I agree - thanks for starting this thread Mel & thank you everyone!! I've been reading with great interest! (and thinking eeep shouldn't have all this stuff by now... but I'm nearly there, I'm nearly there!).
I'm starting from scratch too and I've been finding the whole thing really daunting! So glad that you started this thread, Mel!!
Amysarah, I'd love to have a look at your PowerPoint on what to get too, pretty please! I'll PM you my email address.
I have five weeks to go and things I know I still need/like to get are: baby bouncer/rocker, rocking chair, change mat for change table, baby swing/hammock, chest of drawers, snugglebed, cot mattress protector, nappybin, babybath, bottle steriliser, breast pump in case, bottles... Feels like I'm running out of time now. And I just know there are things I should have but don't know about!
Things I have already: bassinet that someone's lent me, a changetable that someone's given to me, a cot, reversible carseat, Maclaren vogue stroller (it's really light) suitable for newborns, waterproof mattress protector for my bed, clothes, bibs, linen (had a heap given to me), wipes, newborn nappies, wraps, some creams, mild babywash, and breastpads.
amysarah,have PM'd you.
I'm the same about starting to buy baby things,i'm just busting for a baby. I've been given a musical rocker & a swinging cradle by a couple of friends already. I've also been given some boys clothes & have been told by a friend i can have her baby blankets & cot sheet sets too.
I also grabbed a TommY Tippee microwave steamer from work discounted as we were no longer going to sell that item,i got it for about $10. So i'm off to a good start anyway. I really would like to get a rocking chair for the nursery though.
Don't buy too much. Just go with the basics as you will be inundated with presents. If you get too organised and buy everything people will not know what to buy you and IMHO you end up getting given less.
Don't say no to second hand items from friends (except for a cot mattress, you don't want that secondhand).
Before bubs is born you will need a cradle or basinette or cot or both. We got given a cradle before our baby was born and only got our cot when we saw one for half price and this was after he was born.
I recommend a change table so that you don't need to sit on the floor but you can manage without one - ours has a bath included in it as well as drawers for clothes. We were also given this prior to his birth (second hand).
Rocker - absolute must have - we were given three - two new ones and one secondhand - all before bub was born. One went to one of the grandmas for when we visit the new ones we kept.
Nappy stacker. Again we were given two of these before bubs was born.
Nappies - if going disposable - just one big pack as people will give you these as well. I believe Aldi has the best and cheapest nappies.
Baby oil, lotions, etc - don't buy any as you will be given lots of them. If you don't get given them you wont need them for the first couple of weeks and then it will give you an excuse to go out shopping with bubs in the pram.
Wipes & nappy sacks - people don't tend to give you them so buy as many as you like.
For wipes I use the Pidgeon brand - far cheaper than all the other brands.
Sudocream or other nappy rash cream - in the first couple of weeks you are bound to need it.
Brauers anti colic relief. Better to have it in your house than have to go looking for it while bub is crying.
A couple of bottles (more if not breastfeeding) and some formula. Even if breastfeeding you may need to top baby up with formula. I didn't get bottles etc and wished I had as I felt rotten when I left hospital and had to go buy them as we were having issues. Safeway sterilizing solution to clean the bottles with.
A couple of dummies - even if not planning to use one - you just might need them.
Clothes - absolute basics as you will be given heaps of clothes. As long as you have enough clothes for the hospital visit that is all you will need to buy for 0000 stuff. I know it doesn't seem likely but trust me you get heaps of baby clothes. You don't need socks at first (and they wont stay on) and will get them as gifts anyway.
5 singlets
5 all in one suits - the type that have mittens on them
bibs (again I never bought any, we got given HEAPS)
1 hat
2 or 3 sleeping bags
A couple of sets of cot sheets and ones for the basinette if you have one.
1 x hooded towel (you'll get given more)
Lots of bunny rugs - we didn't get given any - they are very handy.
A few blankets - people tend to give you them so don't go overboard.
A nasal aspirator.
I already had a rocking chair but have never used it since bub was born. I tend to either feed him in bed or in front of the TV in the lounge.
Once bub has arrived you can reassess the situation and then buy whatever else you actually need.
Last edited by satya; August 10th, 2008 at 07:18 PM.
Mel and Kerry I have emailed you the list this morning. Leeanne (blueiris) you did PM me but you forgot to include your email!! If you PM your address I will be happy to send it.
