how much do you need for a newborn?

[carliex]

i really dont know if i have enough or to much i have 2 tiny baby outfits incase she is very small as most babies in our family are only around 5 or 6 lbs when there born, iv got 17 new born vests, 10 newborn baby grows, 5, 0-3mnth baby grows 2, 0-3 month winter dresses, 2 0-3month snow suites and some socks, booties lots of hats and different sizes knitted cardys and tights im just worried as i dont know how many times aday baby will need changing at first with sick and leaky nappies ect..

[lollyone]

Blimey! I havent bought that much to be honest. But we dont know the sex so we're a bit limited. I've got 10 vests, 12 babygro's, lots of knitted cardy's, 3 pairs scratch mits, 2 tiny hats, 1 fluffy snowsuit, 4 daytime babygro outfit things... I think thats it. Oh few pairs of socks. Most are newborn size. I figure I can send mum/hubby for more stuff if thats not enough in 1st few days.
To be honest most people who I've spoken to said dont go mad buying clothes as you get so much bought for baby when it comes that you wont know where to put it. You've got me worried though now. Anyone think I need loads more stuff??

[Lil O'lady]

They are out of newborn sizes in seconds flat - and they don't explode if you put them in a slightly larger baby-gro (or growbag, as one of our family says...).
As for washing and changing, much depends on your house and equipment ie if you have an automatic washer and radiators and/or tumble dryer, you can just make do with a couple of changes. If you have to hand wash and air dry you'll need more changes.
If you breastfeed their poo is not very gross or large in volume, but if you bottle feed it's vile.
If you use terry nappies and whatnot they will leak, if you use good quality disposables they are less prone t leakage - hence less need for changes.
Plus, if you are at home, lots of time for letting the babe kick about nappyless on a towel is good all round - their will be accidents but it actually begins awareness of bowel / bladder movements in the infant and is conducive to toilet training.

[danchip]

dont worry about it when my son was born we bought a similar amount of clothes to what you have and then all our family and friends bought him clothes when he got home so we ended up with too much

[carliex]

thanx for all your answers, i have bought terrys nappies actully i thought they would be less leaky and better for babys skin maybe i should get some decent huggys disposable ones aswel.

[lollyone]

I've bought some huggys and some pampers carlie, cos I also heard lots of people say that different nappies suit different babys. My friend bought millions of pampers and found that they were no good for her little boy.Its all very confusing but exciting isnt it?

[chelle7272]

You sound very well prepared!! (better than I ever was!)

good luck to all your expectant mothers :)

[danchip]

dont know if every hospital does this but when my son was born we got a pampers pack and a huggies one so we could decide what nappies to use

[carliex]

i wasnt untill my midwife said last week my dates are wrong my baby is actully coming end of this month so i been out and bought everything this weekend lol, but then again im not prepared at all i only got the keys to my house 2weeks ago and realised how much work needs doing so me and my partner are staying with my parents i dont have electic yet or a kitchen or carpets so im sort of hoping she is late!. yes it is very exciting i cant stop thinking about everything i cant sleep im so excited :D

[lollyone]

Me either! I get the obligatory 4am wake up call then thats it, cant get back to sleep from excitement!
Thats quite late on to tell you your dates are wrong!! If I remember you were due week after me I think. I'm officially due New Years Day but bubs is still breech so it looks like a c-section in about 2 weeks time.

[carliex]

yes i was due 4th jan, aww so your baby coming sooner than expected then aswel to here that it is goin to be sooner makes it even more exciting and harder to sleep! my babys head is engaging which doesnt feel very nice but it will all be worth it!!

[redcrx]

sounds as if you have plenty, you can always go out and get more when baby arrives.

Dont be so sure of babys weight. I was a 7lber, so was mr CRX but between us we make 9lb 6oz babies! Neither of mine were in newborn clothes for more than a week!

if you are going down the route of disposable nappies (for the first week at least) then just buy a small pack of each until you decide which is best for you. Huggies were great for my son but awful for my daughter and vice versa.

[carliex]

oh no ha i was quite looking forward to giving birth to a small baby!

[madmaggot]

carliez, good luck with the delivery. You do seem to have plenty of clothes, they don't really need much you know! Mum's love and cuddles are the most important thing. Are you feeding baby yourself? If not, please please, hold your baby close as if you were breast feeding not away from you as if you might catch something from him. They need to be held close to feel secure and settled. So glad you're going to use terry nappies. I bought 24 Harringtons Gold Label nappies for my son and used the same ones for my daughter as well. So much cheaper than disposables and better for the environment.

[madmaggot]

Oh, I forgot, terry nappies are fantastic for saving on washing. You put one over your shoulder then when baby sicks on you you only have a nappy to wash not your own clothes. I used to put one under his head as well to catch sick! My son used to be sick if you looked at him, lol!!

[Ice.Maiden]

I agree with those who've said that new-born clothes won't last 5 minutes. My first baby was 6lb 10ozs, but the very small clothes weren't much good, as he was long but thin. Next baby was over 8lbs, but I'd learnt by then, so I bought in the bigger sizes. Don't worry too much about lots and lots of baby clothes at first. So long as she's warm, well fed and cuddled often, that's all that matters. As a general rule, I changed nappies after every feed, and neither of my babies suffered with nappy rash. We left them off a lot when they were indoors anyway, to let air circulate - but you need to lay baby on something padded that can be washed and dried easily! You'll soon get into the swing of it. Best of luck.

[madmaggot]

Good suggestion Ice Maiden, they love to be free of their nappies. A word of warning however, be aware that if you do this with a boy their pee goes up in the air if they are laid on their back, mine often pee'd on his own face!!! I always found that vaseline worked well against nappy rash for my lad but made my daughter get a heat rash, for her I used Sudocrem, more expensive but very good.