Wife Is Pregnant - Your Recommendations for Baby Necessities?

Lribze1 on 07/09/2019 - 15:11

Hi all,

Found out this week that my wife is ~7 weeks pregnant with our first child.

I'm interested to hear from the community your thoughts and recommendations on the big ticket 'necessities' for babies such as:

  • Pram
  • Car seat
  • Bassinet/cot
  • Baby monitor
  • Change table
  • Rocking chair? (For us to sit on and rock)
  • High chair
  • Playpen
  • Other contraptions such as electric rockers, carry-all bags, chest carrier

Being a discerning OzBargainer i know that this is all going to cost alot of money so looking to make the right purchases in terms of cost/quality and ultimately taking care of my baby.

Should i be on the look out for bargains along the way or early on? Example: 20% off Storewide @ Baby Bunting (Exclusions Apply)

Cheers,

Ribze

Toys & Kids Baby Accessory

Comments

  • Azrael169 on 07/09/2019 - 15:30
    +39

    You dont want Ozbargain, you want Gumtree. Or reach out to family friends who have recently had kids who are growing out of this stuff. Hand me down clothes will save you a fortune as well. Our family has been passing children's clothes back and forwards.

    Pram - If your going to walk your baby alot (and you likely will), get yourself a decent one. Pushing a crap pram is a pain in the butt, you will thank yourself for springing for a better 2nd hand one. Think my wife spent $400 on a brand name second hand one.

    Car Seat - One of the few things to buy new, dont risk your baby

    Bassinet/Cot - Gumtree all the way. No difference in a expensive vs cheap.

    Baby monitor - Never actually used it. Used a iOS app that works as a baby monitor a couple times when away on holiday's with family but otherwise you will usually hear the baby cry. Unless you have a giant house…

    Change Table - Dont waste alot of money, can be done on floor, on bed or any other flat surface. Gumtree…

    Rocking Chair - Wife bought one, never used it. If you have a child who is struggling to settle may be worth it down the line, but dont sweat it now

    High Chair - Gumtree…

    Playpen - Never used ours

    Electric Rocker - Didnt use it

    Chest Carrier - We bought two, one for hiking (never used) and another to use around the house/shops. Wife loves it, again she bought it second hand. I'm currently stay at home dad and have never used it.

    • fossilfuel on 08/09/2019 - 20:20
      +1

      What about one of these?

      • Azrael169 on 09/09/2019 - 01:26

        Dont know if this is a legitimate question or note, but sure if you have no parenting skills maybe you might need one?

        • Chandler on 10/09/2019 - 08:49

          if you have no parentying skills maybe you might need one

          I think I'd rather trust a lead than "parenting skills" when it comes to safety.

          We got one (backpack with lead) for when the missus was flying by herself with our baby and toddler. Only really for the trip from the gate to the aircraft (as I said - for safety).

          Agree that you shouldn't need one to take your kids to the shops.

      • Raiden22 on 10/09/2019 - 04:18

        Brilliant. You can walk the baby like a dog. I wonder if they have the lead retracting ones.

    • kthomas on 08/09/2019 - 20:35
      +8

      Agree with all of the above except for the change table.
      Has absolutely saved my back. You’ll get heaps of use out of it.
      The exception would be if you have a dresser or something at the perfect height and you can just slap a change table mat on it.

      • TheBean on 09/09/2019 - 10:37

        Completely agree with this one, the change table is really worth it.

        We used a chest of drawers for our first bub and for the second bub we got an ikea dresser with change table attached to it, it is much easier.

    • tasty-falafel on 09/09/2019 - 11:29
      +1

      Agree with all of it with exception to the change table and baby monitor.

      We ended up getting two change tables second hand off gumtree - one for upstairs in baby's room and one downstairs. It's just so much easier to have a dedicated space where you can stand up and change the baby.

      The baby monitor isn't essential, but I found from a peace of mind perspective it was great. It also allowed us to see when our baby was stirring/whinging and soothe them back to sleep before they fully woke up and had to be put back to sleep.

