Ok, I know absolutely nothing about babies and am due in three weeks.

Someone asked me the other day if I had in all the toiletries and stuff I'd need for the baby and were shocked when I said no.  Unfortunately my brain wasn't working at the time and I didn't think to ask what I needed to get. :rolleyes:

So far we have some babygros, moses basket and bath (to be collected), steriliser and bottles and I know I will need to get nappies, formula (milk) and um, other nappy-related things beforehand.

So, what else do I need to have in the house before baby arrives?  She also hinted that I needed to get some medical things, like a baby first aid kit I think, but I haven't got a clue what that relates to.

Now, if it were a puppy, I'd know exactly what I needed and what you do with it when you bring it home!!! :D

You will also need
Pram
Baby vests/body suits
Bibs
Cotton mittens (to stop baby scratching)
Baby scissors
Changing mat
Baby towels
Top and Tail bowl
Sudocrem
Baby shampoo
Baby bath
Sheets
Blankets
Rear facing car seat
Baby wipes
Cotton wool
Thermometer (forehead is easiest)
Bottle brush
Sterilising tablets (if it's a cold water steriliser)
baby should always have his/her own new matress in moses basket/cot
Don't forget breast pads for yourself.
That's all I can think of at the moment.
Hope everything goes well for you.

Kind regards,
Lin

Would add to the list- a pack of muslin nappies (very useful) nappy sacks, baby powder,oil, lotion,soft brush for baby's hair, soft sponge and baby soap. Baby Listening Device and a canopy to go on the pram-in case we get any sun :-) 

http://www.familiesonline.co.uk/article/articleview/3065/1/167/ This book might help you.

Hope everything goes well.

Linda

Baby Bath liquid is better than soap as doesn't need rinsing and can wash ahir and body.

My kids were allergic to Zinc that is in a lot of baby creams, so I used good old cheqp large tubs of Petroleum Jelly (Vaselione), never ever used baby powder bacause of the risk of inhalation.  Baby oil can be used if baby gets cradle cap (nasty dry flaky skin on the head).

I still theink the Best Baby monitors are made by Tomy great for use with elderly relatives as wel as babies.

Never bothered with a moses basket, used the Carrycot from the pushchair instead, it went either into the cot or was attached to pushchaior, meant they didn't need waking after a walk, ro could be taken out while asleep just wrappd up warmly and a hat put on.  Very important if you don't drive and need to go out.

Early on wouldn't bother with clothes beyond babygrows and the bodysuits (vests ruck up).  You are bond to get stuff from freinds and relatives and can make up the gaps later.

You will need big Sanitary towels for at least a week, and are likely to need mini ones for another month after (they rarely tell you about that!).

Um... there used to be a book(-let) with this kind of info and much much more in the pack your midwife gave you when you first go to see her, I forget what it was called :rolleyes: have they stopped doing this now?  

Bounty Bag usually given at the hospital. :-)

S/Ps for yourself ....large size ....for the first few days

Margot

Also for yourself lots of nice foods to indulge in at those times you can't sleep but are tired :D  Not sure if it would help but surely nice foods make any peron feel better when tired and worn out...I'm thinking chocolate here! :D

Thanks everyone, these are very helpful.  Please keep em coming if you think of anything else.

Ear plugs :D :D

My sister lent me this book when I was pregnant and I found it realy helpful,it covers mostly everything about bringing a new baby home..

http://www.amazon.co.uk/What-Expect-When-Youre-Expecting/dp/0743231430/ref=pd_bbs_1/202-3515722-3613450?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183623985&sr=8-1

Never having had a baby there isn't much I can advise you about !.

The one thing I will say is please check the type of bubble bath/shampoo you use on your baby. The increase in excema in youngsters is amazing.
I think that by putting 'Baby' on the label companies are misleading parents into thinking the products are gentle. It isn't always the case.
Anything with Sodium Laureth Sulfate or Sodium Lauryl Sulfate I would personally avoid. It's a foaming agent but they dry the skin so much.
Some products do now say 'no SLS'. There is a company  http://www.greenpeople.co.uk/  which somebody on here told me about.
Anyway, worth thinking about...even Johnsons which I assumed would be very kind to babies uses it. Obviously it won't affect everybody but I know since I stopped using products with it in I've been much happier.

I don't use any baby bath lotions on mine - and thats the recommended advice these days. Plain water only. No soaps and no shampoos. They don't need it.

