SE Baby thread NLC

[highlander]

Can add absolutely nothing to this thread and never likely to either.....been neutered,for the benefit of society as a whole
Congrats to all expectant mums & dads

[Andy G]

Another vote for John Lewis Edinburgh.

Congrats.

[whaleys]

a £7 mirror from Tesco means we could see her face.

Really good little mirror

[Dominic]

Thanks for all the pointers, you have all been very helpful. It turns out the seat/pram combo we were looking at does indeed have a rear facing baby car seat.

So it appears that the seat that adapts as the baby gets older is not such a great idea anyway. In the first year a tilting seat is not really needed, so a rear facer is fine. So it looks like we may have actually found what we are looking for. The pram also has good scope to accommodate the child as it grows.

Thanks also for the congrats

[Scotty C]

congrats to you both

[Andy G]

rear facing baby car seat

safer also

[BiggestNizzy]

First of Congratulations to you both.

We went for a bugaboo cameleon 3 because it came with a free Isofix base and Maxi-Cosi Cabrio car seat, both have been great. After 6 months or so you won't need the pram part and baby will move onto the pushchair bit but both are easy to fold flat and will fit into Ann's Dad's Suzuki swift. We bought if from mothercare in EK because of the deal on the car seat. Clipping the car seat into the wheel bit of the pram is great for short trips but you don’t want baby in it for too long.
Also get some sleep now as you’re about to starts probably the hardest (and most rewarding) job ever the work is relentless and unless you have grown up with young kids you won’t have a clue what you’re doing. I remember getting Murron home and sitting her down, in her car seat on the living room floor and realizing I haven’t a clue what do to next. This is all normal
Feeding – We had always planned on feeding au naturale but Ann lost a lot of blood during her emergency caesarean so after an initial feed – nothing if it’s not working for you ask for bottled milk, Crosshouse Hospital will wait until Baby has lost a lot of its birth weight before offering a bottle. You have to ask. We* went through 2 nights of screaming before we asked. If you’re going to bottle feed the Tommy Tippee automatic bottle maker thing is fantastic.
Start Buying Nappies, you will use them and we have found the ASDA ones are at least as good if not better than Pampers. Lidl (or Aldi) do cheaper and better baby wipes as well.
Go to the antenatal classes, more to meet other people in the same situation as having someone to compare notes with is a god send. Although it’s worth noting that holding fake baby like an American football and asking another dad to be to “go long” is frowned upon. As is telling the midwife that the massage techniques they show you are exactly what landed you there in the first place.
The Birth – Ann had a b.strep infection so we had to go to hospital when her waters broke IF you can stay at home - stay at home. 28 hours in hospital are boring and tiring for you both. Ann has pain to keep her occupied and if it gets too much morphine will help (make sure and ask for about anti sickness as well or you’ll have a scene from the exorcist on your hands) Gas and air is ace it’s like that feeling you get on your way how from a nightclub at 4am so make sure and have a sook.
Finally if there are any restaurants you want to visit do that now as once baby is born going anywhere becomes a military operation.

[Dominic]

Cheers Nizzy. Good advice!

I think it will probably be Costco for the nappies for us,... but will check out deals elsewhere

[BiggestNizzy]

Forgot to add if you want to borrow one for some practice let me know and I will drop ours off

[graeme]

Ailsa's about to get her next car seat, as she's totally outgrown the 0-12 months one after 7 months.

Amazon for nappies.

Baby Bjorn slings are great, but not a replacement for pram/pushchair. Sling has a limited time of 2 hours before it's too uncomfortable for baby, and less than that for the parent!

Prams/Travel Systems... get one with pneumatic tyres and/or suspension of some sort. Offroad/Lifestyle models. Rigid wheels and solid tyres are fine in the store, but even a bumpy pavement is too much for ours. Rough pavements are the worst it's had, never offroad or unpaved surfaces but the bearings were trashed after 5 months of daily use, so we've got a wobbly, unsteerable nightmare of a pushchair. Letter written to SilverCross (Wayfarer model) to see if they'll send me some new wheels with fresh bearings pressed in. Would definitely recommend an off-road style travel system even if you don't intend to go offroad. Don't think this is related to price. I'm sure some expensive ones would have crap bearings and some cheap ones would be fine. We were probably unlucky. Something to look at in the shop though... any play will only get worse. Front wheels only, rears don't matter.