  • mintysaurus on 07/09/2019 - 15:45
    +1

    Bassinet - recommend you get one of those rectangle shaped ones, like the Boori bassinets. The size means bubs can stay in it a lot longer. We're still using one 6 months on.

  • KillBotFactory on 07/09/2019 - 15:49
    +23

    Don't want to be a negative nelly, but first piece of advice, wait until 12 weeks to buy anything. Anything can happen first trimester.

    Otherwise:

    Pram - very personal choice, definitely go to push a few. Gumtree if you can because they are exorbitant.

    High chair - ikea. The are ubiquitous for a reason. Cheap but effective. Stokke Trip Trapp if you want something well made that you want to keep using as the child grows.

    Carrier - ergobaby 360

    • try2bhelpful on 07/09/2019 - 16:36
      +4

      Yeah, I was thinking similar. Plan what you would buy but don't actually purchase until closer to the date, just in case. Apparently having the nursery setup makes it even more traumatic. However, I wish the OP, his missus, and bub(s) the very best with the pregnancy and beyond.

      If buying second hand I would have a good look around at recall notices etc to make sure what is being purchased meets current standards.

      • ribze1 on 07/09/2019 - 22:22
        +1

        Thanks mate

      • Raiden22 on 10/09/2019 - 04:20

        I heard the baby carriers can cause hip displaycia. I'm thinking of getting one for me so I can't carry my boy instead of trying to use pram for short trips to shops etc but I'm worried.

        • Shanda on 10/09/2019 - 08:27

          Carriers do not cause hip dysplasia easily. Unless you front face baby too early or get a very cheap one.
          There are also wraps etc.
          I recommend the ergobaby omni 360. Keeps baby close to you and baby settles with movement and skin to skin.

        • baycie on 11/09/2019 - 09:01

          Have carried 5 infants in wrap slings/carriers, no hip dysplasia at all. The material wraps enable bub to sit in a very natural position. Providing comfort for bub and gives me two free hands while being easy on my back..

        • locapez on 11/09/2019 - 13:08

          I've heard it depends on the carrier (legs just hanging, vs legs supported). Ones like previously mentioned ergobaby 360 and Tula are supposed to be fine, but the baby bjorn ones aren't supposed to be as good.

          Additional info on the ergobaby 360 - ergobaby omni 360 is the newest version and doesn't need an infant insert. Prior versions (just called ergobaby 360) will need an infant insert.

    • salmon123 on 07/09/2019 - 21:02

      wait until 12 weeks to buy anything

      You'd be surprised how little a new born needs. Wait until after the baby is born for lots of the things on your list like a high chair and play pen.

      • one man clan on 09/09/2019 - 11:41

        Definitely. Can't use a high chair until 6 mo+ unless you get a bassinet fitting (which is more $$) and they won't be going anywhere fast for 6+ months so no need fo a playpen.

  • Fier2 on 07/09/2019 - 15:58
    +1

    I don't know if you planned to do a baby shower or not but if you do i won t recommend to buy anything until then. You will see that first bub is often showered with gifts from grandparents, uncles, aunties…

    • trapper on 09/09/2019 - 11:44

      So true, it is insane how much stuff will get gifted to you. Be prepared.

  • brokenglish on 07/09/2019 - 16:49
    +2

    I thought you’re not supposed to announce anything until 12 weeks have passed?

    • ribze1 on 07/09/2019 - 22:23
      +2

      Correct, and now you are all privy to something my family and friends aren't aware of. Spur of the moment and thought i'd ask, taking it all in right now.

    • Oneguyinmelb on 09/09/2019 - 10:40
      +5

      I think that's an old and outdated rule.

      With all this focus on mental health & wellbeing, why should we hide a pregnancy just because there is a possible chance of a miscarriage…..and then never talk about it?

