Things you really need and things you really don't need for a baby. . .

[mr steev]

wet wipe warmers/baby perfume etc

wtf!
I thought you'd made those up until I did a quick google

I don't think you need a black out curtain either... maybe something to consider if you're babies struggling with sleeping as the nights get lighter, but not something you should use as a matter of course imo.

 

[Mrs Magpie]

What about when you're out? The mums I know couldn't have managed without wetwipes.

I just had damp cloths in a plastic bag. You can get the worst of any shit incidents off with bogroll first. I always carried a damp flannel in a plastic bag when out with my children.

 

[Tank Girl]

Personally I wouldn't get wet wipes. Just water and flannels are better. Enid Laundromat's bum was red raw and almost bleeding when she was a fortnight old. The cause? Wet wipes.

I'd say don't bother with wet wipes too - handy if you're out though.

warm water and cotton wool does the job in a much nicer way for a little bum

 

[wiskey]

A couple of friends had a baby monitor with a pad that went under the mattress, if the baby doesn't move for a bit an alarm goes off. I don't know if these things are standard now but I know I felt massively reassured babysitting for my mates little boy when we had it.

I've been looking at those. From what I understand they go off everytime the baby rolls of it. Also they are only suitable for up to 6mo (that I've seen) and some people say to avoid SIDS they baby should be with you until then. And somebody said that you have to pay more for one with a rechargeable battery - which confused me . . . does it run out then??

I don't want to be either so stressed that I'm always waking it up - I'm going to make sure derv and my dad do baby CPR course though for my peace of mind - or relying on technology too much and not using my instincts.

I do know I need a digital one but further than that I'm clueless. Apparently you can get ones that play MP3's

 

[scifisam]

That looks like a decent list. I did find a baby changing table very useful indeed - better than bending over to do it on the floor all the time. Depends how much space you have, though. I got mine secondhand for about a tenner.

Baby baths are often offered up on Freecycle, but they cost hardly anything anyway, so you may as well. The sink is no good once they're sitting up - the taps get in the way. Besides, you'll need the sink for washing up, surely?

My daughter, ridiculously, had a moses basket, a carrycot, a pram she could sleep in, a cot, and a crib, none of which I bought myself. And then she co-slept for the first year. So I'm not sure a moses basket is necessary, really, if you get a buggy the baby can nap in (a lot of buggies have bodies that you can remove, too, if you wanted to carry the sleeping baby upstairs).

We found that 'baby gyms' and learning mats (the kind with different textures and so on) were a big hit from about 4 weeks on. They were also ultra-cheap charity shop buys, but they'd also be something fairly cheap that friends could buy you if they're eager to get you a gift.

TBH, if I were to have a bbay now I'd pretty much get a buggy, sling, monitor, nappies and a few clothes, and forget the rest until it started to seem necessary.

 

[wiskey]

I was gonna make a mobile Though you could have two

YES PLEASE we need lots of stuff to brighten up the spare room as we can't actually decorate it and I really like the idea of people making stuff.

 

[wiskey]

wtf!
I thought you'd made those up until I did a quick google

I don't think you need a black out curtain either... maybe something to consider if you're babies struggling with sleeping as the nights get lighter, but not something you should use as a matter of course imo.

get used to this stuff mate

I'm just weeding out the crap for you.

 

[scifisam]

I'd say don't bother with wet wipes too - handy if you're out though.

warm water and cotton wool does the job in a much nicer way for a little bum

Yup. When out, I still used warm water and cotton wool, or, if there was no water available (which was unlikely) I'd use baby lotion instead of water.

Baby wipes are very useful for other things around the home, though. Just not for wiping babies' bums!

 

[blues]

So far my own personal list is:

Moses basket + mattress - not sure if this is necessaryNot if you have a cot no
Blankets
Sheets
Cot/cotbed - might have been donated one of these
Cot mattress
Bouncer

Bath - seems like a pointless bit of plastic when I have a decent sink They wriggle a lot and they're slippery when wet. The baby bath means you can bath them on the floor and they won't bash themselves or you on the taps!

