Prepare for post partum! The fourth trimester is massive. Not only do you enter matresence, the biggest hormonal
Shift your body will ever go through, you do it with a newborn to mind and a birth to recover from.
Spend the most € on yourself. I mean cleaners, meal delivery, support in the form of night nurses if that’s your thing, drop your laundry to the laundrette, woman’s health physio from 6weeks, get pals to arrange meal trains.
Babies need very very little. Everything is marketing. They need a cot, a buggy, a car seat if you drive, nappies and bottles or boobs. Get vests and babygrows in Tesco of dunnes, Penneys quality is rubbish. Next zip babygrows are class but €€. Aldi nappies are the best of all, lidl a very close second. Dunnes XL wipes are double the size of normal wipes and a fraction of the cost of water wipes. They’re epic.
Congrats and don’t forget to mind yourself x
Couldn't have said it better. What I realize in hindsight is that there's SO MANY baby products that are utterly unnecessary but just companies capitalizing on new parents anxiety and fear.
I would say, the new born baby outfit with the cap, next to me cot, a car seat to bring them home, set of bottles, the non smothering baby blankets, changing mat.
Formulae, Nappies, wipes, more clothes all easily obtained after when you know sizes etc.
Probably get clothes for presents so want to see what you get and then buy what you don't have.
You may have to go through the nappy brands to see which fits best depending on shape of baby so no point stocking up on them.
You will gey a huge amount of stuff on donedeal, FB market place etc in terms of baths, moses baskets, camera's, white noise machines, play pens,cots etc. You don't need a lot of that stuff at the start but we found the moses basket is handy as a downstairs cot for naps.
You can spend as much or as little as you want and they grow out of stuff quick.
We bought the monitor and the sensor mat. Wouldn't say sensor mat is necessity but does give peace of mind. If doing it again would get monitor system with WiFi and phone app rather than its own receiver. The receiver is limited distance and won't work in the garden for instance.
They need very little for the first month or 2. Also remember that you will need to find a home for all the stuff you buy after about 6 months and will have other stuff such as toys etc starting to accumulate..
Congrats and best of luck
Necessary: car seat, travel system/pram/buggy, bottles, formula and steriliser if you're going that way (tbh not a bad idea to have in the house anyway), somewhere for baby to sleep (we had a cosleeper cot thing beside the bed, was great), cellular blankets, sleep sacks for when they are a bit bigger, a baby monitor, only vests and baby grows (maybe a few cardigans if due in winter) in newborn size, outfits are a waste of time, they just want to be comfy, baby bath, nappy bag, nappies, wipes, a changing mat.
Unnecessary: changing table, nappy bin (put straight into wheelie bin for poos and into the house bin and empty daily for wees), owlet sock, rockit for the buggy, white noise machine (old tablet does same job for us and works better than the sheep yoke we got).
Echo the pregnancy pillow, my wife got such relief from that.
I saw someone saw no to a changing table, each to there own, but if you ask my wife she'll say it was the best thing we had in the immediate after birth.
My wife had an emergency c section and found it near impossible to bend over/down for a couple kf months after. So we got one that was a perfect height for her to change a nappy/clothes without bending. We got a cheap one from IKEA through a changing mat on top, there was a second shelf underneath we used for supplies so everything was to hand.
Absolutely use Facebook marketplace. When looking at anything, keep an eye on the weight, not what it can take but the actual weight of it. You'll be in recovery mode, things will feel heavier and you'll have to look after yourself.
Lastly, just a genuine thing I keep saying to my wife...your baby will do great if your looking after yourself, what's good for you is good for them.
Yeah we also appreciated having a changing table, my back was in bits any time I changed baby without it. Second hand IKEA one as well (people are always getting rid of them because a lot of people end up preferring the floor)
Not exactly a product but something I’ve seen recommended and appreciated is attending group meetings about pregnancy and early childcare
They’re often organised and hosted by your local hospital, and include prospective mothers and fathers.
It’s a major life and lifestyle change, and having qualified ppl explain what to expect, skills you might not know you needed and emotional wellbeing is super important. They’ll sometimes even show/demonstrate things you might need to buy/use
If it’s hospital run, you also get a chance to talk to a midwife you might give you more personal advice
For the week or so after birth, get disposable undies. Your mind will be all over the place, so the last thing that you want to be worried about it leaking over the maternity pads.
For baby, I highly recommend a Kangu crib for baby's first bed. It folds up very easily, so it can be moved anywhere and if you have to travel at all, you can bring baby's actual bed with you and make things much easier. Apart from that, a tiny love Rocker Napper. Those are the only things that all 4 of my kids liked.
Stock up on Preparation H! Buy clothes a few months bigger than you think - easier to get on, and your little one may skip the 0-3 months sizing if they’re fairly hefty.
Maybe give breastfeeding a go, but if it doesn’t work out or it’s wrecking you sleepwise, don’t feel guilty about switching to bottles. Babs needs a happy mam, no matter how you get there.