      It would be much more refreshing to announce pregnancies earlier, and when there is a miscarriage the parents can take the proper time off to recover, coworkers and family understand the reason for a mental break and people can begin to understand how common it is.

      • shrugies on 09/09/2019 - 16:16
        +2

        I just googled the Australian miscarriage rate and it's ONE IN FOUR!!! You're right, that's so much more common (and scary) than I thought!
        People need to be prepared and supported.

        https://www.sands.org.au/miscarriage

        https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2018-05-12/is-it-time-to-…

      • bl1027 on 09/09/2019 - 16:27

        And the first trimester is when most women get morning sickness but are meant to pretend like everything is fine.

        Either I kept it together really well or my colleagues were just not perceptive!

      • k-rokfm on 10/09/2019 - 10:08

        I would definitely announce it to family and limited close friends earlier than 12 weeks, and then if it did unfortunately happen then I would have family around to support me. Perhaps the boss as well but thats TBD on circumstances i guess

        I however wouldnt announce it publicly until after 12 weeks due to when you run into XYZ that you havent talked to in 5 or 6 years, but they saw on FB you were pregnant and asked about how it was going.

        Yes mental health and wellbeing is needing to be supported through these times - also having to explain in to friends / near strangers near on end would also be very distressing.

        • locapez on 24/05/2020 - 15:17

          I've been amazed since being pregnant/having a baby how many of my friends have told me they have had a miscarriage, that I would never known about otherwise!

          Also post natal depression affects 1 in 5 women and can affect anyone not just people prone to depression but absolutely everyone! Dad's can also be affected by it too!

  • nayanmodi on 07/09/2019 - 16:58

    First of all Congrats! As others have mentioned, you don't need to rush but keep an eye out for storewide discounts. Some things may be given as a gift from family/friends. You have covered most of the things but I would definitely do some research on pram, cot, car seat and buy them new. I found the change table to be very useful for a tall person like me. We didn't buy a playpen. Electric rocker/chest carrier is optional is my opinion. One more thing start saving for their future!

  • baycie on 07/09/2019 - 17:21
    +2

    Congratulations OP!

    Babies are great.

    Depending on the type of people you both are, having a baby can be as cheap or as expensive as you choose to make the experience.

    The only essentials you truely need are:

    Clothes
    Nappies and wipes (wipes aren’t even essential, you can use wash cloths/flannels to clean)
    Boobs for feeding
    Car seat if you have a car

    Bonus items that I would consider almost essential:

    A sling
    A tub of Sudocreme
    A blanket for swaddling

    We don’t use a cot, change table, baby monitor, or anything fancy gadget wise.

    We have a $20 pram from Kmart for the youngest once they get to big for the sling.

    We have the cheap IKEA high chair, but all of our kids have preferred to sit on a chair at the table once they can reach properly, so it has not been used for long with each.

    We don’t use sippy cups or special eating utensils etc, have taught all of ours to drink from cups and use proper plates and utensils.

    Haven’t got a baby bath and have taken the kids into the shower from newborns (this gets them used to having water over them and stops issues when older with water over eyes).

    Kids don’t care about name brand items, they will dirty/spew on/poop and urinate on anything regardless of the price or brand name!

    • Shanda on 10/09/2019 - 08:39

      Agree here.
      Stock up on nappies when its half price at amazon and register there your baby's birthday. They give you % off for the items baby needs.
      We brought alot of nappies during the prime sale last year and its been slowly depleted l. Had to extra alittle but not much.
      Also dont buy more then 1 box of newborn and 2 box of size 2 until you know you need it. Baby grows so quickly that early.

      Good luck :)

      • baycie on 11/09/2019 - 09:04

        We stocked up on Prime Day too! Nappies are on sale so often, if timed correctly you never have to pay full price!

  • bataleon on 07/09/2019 - 17:36

    Nappies and baby wipes are expensive, but luckily you've got time on your side so every time you're in coles/woolies swing by the baby isle and see if the brand you'd like is on sale.