Towels Prob get as gift, and you can use regular towels otherwise

Bottles
Bottle Brush
Steriliser - have been given one of these
Muslin squares

Sling Not immediately - can wait a couple of months for this
Car seat - probably being given one of these
Buggy

Changing mat
Re-useable Nappies + liners - probably a whole other thread in itself! You might want to hold off on this one to start with. If (s)he's tiny, they'll be seeriously impractical
Wet wipes
Disposable nappies
Cotton wool
Cream
Nappy bucket + sacksDon't need bucket until you're definitely using reusable nappies
Change bag Meh. With bottles, rattles, toys etc, just a decent sized bag with lots of pockets will do (think mini rucksack!)


Ear phones (for festivals) - bought these.
Baby Monitor
Thermometer

Mobile - made by doting grandparent.

Baby Manual Only if you really feel you want one!
---------------------------------------------

This is the first I've heard that you're preggers Wiskey. Many congrat's and love from the blues' clan

 

[Tank Girl]

baby wipes are good at getting muck out of your clothes

 

[wiskey]

This is the first I've heard that you're preggers Wiskey. Many congrat's and love from the blues' clan

Thanks

 

[wiskey]

ok so if you mostly think the list is sound and nobody's pointed out any glaring omissions then these are the bits that we will probably be needing help with because we don't have a clue what to look for.

Cot: I prefer cot bed but I'm really worried about constantly bending over the bars to lift sproggle up. So apparently they come with different hight mattress positions. Do we need one that has a side that goes down? or flat under it? and wtf are teething rails!
Buggy: ?!?
Baby Monitor: are the necessary? what do you need it to do?
Nappies.

 

[Tank Girl]

the baby monitor I had was one that had sound and lights when the baby makes a noise - it was fairly useful. the best bit was when new neighbours moved across the road with the same model and I used to be able to listen to their conversations

 

[mr steev]

get used to this stuff mate

I'm just weeding out the crap for you.

I did read your list with interest

We've been offered a cot, basket and clothes already. The bonus of several mates and my gf's sister all having babies in the last year or two

 

[Thora]

Do you live in a flat? Unless the baby is going to be sleeping on a different floor to you I'd have thought you'd hear it without a monitor.

 

[wiskey]

the baby monitor I had was one that had sound and lights when the baby makes a noise - it was fairly useful. the best bit was when new neighbours moved across the road with the same model and I used to be able to listen to their conversations

yeah thats why I was told we need a digi one

 

[wiskey]

Do you live in a flat? Unless the baby is going to be sleeping on a different floor to you I'd have thought you'd hear it without a monitor.

no a house. And to keep the cat out the upstairs door would probably have to be shut.

I'm actually quite concerned about the cat she likes sitting on things. particularly my head and she is very persistent.

 

[wiskey]

We've been offered a cot, basket and clothes already. The bonus of several mates and my gf's sister all having babies in the last year or two

Lucky you We're both the first sibling in our family's to have a child, and my godchildren are 10 & 6 so they aren't exactly babies anymore.

 

[blues]

ok so if you mostly think the list is sound and nobody's pointed out any glaring omissions then these are the bits that we will probably be needing help with because we don't have a clue what to look for.

Cot: I prefer cot bed but I'm really worried about constantly bending over the bars to lift sproggle up. So apparently they come with different hight mattress positions. Do we need one that has a side that goes down? or flat under it? and wtf are teething rails!
Buggy: ?!?
Baby Monitor: are the necessary? what do you need it to do?
Nappies.

You don't "need" one where the sides go down, but as the mattress gets lowered, it'll make your life easier, cos (s)he's getting heavier as the mattress is getting lower = tougher on your back to lift over the rails.

I have no idea what a teething rail is, ignore it! Seriously, it's not something essential to the cot and you can get teething things when the teeth start to grow!

Buggy - well yes. If you have baby in a sling, bag for everything for baby, your bag, do you really think you're going to be able to actually "do" anything except walk? You just need to get one that is adjustable so will support baby from newborn to upright for almost toddler.

Rain hood for said buggy is prob the one essential you're missing.

Baby monitor = depends on your confidence really. If you're happy you can hear (s)he cry when in cot and you're watching tv/listening to music/on the phone/whatever then no you don't need a monitor.