If you are thinking of trying breast feeding - I'd advise NOT buying any formula in. It can be all too easy to give up adn try a bottle when the going is a little bit tough the first few days (I speak from experience!), but once you get going you will be so glad you have food ready on demand and you don't have to sterilise 20 thousand bottles a day and have a sicky baby who goes through a million bibs :D

Heartily agree. 

Makes life so much easier if you go out and don't get back in time for a feed.  Once remember being in a horrendous traffic jam on the motorway for several hours, and baby had food available.  You only need then take nappies and baby wipes with you.

Also made those night feeds so much easier just latch baby on and go back to sleep, wake up change sides and away you go.  Helps get rid of some of those extra pounds laid down especially for this, and helps your womb contract down too.

I would say the opposite, get in some formula and do both. I breast fed my last one until she was about 4 months old but always gave her a bottle as well usually the last feed at night before bed time, this made it a lot easier to replace me feeding her when I wanted too as she was already used to the bottle (couldn't get to grips with expressing). I will say though that I never liked feeding in public and unless I went to somewhere like mothercare that have nice feeding and baby changing rooms the last thing I wanted to do was feed my baby in a grotty toilet:rolleyes:

Breast feeding is sooo much easier though especially for the night feeds.

I am going to be controversial here and say that where possible - I think babies should be fully breastfed for as long as possible, its a far better food for their little tummies. You need to feed around the clock initially to regulate and increase your supply, so a bottle shouldn't really be used for the first few weeks as it can disrupt BF and cause nipple confusion :D

But, I guess 80% bf is better than 0% bf so I will shut up :D

Thats why I suggested baby soap-I always used baby bath liquid for my five. When my daughter's baby was born last year, she was advised against it. Midwife suggested a little soap,if she wanted to use anything and cleaning creases with a little oil in the early days. With my older grandchildren, bath liquid was ok!

Things do change don't they?!!  Makes you wonder sometimes how our babies survived our ministrations :-) :-)

Linda

If you decide to use/buy baby powder buy the Lavender and camomile by Johnsons. It is one of the only powders that is not actually talc  , it is corn starch (Zea Mays).  For some reason they don't advertise it all over the bottle.   It is better that talc and smells beautiful.

(I have given away my secret now, Johnsons sell one called corn starch that Hub international are selling for a huge price. Most people have not noticed that the lavender avaliable in the UK is also just corn starch and are paying the high price for the imported stuff) 

Why not just buy corn starch or Cornflour as it is otherwise known, always used to use ti to clean the white feet on my bunnny rabbits when I showed them.

Off topic I guess :-)

Corn starch and Corn flour are not actually the same. Corn Flour is Corn starch with gluten added.

Not that that is the reason for not using it as I know loads of people do, I just love the Johnsons lavender, it has a beautiful smell and it is in a dispenser so perfect for sprinkling. It is also pure white. :-)

Infacol - for colic!

I always liked Haywards Gripe Water.

yes, Woodwards gripe water was what I used

Yep meant Woodwards, use it on pups too.  Haywards is of course vinegar :D

  :D  I was thinking that awful picalilli stuff

can't use gripe water till they are 3 mths? Or something like that, far to long ago to remember exactly now :)

Have you got your hospital bag prepared?

For the hospital for you:
Energy drinks for during labour
CD if you want to listen to music and they have a player
Your birth plan!
Book etc to pass the time (if you have any!)
PJ's or nightdress etc (if breastfeeding - it would be easier if they had buttons at the top so you could undo them to feed)
Dressing gown
Slippers
Hairbands (if you have longer hair - useful to tie hair back in labour or when you have a bath/shower)
A few pairs of old panties (useful for the first couple of days and you can then chuck them)
S/T's (heavy duty ones !)
Nursing bras etc (if you are planning on breast feeding)
Breast pads
Dark coloured towels (for showering etc) and flannels
Washing toiletries (toothbrush etc)
Clothes for coming home in
Camera to take those all important photos
Change (lots of) for the phone to ring everyone!

