Essential items and money wasters...

[Janie]

Can't live without.....(in no particular order)

Tiny Love activity mat
sling/carrier
really good pram
BIG wraps, muslin and flannellette
change table - couldn't be without it!
lots of cloth nappies
bonds wondersuits

Don't really need.....

baby bath
heaps of clothes
creams and lotions, we just use olive oil in the bath and sorbelene to moisturise!
ummmmmm, can't really think of anything else ATM!

[Maruschke]

I'd like to say a big thanks to everyone who has posted advice! Looks like I won't be buying a baby bath or change table!!!

You guys have saved me lots of $$$. I figure every $500 I save is another fortnight I can stay at home with bub.

Thanks again!

[Karina]

Things I got but barely used:
- Small wraps. The smaller ones only lasted a few weeks. Get the bigger wraps (at least 1m squares) or someone suggested using cot sheets which is a good idea too.
- Microwave sterilising thing for bottles. Not sure why I got it, as I'm breastfeeding and she has only ever had a few bottles of EBM. I suppose I could use the container for something else in the future..
- Pretty outfits, esp those that do up at the back. we were given lots of pretty outfits, including ones that do up at the back. I didnt like the ones that do up t the back since she isnt keen on being on her tummy, they are harder to put on (IMO) and I dont like having to flip her over several times which dressing her as it makes her cranky.
- Shoes for newborns. they arent going to be walking anywhere. Socks or pants with feet will keep the feet warm enough.
- Baby bath. given to us. It was good for about 3 weeks, then we stopped using it. It hurt my back too much to use it and she wasnt too fond of it. I find it much easier to use the big bath (I get in the bath with her). Also with the baby bath, we got to a point where she would just kick to much and all the water would end up on the floor/walls.

Things I got and use/used lot:
- Baby carrier. I've got a Baby Bjorn which I quite like and I use it all the time. They are very handy.
- Head support thing. I actually got this from a lovely BB member (Dachlostar). It was very good to use in the car and pram when her neck was still floppy and she couldnt hold her head up very well.
- big wraps. as said earlier, i didnt use the small ones for long. I bought some nice big ones from Big W and I also made a couple and I made some buy just buying muslin and flannel from Spotlight. Now I used them as cot sheets and play rugs for floor ply and tummy time, as I no longer wrap her.
- Nappy sacks. Very handy especially when out. My cousin had one of those nppy wrappers others have mentioned and she used it about twice before she was sick of it.
- Rocker. we borrowed it from a friend and it was great when Claire was a bit cranky as I cold rock it with my foot and still do other stuff (like eat). It was also good to use when we went to someones house as she would sleep in it.
- Change mat. we just got the mat and put it on a chest of drawers rather than the whole change table thing. It was like $20 and works great.
- Cloth nappies (the terry square viariety) are great as spew towels.
- Library books. I just borrow kids books insted of spending lots of $ buying them. I;ve also bought stuff from ebay as well which has saved lots.

as well as the other obvious things like a good sized nappy bag.. I've got two now. One is a backpck style and one is a satchel style. Backpack good for when I am out or when we go away, and satchel good for handing off the back of the pram. I use both, but really could get away with just one.

[Smoke Jaguar]

Oooh, that reminds me! I had and very much still use a GR8* nappy bag - it's both a satchel AND backpack! It folds out so you use it as a change mat whilst out, then fold it back up and a wet stuff pocket inside. Really works excellently with my pocket nappies for going out - just as easy as taking sposies, but you take them home to re-use them!
As for the microwave steriliser...I tried selling mine on eBay but it didn't sell! Might hold onto it until someone I know says they want one...

[August]

I have the Gr8x bag too. We recieved $50 as a gift so I decided to by a nappy bag with it and picked out the Gr8x one at target for $49 but it scanned as $99 at the register. When I went back a week later I happen to mention it to a sales person and she had a look and said bring it back as it was marked on the shelf as $49 so I ended up getting it for half price and also not paying a thing for it myself!! So you can also save money in unexpected ways!!

Mayaness ~ do you know Gr8x make small nappy bags too? I've just bought one that has room for nappy and wipes,pocket for keys, and is insulated on one side for bottles. The strap is adjustable to go over the pram too. I bought this brand new with tags for only $5 on ebay BARGAIN!!!

[Smoke Jaguar]

Yep, might look into something smaller later on - I'm a very out and about person, so our bag still suits very much - although it needs a wash!
I recently bought one for a GF and it scanned at that lower price, too. They did used to be $99 (though my sister bought me mine) and when I went to buy this one I was expecting to pay the same (though with the staff discount I was entitled to at the time). I asked if they had any left and the lady said she saw one at the back and she'd get it for me. She saw my surprise when it scanned and I told her (I mean, she wasn't going to change the price on me, that would be illegal!), so we both agreed that I had made an excellent purchase! For whatever reason, they are now an especially good buy

[kungfubecca]

that's interesting about the sterilizer, I got one and use it all the time. I do express a little bit but for dummies as well.
Although you can't actually just use hot soapy water to clean the expressing things, that just gets the milk off, you do still need to sterilize, but the microwave ones are more convenience than anything else, you can use boiling water or milton as well, just takes a little longer than the 2 mins my microwave one takes.

