So, you're pregnant? Congratulations!
Now comes the big questions of what do you buy when you're having a baby? Because there are sooo many things on the market now that are put across to you like you must have them or else you'll never be able to parent properly ahhh!! WHAT DO YOU ACTUALLY NEED WHEN YOU'RE HAVING A BABY?!
I thought of my own things, then asked my instagram followers https://www.instagram.com/beasbirthandboobs/ what their must and useless buys were and I've collated it all together...
Check out what I feel are 'must buys' and 'useless buys' while you're pregnant..
Must buys!
A sling - these are incredible! Babies are hard wired to need to stay close to you as a survival instinct, and they basically won't be put down. With a sling, you can get moving around, doing things, go for walks, cook and eat food, all with your hands free. I personally recommend a stretchy wrap for the early weeks as its super snuggly for baby and is very comfortable for you. They look fiddly, but, have a practice, watch some videos, and they become second nature. Join 'Baby Wearing UK' on Facebook for some awesome advice!
Nursing bras - if you're planning on breastfeeding, a comfortable nursing bra is a must buy. Get yourself properly measured, I highly recommend Chloe https://maybe-baby.co.uk/about-maybeandbaby/ for measuring and her array of bras! Get a good few bras.
Breast pads - for me personally, I leaked for a longggg time (I'm 9 months postpartum right now and still need to wear breast pads - others only need them for a few days!) but some good quality breast pads are what you'll need in at least the first week or so, regardless of whether you're breastfeeding or not.
Muslins - oohhh they're so versatile! Used as a thin blanket, over the carrier, cleaning up sick, grabbing it over your boob while you're let-down sprays in to it, to play peekaboo as they get older. Muslins are great.
Freezer food - not entirely a buy but can be. Nutritious, filling food in the freezer that you can whack in the microwave. https://www.cookfood.net/ is a fantastic company that do things like this, so you can buy these if you need.
IBCLC support - if you're planning on breastfeeding, either getting clued up on breastfeeding or preparing to speak to an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) for support with feeding.
Water bottle with a straw - basically anything you can do one handed while you hold or feed the baby is a must. That goes for food too. Don't bother with a meal that you need two hands for, go for the things like pasta that you can scoop and shove in.
Hypnobirthing course - a third of birthers end up with some form of birth trauma and that can impact you in many ways such as postnatal depression. Invest in your birth during pregnancy to give yourself the best chance at a positive birth. Check out how I can support you with that here - https://www.beasbirthandboobs.co.uk/hypnobirthing and what hypnobirthing actually is here - https://www.beasbirthandboobs.co.uk/what-is-hypnobirthing
Zip sleepsuits - I've only just discovered these 9 months on, and I wish I'd bought some smaller sizes for when he was tiny! Much easier with those nappy changes where their arms and legs are kicking about all over the place and you'd just done the poppers up wrong so have to undo them all and start again while the baby is screaming.
Useless Buys
A cot/moses basket - neither of my babies slept in their cot or moses basket. Babies aren't programmed to be away from their parents for survival so they desperately need to be close to you at all times, including at night. I tried and tried with my first and it was hopeless and after many sleepless nights, co-slept. With my second, I co-slept from the start and got lots of sleep! It is safe when following guidelines which you can find here https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/safer-sleep-advice/co-sleeping/
Any outfits other than sleepsuits before 3 months - they never look very comfy in real people clothes when they're tiny, I find. I did try 'real people clothes' on mine at about 3/4 months each time and lasted 10 minutes before changing them in to a sleepsuit again. I ended up putting them in clothes when they started crawling at around 6 months because they'd just get tangled up with their legs otherwise.
Feeding cushion - I've seen these cause many issues with breastfeeding. They lift the baby up too high, then the latch is off, causing pain and discomfort. Normal cushions and pillow underneath your arm to support you work just as fine.
Breast pump - for me personally, I couldn't stand the thought of pumping. The effort, the time, the cleaning, then the risk of oversupply or missing feeds, the risk of bottle preference. It was all too much and it felt easier to directly feed from the breast. While we're on the subject, Haakaa pumps are also on the useless list as they are commonly used in the early weeks when you have loads of leaking milk, but they also very commonly cause oversupply (leading to mastitis - not fun!). PSA - you don't ever have to give a bottle or express if you don't want to.
Bassinet part of pram - babies don't like lying down or being put down, which is why slings are a lifesaver. The bassinet attachment wasn't used either time. I didn't use the pushchair until they went to the sitting up attachment at 6 months.
Prep machine - if you plan on formula feeding, don't get a prep machine. There research surrounding the hot shot of water added to the powder isn't high enough to actually kill the bacteria, so can expose baby to deadly bacteria which can cause sepsis or meningitis. Save your money, get a good quality flask for making up bottles safely.
A changing table - it's just a bloody waste of space. I would change the baby on a changing mat wherever I was. I wasn't about to go upstairs to a changing table to do it. I'm in the living room, I'll kneel on the floor and do it there.
Cot bumpers, pillows & duvets - a baby should sleep in an empty sleep space, whether that's in your bed (no pillows and duvets near them - you can have them yourself with caution) or a cot. There's no point in buying them just for it to look pretty, because it's a lot of work take off every sleep and put back on afterwards, for basically no one to see it.
Any Gina Ford books - if you get gifted or buy any, straight in the recycling. Seriously. They're not evidence based in the slightest, not realistic and cause a hell of a lot of anxiety and stress because the baby isn't following the schedule she has told you that you MUST do otherwise you're harming your baby!! (better books for this are Lyndsey Hookway and Sarah Ockwell-Smith).
Bath thermometer - seriously, just put your elbow in the bath. I hope there's enough 'Friends' fans in here knowing that when I mention that fact that I learned this trick years ago from 'Let's Play Bamboozal!!'
Baby shoes - no need, can damage the development and growth of their feet and its a waste of money.
Some of these might be superrr controversial, and that's okay. These are just my opinions of things that are useful and not useful. If you're pregnant, try not to worry about all the 'must buys' in the shops and online - you most likely won't actually need it! There's very little you actually 'need'.
What are your must and useless buys? Come and chat with me about it on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094497865090 or Instagram https://www.instagram.com/beasbirthandboobs/
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