Hospital bag for baby:
Blanket
babygro's
Vests
hat
Scratch mitts
Cardigan
Bibs
Muslin squares (handy to catch spilt milk and when burping)
Newborn nappies or whatever you choose to use
Baby wipes (you may want to take some baby cotton wool as some hospitals/midwives dont like/allow baby wipes)
Cotton wool for topping and tailing
Nappy bags
Changing mat and bag
Car Seat to take baby home (even if you are not going by car) and of course a going home outfit if you wish

You wont need much else (ie creams etc for the first few days) if you need need it you will get it in the free bounty packs that the hospital will give you (usually Johnsons).  A few hospitals dont encourage use of baby powder for the fine dust but its personal preference.

At home, you will need:- Mattress for basket, bedding (bottom sheets, sheets and blankets only), bath, steriliser, (dependant on what type you may need the sterlising tablets etc for the cold water ones) bottle brush, bottles, formula milk, babygros, vests, clothes, bibs, muslin squares, pram, sun canopy/insect screen, nappy cream, baby wipes, nappies, cotton wool, baby bath stuff, baby shampoo, oils for massage (if you want to do this), changing mat.

Obviously breast pads, S/T's for you, nursing bras, and a comfy cushion!

Hope this is helpful.
Kerri x

ooo - biscuits for all your visitors to have with their cuppa !.

Was going to say plenty sanitary towels but someone else has mentioned it. Get plenty decent ones. :-)

Make sure the breast pads are the saucer-shaped ones. The square ones are hopeless.

> The square ones are hopeless

They are fine if you have square breasts ;) ;)

Daisy

To be honest, in the early days after the birth of my two my boobs leaked so much that breast pads were useless - I used to have a heavy duty s/t in each bra cup

Oh and disposable knickers are a godsend!

You have all forgotten, Nappies, LOL !!!!! and plenty of money !!!!! its amazing how much all the little things cost. My daughter uses Tescos own make nappies for the baby and they are really thick, my granddaughter uses Pampers as baby was allergic to Tesco ones. Remember after baby is born to try and get some sleep when he/she does, just to recharge yourself. Good luck, hope things go o.k. for you.

When a friend of mine was having a baby I did a basket containing all the extras that I thought she may need. Apart from the above I also included Infacol and the little girl turned out to be very windy so it was a godsend for her.

ohhhhhhhhhh, infacol, I remember it well, and the panic if I ran out They had a problem with supplies once, their factory or something, which meant the shops ran out..........that was awful ;) And they say breast fed babies don't have wind...:D.nahhhh don't you believe it :D

As far as S/Ts go, make sure you have some 'plain' old fashioned ones too. The 'ultra absorbant' ones can cause irritation on sore places for some. I found bathing in a bath with salt water helped with the stitches bit :)

Bio Oil is wonderful for stretch marks :) Music is wonderful for you if you have a slow labour, helps take your mind off things when you do all the walking :)

So, once you have taken out a second mortgage to buy all this stuff :D....I hope all goes well for you and the little one:)

I know I'll probably be shouted down................but I would get a dummy.
You may not want to use it, but you really might........
You can wean them off them, I used one with 2 of my 3.
Karen :-)

Nothing wrong with a dummy, provided its not dipped in anything to encourage them because of the potential teeth problem. If the baby finds one a comfort, why not. :)

earl you missed out, that is the idea of the baby shower and the mother-in-law :-D

I bet your dashing around the shops like a mad woman now.

Looking forward to hearing about your little one in approx 3 weeks, (at least you haven't had a burning hot summer to contend with. :-P)

Magicool spray for when you are in labour......... they sell it in Boots and it is worth every penny !!!!!!!:D
It sprays you with freezing cold water and will be a god send when your contractions start, I promise !!!!.........

Bepanthen cream for if baby gets a sore bottom, it beats Sudocrem hands down..........

Good Luck, hope all goes well........

Gabrielle xx

My cousin wanted to have a baby shower for me, but I'm being a bit superstitious about this whole pregnancy thing, so asked if we could do it after the baby's born and I know all's well.  As for the MIL, unfortunately she died many years ago, but I was fortunate to know her.  Wish with all my heart that she was here just now, I know she'd have been great.

Good Luck, and remember the first moments after giving birth and you are holding your baby - those feelings are wonderful, really precious, the best feeling in the world! 
Maria :)

You are so right. I remember every single one of mine being born and I am going to miss that magical feeling now I am not going to have any more :( I just love the moment you first meet them

Ohhhhhhh yes, wonderful! I loved that time when you felt the final push, when you knew your baby was coming out into the world, then the baby is lifted and put on your tummy and you hold him/her for the first time....there really is no feeling like it, no feeling at all. :)