My nappy bag isn't a nappy bag at all, it's a krumpler courier bag, so I will be able to use it for other things later. it is a satchel bag, but as a courier bag has extra bits to make it a backpack. While it doesn't fold out it also has waterproof lining, and lots of pockets inside.

[Smoke Jaguar]

YEp, with my expressing things, I just used hot soapy water and air dried on a clean towel

[AngelPunks]

Just read this out to DH (he's got 4 kids), he says the biggest waste of money with his kids was the change table.

I can agree with that one - with my 4 nieces/nephews - we just used to change them on whatever was closest, bed, floor, chest of drawers, bench etc

I'm also leaning towards a baby bath as being a bit of a waste of money, since I was 8 when my eldest nephew was born, I was the right height to bathe him (and the subsequent 3 other kids), but my brother reckons it killed his back & he just used to shower with the kids

[Lucy]

These two articles on the main site sum it all up pretty well:

Mum's Top 5 Things For Baby

Mum's Top 3 Things I Didn't Need For Baby

[~Amy~]

Things that i cant do without

Change table- i got our change table from my cousin, thought id never use it. I dont know how ppl go without one! It kills my back bending over to change nappies.

Snappies- If ur going to be using cloth nappies, stock up on snappies. Mine break after a while & then i have to back to using disposables full time as i always forget to buy more. Plus they are actually hard to find when u need them.

Carrier- I love my ergo carrier! It carries bubby front, back & side(i still havent tried side). It carries up to 25kg. I had my 2 yrd old dd in it the other night to help her get to sleep. She loved it & it was really comfy to carry her.

A good sized nappy bag- I have quite a big nappy bag & i still find i need more room! just coz they are big doesnt mean they have to be ugly


Things that i rarely used

Steriliser- Never used it once

Baby shoes- Like someone else said. As cute as they are, they are useless. Bodhi never wore any of his.

Porta cot- I can go either way on this. I was given ours. I rarely used it. I do now have it set up in the lounge room so Bodhi cant roll away on me. it does make a good play pen. Our is heavy & pretty frustrating to put up & get down.

Baby bath- We just washed our kids in the sink & when they got to big they went in the shower with us.


Anyway hope this helps

[AngelPunks]

Things that i rarely used
Porta cot- I can go either way on this. I was given ours. I rarely used it. I do now have it set up in the lounge room so Bodhi cant roll away on me. it does make a good play pen. Our is heavy & pretty frustrating to put up & get down.

that was one thing very much used, my brother & SIL used to have one (or 2 - depending on how many of their 4 were still "babies") in their boot constantly, they were forever going out to people's places and it was sooo easy to set-up in the corner of a bedroom when visiting, comforting for the babies because it smelt like home. DH & I even borrowed it when we had MIL visiting with her 2 foster babies (3mth & 4 day old).

[visitor1]

Things i couldnt live without:

My change table.....id go insane without it
Pram
Terry flats as spew bibs
Creams...DD just loves having cream on her face all the time
Bouncer
Play gym
Night light with sound
Dummies!!
Electric sterilizer
Nappy bag
Rocking chair
Book case/hutch with big draws for storage
Baby jail AKA play pen

Things i could live without:

Baby bath, used for 5 weeks then to small
Millions of blankets
Cot sets
Frilly dresses
Hats
Mittens/booties
So many inpractical outfits

[MummyNelly]

Op shops like vinnies and the salvos are great for second hand baby clothes, so cheap! Also freecycle is great just do a search for it on google.

My DS loved his jolly jumper he would jump and spin around in it for ages!
Baby rocker came in handy too expecially when he was starting on solids we would feed him in it.
Small water bottles with rice and glitter make great shakers.
Aqium hand gel is great stuff!! Especially when you're out and need to clean your hands after changing bubs nappy. We still use it now (great for toilet training DS so much easier) $4 for a small bottle and about $7 for a big bottle at the chemist.
We didn't use the baby bath for long (it was borrowed anyway) as it was too heavy and awkward so DH just had a shower with him. We are going to use it this time however when our second DS is born so Callum can help bath him.

Can't think of anything else right now!

[srv]

Things I can't live without:

Swing - an absolute life saver - could not live without it - meant DH and I could have dinner together rather than 1 of us holding DS when he was grumpy btw for cheap swings regularly check out Toys R Us catalogues - we got a great fisher price one with music and lights at half price.

Port a cot - we go to in laws and my parents house a lot so it's great for him to have somewhere familiar to sleep.

Lots of little cloths for spills / burping etc

A comfy chair that rocks

Lots of grosuits especially Bonds wondersuits

Grobag sleeping bags (DS has loved them since about 4 weeks of age)

Thermometer - always important to have one handy.

A play mat / activity centre

Things that were unnecessary:

Fancy outfits - nice to dress up in for a special occasion but most are a pain to get on and off and they may only get worn once or twice.

Any outfit that doesn't allow easy nappy access

Wraps and bunny rugs: useful for most but not for us - he hated wrapping, preferred sleeping bags plus he overheated so easily that anything more than muslin was too hot for him.

btw It's easy to see a cute outfit and buy it without thinking but think about the size and what season it will be when your bubs will fit the size. We got given things that he will not wear simply because it'll be too warm for him when he fits them.

Baby shampoos / bath lotions etc - In the end all we use is baby sorbolene.