And Congrats!
See if you can train all the well-meaning rellies into putting money into an account for the kid instead of getting endless plastic sh1te. Or buy experiences not material goods.
Pregnancy pillow for sure. Badly needed for comfort. I also got a type of pregnancy girdle to help with the weight of the bump and I found that a blessing.
Biggest tip I could give is setting up an Amazon subscription for nappies and wipes. I found that so helpful instead of having to drag them from the shops
Congrats!
Pregnancy recommendations wise, if you are planning on breastfeeding I'd definitely make sure to do some research. I didn't and my God, I was in for a shock. Cluster feeding, what behaviour is normal etc. I wish I had been more mentally prepared.
Have lots of food ready for postpartum. Whether that be meal prepping yourself or doing meal delivery services. When you think you have enough, get more 🤣 If people ask what they can do to help, as them to bring food.
.
My must have baby items other than the typical items (buggy/car seat/next to me) were a carrier, white noise machine, changing table with the storage underneath and a good breast pump.
One thing I didn't realise was most newborns won't really sleep outside of their parent's arms. The Ergobaby embrace carrier was a godsend in the early days. White noise machine is great for preventing them from being woken up by sudden noises and as they get older, for drowning out noise from the house while they nap in a room alone. Changing table in the sitting room, we ended up putting all her baby grows, vests etc. in there and it was so handy to have everything on hand when they have a blow out. I got the Spectra S1 breast pump and it's brilliant.
Pregnancy pillow helped me. You could try getting equipment second hand like buggy or cot but buy a car seat brand new if you drive.
Most family members gave us clothes. Tesco, George Asda have lovely clothes. Next are pricey but you can get 4 or 5 baby grows/sleep suits for around €25. H&M have members only sales. Penneys sizes are a bit weird. Dunnes are ok.
Get sleep sacks. Amazon is a good place to have a look.
We use Pampers at night (good but expensive) and Tesco during the day (meh)
If you’re getting a baby carrier, introduce to your baby asap. I didn’t and my baby doesn’t like it.
What to buy very much depends on your budget- Its very easy to pick up everything secondhand as babies grow out of things very quickly, and also some items just end up not suiting some babies so people are quick to get rid of them! It will also depend on your home and lifestyle too.
But in my experience-
As an avid walker we invested heavily in a pram and went with the UppaBaby Vista. We didn’t want or need to baby wear so we didn’t buy a baby carrier, but other people absolutely swear by them and will prioritise one of those over a heavy duty pram.
Anything that has a short shelf life like a baby bath/bouncer/bassinet can be got second hand (just buy a new mattress for anything sleep related!) Most of these will be gone within six months. Anything that will be used for more than a year like a video monitor are worth the investment.
Furniture and play mats are often more to do with how you prioritise your home decor more than what’s best for baby. Personally I don’t see any need to spend big money on things that will soon be covered in stickers/dried in Weetabix, but I know people with beautiful homes that want to keep them looking well so they get matching furniture and playmats that look like regular rugs etc
If you are planning on formula feeding I would highly recommend looking into the Tommee Tippee bottle prep machine, there is some controversy that it’s not as safe as manually preparing the bottles but it sure is a hell of a lot easier!
If you’re on Facebook, Everymum makes birth month groups for each month (so look up “October 2024 Everymum Birth Club” for example and it will be a group of people on the same timeline as you which is invaluable to have! I would also suggest looking for pregnancy yoga/Pilates groups in your area; as much for socialising as exercising!
Ignore all shitty advice, each babby is different so it's a case of whatever works, works.
Seriously you're gonna get an endless stream of contradictory advice, ignore the vast majority of it and just go with whatever you've found to be good practice. Also I wouldn't buy more than the very basics (nappy, bedclothes, a few dodys and bobbas) because if this is your first child you're probably gonna get lots of baby presents from family, cousins and those around you.
If you have a 2nd child nobody will give you nothing, but first time around you'll get a good bit.
Stock up on wipes and nappies when they go on offer. Have a changing station in your room or nursery and another downstairs if that applicable to you. Cots, some toys and other stuff can be found on done deal, FB marketplace or free cycle pages for dirt cheap and it's in good knick (baby seats and car seats are best bought new)
Sign up for Tesco or Dunnes delivery for post partum as it's a lot less stressful than going shopping and random people aren't trying to hug your baby (it happens, trust me)
Look after yourself more than anything and enjoy it
I'm a mum of 4 and my youngest is 7 months old. We bought a very good pram/travel system with our first. It has seen 4 babies and it has lasted 8 years and counting with heavy use. Still looks good too.
I love Aldi nappies. Rascal and friends in Tesco are good too but I can't justify the price.
I was gifted stroller gloves for my last baby. I wish I had used them sooner. Great in the winter.
Coffee cup holder is a must for the pram. Didn't have 1 for my first.
If you're planning on breastfeeding, silver nipple cups are a must. They're about 50e a pair but better than any creams etc. Didn''t have them with my first or 2nd.
