

Both mine were prone to big vomits, so cloth nappies were great way to protect yourslef, easy to use to clean up and quick and easy to wash!!

[Lozie]

I say heaps of singlets! Both the boys are summer babies as well and they lived in singlets until it cooled down and u'll need warm stuff for baby while in hospy like wondersuits or coveralls cause the air con in there can get pretty chilly! And wraps as well
We got a change table with a bath in-built for Caleb gosh it saved my back! Those auto swings are great! We also had a bassanett with carry handles and it had rollers on the legs of the stand so we could move it around when They weren't getting cuddles.

Terry Flats are the best for spews! I swore by them!

[MrsP]

I'd definitely have to say a sling of some sort. I didn't have one with my first, but it has been a godsend with my second!! Good to settle bubs and give you extra hands if you feel the need to do housework without having to leave bubs all the time. Also good when you can't be bothered with the pram :yes:

Also - get organised now & buy over the next few weeks/months, all the consumables that you & bubs may use:

breast pads
baby wipes - sposies or cloth
nappies - sposies or cloth
baby bath
etc

I found by having a stash for when I came home made my life easier as I wasn't at the shops all the time having to pick up things that I used on a daily basis.

I also second the wraps, singlets & all in one suits - you can never have enough!!! Breast pump is a good idea too - I went prepared with one to the hospital this time and it was so much better than having to stress about needing one & not having one with the first one.

If I think of anything else, will let you know :thumbsup:

[Pinkbug]

Every time u do a grocery shopping always add in a bit of something else like wipes.. nappies... singlets.. wondersuits...breast pads.. maternity pads and normal pads for when ur AF comes back I found it easy to have them all in the house rather than running out and buying more again and again...

Nappies if u want to go cloth buy some every time so u have a nice comfortable stash.. I wish I did that and now am slowly building up my stash
If u r bottlefeeding then stock up on bottles etc
Car Seat
Pram
Cot/bassinet - I didn't get a bassinet we have a big bedroom and no need to buy a bassinet they grow quick and move into a cot so we kept dd2 in own cot in our room
Bath
Steraliser (for bottles etc)
sheets blankets for cot - no pillow until after 2 years old
Layby clothes work out the seasons for the sizes

Extra ideas if u like to do
buy a video camera
digital camera

[mama hen]

Def need

* Somewhere to sleep - cot
* Somewhere to change bub - we have a big table in the nursery with a moveable change mat - that way we can use the table later on when we have no more nappies to change
* cloth nappies for spills and burbing
* at least 2 sets of sheets for cot
* Somewhere to bath bub
* A good pram (for outing to keep you sane)
* Baby Capsule or convertable car seat
* Muslin Wraps - my DD used to kit her way out of them from 4 wks
* Heaps of Singlets
* short sleeve body suits for during the day
* long sleeve body suits for night time
* Stock up on at least 3 boxes of newborn nappies (I got caught out as I had emergency c/s and could not get out for 6 wks)
* Look around for home shopping ... saves going to the shops with a newborn and they carry your bags into the kitchen :yelclap:
* bottles and sterilier incase you need them for expressed milk or for bottle fed bubs (I also got caught with this as DD did not take to me straight away ... apparantly quite common but nobody told me before hand)
* Breast pump - I would only hire one if/when you need it (although I also had to do this on the day we got home from hospital)
* Just in case a tin of formula (for emergencies if nothing else)

Sorry about the long list... once I got going couldn't stop - story of my life really ... :ecomcity:

Ange

[mini_me]

target has a essentials for baby mag can buy it for about $5 ish or browse it in store gives great ideas about what to buy baby. Perhaps even things we havent thought of.

I have a amby baby hammock def worth the money. They now they do deals for complete packages roughly $300+ i swear by it if you can afford it do so :D
http://www.babyhammocks.com.au

[Moops]

I also posted this in the what to take to hospital thread..

A friend of mine gave me this address, I know its an English website and they are selling specific products but it has given me an idea as to what I will need - for the hospital and the baby.

http://www.isyourbagpacked.co.uk/index.asp

[EcstaticEm]

Oh! Great ideas guys!! I had not thought of half of these things! :o

its so nice to be thinking of the fun stuff! and not worrying bout the unknown! :yes: Can not wait to go out and start laybying!!!!!

[Kizmet]

dont know if its been said but the cellular blankets are great! we have them on DD's bed and theyre so good! Like the ones they have at the hospital with all the holes in them!


You'll need cot sheets and bassinet sheets if youre having a bassinet and blankets .

Some babies settle well to music so maybe some of the sleep sounds cds?

Monitors

a snuggle bed is a good idea if you want to co sleep but still have bub in their own little space!

We wouldnt have survived without a rocker and a bouncer as DD loved these and she fell asleep in the rocker so we could take it any where with us and not worry about where she would sleep!

[Kizmet]

i posted in the november 2006 section asking about slings and hugabubs and things like that as I was paranoid about buying one and then having it be too hot for bubs and me in november and they pretty much agreed. Lots of them bought the pouch or sling and rarely used it as bubs got too hot and sweaty on their chest in november heat