  • Ryanek on 07/09/2019 - 18:02
    +1

    We've tried a lot and the best bang for buck are Aldi baby wipes.

    • Kingdove on 08/09/2019 - 19:38

      Agreed. I bought one huggies tub and I refill from the Aldi wipes, the ones in the light blue bag.

  • locapez on 07/09/2019 - 18:10
    +7

    Congratulations! I am also pregnant with my first, but a bit further along (27 weeks) so have done a fair amount of research on the stuff you mentioned.

    General recommendations:
    * If you have a local buy nothing Facebook group join it! Great for free 2nd hand clothes, bassinets, high chairs, toys etc. https://buynothingproject.org
    * Anything large you are considering 2nd hand, work out how much you want to pay and set a saved search on gumtree.
    * Anything you want new set up a search alert for on ozbargain (eg. nappies, car seat, baby)
    * Also for new large items (eg. car seat or pram) go to baby expos knowing what you want and ask about floor stock (floor stock being brand new items on display for the 3 days of the expo). I got a car seat 20% off the already on sale price. You pick them up at the end of the expo so it is best to go to the expo on the first day and reserve them before other people do (melb and syd expos are still to come this year).
    * This was also a good read: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/459082

    With regards to specific products:
    * Pram - i've heard good things about redsababy (aus product), but been gifted a pram, so haven't done too much pram research.
    * Car seat-Each brand has a range of products all slightly increasing in features and price. I highly recommend early on going into baby bunting (or similar) and asking them to explain the differences within a brand. I tried first researching online and got overwhelmed. Get a real person to explain the nuances first then it's much easier to do the research online. Personally I am sold on the Britax graphene. It (to me) has all the essential features without the cost of paying for unnecessary extras. Also every forum I've looked at it's been one of the most highly recommended. I think around $400 is about the best price you can get this when on a super sale.
    * Change table - I love the idea of a chest of drawers with the change table on top, but haven't been able to justify the cost, so haven't bought one yet. https://www.babybunting.com.au/shop/drawers=babybunting-486/…
    * High chair - ikea. The simpler and cheaper they are, the easier to clean. Also people are regularly giving these ones away. https://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/S99067497/
    * Baby carrier - ergo baby 360 (mesh if in a warmer state) are supposedly the best. But expensive so try get 2nd hand.
    * Breast pump - Spectra S1 is supposedly the best (hospital grade, electrical, portable, double pump). Spectra is pretty much online online and has a 20% off sale in Dec, so I am waiting until then to buy it.

    • ribze1 on 07/09/2019 - 22:29

      Great write up, thanks so much.

    • one man clan on 09/09/2019 - 11:47

      Good write up. Can comment on a few of these with a 3mo old.

      • change table: we have an ikea dresser and we bought a silicon change mat to place on top. We aren't actually using the nursery right now as she sleeps in our room and the change mat is on our breakfast bar 24/7. Nursery is currently a dumping ground lol.
      • baby carrier: have the ergo baby 360, it is fantastic and we use it constantly over the pram. Great when your baby is grizzly because they go to sleep easily in it. Don't have the mesh one but the heat comes from a hot baby on your chest more than anything else.
      • breast pump: have the spectra s1, it is excellent. Unfortunately our bub won't bottle feed (yet) so it's not a lot of use…
    • morse on 10/09/2019 - 04:22