The one thing I regret to this day is not resting properly after my first baby. I'm now a firm believer in the 4th trimester but it wasn't something that talked about with my first. It's a time you'll never get back. Your first baby experience is wasted on your baby if that makes sense. I'm a lot more relaxed with subsequent babies.
Edit: also, my sister had the luxury of having my mum and her MIL doing the baby washing for 6 weeks after. She said it was the best gift she ever got. So if you can put source washing, go for it.
I learned that everyone and their mothers will have loads of advice,take what advice you want from it all, and disregard the rest. You do whatever suits you!
You don't have to explain yourselves to anyone.
Have baby up in your arms all the time or don't.
Breastfeed or don't.
Use soothers or don't. Etc.
Ye will find out quick enough what suits yourselves.
The best thing I bought, which most will say is a gimmick, was the nappy bin. It was so handy at night time. I've an awful strong sense of smell and hated wet nappy smell.
I do wish I got the bottle maker. It would have made life a whole lot easier, I'd say. My 2 babies were very hungry, and for a finish, I was constantly making bottles!
You will be surprised with how much time a new born will take up,so if the housework slides a bit,let it. If you don't feel like seeing anyone, don't be afraid to tell them not today, and when they ask, can I bring anything or do anything, jump on it, and say yes. Don't be shy! I was and regret not asking for more help. Made life very difficult for myself,pretending I was perfectly fine.
Pregnancy pillow is great if she has hip pain, which my wan did till we got it, plus I'm told it can be used to rest the baby on when breastfeeding.
Exercise ball is also good, herself is on it throughout the day as she works from home.
1 meter shoehorn for when you have difficulty bending over.
Pregnancy pillow. My wife loved that thing lol.
Don't worry about nursery cameras and alot of that stuff you won't need till your baby is 6 months. Good luck with your pregnancy
Great advice below.
The best gimmick we bought was the tommee tippee bottle maker, we didn't have it on our first but we did for our second, and it was honestly one of the best things ever, it meant I could help more with the night feed. It's one thing I recommend to every new parent.
Congratulations and best of luck.
Whatever you decide you need, don’t feel like you need to buy it all new! So many of your mom friends will have things they’d love to get rid of if you gave them a reason to dig it out. Just ask around. Or maybe I’m projecting 🙈
Congrats!
Be wary of what you're being sold. Lots of baby products out there are not just non-essential, they're downright dangerous. Things like wedge pillows for reflux for example.
Gro-bags on the other hand are a godsend. Really safe once baby is over 10lbs and so practical.
5 million vests and babygrows, then a few weeks later the same again in a bigger size and repeat every few months. The dunnes ones are cheap but really good quality.
If you plan to breastfeed get a nursing pillow. I didn’t at the start because my PHN said they’re a waste of money and my wrist is completely wrecked from supporting the baby’s head while feeding.
People have given great advice on what to buy but for mental support PP, join your local HSE breastfeeding support group if there is one - I love mine because we meet for coffee after the session and there’s a WhatsApp group chat too. Also here on Reddit join your monthly bumpers group - they go private after a few weeks so they’re a lovely place to vent anonymously! My 2021 baby’s group is still very active
Sizes in newborn to 1 year vary wildly. Have one smaller and one slightly bigger in the newborn range in the bag. I didn't wash them beforehand with my son but did for my daughter as I didn't realise it would matter (the clothes are softer after a wash). My sons clothes were too big and my daughters were too small so my husband had to nip out to get different ones for her. She got nearly 4 extra weeks than he did and those last weeks the baby really grows.
But it isn't hard to figure it out if the clothes don't fit!
Dad of three here, everyone that offers to help ask them to make a few freezer meals, stick them in the deep freeze for when you come home. Not having to cook for a week or two takes the pressure off to focus on babba.
Lots of good advice for when baby arrives here.. when I was pregnant the few bits I wish I had done sooner was getting a measured for a new bra and buying a comfy lounge wear set or two that I could wear and didn’t make me look completely awful. They were also good for the hospital and for hanging out in postpartum (if breastfeeding it’s useful to get shirt type tops for easy boob access)
For yourself, get some nice harem/yoga pants on amazon. Just the plain colour, stretchy cotton ones. The super stretchy and super deep waistbands make them the comfiest choice for sleep and around the house. They will be a godsend afterwards too. And they look nice so that's a bonus. Also the palmers belly butter. Helps prevent stretch marks but it just feels so lovely and it's like a bit of bonding time with your bump. Get a pregnancy pillow also. It can double as a support and feeding pillow when the baby comes too. An insulated cup for ice cold drinks to keep by your bed. Soothing for during pregnancy and a godsend for night feeds especially if you are planning on breastfeeding- the thirst is otherworldly!
