What should I buy? Necessity VS I want it

[LaDeeDa]

being a first time mum i'm a little confused by what I should be buying for bub's in the first couple of months.
I don't want to get sucked into all the marketing hype and spend heaps of $$$$ on stuff I never use.
Does anyone have any advice on some must haves for when I bring the little peanut home?

[Kazbah]

must haves:

* baby car restraint
* nappies
* sleeping suits
* blankies
* sheets
* something for bub to sleep in (if you aren't co-sleeping)
* bins for dirty nappies
* something to store clean nappies in
* bath thingy (either an insert for your tub or a baby bath)
* baby wash
* beanies, sox, singlets
* method of taking baby out - pram or sling or other carrier
* good vacuum cleaner (cause baby will have floor time!)
* some bag to take out + nappy bag

Nice to have:
* floor play gym
* baby monitor
* breathing monitor
* assorted toys
* mobile over sleeping area
* change table (you can always use the bed/floor)

If you have a close friend/family member, maybe go shopping with them with "pretend" money.

Hey, where in the Dandies are you? I'm in Belgrave. In Upwey, there's a second hand kids store.

Good luck!!!!

[Lisa]

Clothes (pretty obvious)...I would start off buying some 0000's (not too many) and definitely some 000's.
Somewhere for bub to sleep (basinette, cradle, cot for example) and bedding.
Nappies.
A car seat or capsule.
A baby carrier (if you're not planning to buy a pram straight away)
I could not live without a bouncer or a rocker... somewhere to put bub down when you're in the same room during the early days.
A baby bath (if you don't have somewhere to bath bub and you're not confident enough to shower with him/her)

I am sure there is loads more... my brain just isn't working atm (fighting to get kids to pick up after themselves... grrrr)

[LaDeeDa]

thanks ladies
I've got the cot and pram and car seat organissed it was just all the "extras" that I wasn't sure about.
But you've given me a direction to go in now.

[Shanti]

Baby wraps too! Like waffle wraps, muslin wraps.... they come in handy if you're breastfeeding & also for wrapping bubs up to cuddle etc..... I've made sure i've bought a few of these, its my first too!

the girls above have covered most of the main stuff.....

oh and also face washers come in handy too!!

[luey]

I loved my rocker, bub would sleep in it in the first few weeks sometimes. I used mine heaps but a friend hardly used theirs. I only paid $39 from Babyco and it was so worth it. It is a plain one -camel and beige colour with no toys but I didn't like the toys on most of them. It is personal preference though.

I only had about 4 0000 outfits plus 000 wondersuits which fit but were a bit big.

I am still using my babybath now with a bath pillow so he doesn't get concussion but our big bath is too big for me to safely bath him.

I used my carrier for shopping in the early days, so nice and snuggly.

Playmat is good

I only bought a baby monitor as an afterthought. I only use it when I am in parts of hte house or outside where I can't hear bub. Good when I garden or hang clothes on the line but I wish I had paid the extra money and got the one with the thermometer in it. I still need to buy a thermometer for DS's room.


Woolen breast pads were awesome for me - so soft and comfy. Works out cheaper than disposable. I didn't/don't leak much but still wear them just for added protection - just in case. So soft on tender nipples. I have heard the maz minkee BP are good too

For me a feeding pillow was awesome - my brest friend. It helped me get attachment right and gave my wrists a break as I have dodgy wrists. I only wish I had had it sooner - I got it at 5 weeks but wish I had had it sooner. You need to be able to feed without it anywhere though. Unless you want to cart it with you everywhere.

Deep Freeze was awesome for us - I had to go away to have bub and I cooked up lots of meals. To be able to pull a meal out and not have to cook was awesome.

Anything that will make your life easier - If you see something and love it just buy it because if you love it lots you will probably use it. Even if it is just to justify you buying it.

Happy shopping and remember once you have the essentials - cot, car seat, pram/carrier, cot sheets and blankets you can always buy things after bub is born. The shops won't shut but in my case I live 2 hours from the nearest target so I had to be over prepared.

[sushee]

To paraphrase from another thread: baby clothes (baby wraps aren't always necessary, many babies including 3 of my 4 didn't like being wrapped), somewhere for bub to sleep (and if you co-sleep, then you don't even need this), carseat (if you have a car), a way to transport bub when you're out (pram or sling), nappies, arms and boobs.