Overwhelmed with everything we need to buy for baby

[Starlight32]

We need to get all the baby stuff, crib, stroller, car seat, etc. it seems so overwhelming. What's really needed and how do you pick with all the options?

 

[Natasha2605]

I think the easiest thing to do first would be to work out your ideal budget so you know what you are working with.

From that, I'd rank things in order of how important they are to you. Different things are more/less important for each individual. Then scout around for ideas, deals etc.

For me, my pram was most important. I splurged on that and chose a £900 one as I will use it day in day out as I walk everywhere and use public transport. I watched for deals on it and have ordered it for £660.

 

[wannabemomy37]

Are you able to have a baby shower ? This is so other people can help financially and it's a fun get together

Obviously car seat, stroller, crib, means of food (breast pump, bottles, formula), diapers, wipes, clothes, etc are necessities.

Things like a bassinet, bouncer seat, wipe warmer, walker, jumper, etc are all considered extras. Even a changing table is unnecessary as long as you're comfortable placing baby on the bed, or the floor or other dresser, etc.

A baby is as expensive as you make them. You can get hand me downs and 2nd hand things from friends or local shops. Clothes are good to buy used as your LO will grow out of everything so quickly!

Car seat and crib mattress is the only things I'd buy new, for safety/health reasons.

 

[Marumi]

A lot of things aren't necessary imo...here are a few things we buy/ don't buy.

Buy:
-Stroller with Carseat, regular seat and Newborn Cot for under 200 Eur.
-Co-Sleeper, though I'd prefer just the bed if it wasn't too small. The crib we got last time was never used.
-Woven Wrap, can be worn so many ways or even serve as a blanket.
-Cloth Diapers - After the newborn stage these saved a ton of money!
-Changing Table with Storage.
-Closet

What I sometimes used:
Breast Pump

What I did not use:
-Baby tub, my son hated it but was happy with me in the bath of my lap.
-Swing, Bouncer, my son would never want to be put down in a bouncer. He preferred a blanket.
- Baby Carrier with Straps and clasps. We both hated it.
- We had way too much clothing at first. They grow so fast.
- Bottles, he never needed one as a baby and transitioned straight to the sippy cup after one. Though this time we may need them so we can leave the house sometimes
- Baby mittens, my son hated them and new research advises against them. Won't get any this time.
- Diaper bag, I stopped using it and instead used the stroller bag and my regular handbag at some point. Was enough.
- We got way too many silly, useless plastic toys from family my son did not like. He was more into everyday items.
- Pacifier, just don't want to use it. My son did great without.
- Baby food, my son went from the breast to solid foods and breast.
- Formula, I never bought any. But of course that depends on the feeding method of choice.
- Baby care products...so not necessary. I washed him with water only and did not have to use lotion bc the skin does not get dried out. If lotion was required I had coconut oil at home which I use on my skin also. For poop or pee accidents I used Dr. Bronners organic soap. But if he was fairly clean he bathed in water.

Can't think of anything else atm

 

[Christie2011]

My son didn't use a crib until 6 months. He slept in either a bassinet or a port a crib in my room until then. This time around, the twins will sleep in their own port a cribs in my room until my boys transition out of their toddler beds and I can turn them back into cribs. The cribs I have were less than $200.

I did use a wipe warmer, a lot of people don't. I also used a diaper genie for disposables. I plan on cloth diapering mostly this time.

While my son was sleeping in my room, I used either my bed or the ironing board as a place to change him. I used the floor a lot too.

I had an infant seat and stroller it could snap into, until I needed a double stroller. Then I used a carrier for my youngest and an umbrella stroller for my slightly older son.

 

[SaraVO]

Great lists above. I registered at babys rus with the help of a friend with kids, don't do it alone it's scary and you have no clue what to choose. I have only spent about forty dollars on new things. I have received baby gifts already and have bought things on craigslist and at used baby stores. A two hundred dollar swing for fifty on Craigslist. Two dollar outfits, my stroller and car seat was a gift and my mattress is new as well. But I have plenty of things second hand that all look brand new. My husband and I have decided on a weekly budget to make purchases with. Either diapers that I'm trying to stockpile or odds and ends. I found a great list online and I'm checking things off slowly.

 

[angelmum31]

We need to get all the baby stuff, crib, stroller, car seat, etc. it seems so overwhelming. What's really needed and how do you pick with all the options?

It is very easy to get over-excited and buy things that arent really needed. We have all done it

Essentials: good car seat. I would NEVER compromise on car safety and personally I rate car seats with iso fix.