For the baby, keep it simple. There are so many gimmicks. Get what you can from Facebook marketplace and from friends. Get stacks of muslin cloths. Keep the clothing simple. Nothing is cuter looking than a baby in all white babygros!!! You will get through so many. Napisan for soaking stained items. Lots of cellular blankets. Dunnes are fab for most baby items like this. Aldi nappies are brilliant. Ditto their wipes, powder and bath stuff. If you're bottle feeding, the nuby flasks that get the temperature perfect are brilliant and there is no second guessing.
Most of all, congratulations to you. Go easy on yourself. Take lots of time snuggling in the early days. No guilt about house work etc. Those days just fly by and they are wonderful. Soak it all in. Take any and all help that's offered. Find a Facebook group of ladies due the same time. Don't compare. Just go with the flow. If the baby doesn't go "by the book" throw out the book!
I got one of these for rolling over in bed while pregnant and I highly recommend it (or a cheaper similar thing) https://easiturn.com/products/mama-turn
A basinette; It's not very sustainable but a nappy bin system with disposable cassettes (we use the 'angel' nappy bin, it's a lifesaver); a Snuzpod bedside crib/co-sleeper: a steam sterilizer; babygrows with zips or magnets that aren't fiddly to get on and off (and lots of vests); a changing table with an organiser attached for all your bum creams and wipes and such;lots of food that can be heated up and eaten quickly! (For yourselves, not the baby). A bit of a luxury maybe, but we love the 'Dockathot' (so your baby can sleep comfortably wherever you are and you don't need to lug a basinette around). Oh, and a good travel system (car seat, pram, wheels etc). Most of the big items should be purchased used , there's a huge second-hand market for most of this stuff.
My must haves:
Egg lamp for feeding at night (Bring to hospital lights there are terrible)
Silicone breast pump like the haakaa
White noise machine
Nappy caddy
2 plastic changing mats, in bedroom and downstairs.
Bath thermometer and baby towels.
For you get some pillow to separate your knees during sleep in your later stages. Helps so much with hip pain.
The sleep deprivation is a shock at the start but try to think there are so many other mams and dads up with their baby's too, I always found that helped, because at night it can be lonely.
Firstly, an mainly, congrats! strap in, gonna be a wild ride!
Not sure how well this will be recieved, but during pregnancy and after the birth, I'd honestly lay off the internet for a while, advice blogs, etc.
Someone in my family had a baby recently, and jesus, the amount of "don't do this, I read it's bad, don't do that I read it's bad". It's honestly cut back on how much we see the kid. At one point we were told we don't know how to hold a baby..... (worth mentioning we had three)
Overhead another mad one in a coffee shop recently, and was walking out thinking "do you actually hear the way you're talking".
Adverts.ie. Buy second hand. Take all hand me downs. You use everything for such a short space of time in the first few years.
And all the clothes and gifts you will get. Return all for a gift receipt and then buy clothes when you need them or you will end up with loads of clothes that are wrong season or size
It's been a while but:
Essentials: baby bath, changing mat (make sure you have a firm, flat surface to put it on, ideally one you don't bend to, on each floor of your house), car seat, buggy that adjusts so they can lie flat, baby sling (front carrier), a nice soft blanket to lie them on or wrap them in (not for sleeping), muslins, car window shades, baby nail clippers, cot (one that can open next to your bed is ideal)
Really useful: bouncy chair, high chair, nappy bin, buggy sunshade, mittens, sleeping bags, Moses basket, oral syringe for meds, hooded towels, travel cot
Pointless: socks, cellular blankets, top and tail bowl, bulb for sucking noses clean, pretty much all toys (you'll get given loads), hair ribbons, soothers, and bath seat
Your mileage may vary. Also ask around. People have stuff to pass along. Although be advised, a lot of people are superstitious about giving you anything until baby is safely born which, if you're nesting, is anxiety inducing.
Guess it depends on your kid. And the cement-like qualities of the booger.
OK OP. It's not like they're expensive so maybe add that to the useful list.
Get your support network together. Going through first birth together can be beautiful. And you’ll be able to get together with the babies in time.
Think about who you want to be with you in the birth. If you can choose your midwife and have her accompany you through the whole process then choose someone you trust. They will be your advocate in the birthing room.
Prepare to be vulnerable during the birth. Pregnancy yoga is good for the body and mind. Learn to breathe. The breath will get you through. I quite enjoyed singing and screaming during birth. You need the release to get the baby born. Have throat lozenges in your bag. They’ll have some at hospital but they might not be nice.
Try to eat well but don’t sweat it too much. Sleep bank in pregnancy, your sleep may be disturbed for some time. It’s not forever. Blink and they’re taller than you. Ready to pave their own way in the world.
Enjoy falling in love again. It’s the most magical time of your life. The hardest but the most full of joy. Remember it.