      As locapez said I posted this thread a while back: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/459082 . It was really useful to have everyone’s input. We’re due to deliver this week, so still unsure how good our choices have been. A few things based on our shopping experiences:
      - there’s no rush on most things unless you get a really good deal e.g. we got a Stokke Xplory v5 new from DJs for $375 delivered, (still not sure if this is the right pram for us, but at that price worth a gamble)
      - there’s a lot available for free on Facebook marketplace and gumtree. We’ve had 2 change tables, a baby bath, 2 baby swings, high chair, a breast pump, nappies and mountains of clothes from these for free all in excellent or new condition. I didn’t think I’d go second hand, but in the end I think it’s good for things where safety is less of an issue than things like cots/car seats, and when free if we don’t use it we can just pay it forward again. The items listed above are all available for free regularly, you just need time to keep an eye out, which I only got once on leave.
      - baby bunting has regular sales, so only buy from here when at least 20% off. They should have some sales around Boxing Day to suit your timing.
      - we got a cot quite early on ( June sales) but now realise we want to start with a bassinet with the baby in our room so don’t really need the cot yet
      - people will buy you lots of gifts, mostly clothes, toys books, nappies, so focus on the major items.
      - not very ozbargain, but we went on a one month baby moon in Europe in the second trimester as we wanted to do this before having a baby, so it may be worth considering any travel you want to do in your budget.

      All the best for your wife’s pregnancy.

      • Hedgehog girl on 02/08/2020 - 12:35

        Hi Morse, tried to send you a message but can’t do it. Wanted to check if you are selling your Stokke pram by any chance? We had it with our first child and now pregnant with number 2 and wanted to buy an xplory again.
        I know your post was a while ago but it’s still worth a shot :)

        Thanks!

        • morse on 02/08/2020 - 14:16

          We actually sold it already, unused, sorry. My husband is super minimalist and wanted me to sell it when I realised it was a bit heavy when lifting in and out of the car and that the strap buckle was very stiff and hard to undo. We ended up with a much lighter pram. I wish I’d kept it and used it for a bit for the price we bought it at- irrational sleep deprived, new mum decision. It does have a lovely turning circle and seat height.

          Congrats on number 2!

    • Wpulsar on 10/09/2019 - 10:56

      For big furniture such as drawers/changing table, cots and bassinets (and if you are Sydney), you can try going to the Boori Outlet sale that happens on the last Saturday of every month at their warehouse in Eastern Creek. Most of the stock there is discontinued but also good condition (majority new out of the box) and heavily discounted.

      On the last sale, we bought an all wood 3 drawers with a changing table area on top (that can be converted to a makeup table for the missus once the baby is old enough) for only $100 which is basically a steal. Most of the cots have also been discounted; we bought a new but discontinued cot for around 40% of RRP. It looked and felt really sturdy so it should last for quite some time, possibly even for a second child and my sibling's kid. (They also sell other wood furniture, more drawers for $99, wardrobes for pretty okay price though we didn't buy any)

      The last sale was at August (Boori Facebook Link) and there isn't any planned yet for the end of September. However judging from the pattern of previous ones, it will most likely still occur.

  • Austaurean on 07/09/2019 - 19:34

    May have already been said, but wide strollers are a pain in shops, maybe ok for jogging etc. But not shops… woolies brand wipes are good.

  • Ocker on 07/09/2019 - 19:41

    You left off sound proof insulation for the baby's room

  • Munkeyalan on 07/09/2019 - 20:09

    A few of those things (high chair, play pen), you won't need for a little while. You also have 7 or so months to look out for bargains so don't rush and get everything now.

    My one purchase regret is a big timber change table. We changed our boy on the floor or couch, and next minute he was too big for the change table anyway.

    And don't get one of those cute little buggy prams that the kid will grow out of in a year. You can get inserts that will keep the baby snug in a larger pram/stroller but can be taken out as they grow.

    Unpopular opinion, but we found it useful to have a car capsule that could be clipped onto the pram. We used a second-hand one from a friend but the ability to move the kid from car to pram to car to house without unclipping and disturbing them was a godsend. Just don't leave them in there for too long.

  • [Deactivated] on 07/09/2019 - 21:39

    How exciting ! congratulations :)

  • Skramit on 07/09/2019 - 21:51
    +2

    Only 1 tip. Don’t buy anything until you need it.

    Just get the essentials that you listed, except for the rocking chair and play pen(waste of money and unnecessary anyway).