Pushchair - options are endless - remember as nice as it looks in shop it will be rained on, go through muddy puddles, be sicked in etc... Advice is to have a proper push of several if you can (make the most of trying out friends ones too). Most important thing is to find one with suitable height handles and that you find easy to push.

I personally loved having nappy change unit and used with dd every day for two years, units vary massively in price but to save money you can buy ones that fit over cots... (They look like wooden trays and then you just buy the padded mat separately).

Moses basket and mattress for first few months. Mattresses can be bought as cheap as £10 and you can nearly always pick up great quality second hand baskets. Remember babies are in it for such a short time anyway - no need to spend loads!

Cot/cotbed - again shop around - cotbeds are good as they last longer than cots - my daughter has just come out of hers as we need it for baby but she would easily have lasted in it for another year or so!

Clothes - clothes from supermarkets like asda are great! They wash well and are cheap enough that you dont worry too much about poop stains! For first few months babies live in vests and baby gros and not much is needed. Also get six or so muslins - they can be used for breastfeeding covers and for mopping up! Also hats for when baby is first born. No need for mittens/so ks as most newborn babygros and built in mittens.

Nappies - personally i wouldnt buy too many prior to birth - nappies seem to vary in size from shop to shop and baby will grow out of newborn quickly. Buy enough for first week or two when having a baby is still new to you and your finding your feet...

Change bag - make sure it has a portable change mat - will be essential for you when out and about. Also handy to have few compartments for things like wipes, nappies and sanitiser.

Baby monitor if your home is large enough to need one. You dont need anything too fancy as you will constantly find yourself checking on baby anyway - my dd is 4 and i still check regularly!

Bouncer chairs are good as you can pop baby in it while you grab a cuppa or do some housework knowing they are safe.

Most other things are just a personal choice to buy! Baby shopping is a lot of fun though!

 

[Rhi_Rhi1]

Car seat. Pram. Bed.
Bottles (if needed). Steriliser.
Clothing. Blankets. Towels. Muslins. Nappies. Anything else is an extra I guess. Just depends on preference.

 

[pinkpassion]

A tip I learned about the wipes, instead of buying those expensive wipe Warmers.... when getting ready to change baby stick a few wipes between your boobs, you'll be a toasty oven for several weeks pp and it'll warm them up in a manner of seconds.. granted your shirt may get a bit damp but it was worth it to me!!! We used a combo of disposable and cloth wipes, and went cloth diaper route. Worked out well for us because the wipe warmer we bought kept getting mildew smell no matter how often we changed it , added tea tree oil, ect,... we tried everything!!

 

[Lil_Pixie]

Am I the only one that's never heard of a wipe warmer?

The problem is everyone has a different idea of what they really need.

For me a baby bath was a waste of money. So was a changing table. We bought the nursery set with the bedding which was a waste because baby can't use the bedding till its 1 anyway. Also Xander only fit in the moses basket for a few weeks so we're not bothering with that.

 

[pinkpassion]

we were very practical with our first. we didn't get all the "extras" just the basics!!

 

[Eleonora]

The carseat is probably the only real essential! Everything else will depend on your personal situation. Our little guy wouldn't tolerate being on his own at night so we had him in our bed and the crib/bassinet/baby hammock were mostly unused. I am thinking of getting a fancy co-sleeper thingy this time around. You still need a few safe places simply to put the baby down though so we used the other stuff for short periods during the day. I found a changing bag very handy as his designated "suitcase" for our many car trips and weekends away but I used a freebie cloth tote bag when just out in the neighborhood. We never had a real changing table (we just had a table with a changing pad on it). I had 3 baby carriers (mei-tai, sling, and Ergo) and liked them at different stages for different reasons. The stroller choice is a big one but it so depends on your house and the kind of outings you plan on. We ended up with a super-cheap umbrella stroller because of its lightweight foldability (we live on a third-floor walk-up) but that doesn't work with newborns because it can't be reclined much. I found a nursing pillow was hugely useful for hours everyday (and probably nice even if you bottle feed). A manual breast pump was also a good thing to have because there can be moments when you might need to store up some milk or if your babe can't feed for some reason (like a really stuffy nose) then it can save you from the discomfort of exploding, too-full breasts. As for what exactly to buy, I think you are in the US and there are more choices there than anywhere else! Before you commit to anything expensive, check out the reviews on Amazon and make sure you scope out the options at some of the cheaper places like Target and Ikea and Walmart. But it can also be gratifying to buy something really nice that you know you will use a lot, so enjoy the process! As for me, I can't remember how many onesies a newborn needs!?!