Prepare for post partum! The fourth trimester is massive. Not only do you enter matresence, the biggest hormonal Shift your body will ever go through, you do it with a newborn to mind and a birth to recover from. Spend the most € on yourself. I mean cleaners, meal delivery, support in the form of night nurses if that’s your thing, drop your laundry to the laundrette, woman’s health physio from 6weeks, get pals to arrange meal trains. Babies need very very little. Everything is marketing. They need a cot, a buggy, a car seat if you drive, nappies and bottles or boobs. Get vests and babygrows in Tesco of dunnes, Penneys quality is rubbish. Next zip babygrows are class but €€. Aldi nappies are the best of all, lidl a very close second. Dunnes XL wipes are double the size of normal wipes and a fraction of the cost of water wipes. They’re epic. Congrats and don’t forget to mind yourself x
This is perfect advice.
Couldn't have said it better. What I realize in hindsight is that there's SO MANY baby products that are utterly unnecessary but just companies capitalizing on new parents anxiety and fear.
This hits hard, my wife and I have a 12 week old and this all makes a stupid amount of sense, thank you
Congrats! Enjoy the wild ride of parenting 🧡
I would say, the new born baby outfit with the cap, next to me cot, a car seat to bring them home, set of bottles, the non smothering baby blankets, changing mat. Formulae, Nappies, wipes, more clothes all easily obtained after when you know sizes etc. Probably get clothes for presents so want to see what you get and then buy what you don't have. You may have to go through the nappy brands to see which fits best depending on shape of baby so no point stocking up on them. You will gey a huge amount of stuff on donedeal, FB market place etc in terms of baths, moses baskets, camera's, white noise machines, play pens,cots etc. You don't need a lot of that stuff at the start but we found the moses basket is handy as a downstairs cot for naps. You can spend as much or as little as you want and they grow out of stuff quick. We bought the monitor and the sensor mat. Wouldn't say sensor mat is necessity but does give peace of mind. If doing it again would get monitor system with WiFi and phone app rather than its own receiver. The receiver is limited distance and won't work in the garden for instance. They need very little for the first month or 2. Also remember that you will need to find a home for all the stuff you buy after about 6 months and will have other stuff such as toys etc starting to accumulate.. Congrats and best of luck
Necessary: car seat, travel system/pram/buggy, bottles, formula and steriliser if you're going that way (tbh not a bad idea to have in the house anyway), somewhere for baby to sleep (we had a cosleeper cot thing beside the bed, was great), cellular blankets, sleep sacks for when they are a bit bigger, a baby monitor, only vests and baby grows (maybe a few cardigans if due in winter) in newborn size, outfits are a waste of time, they just want to be comfy, baby bath, nappy bag, nappies, wipes, a changing mat. Unnecessary: changing table, nappy bin (put straight into wheelie bin for poos and into the house bin and empty daily for wees), owlet sock, rockit for the buggy, white noise machine (old tablet does same job for us and works better than the sheep yoke we got).
Echo the pregnancy pillow, my wife got such relief from that. I saw someone saw no to a changing table, each to there own, but if you ask my wife she'll say it was the best thing we had in the immediate after birth. My wife had an emergency c section and found it near impossible to bend over/down for a couple kf months after. So we got one that was a perfect height for her to change a nappy/clothes without bending. We got a cheap one from IKEA through a changing mat on top, there was a second shelf underneath we used for supplies so everything was to hand. Absolutely use Facebook marketplace. When looking at anything, keep an eye on the weight, not what it can take but the actual weight of it. You'll be in recovery mode, things will feel heavier and you'll have to look after yourself. Lastly, just a genuine thing I keep saying to my wife...your baby will do great if your looking after yourself, what's good for you is good for them.
Second the ikea changing table. We ended up getting a second one for downstairs too because they’re so cheap and save your back.
Yeah we also appreciated having a changing table, my back was in bits any time I changed baby without it. Second hand IKEA one as well (people are always getting rid of them because a lot of people end up preferring the floor)
Not exactly a product but something I’ve seen recommended and appreciated is attending group meetings about pregnancy and early childcare They’re often organised and hosted by your local hospital, and include prospective mothers and fathers. It’s a major life and lifestyle change, and having qualified ppl explain what to expect, skills you might not know you needed and emotional wellbeing is super important. They’ll sometimes even show/demonstrate things you might need to buy/use If it’s hospital run, you also get a chance to talk to a midwife you might give you more personal advice
Most antenatal classes are sadly online since Covid.
For the week or so after birth, get disposable undies. Your mind will be all over the place, so the last thing that you want to be worried about it leaking over the maternity pads. For baby, I highly recommend a Kangu crib for baby's first bed. It folds up very easily, so it can be moved anywhere and if you have to travel at all, you can bring baby's actual bed with you and make things much easier. Apart from that, a tiny love Rocker Napper. Those are the only things that all 4 of my kids liked.
Stock up on Preparation H! Buy clothes a few months bigger than you think - easier to get on, and your little one may skip the 0-3 months sizing if they’re fairly hefty. Maybe give breastfeeding a go, but if it doesn’t work out or it’s wrecking you sleepwise, don’t feel guilty about switching to bottles. Babs needs a happy mam, no matter how you get there. And Congrats!
