what thing couldn't you live without? What thing was a total waste of money?

[bednobs]

Hi, i am 22 weeks pregnant and am starting to think i'd better strat getting some things :)
for those of you who have had babies, what things were very useful? What things did you buy that never saw the light of day? Any tips on what to buy (how many/much of everything?)

[karenmac60]

A microwave steamer and a baby sling were my 2 best buys. To be honest, the thing I hardly used was a buggy!

[annie0000]

Awww exciting stuff eh?

I think you'll find that what one person found indespensable, someone else thought was a waste of time, that's because they way everybody organises themselves, their lifestyle and their babies are never the same.

For me, I loved my baby sheepskin that my little ones slept on, I had two cribs, one downstairs and one upstairs. I also loved my top and tail bowl and used it right until kids were toddlers.

I borrowed a sling, but my babies just never settled in it.

Never had a swinging crib or baby monitors though a lot of people swear by them. For some of these things, it might be worth trying to borrow them to try.

I would buy plenty all in one vests - you will go through a lot and they are cheap.

Enjoy shopping!

[NicM123]

We were bought a fancy baby monitor that we didnt really use - Babies cries are loud enough!

Absolutely loved the bath support we had. It was like a terry towel cover that went over a metal frame. Much easier than a baby bath where u can only use 1 hand to wash as you've got to hold baby with the other.

Best thing we had was a vibrating bouncy chair. Soothed baby everytime!

But every babies different so what worked for me, might be useless to you. It's trial & error i think. Anything you don't use stick it on ebay!

When babies older i think the bumbo chairs are fab for when you start weaning, or just to give them a view from being sat up.

I'd really advise to get as much as you can 2nd hand - its so expensive. Things like steralisers, monitors, furniture are always popular at car boot sales.

Good luck xx

[PringlesQueen]

The one tool I found invaluable and used during pregnancy and still use now some years later is being a member of an online forum group.
There are several sites available (ivillage; Netmums; NCT), but I personally prefer to use Netmums. They have a Q&A forum called Coffeehouse Chat (a bit like Answerbank for pregnant ladies and parents). You can post questions directly to health visitors which is really useful. There is also an option to log into your 'local' site and find activities which are occuring in your local area. Its a brilliant place to meet mums too.
I certainly could not have lived without the support I got from Netmums.

[sherrardk]

As it's your first baby you will probably want to buy a lot of stuff new - keep the tags on and stuff in its packet, then, if you don't use it you can sell it for a higher price on EBay (or return it). As others have said, what works for some people doesn't work for others.

[lotsafun]

the best thing i bought was a vibrating boucer chair, it worked wonders with my kids. The worst thing i bought was one of those baby carriers (looks like a backpack) that goes on your front. Still got tags on, unless youve got someone to strap it on you and put your baby in it very very hard work

[karenmac60]

Use the nearly new sale finder on this page and you can find out if they have any in your area. I got a lot of things including my pram for £30 from one of their sales. You can also sell stuff through them later on when you're done with it - they get a percentage of any profits.

http://www.nctpregnancyandbabycare.com/home

[redcrx]

hi bednobs, times moving on fast it seems :)

i agree with the nappy bin with the liners. Saves you rushing to a bin each time you change baby. (thats assuming youre using disposables and not reusables.

a baby swing is also handy to allow you to pop baby in when your arms need a rest lol

a cot bed, rather than a cot, it can be used for longer.

I used a cold water steriliser as i found the electric ones, once opened are unsterile within a short time frame. If using water you can leave in what you arent using for 24 hours. Plus it only takes 10 mins to sterilise, quicker than electric if youre in a hurry.

a play mat is also handy so baby can have tummy time as well as lay on back and watch the toys etc

[donna1901]

really do not go over the top! i was one of these ppl who wanted everything and the best of that! i learnt the hardest way cause it was dead cash. I brought a swinging baby chair 100quid. used once :(
All the baby needed is love and basics! do not go for high end pushchairs as they really arent needed just a basic one 100quid does the job.
you'll prob want the best as its your first hun u will learn lol x

[Le Chat]

I bought something called The Miracle Blanket, which is a tight swaddling blanket to keep baby all wrapped up. My youngest suffered from 'baby leaps' when he was sleeping and they used to wake him up. The miracle blanket stopped all that and was definitely a miracle to me and my husband!!

[Skyline D]

Ah, good thread. We've got two boys, 17 months and 5 months, and a lot of the things already mentioned on the thread are very familiar.