We tried to buy things that we will use after the babies no longer need them. For example instead of a nappy bag we bought a crumpler. These bags are extremely well made, look fantastic and will be used long after we have finished with a pram.
We also borrowed a lot of stuff, and currently have quite a bit out on loan to friends. We have never bought a baby bath etc. all on loan.
If someone offers to buy you a gift, vouchers are great. We got a coles one that we split between Coles and Baby Target (and Myer when they were still in on the deal). This way we used it for equipment and nappies etc as we needed them.
Hey just thought I would go through and see if I can remember what we had given to us and what we bought etc.
1.Cot and change table
2.Cot Mattress
3. Cot Sheets
4. Blankets and Wraps
5. Quilt set
6.Toy box?
7. Feeding chair?
8. small table for lamp etc and to put things on if feeding in room i.e spew rag, glass of water for you etc
9. Lamp
10. Decorative things
11.Basinette if you plan on using one
12. Pack of cloth disposable nappies - for every spew etc HIGHLY RECOMMEND THESE!!
13.Pram
14.Car seat (consider buying 2 my mum asked if we were getting 2 and at the time I said no what a waste of money we can just swap between the cars but then one weekend we forgot to get the seat out of Phil's car and I was meant to be going to the airport to drop pil off to go home to nz and I had no seat..mum when to the shops and got us another one the same as what we already had. I realised then that we definitely needed 2!
15. Thermometer
16. Nail Clippers (sounds like you won't forget these!)
17. Baby panadol or nurofen (I think you can't use these before 1month and you're not likely to need but good to have there instead of making a mad dash to the chemist)
18. Bonjela (as above)
19. Nappy rash cream
20. Wipes (look in big w, toys r us etc for the boxes that have 6packs of 80 or 480wipes that's what I always buy and will last you a while)
21. Little muslin squares (size of a facecloth they are fantastic to use in the bath when babies are so young that even a face cloth seems to rough)
22. Facecloths (fantastic to put over your bubs tummy in the baby bath to keep them feel secure, happy and warm)
23. Baby bath
24. Baby towels (good to have 2 for each bath. when Noah was little and we used the dining table or kitchen bench I would lay the 2 towels on top of each other use the top one to dry Noah with and then would get rid of that one and lay him on the underneath one that's still dry to dress him - easier than running to his room especially when it was winter)
25. Baby cotton tips to clean ears
26. Lotions (most likely will get heaps as baby shower gifts so wait until after that)
27.Breast pump (I thought this could wait but we had an early case of breast refusal that lasted a little while and so one afternoon we had a mad dash to the shops to get a breast pump and only big w was still open so had to buy the tommee tipee which I like but was playing on buying a different one)
28.bottles if you plan on bottle feeding
29. Nappies, if disposable I think buy 2 boxes (Noah was born 9pound 4.5 and he was still in newborn nappies for quite a few boxes, you don't want to have to run out for nappies with a newborn and if you don't get 2 the 2nd box before you need a new size you could take the box back and swap it for the bigger size)
30. Baby carrier if you want one
31. Lamb's wool pram insert if you want one
32. CD player for bubs room if you plan on using some soothing music in there
33.Baby monitor
34.Singlets..We probably had about 10-15newborn ones
35. Jumpsuits (I think he only had 3, was always dresses in cute outfits lol)
36. Cute outfits!! (very fun to buy)
37. Socks (Bonds Stay put I think they're called are by far the best and the only ones I found that actually stay on!)
38. Nappy Disposal if you want
39. Nappy sacks (little bags to put dirty nappies in)
40. Nappy Bag
41. buckets for soaking
42. Napisan
43. Amolin or another washing liquid suitable for bubs clothes and things
44. Foods for the freezer and cupboards that are quick easy and hopefully healthy
45.toys!
46. A highchair (don't need until 6+ months)
47. A swing or rocker
48. Breast Pads
49. Maternity Pads
50. Dummies (If you're not sure I recommend having at least one jic...this comes from the memory of calling my mum at 10.30 and begging her to try somewhere thats opened that sells dummies lol)
My goodness just realised how long my list is!!! OMG well I hope it helps and I hope not to overwhelming a lot of the things are cheap items and you can layby and get when on sale and slowly build up your supplies!
Last edited by Jas; October 15th, 2008 at 12:08 PM.
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I'll PM you my email address.
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