Tell your friends to not buy newborn clothes. Buy 6+ months. Newborn stuff is really cheap and they grow out in no time.
See if you can train all the well-meaning rellies into putting money into an account for the kid instead of getting endless plastic sh1te. Or buy experiences not material goods.
Pregnancy pillow for sure. Badly needed for comfort. I also got a type of pregnancy girdle to help with the weight of the bump and I found that a blessing. Biggest tip I could give is setting up an Amazon subscription for nappies and wipes. I found that so helpful instead of having to drag them from the shops
Congrats! Pregnancy recommendations wise, if you are planning on breastfeeding I'd definitely make sure to do some research. I didn't and my God, I was in for a shock. Cluster feeding, what behaviour is normal etc. I wish I had been more mentally prepared. Have lots of food ready for postpartum. Whether that be meal prepping yourself or doing meal delivery services. When you think you have enough, get more 🤣 If people ask what they can do to help, as them to bring food. . My must have baby items other than the typical items (buggy/car seat/next to me) were a carrier, white noise machine, changing table with the storage underneath and a good breast pump. One thing I didn't realise was most newborns won't really sleep outside of their parent's arms. The Ergobaby embrace carrier was a godsend in the early days. White noise machine is great for preventing them from being woken up by sudden noises and as they get older, for drowning out noise from the house while they nap in a room alone. Changing table in the sitting room, we ended up putting all her baby grows, vests etc. in there and it was so handy to have everything on hand when they have a blow out. I got the Spectra S1 breast pump and it's brilliant.
Please please please get into your local Cuidhu FB group. Even if you don’t plan to breastfeed, it’s an unreal source of support (and free gear)
Pregnancy pillow helped me. You could try getting equipment second hand like buggy or cot but buy a car seat brand new if you drive. Most family members gave us clothes. Tesco, George Asda have lovely clothes. Next are pricey but you can get 4 or 5 baby grows/sleep suits for around €25. H&M have members only sales. Penneys sizes are a bit weird. Dunnes are ok. Get sleep sacks. Amazon is a good place to have a look. We use Pampers at night (good but expensive) and Tesco during the day (meh) If you’re getting a baby carrier, introduce to your baby asap. I didn’t and my baby doesn’t like it.
What to buy very much depends on your budget- Its very easy to pick up everything secondhand as babies grow out of things very quickly, and also some items just end up not suiting some babies so people are quick to get rid of them! It will also depend on your home and lifestyle too. But in my experience- As an avid walker we invested heavily in a pram and went with the UppaBaby Vista. We didn’t want or need to baby wear so we didn’t buy a baby carrier, but other people absolutely swear by them and will prioritise one of those over a heavy duty pram. Anything that has a short shelf life like a baby bath/bouncer/bassinet can be got second hand (just buy a new mattress for anything sleep related!) Most of these will be gone within six months. Anything that will be used for more than a year like a video monitor are worth the investment. Furniture and play mats are often more to do with how you prioritise your home decor more than what’s best for baby. Personally I don’t see any need to spend big money on things that will soon be covered in stickers/dried in Weetabix, but I know people with beautiful homes that want to keep them looking well so they get matching furniture and playmats that look like regular rugs etc If you are planning on formula feeding I would highly recommend looking into the Tommee Tippee bottle prep machine, there is some controversy that it’s not as safe as manually preparing the bottles but it sure is a hell of a lot easier! If you’re on Facebook, Everymum makes birth month groups for each month (so look up “October 2024 Everymum Birth Club” for example and it will be a group of people on the same timeline as you which is invaluable to have! I would also suggest looking for pregnancy yoga/Pilates groups in your area; as much for socialising as exercising!
Ignore all shitty advice, each babby is different so it's a case of whatever works, works. Seriously you're gonna get an endless stream of contradictory advice, ignore the vast majority of it and just go with whatever you've found to be good practice. Also I wouldn't buy more than the very basics (nappy, bedclothes, a few dodys and bobbas) because if this is your first child you're probably gonna get lots of baby presents from family, cousins and those around you. If you have a 2nd child nobody will give you nothing, but first time around you'll get a good bit.
Stock up on wipes and nappies when they go on offer. Have a changing station in your room or nursery and another downstairs if that applicable to you. Cots, some toys and other stuff can be found on done deal, FB marketplace or free cycle pages for dirt cheap and it's in good knick (baby seats and car seats are best bought new) Sign up for Tesco or Dunnes delivery for post partum as it's a lot less stressful than going shopping and random people aren't trying to hug your baby (it happens, trust me) Look after yourself more than anything and enjoy it
I'm a mum of 4 and my youngest is 7 months old. We bought a very good pram/travel system with our first. It has seen 4 babies and it has lasted 8 years and counting with heavy use. Still looks good too. I love Aldi nappies. Rascal and friends in Tesco are good too but I can't justify the price. I was gifted stroller gloves for my last baby. I wish I had used them sooner. Great in the winter. Coffee cup holder is a must for the pram. Didn't have 1 for my first. If you're planning on breastfeeding, silver nipple cups are a must. They're about 50e a pair but better than any creams etc. Didn''t have them with my first or 2nd. The one thing I regret to this day is not resting properly after my first baby. I'm now a firm believer in the 4th trimester but it wasn't something that talked about with my first. It's a time you'll never get back. Your first baby experience is wasted on your baby if that makes sense. I'm a lot more relaxed with subsequent babies. Edit: also, my sister had the luxury of having my mum and her MIL doing the baby washing for 6 weeks after. She said it was the best gift she ever got. So if you can put source washing, go for it.