Nappies: See my edits to your list above! I "planned" to use reusables but nitesky came along at just over 5 lb so it would have been a major nightmare to wrap her in a terry.

 

[Looby]

Re baby monitors- my feeling is (and no, I'm not a parent) there are loads of things we have now that our parents and grandparents managed perfectly well without but does that really mean we shouldn't have it? If that were the case none of us would be sitting here on these shiny machines talking to people on the internet.
I didn't have a car seat when I was a baby, doesn't mean it's not a lot safer now we have them.

They probably aren't an absolute necessity and if you live in a flat you're going to hear a baby crying anywhere in the flat I'd imagine. If you live in a house though and like us would have to keep the door shut to stop cats getting in then a monitor is a good idea. Even if only to re-assure you so you're not checking the baby every 10 minutes.

 

[scifisam]

It would be very useful to have a cot with a side that goes away in some way, yes. I think they're all like that these days anyway. Why do you prefer a cotbed?

Have you looked into cots that are designed to go right next to the bed, so that it's like you're co-sleeping but the baby's on it's own mattress? They look like a good compromise to me, especially if you're planning to breastfeed.

Teething rails are like dados around the cot, that your baby can gnaw on when it starts to get teeth. Not really necessary.

Buggies I have no clue about. They seem to have changed completely since my daughter was in one; I spent £4 on a fold-up umbrella buggy from Mothercare, but now I see ordinary people spending hundreds on buggies which look like they could do the Grand Prix. The smaller the better if you're going to bet travelling by public transport. Ones with intgral carseats are useful if you're going to be travelling by car.

Baby monitors are very useful if you want to be able to sit in another room and be reassured that your baby's not crying in its sleep. You can even hear it snuffling and so on as it moves around.

Nappies - get some disposables as well as reusables. Some reusable nappy companies will send out free samples, so you can try them - different people are more comfortable with different styles. Then order the style you like after baby's born.

 

[moose]

Cardigan

2 sleeves and a front already knitted

 

[wayward bob]

disagree w/waiting for sling - i was out with my youngest in hers when she was 3 days old, especially if you ever travel on public transport slings beat prams/pushchairs hands down for teenies. also when your traipsing them up and down in the middle of the night it saves wear and tear on your arms. don't get a baby bjorn type one they suck.

baby baths can be a bugger on your back to cart around to fill & empty. a big sink and one of those bath-slings that's just a frame and a towelling cover is easiest ime.

reusable wipes (like smaller flannels) makes sense with cloth nappies as you wash them together, damping with a chamomile tea/honey solution can help w/rashes. bounty-type kitchen roll that doesn't disintegrate when wet is good for making your own wipes, presoak in same solution as cloth wipes.

 

[Tank Girl]

I had a baby bath that fitted over the normal bath, so that it wasn't so low and hurty on the back, and it had a plug hole, so it was easy to drain. I would definitely recommend it.

I'd say go for a sling sooner rather than later - like wayward bob says, if you're using public transport they're much easier than buggies. and it's handy for when you're at home and need to get on with stuff you and have those moments when the baby will only settle with you, but you can't stop everything at that moment!

 

[wiskey]

2 sleeves and a front already knitted

 

[wayward bob]

if planning to breastfeed: well fitting nursing bras, muslins, lansinoh cream, cake

 

[Tank Girl]

yes, cake! how did it take so long for someone to mention the cake?!

lots of cake wiskers, and I can bake you one (I can't knit )

 

[wiskey]

I'd say go for a sling sooner rather than later - like wayward bob says, if you're using public transport they're much easier than buggies. and it's handy for when you're at home and need to get on with stuff you and have those moments when the baby will only settle with you, but you can't stop everything at that moment!

well I need two hands to type!

I would actually prefer to have a sling than a buggy. I'm dreading having to stoop to push a buggy, and having to squish down the high st.

 

[wiskey]

yes, cake! how did it take so long for someone to mention the cake?!

my consultant told me to eat cake. I have it on doctors orders!

 

[wayward bob]

laptop for onehanded surfing when breastfeeding (reading a book much harder!)