If you're lucky you have sisters, friends, Mum's and a good NCT group to go to (the latter for likeminded people to compare notes with!). If you're still stuck then there's the dreaded internet... where everything should be taken with a pinch of salt (unless of course it's on this blog!)
Babies need the loving care and attention of their parents, warmth, nourishment and little else. This list concentrates more on the 'things money can buy' rather than those things that it can't. The things that make life a little easier when you're trying to adjust to being parents.
So for those first time Mum's out there who want an honest, down to earth list of things they really need - here's my list:
DangerBaby has always had her Daddy wrapped around her fingers!
| SLEEP | LASTS |
| Moses Basket | 0-3m |
| Pillow | 0-3m |
| White hospital /hole blanket | 0-3m |
| Black out blinds | FOREVER |
| Gro Egg room thermometer | 0-6m |
| Labels for drawers | 0-18m >> It's easy to forget where the baby gro is when you're sleep deprived. Labels help a lot |
| Baby monitor | 0-?? |
| Later | |
| Cot bed | 3m – 3yrs |
| Sheets | 3m – 3yrs |
| Cot bumper *2 | 3m – 3yrs |
| Teddies | FOREVER >> Bunny bunny! |
| Towel to change baby on floor | 0-2yrs >> Babies can't roll off floors. No changing table required. |
| Decorative boxes / baskets | >> I keep nappies, wipes, nappy bags to hand in decorative baskets and hide away the bulk buy boxes. |
| BATH | |
| Baby bath | 0-3m >> When they're big enough one of you can bath with baby without a baby bath. |
| Soft old towel | FOREVER >> Very absorbant and cleaned with your household usual products! |
| Baby oil | >> Baby massage at first, until it helps them wriggle away during a nappy change! |
| Johnson's lavendar bathtime | >> I swear by this, helps her sleep! |
| Later | |
| Dentinox cradle cap shampoo | Not sure how effective this is but everyone gives it a go! |
| Johnson's No Tears formula baby shampoo. | No tears formula is a winner |
| Johnson's baby wash | We use this to make bubbles |
| TOYS | Our favourite is currently an orange plastic bucket. Nothing soaks Daddy quicker! |
| TRAVEL | |
| Pram | 0-3yrs? |
| Soft insert for pram | 0-2yrs |
| Shuktara Blankets | 0-6m |
| Socks | 0-6m |
| Hats | 0-6m |
| Dribble mice (u-ni-k) | 0-18m |
| Muslin cloths | 0-6m |
| Changing bag | 0-2yrs+ |
| Changing mat | 0-2yrs+ |
| Travel cot | 0-2yrs+ |
| Blankets to put around travel cot | FOREVER |
| Car seat | 0 – 9kgs |
| Mirror so you can see baby | 2 weeks! |
| Baby entertainment | 0 – 16yrs! |
| Later | |
| Bumbo | 6m-8m |
| Booster seat | 12m – 18m |
| ESSENTIALS | |
| TOYS | FOREVER |
| Books | FOREVER |
| Music | FOREVER |
| Radio / CD player | FOREVER |
| Rocking / bouncy chair | 3m - 9m |
The above list is based upon my experiences as a first time Mum. DangerBaby was always keen to be on the move (under her own power rather than in a car) so she didn't like sleeping bags or being swaddled, nor did she take to sleeping with a light on. She didn't like to be strapped in to her rocking chair either...but loved her jungle gym!
So for us it was blankets and darkness, but like every other Mum I followed advice and now have an unused baby gro bag here that Kathryn puts her dollies in. We can pass on a pretty unused wooden high tech rocking chair and a very well used jungle gym!
 |
| My baby is now a toddler, and has survived all my parenting mishaps! |
Your list maybe different, as children are individuals with their own needs.
Even though you are a first time Mum, you know best.
You know your child better than anyone. So believe in your ability to be a Mum, and on bad days remember - this too shall pass!
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