The nappy bin I'd wholeheartedly endorse (though ours is a different one, Angelcare, available through Argos and in supermarkets). Likewise, though we are not keen on dummies generally, at times for short periods they are invaluable. No 2 son is more of a dummy user than no 1 son ever was. We got a baby bath which has a shaped base to fit the baby which is much more convenient than a normal bath where you do have to hold baby in one hand. In our one the baby is supported by the bath itself.

I agree that vests are the clothes to buy, ones that fasten up the side are easier to work with than the more common ones that fasten at the crotch. If you are anything like us we were inundated with clothes (certainly for the first one, not so much the second) as gifts to the extent many were returned and swapped for bigger sizes as we had more than they could possibly wear before they outgrew them.

We borrowed baby monitors but have never used them. The house simply isn't big enough for us to actually need them. We did buy cot beds rather than cots but neither child is old enough for that to pay off yet. We also had a vibrating bouncy chair. No 1 son really liked it until he outgrew it. No 2 son hasn't been interested in it yet but then he is a more unsettled baby and doesn't like being left to sit in a chair by himself. We never had baby slings and used the cold water steriliser.

[Skyline D]

Biggest waste of money before they arrived? A 7 in 1 baby system thing which included the pram, buggy, changing bag, stand, etc from Mama's and Papa's. Very fancy, cost several hundred pounds and ultimately fairly unnecessary. The pram part was fine and used for about three months with each maybe but we could have bought a pram cheaper on its own. The buggy part wasn't much use and we bought a different buggy instead rather than use it. The changing bag was fine and very useful but again, a separate chnaging bag purchase would have been just a few quid.

[xPinkAngelx]

vibrating/musical bouncy chairs are fab! as are bath support/chair for baby. so much easier to wash then are you dont get an aching arm from trying to hold them up the whole time! boots/mothercare/tesco all sell them. reasonable prices too.

one tip ill give you is keep all tags in baby clothes you are bought and only cut them out when your are going to use the clothes. i got so much clothes bought for my son and thought i'd be organised and cut all tags out and wash everything through ready for when he arrives... he hardley wore any of it. some never fit him to start with and he grew out of most things so fast! keep the tags in and even if you dont have receipt most shops will let you exchange!

good luck xx

[mumof3angels]

I know this sounds really simple but before I had my 1st I swore that my baby would never have a dummy.(there was a bit of controversy about giving babies dummies at the time) My mum told me to get some in and I refused. The first night she was born she screamed the hospital ward down. The midwives couldn't believe I hadn't bought any. Needless to say mr mum was sent down the next day to buy some. She had dummies till she was 2. I also gave them to my other 2 kids but they weren't bothered. It's usually the basic things you can't do without. AAahh I bet you're so excited-congrats :)

[tigwig]

Hi bednobs, hope you and bubba are well. The things I have used loads are bibs ( I frequently run out) obviously the clothes etc. I never bothered with a baby bath just used one of those foam things to put in the big bath. I have an angelcare nappy bin that I use for childminding too but it does stink well before its full and I only continue to use it to avoid a huge pile of crap outside the back door! I used my rocker chair loads in fact he still sleeps in it now through the day. Also a baby gym/ playmat for baby to lay on is great. ELC do a lovely one which progresses to a nest then a sit me up cosy. I have a bumbo seat but my baby never really liked it and threw himself out of it last week. Lastly, my lightweight travel system pushchair is great. I don't think you need the carrycot bit but of course lots of people do. Can't think of anything else, sorry!

[IrishHeart]

A dummy - and in case you think you dont want one let me tell you I NEVER had a broken nights sleep with either of my sons one had a dummy and the next one didn't. I now have one that doesn't suck his thumb and one that does - I'll let you guess which is which

[mrs_overall]

For yourself I'd recommend one of those big pillows shaped like two sides of a triangle.
It helped me get comfy in bed in the last few weeks of pregnancy, it helped me sit comfy through the day, and I used to prop the baby on it for feeds as my tum was sore after a caesarian.

[looby1914]

The one thing i found invaluable was a bouncy chair but one that lays completely flat and also has handles... Mine was a winnie the pooh one from ebay brand new and think it came to about £18..

The one thing i never used was the bottle warmer.. always took far too long and littleun preferred his bottles hot not tepid.

Nappy bins are fab too and definately agree with the dummies

[johnny.5]

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