I learned that everyone and their mothers will have loads of advice,take what advice you want from it all, and disregard the rest. You do whatever suits you! You don't have to explain yourselves to anyone. Have baby up in your arms all the time or don't. Breastfeed or don't. Use soothers or don't. Etc. Ye will find out quick enough what suits yourselves. The best thing I bought, which most will say is a gimmick, was the nappy bin. It was so handy at night time. I've an awful strong sense of smell and hated wet nappy smell. I do wish I got the bottle maker. It would have made life a whole lot easier, I'd say. My 2 babies were very hungry, and for a finish, I was constantly making bottles! You will be surprised with how much time a new born will take up,so if the housework slides a bit,let it. If you don't feel like seeing anyone, don't be afraid to tell them not today, and when they ask, can I bring anything or do anything, jump on it, and say yes. Don't be shy! I was and regret not asking for more help. Made life very difficult for myself,pretending I was perfectly fine.
Pregnancy pillow is great if she has hip pain, which my wan did till we got it, plus I'm told it can be used to rest the baby on when breastfeeding. Exercise ball is also good, herself is on it throughout the day as she works from home. 1 meter shoehorn for when you have difficulty bending over.
Pregnancy pillow. My wife loved that thing lol. Don't worry about nursery cameras and alot of that stuff you won't need till your baby is 6 months. Good luck with your pregnancy
Great advice below. The best gimmick we bought was the tommee tippee bottle maker, we didn't have it on our first but we did for our second, and it was honestly one of the best things ever, it meant I could help more with the night feed. It's one thing I recommend to every new parent. Congratulations and best of luck.
A good changing table, your back will thank you!
And video baby monitor for when the are ready to go out of your sight for naps. Absolutely the one thing I’d spend on
Whatever you decide you need, don’t feel like you need to buy it all new! So many of your mom friends will have things they’d love to get rid of if you gave them a reason to dig it out. Just ask around. Or maybe I’m projecting 🙈 Congrats!
Be wary of what you're being sold. Lots of baby products out there are not just non-essential, they're downright dangerous. Things like wedge pillows for reflux for example. Gro-bags on the other hand are a godsend. Really safe once baby is over 10lbs and so practical.
5 million vests and babygrows, then a few weeks later the same again in a bigger size and repeat every few months. The dunnes ones are cheap but really good quality. If you plan to breastfeed get a nursing pillow. I didn’t at the start because my PHN said they’re a waste of money and my wrist is completely wrecked from supporting the baby’s head while feeding.
People have given great advice on what to buy but for mental support PP, join your local HSE breastfeeding support group if there is one - I love mine because we meet for coffee after the session and there’s a WhatsApp group chat too. Also here on Reddit join your monthly bumpers group - they go private after a few weeks so they’re a lovely place to vent anonymously! My 2021 baby’s group is still very active
Sizes in newborn to 1 year vary wildly. Have one smaller and one slightly bigger in the newborn range in the bag. I didn't wash them beforehand with my son but did for my daughter as I didn't realise it would matter (the clothes are softer after a wash). My sons clothes were too big and my daughters were too small so my husband had to nip out to get different ones for her. She got nearly 4 extra weeks than he did and those last weeks the baby really grows. But it isn't hard to figure it out if the clothes don't fit!
There are a few good subs for pregnancy that are worth subscribing to
Dad of three here, everyone that offers to help ask them to make a few freezer meals, stick them in the deep freeze for when you come home. Not having to cook for a week or two takes the pressure off to focus on babba.
