Starting from scratch, List of things to get?

[tsgirl]

Hi tsgirl, I can't PM you either! It may have something to do with you still being a newbie. Ask the mods (in the FAQ's forum) and I'm sure someone will be able to help you. Once its sorted I will be happy to PM you my email address.

Thanks for the tip amysarah. It seems I need to have 25 posts before I can access PM's.

Was suggested I post my email in here, then when you have it I could delete it, but as I'm not sure if you're around now I'm thinking seeing as I have PLENTY of time to sort this stuff out I could just wait until I've posted enough then PM you.

Thanks for your help

[blueiris]

ETA- Blueiris, if you're buying a change table from Ikea, their Leksvik is a wonderful brand. We liked our change table so much we went back and bought a chest of drawers and bedside table in the same line. I'm trying to convince DH to get the bed, too. Beautiful timber, easy to work with, very attractive.

Thanks for the feedback on this. I really like the fact that you get your money's worth with this item. I really like the look of this piece too.I also thought that having all the wipes,nappies etc safely tucked away in drawers will save me from having to clean up after baby decides to pull everything off of open shelves.

[spooky]

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.

[november08mum]

Hey Mel - if you PM me your email address I have a MASSIVE powerpoint presentation of everything we will be buying - I researched it for months.

It includes pictures too!

Hi Amysarah85,

Sounds like you are very organised!! Wish I could say the same!!!
Is there any chance I could get a copy of your presentation?

Thanks,

[buliej]

Hi
I'd like your presentation but can't figure out how to send a PM despite reading the FAQs. thank you. Julie

[Aimz]

Hi Julie and November08mum! As I understand it, you cannot send or recieve PM's until you have reached 25 posts. Once you have reached 25 posts PM me and I will be happy to send it to you.

[Clucky_Rach]

Hi Girls Loving the tips. Only thing is, how many of each size do you buy? I have no idea how long bub will be in a 000 and 00? I want to be prepared and not have to go out shopping for baby clothes until at least 4-5 months. I have enough 0000 for the hospital and first week or so. When my baby is 3 months it will be winter here in Melbourne so quite chilly.

I'm thinking of getting 6 singlets in 000 and 6 in 00 - is that too many? And for bodysuits or tops/pants how many of each size?

Thanks so much!

[luey]

Regarding singlets I found the Bonds 00 was the same size as kmart brand 000 I ended up being given a heap of hand me down singlets too in asstd sizes.
tbh I found that having bubs in a big singlet was okit just came over is bum and didnt ride up. My DS wa 3610g (7lb15). I would buy the kmart or target brand (they seem thicker) - maybe3 or 4 0000 and 6 or 7 000 or if you buy bonds, 4 000 and more 00. You can always use the 00 if you run out. Another thing to consider is the 'cuteness' factor - going into summer, bub may just wear a singlet and nappy some days or no singlet at all under clothes. Bubs look pretty cute full stop so isn't a huge issue.
In my hospital they used a singlet as a beanie - tied the straps/sleeves together and rolled it a bit. The part which usually goes around bubs belly went around the head. Wa a cool thing to do and it saves on them having to have another piece of baby clothing.

Bodysuits - 3 or 4, depends how often you want bub to wear them and will they be used as an outfit? Pumpkin patch online outlet store had some cute ones 2 for $9. Good buy.

Other clothes is hard to say, you will be given a lot. My bubs didn't fit 0000 bonds wondersuits so maybe have a few 000. I did have a few 0000 outfits - about 4 plus wondersuits.
Best piece of advic e I can give is keep the outfits simple - for bubs comfort and eas of dressing/undressing. They sleep lots too and will be wrapped. I know I wouldnt want to sleep in jeans.

Happy shopping

[Jennifer13]

My favourite things were:

- A Hug-a-bub carrier. Used it up until she was 18 mths (and wanted to walk everywhere) and it was MUCH more convenient when she was little than a pram for walking, shopping, etc. She would sleep in it and leave my hands free for ages!
- Aust Breastfeeding Assn subscription - came with a free book on bfing that was absolutely spot on, meant I could go along to meet-ups regularly and pick topics that I needed info on. (This is also a great gift from someone who doesn't know what to get you!).
- A rocker/bouncer that could rock itself (batteries) - it wasn't cheap but my sisters went in together and bought it for me and it gave me an uninterrupted shower every day!

Those were my top 3.

[HOPRAH]

LOADS AND LOADS of breast pads.
I find the Medela Disposable ones the best!

[meow]

We're not really into 'stuff' and didn't go too over board getting prepared and I'm so glad as we haven't ended up with anything we don't use and we've been able to buy things along the way that we realised we needed.

I had a couple of sample packs of breastpads and never used them- I don't leak. We bought all nappy creams, skin oils etc. as we needed them and have been able to get the right things for our needs. We were given loads of clothes and have been able to fill just fill in the gaps rather than doubling up too much (though we were lent a bunch of 0000 and 000 wondersuits & singlets which were useful to have loads of).

I advise keeping it simple. My essentials were a hug-a-bub carrier, rocker (ours isn't motorised but still very handy for shower/toilet), car seat and nappies. We didn't even use our pram or cot for the first couple of months.

[Clucky_Rach]

Luey thanks so much for your advice, it was really helpful!

[luey]

Not a problem, just re-read your post clucky rach. Although you want to be prepared and not need to go shopping you may want to. Baby stuff is so much fun to buy. There is always PP online if you can't get out of the house. My 0000 stuff lasted for a month or so but it all depends on how big your bub is.

I love my wool breast pads - $19 each from mothers direct but apparantly maz's cloth pads with minky are really really nice too. I didn't leak much if at all but it was nice having something soothing on my boob, plus it keeps them warm

[buliej]

I now have 25 posts, but still can't PM you...not sure what I'm doing wrong.

[Aimz]

Ask one of the mods in the FAQ's section, I'm sure they will be able to help.

[anneshirley]

hi there,
can you please send a copy of the p/point presentation to me

Thanks,
Cindy

[Jas]

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!

[Maisarah]

Hi amysarah85,

Could you please send me a copy of that powerpoint as well?

Thanks!