The 5 things you didn't need and The 5 things you can't live without

[Sarah1978]

5 THINGS I USED
1. Change table (I got one that was a timber set of drawers with a change table on top)
2. FP Swing (MUST HAVE!!!)
3. Baby Bjorn carrier
4. Lots of wraps and blankets
5. Rocker for daytime sleeps in the lounge
6. Cloth nappies to use as spew rags. Used HEAPS

5 THINGS I COULD HAVE DONE WITHOUT
1. Nappy wrapper. I used this until nappies got smelly. So for about 6 months.
2. Too many little clothes. In the early days Bonds grow suits are the best!
3. Hmm I can't think of anymore

[Janie]

6 things I'm loving
1. the change table!
2. BIG wraps
3. electric breast pump (on hire)
4. tiny clothes, in our case we actually needed more lol
5. cloth nappies! sposies are useless on my little man!
6. bassinette on wheels

5 we could live without
1. baby bath (he likes it in the big bath with daddy)
2. small wraps
3. don't buy any toys!
4. mmm can't think of anymore, he's too little!

[Gigi]

The following, are personal observations of mine - stuff that worked for me and my baby, in our unique situation (had a bad delivery, and a child with reactive skin, and no family backup)

five "must haves" for the mum
- cloth breastpads (the paper disposable ones were too small, iritated my skin and didn't do what was needed)
- breastfeeding friendly clothing (the type that works from the bottom of the top, not from the top of the top)
- for anyone recovering from a bad c-section, have EVERYTHING you can, at a higher height, when bending down is really hard/painful, not just in nursery, i mean raising the washing machine too, floor pedal bins, it all helps
- good quality maternity bras
- subscription to ABA and ABA calendar on your wall, aba fridge magnet on the fridge
- Turn a Tot car seat, brilliant because the seat swivels, so instead of twisting YOUR body to put your bub in the car, you put your baby in STRAIGHT ON, so it's SO much easier on your back, priceless to me.
- joining parenting forums like belly belly - priceless to me, i didn't have a mother or MIL to ask all my dumb questions to, but i had BB, so i got through. (those kind people were my life line, no joke).

five "could have lived without it" for the mum
- all the breastfeeding clothing i bought, that opened from the top down - exposed more of me than i felt comfortable doing
- the rocker chair, never felt safe in it, holding my baby, plus was worried about bumping her head on the wooden arm rests
- never found a breastfeeding pillow that really worked for me.
- the contents of the bounty bag, nothing in there was useful, it's just a marketing tool.

five "if i did it again, i would make this a priority"
- a baby hammock to settle baby
- a reclining easy chair for myself to feed baby in, settle baby in (had no idea how much use one of these, would get, when i was pregnant and nesting).
- baby slings/carriers
- booking a monthly cleaning service, even if it's just the "wet" areas
- booking a weekly food delivery service for first month
- a cd player in the baby's room, with chillout cd's, lullabies etc

five "must haves" for the baby
- modern cloth nappies, worked like a charm for us. The early part of it (learning a new skill) actually distracted me from PND.
- big muslin wraps for my heatwave newborn
- buy the toys you really want your baby to have (for me that was natural/ nonplastic stuff) because everyone and their dog will buy acryllic plush toys and plastic toys.
- buy the skin care you really want your baby to have (for me that was organic stuff or just water) because everyone will give you Johnson and Johnson stuff
- cloth bibs made by WAHMS, i didn't like the white towelling bibs you get in normal stores, annoying skinny ties etc. but the WAHM bibs close with snaps, available in colourful prints, thicker so baby doesn't get a wet front, wash up really well and save the clothing getting stains. we used them early on for dribble, then for next three years for food. excellent value.

five "could have lived without it"
- there are only so many plush teddies a kid can play with
- so many plastic/pvc toys
- any baby clothing that does up at the back, or is tricky to put on and off. you change them so often, any clothing needs to be EASY AS to get on and off.

[emc2]

I don't know what they will be for sure as my baby has not arrived yet.

Oh that's right I think I'm about to drop off to sleep here..but I wanted recommend if you book in early enough, please go and do an ABA Breastfeeding class. We paid $70 which was $20 for the class, and $50 concession membership, we came away with a wealth of knowledge, and a book, subscription membership which includes 6 magazines, and we had lunch in the class.

Also I have been finding some great bargains on eBay, don't know if I fluked them but I got a folding change table with bath for $40, Bassinette still unassembled in box for $70, timber cot and mattress $60, large muslin wrap, oh and a maclaren rocker for $50. Be warned though bidding on strollers and prams is super competitive!

[mummajj]

things i couldnt live without...

1 CLOTH NAPPIES for burping,spewing etc. (you can never have too many)
2 BOUNCER/ROCKER (i have one with that can be propped up to flat so bub sleeps in it during the day)
3 Angelcare monitor. (peace of mind!!)
4 the wooly wraps (like the ones at the hospitals) they don't stretch so if you've got a wriggly baby,they cant escape.
5 lots of pairs of mittens cos bub would scratch the hell out of his face. forgot to put them on yesterday when we went for a car ride.he got into a tantrum.by the time we got to destination it looked like he had been in a cat fight
6 Recliner!

things i didnt need

1 spent a fortune on electric breast pump only to have to stop breastfeeding the following week. maybe look at borrowing a friends instead if you need one.
2 same with maternity bras lol
3 baby powder/ creams etc.

[emc2]

The ABA hire breast pumps at half price to members. Other companies hire them out too.