    Don’t buy all the tempting crap at baby bunting. You just don’t need most of it. You’ll save a tonne of money.

    Oh and family will want to buy things so don’t buy everything yourself. Especially clothing.

    • try2bhelpful on 08/09/2019 - 09:06

      My sister setup her sewing machine inside the play pen, with the kid on the outside, that way the kid couldn’t get at any dropped pins etc.

      • Skramit on 08/09/2019 - 10:54

        Each to their own. If there’s a need then sure. But so many parents just go and buy all that stuff before baby is born even if they don’t really need it.

        • try2bhelpful on 08/09/2019 - 18:54

          Absolutely agree, just indicating it can have a non traditional role.

  • ribze1 on 07/09/2019 - 22:30

    Thanks everyone!

  • [Deactivated] on 08/09/2019 - 02:09
    +1

    Pram - Definitely hit up the shops and try what it’s like to wheel around and fold up. I bought mountain buggy nano as a travel stroller but ended up using it as a daily since it’s lightweight and easy to manoeuvre. Also have and recommend bugaboo bee but very expensive gumtree it.

    Car seat - Good quality ISOFIX one, but keep in mind all ISOFIX will be usable only from birth-4 years. Can recommend Britax SnS Millenia SICT. I also have Infasecure Grandeur which is one of the rare birth to 8 years seats which is great but you need a larger car to accommodate it and it’s a seatbelt install.

    Bassinet/cot. Check out Boori website clearance section that’s where I bought mine. Can be converted to kids bed when baby is bigger.

    Baby monitor. Don’t go overkill here. The ones with movement sensors can give out false alarms and wake up baby and sleep deprived mum. Even video monitors not great - they invariably have some shining light for night vision which can stop baby from getting to sleep. Audio is enough here.

    Change table. I’ll disagree with views above. I use childcare Palma every single day. Never used it as a bath, but great to have something at the right height for a tall person, it has a cushioned top (would never get a solid wood one), it has storage for all the nappies and baby creams, and critically if there’s an accident you can wipe clean unlike say your mattress.

    Rocking chair. Forget rocking, get something comfortable and supportive for mum and Bub. We really struggled with feeding until we bought an IKEA Ektorp armchair. $349 in light beige cloth. If there’s one thing on this list I wouldn’t go without it’s this.

    High chair. I have two Stokke trip traps. They’re expensive but they’re also solid wood not chipboard ie you aren’t just paying for the brand. However design flaw is that it’s extremely difficult to remove the restraint straps if you get a poo leak and need to wash.

    Playpen. I have a Dwinguler play mat and pen. Hideously expensive but good.

    Other contraptions such as electric rockers, carry-all bags, chest carrier

    1. Get a good quality electric breast pump like Spectra S2. Also be prepared for people and midwives with cult like views on breast feeding. Keep stories like this in mind https://www.kidspot.com.au/parenting/real-life/in-the-news/m…

    2. Baby Bjorn chest carrier is great

    3. Get a microwave bottle steriliser like the Philips Avent one. Don’t bother with the steam ones they are dinky, expensive and unreliable.

    4. Electric rocker is a waste of money. Didn’t work for settling my first baby and none are really gentle enough that I’d feel comfortable using them. Paediatrician also had dim view of it.

    5. I’m going to get hate for this one - but an SUV if you don’t already have one and you have the means. Going from hatchbacks to SUVs was a massive difference for us - no more aching back from hunching over and squeezing baby into a narrow aperture.The latter is important, you don’t think about how big the space is between your bum and the roof of your car. But you start thinking about it a lot more when the same baby seat takes up 90% of it instead of 60% of it, since it’s a lot easier to load baby in over the seat with more vertical space available and at a better loading height.

    6. Charli Chair - this is just awesome for bathing and showering. I never bothered installing the straps though as who leaves their baby in the bath or shower unattended. Also they have excellent after sales support, I lost the plug for using it as a bath and they delivered a replacement in a couple days for free.