 

[DaisyDreamer]

I'm a FTM on a budget and I ended up getting cloth diapers and covers, a baby bath (it was $20 so if it doesn't work I'm not that bummed), pack N play with a changing table (they will be bedsharing for the first little bit then in the PNP until ready for a big kid bed), Boba baby wrap for carrying, carseat and the stroller will come later on I think, nursing pillow for breastfeeding and just propping up baby.
I plan on sewing some of their clothes but not too many because they will grow out of them quickly

GL x

 

[Misscalais]

Everyone will have different opinions on whats needed and whats not.
Obvious things:
Car seat ( i like to have a capsule that can be put in a stroller ). And then update to a 0-4 seat. You can store the capsule for next baby if you're going to have one.
Cot and/or bassinet/cradle
Clothes, nappies, wipes, nappy creams etc.
Stroller.
Nappy bag.
blankets/sheets/towels
Then optionals:
Breast pump and bottles/formula depending on what you want to do.
Nursing chair.
Baby carrier or sling
Change table/baby bath ( ive used one for all of my kids )
Swing/bouncer
swaddles
You can purchase things after baby arrives if you feel you need them.
Ive only bought a cradle and a few clothes so far as id given everything away as we weren't meant to be having another lpl

 

[winterbabies3]

Always shop around or buy used!! We went all out on the first 2 (4 years apart) and honestly it's a shame on how much one person can spend on a baby and honestly they grow out of it so quick!!

 

[happynewmom1]

I agree.. It will depend on you as to what you will find really necessary. We are truly going basic this time. Pack n play, car seat, clothes, diapers, nursing cover and a baby carrier. Also had to get another dresser. Baby Carrier we found at a garage sale for $1. It's a wrap kind.. I really wanted one this time. Had a Bjorn with my daughter and it was so uncomfortable for both of us. Anyway, wasn't going to get a nursing cover but found that super cheap too. My last two hated covers but this won't be a loss if she doesn't like it either. Honestly not getting a stroller. We just didn't use one with our last until they were older and got an umbrella stroller. But I have an action baby carrier I used with my second until she was 2.most of the time, it was more convenient to carry a baby carrier around than a stroller.

We won't be getting a nursing pillow (had one, never used it), baby swing (first two hated it), wipe warmer or changing table (I found I changed baby everywhere but the table with our first haha) with this baby. If we find we really could use something later we will get it

Good luck! I know how overwhelming it can be. Babies really just need fed, clean clothes and diaper, car seat and you even a bed I saw on pinterest on how to turn a laundry basket into a bassinet

 

[karlilay]

I completely understand. My last baby was 5 years ago and I have nothing, I forgot about all the bits you need. It's the things like, change bag, nursery bedding etc that I didn't think about.

I am going to buy second hand this time though. We can afford to buy new, but I think it's silly when babies use thing so little.
I have advertised in my local selling site for a Moses basket, pushchair & baby bath. I just can't justify buying new.
I also will probably buy my change bag second hand because I love those pink Lining Bags, but I refuse to spend £70-£80 on a bloody bag

 

[SCgirl]

We actually rarely use our (rather nice) stroller... go figure! Our lillebaby carrier has been a lifesaver though- use it on walks, makes grocery shopping a breeze, etc.

I'd say a safe car seat would be high on the list.
Aiden and Anais muslin swaddle blankets were possibly the best investment we made.
Burp cloths, diapers, wipes.
Bottles / formula (we planned to BF and pump, but my body never produced- you never know what you have to be ready for!)
Somewhere safe to sleep- we used a pack and play for the first 3 months before the crib... the pack and play still gets used on trips and whenever we need to contain the kid for a few minutes
some kind of bag to carry tons of stuff in- my baby was a spit-up machine so I had to carry clothes for both of us, in addition to everything else! (got a jj cole caprice tote bag in ash woodland and love it!)

Things we didn't use at all: (I know everyone's different)
crib bumpers (increase sids risk)
carseat cover (he was born late dec, we either threw on tons of blankets and ran to the car or didn't go out in the freezing weather)
baby mittens
cute fancy clothes early on- lived in sleep and plays- made life easier
changing table- just used a mat on the floor or on a chair
wipe warmer- just dried out the wipes

Nice to have, but not necessary:
baby would only sleep in his swing some nights- read that they aren't supposed to but we were soooooo desparate
baby bath- we used one of the foam pillow things on the counter the first few months- cheap and worked well. tried the sink after, but it was too tough to do on my own, so got a baby tub that made life easier.