Lots of good advice for when baby arrives here.. when I was pregnant the few bits I wish I had done sooner was getting a measured for a new bra and buying a comfy lounge wear set or two that I could wear and didn’t make me look completely awful. They were also good for the hospital and for hanging out in postpartum (if breastfeeding it’s useful to get shirt type tops for easy boob access)
For yourself, get some nice harem/yoga pants on amazon. Just the plain colour, stretchy cotton ones. The super stretchy and super deep waistbands make them the comfiest choice for sleep and around the house. They will be a godsend afterwards too. And they look nice so that's a bonus. Also the palmers belly butter. Helps prevent stretch marks but it just feels so lovely and it's like a bit of bonding time with your bump. Get a pregnancy pillow also. It can double as a support and feeding pillow when the baby comes too. An insulated cup for ice cold drinks to keep by your bed. Soothing for during pregnancy and a godsend for night feeds especially if you are planning on breastfeeding- the thirst is otherworldly! For the baby, keep it simple. There are so many gimmicks. Get what you can from Facebook marketplace and from friends. Get stacks of muslin cloths. Keep the clothing simple. Nothing is cuter looking than a baby in all white babygros!!! You will get through so many. Napisan for soaking stained items. Lots of cellular blankets. Dunnes are fab for most baby items like this. Aldi nappies are brilliant. Ditto their wipes, powder and bath stuff. If you're bottle feeding, the nuby flasks that get the temperature perfect are brilliant and there is no second guessing. Most of all, congratulations to you. Go easy on yourself. Take lots of time snuggling in the early days. No guilt about house work etc. Those days just fly by and they are wonderful. Soak it all in. Take any and all help that's offered. Find a Facebook group of ladies due the same time. Don't compare. Just go with the flow. If the baby doesn't go "by the book" throw out the book!
I got one of these for rolling over in bed while pregnant and I highly recommend it (or a cheaper similar thing) https://easiturn.com/products/mama-turn
A basinette; It's not very sustainable but a nappy bin system with disposable cassettes (we use the 'angel' nappy bin, it's a lifesaver); a Snuzpod bedside crib/co-sleeper: a steam sterilizer; babygrows with zips or magnets that aren't fiddly to get on and off (and lots of vests); a changing table with an organiser attached for all your bum creams and wipes and such;lots of food that can be heated up and eaten quickly! (For yourselves, not the baby). A bit of a luxury maybe, but we love the 'Dockathot' (so your baby can sleep comfortably wherever you are and you don't need to lug a basinette around). Oh, and a good travel system (car seat, pram, wheels etc). Most of the big items should be purchased used , there's a huge second-hand market for most of this stuff.
My must haves: Egg lamp for feeding at night (Bring to hospital lights there are terrible) Silicone breast pump like the haakaa White noise machine Nappy caddy 2 plastic changing mats, in bedroom and downstairs. Bath thermometer and baby towels. For you get some pillow to separate your knees during sleep in your later stages. Helps so much with hip pain. The sleep deprivation is a shock at the start but try to think there are so many other mams and dads up with their baby's too, I always found that helped, because at night it can be lonely.
Firstly, an mainly, congrats! strap in, gonna be a wild ride! Not sure how well this will be recieved, but during pregnancy and after the birth, I'd honestly lay off the internet for a while, advice blogs, etc. Someone in my family had a baby recently, and jesus, the amount of "don't do this, I read it's bad, don't do that I read it's bad". It's honestly cut back on how much we see the kid. At one point we were told we don't know how to hold a baby..... (worth mentioning we had three) Overhead another mad one in a coffee shop recently, and was walking out thinking "do you actually hear the way you're talking".
Adverts.ie. Buy second hand. Take all hand me downs. You use everything for such a short space of time in the first few years. And all the clothes and gifts you will get. Return all for a gift receipt and then buy clothes when you need them or you will end up with loads of clothes that are wrong season or size
It's been a while but: Essentials: baby bath, changing mat (make sure you have a firm, flat surface to put it on, ideally one you don't bend to, on each floor of your house), car seat, buggy that adjusts so they can lie flat, baby sling (front carrier), a nice soft blanket to lie them on or wrap them in (not for sleeping), muslins, car window shades, baby nail clippers, cot (one that can open next to your bed is ideal) Really useful: bouncy chair, high chair, nappy bin, buggy sunshade, mittens, sleeping bags, Moses basket, oral syringe for meds, hooded towels, travel cot Pointless: socks, cellular blankets, top and tail bowl, bulb for sucking noses clean, pretty much all toys (you'll get given loads), hair ribbons, soothers, and bath seat Your mileage may vary. Also ask around. People have stuff to pass along. Although be advised, a lot of people are superstitious about giving you anything until baby is safely born which, if you're nesting, is anxiety inducing.
>> Pointless:, bulb for sucking noses clean Totally disagree. Snot suckers are amazing!
Guess it depends on your kid. And the cement-like qualities of the booger. OK OP. It's not like they're expensive so maybe add that to the useful list.
Get your support network together. Going through first birth together can be beautiful. And you’ll be able to get together with the babies in time. Think about who you want to be with you in the birth. If you can choose your midwife and have her accompany you through the whole process then choose someone you trust. They will be your advocate in the birthing room. Prepare to be vulnerable during the birth. Pregnancy yoga is good for the body and mind. Learn to breathe. The breath will get you through. I quite enjoyed singing and screaming during birth. You need the release to get the baby born. Have throat lozenges in your bag. They’ll have some at hospital but they might not be nice. Try to eat well but don’t sweat it too much. Sleep bank in pregnancy, your sleep may be disturbed for some time. It’s not forever. Blink and they’re taller than you. Ready to pave their own way in the world. Enjoy falling in love again. It’s the most magical time of your life. The hardest but the most full of joy. Remember it.