what to get...

[herbalhippie]

Hello mums

Could any of you advise on what is really needed for a newborn? I'm 34 weeks now, and we went shopping yesterday to try and get some things, but it all seems so overwhelming! I keep zoneing out and loosing focus and nearly getting run over by off road buggies in mothercare! As a result we ended up with a few sleep suits and some blankets, and not much else... How much clothing do you really need? I'm planning to breast feed so do I need to buy bottles and sterilizing unit for expressing milk sooner or later?? Is there anything that you would consider to be essential from the start??? I tried talking to the shop assistants in mothercare, but they were more interested in signing me up for their store card than anything else, so any thoughts would be appriciated!

 

[mum's the word]

Hi there,

Despite how it seems, newborns don't need much at all! This is what I had, i exclusively breastfed for 6 months:

5 sleep suits (white towelling I loved them)
10 vests (more than enough)
4 cardigans
6 muslin squares (great all purpose buy for mopping up sick, laying over changing mat etc)
boots electric sterilizer (came in handy even tho I didbn't use it that much at first)
4 baby towels
a few outfits but had lots as gifts-I'm sure you will too so no need to go overboard (personally I love babies in babygro and cardi in first weeks)
2 grobags 0-3 months
loads of bibs but luckily didn't have a dribbly/sicky baby
baby dressing gown
knitted shawl
3 cellular blankets
2 fleece blankets
had bottles, breast pump, milk storage bags etc but didn't use them so don't buy many until you know what you're going to stick with, otherwise you lose out on the money-saving side of breast-feeding!
5 packs of disposable nappies (wish I'd used washables now!)
4 packs wipes
cotton wool
sudocrem
no bubble bath initially-no need
I'm sure others will have ideas on things I've missed, but the best preparation is mental preparation, so rest, eat well and enjoy the last weeks as much as you can, no amount of shopping will do you better than this!