Forget buying clothes before the baby is born. 1) You'll get a million gifts of clothes in the first 2 weeks. 2) Sizes vary wildly, as do proportions. Buy one sleep-suit from each of Tesco, Mothercare, M&S etc and see which fits best. Then wash it and try again. You'll probably stick to that brand forever if you find something that seems to fit in all directions. Some makes are too narrow, some the legs are too short/long, some the body is too short (wedgie, ouch). Basically, don't assume because the label says 0-3 months that you'll get even one use out of it. Loads of Ailsa's stuff never even came out the packet. Also, tumble driers are the enemy. Baby clothes get a size smaller every time you tumble dry them. Either tumble-dry cool, or just hang stuff up (roll on summer!)

I could go on all day... we've learned just about everything the hard way!

[Corranga]

Looks like a lot of us come to the same conclusions...

We are another Quinny Buzz 3 travel system user, with a Maxicosi Cabriofix car seat - you ened a base to make it ISOFIX.

As others have said, accept that the 1st year car seat is a 1 year item, and will be replaced.
Having one that fits the pram chassis (as ours does) is very handy for popping out quickly, think about new mummy on 9-12 months maternity desperately needing *insert baby item here* and you being back at work.
Much easier for her to chuck the baby in the car seat, run to the supermarket, on the chassis, round the shop and home rather than stuffing around with carry cots etc..
The Quinny collapsible carry cot is very good too, I can fit the chassis and collapsible carry cot in the boot of my Panda!

Erica has a Kari Me sling. She says it's great for getting stuff done around the house, but as others have said, 2 hours max as they get tiring and also pretty hot.

Nappy wise, if you're thinking about washable / reusable ones, look at Little Bloom / Yellow Bloom on eBay. A LOT cheaper than the brands, and of the 6 or 7 brands we have different versions of, including Tots Bots, they are best:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Baby-Washable ... 4ab243da72
Also, don't think these things need pins and boiling, we're talking about 40 wash in the machine, occassional hotter wash if they look bad, then pop them in the tumble.
Fitment wise, we're talking velcro and/or poppers, no harder than a disposable..

[rossybee]

Gas and air is ace it’s like that feeling you get on your way how from a nightclub at 4am so make sure and have a sook.

Oh yes! Forgot about that!!!

One top tip during the labour: DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES nip out to the car in the hospital carpark for a wee lie down....I reclined the driver's seat on my Fiat Tipo (didn't want her waters breaking in the TVR ) and accidentally fell asleep....appearing 3 hours later didn't go down well with increasingly cranky wife-in-labour

[BiggestNizzy]

I mentioned it before but forgot it's name if your bottle feeding get a tommy tippee perfect prep machine they are a godsend when trying to feed at 3am. Always good deals on Amazon you should be able to get one for around £65
Also get a cold water sterilizer, we tried the microwavable versions but they are rubbish in comparison. The cold water bucket thing just sits, you empty it every day and you always have a steady supply of sterilized bottles.

[GBOBM]

Look at Amazon for nappies and join their family club whatever it is called. They were loads cheaper than anywhere else unless there was a big of deal somewhere.

Can't comment on the bottle side of things because as you know Mrs Bob is exclusively BF.

As far as the pram side of things is concerned, you will go into it with ideas of what you need because someone online has said you definitely need x,y and z. As long as its easy to fold and the baby is safe in it, nothing else really matters that much.

Toys for your baby are a funny thing. Everyone buys you the really educational top notch toys that cost a fortune but we've found out its usually the cheapo colourful ones that they enjoy the most.
Things that crinkle seem to be a hit in our household. Other than that, her fav thing to play with are her toes.

[douglasgdmw]

Dom,

Once Zoe's leg heals then you could try this type of carrying system:


With the rate of knots that Zoe travels at, it would get the newborn used to the concept of speed from an early age.

George