10 most useful things and 10 most useless

for a new mum...what are the 10 most useful things you bought or did before birth, and also the 10 useless? soo many items out there ....dont know what will be good and necessary and what wont! thanks!

Best purchases:

Sling for carrying baby

Car Seat with base (if you own a car)

(We didn't buy a pram until he was 6 months old!)

Swaddles - the cheating kind with velcro

10 newborn size onesies - we went through 6 some days! (for larger sizes 6 are okay)

4 or so 'newborn nightgowns' - these have sleeves with 'flaps' that cover the hands (they scratch their face) and are long with elastic at the bottom (easy access!). We wore these every day for the first 2 months I think!

Traditional pre-fold nappies or muslin cloths - seriously, at least 15, they are used as burp cloths, on the changing table, everything!! Our baby loved holding a muslin later, it was his first favourite toy. And you will continue to use them all the time.

a few (3 or 4) large muslins that can be used to cover car seat when baby sleeping, or later the stroller, and as a shawl while breast feeding, and a million other uses.

Boppy for breast feeding and putting baby on/in to sit/lay.

http://www.envisagedesign.com/ohbaby/infstim/graphics.html - print the PDF and get them laminated


Cot bed - turns into a bed, so lasts for 4-5 years.

Changing table that is a dresser, so it lasts for as long as you need a dresser.


Home visit package from Annerley Midwife - could not have survived without this!!


Optionals:

soft fleece blanket- to put on ground or sofa for baby to sit, lay, play on

CD of classical or lullabies

grapeseed oil for massages

A baby safe mirror to tie to crib

A mobile for above crib


Not worth it

Any outfit that is an 'outfit' first few months baby is likely to live in either a onesie or a onesie with something warmer on top.

If it doesn't have snaps or easy access to diaper - forget it.

If it is 'fussy' forget it.

Shoes - babies do NOT need shoes until they are walking well - it is actually BETTER for them to go barefoot as they learn to crawl and walk.

Toys -they don't need any, really... not for a while. And you will be given some.


Later I think a baby gym type playmat is great and a baby dan. But not for a while.


Things to do:

Go out for dinner with your partner A LOT

Pre-pay any bills, like tax bill that are due in the next few months.

set up auto pay on all other bills so you don't have to worry.

Go float in a pool - feels great!

By maternity sanitary napkins for that first week home - just one or two packs combined with what hospital gives you is probably fine

Stock up on newborn nappies, baby wipes, toilet paper, detergent and anything else you can order online from parknshop

Set up your 'breast feeding station' - know where your glass of water will go, etc...

have your maid prepare food for freezer - lasagna, spring rolls, dumplings, etc... so there is easy food for her to heat for you.

Print and read this: http://www.childbirthsolutions.com/articles/postpartum/newborn/index.php

By a huge comfy robe - for hospital and home

Charge your camera and phone batteries

Have a list of essential phone numbers to bring to hospital

sleep a lot, really!

As close to due date as possible - full wax and manicure and pedicure and facial and eyebrow shape and eyelash tint (if you do that).


Set up email list to email all those you want to when you come home... just put it in your draft folder if you don't want to do anything fancy.


If you are super organised and efficient, unlike me, address your birth announcement cards!

thanks all for your time and sharing your experiences - some fab ideas here - keep them coming!!

Just about to have my third and have recently thrown out an amazing amount of stuff!


Best buys

Bonds baby gros with fold over hands

floor mat (for tummy time from birth if warm)

cotbed

decent change/table with chest of drawers below

Vaporiser (great for when they get a cold)

rocker with handles that you can cart from room to room (from birth)

Desitin for bad nappy rash, Aroma baby for every nappy change

Baby Bjorn

Large Muslin squares (for BF, swaddling etc)

Medela electric breast pump

Pigeon stick-on breast pads

Good carseat that goes from birth to 4years

Microwave steam sterliser container

Graco Exercauser (from 4months)

A good monitor with no interference. Phillips have a new digital DECT one that promises Zero interference, looking into it!

Hooded towels 4

I had a friend give me some wonderful waterproof mats that I used under them if they had their nappies off on the floor and also good for the first month or two on the change table for the middle of the night so you are not cleaning up messes.



Not worth it

Bassinet/moses basket - put them at the bottom of the cot.

Cot bumpers etc - not safe

Bottle warmer

Nappy bin

Breastfeeding pillow just used a normal pillow or two if I needed one.

swings (eg graco one) fine for the first but you will never need for the 2nd as the first one wants to "swing" it.

loads of good clothes and toys for the baby - you will get plenty

Nappy bag - I used my larger normal handbags (just had to clean them out for a change!) a ziplock with 2 nappies small jar of bum cream, travel wipes and a onesie in it - always had similiar in the car as well

1. Tigex bath seat - can fit into any sink, use from newborn, handy as you can release the use of your hands. (I have a video if you want to see...happy to share it.)


2. Muslin cloths


3. Boogersnatcher mentioned by Simply the best above. Excellent use.


4. Breastfeeding apron (if you're doing it.) www.gracemama.com - they also sell them at Papyrus.


5. Mothers Milk tea/fenugreek tablets - have these on handy and ready - especially if you're breastfeeding


6. Incontinence pads - I used these all over the house - so that I could change the baby anywhere...without worrying about leakage. They also double as a great mattress liner for your baby as you can slide it under the sheet and it keeps the mattress safe.


SO not useful -


1. pretty "newborn" clothes - as all they want to do is be cuddled, held and kept warm. I'd spend more more on cuter blankets as most of the time they are swaddled anyways.


2. Diaper Genie/Diaper pails - if you're using disposable, far easy to just throw it away in a regular trash can, and then dump it daily instead of wrestling with functions, buying refills, and whatnot. Just a convenience thing. Especially if you have a helper.

The changing table was invaluable.

I didnt buy any clothes except for the little kimono thingies from Jusco, I was overwhelmed with gifts and clothes that lasted a long while.

I got a co-sleeper second hand.

I got nuk bottles and teats at about 2 weeks, but didnt actually use them much till I went back to work at 3 months!

I got heaps of receiving blankets as gifts, and the hospital gives you one to go home in anyway.

I ordered heaps of prefolded cloth nappies on the internet, but didnt use them till bubs was 6 weeks, because he wee-ed and poo-ed all the time!

A friend gave me a baby bath, which I still use, thats very useful.

A friend also gave me a moses basket which bubs hated, so I never used it.


I read online that people go overboard with baby stuff and that all a newborn really needs is you, nappies and a swaddle, so I kind of kept it minimal, and was so glad I did.


For myself I got a birthing ball, which I never used, useless.

A friend gave me my breastfriend which is great for when bubs is small and you can feed and watch TV. I only did that occassionally when I didnt want to miss a fave programme. Rest of the time I lie down and bf. Also once bubs is big enough to know the tv is on, its useless cause they get very distracted.

simplythebest,

where do i buy one of those travel cutter masher with case - how much?