    • Shanda on 10/09/2019 - 18:55

      That article is propaganda thanks. Any mum should be told to count nappies and keep an eye on urine output/colour. This is formula company propaganda.
      Theres a reason breastfeeding is pushed because it has so many benefits for baby and mum ( reduces leukemia in children by 19% is one od them).
      Also effects baby's gut flora and has reduced risk of diabetes, obesity and reduces childhood mortality by 10%.
      Babys gut is also open until around 6 months so baby can get sick very easily because of it.
      Decreases mums risk of cancer and many other things.

      So yes fed is needed at the initial time but breast is best becauseof the above.
      Make sure you are actually informed about the benefits and make an informed decision for your family.

  • mranderson978 on 08/09/2019 - 08:23

    You can save a lot of money by not bothering with a pram.
    Buy 2m of T-shirt material from spotlight and sling your baby.

    Plenty of videos on how to tie a sling in youtube.

    • DarthAntz on 08/09/2019 - 09:38

      In Japan I never see prams, only slings.

      • TEER3X on 08/09/2019 - 14:58

        There's no room in Japan for anything that has wheels, that's why cars are banned

        • DarthAntz on 08/09/2019 - 16:43

          You'd be crazy to use a pram in a train station during rush hour

    • macrocephalic on 08/09/2019 - 16:01

      Slings are good, but I feel like prams also have a place.

      Slings will get less comfortable once the baby get over ~7kg, that's when we transitioned to a proper baby carrier.

  • FoxJump on 08/09/2019 - 08:26
    +5

    Hi. I'm the guy that previously posted a similar question for my twins.

    The twins are due tomorrow.

    We bought car capsules from a hire place that were selling ex rentals.
    We bought second hand cots. But new mattresses.
    Facebook marketplace is great for second hand stuff. You can even buy unopened nappies!
    We bought second hand seat/basinets.

    Clothes we got gifted by friends and the rest from Kmart.

    Good luck - to me included.

    • Quantumcat on 08/09/2019 - 08:54

      Good luck!!

    • Kingdove on 08/09/2019 - 19:40

      Congrats!!!

    • ribze1 on 08/09/2019 - 22:16

      All the best!

    • FoxJump on 08/09/2019 - 22:18

      Thank you. 8hrs to go

  • PlasticSpaceman on 08/09/2019 - 08:57

    Alcohol. Mumm champagne or Grant Burge pinot noir chardonnay. :-)

  • rainbowsprite on 08/09/2019 - 09:28
    +1

    Recommend the Haakaa one piece silicone breast pump to catch let down on the other side when feeding and gradually build a stash. You might not need much more than that for a breast pump if mum's milk supply is ok unless returning to work and pumping milk for bub to drink. Some chemists will rent out breast pumps if you want to try a brand or only need it for a little while (i.e. get supply up before fully feeding from breast)

    • macrocephalic on 08/09/2019 - 15:59

      Yes, my wife used these and rarely used the expensive Medela breast pump.

  • DarthAntz on 08/09/2019 - 09:37

    Congratulations to you and your entire family.

    All I can recommend is aliexpress (and the 3 weeks wait time for the items to arrive), and a savings account. Because only you and your partner know what your baby needs on-going, rather than collecting gifts from friends that you may or may not need, give them the bpay details for the baby's account. that money will grow in the 15-20 years before they know what to do with it.

  • Gesiet on 08/09/2019 - 09:56
    +3

    Here’s what I’d invest in: evidence based knowledge.

    You want to maximise the joy you get out of the first year or two. The main challenges are usually with feeding or sleep.

    We spend all this money and energy on buying equipment and birth preparation, but rarely on understanding what we can do to make life with a baby as relaxing and enjoyable as possible.

    I can highly recommend a few amazing resources:

    “The Discontented Little Baby Book” by Dr Pamela Douglas - read while pregnant.

    https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/22827765-the-disconte…

    Pamela is a GP and researcher who heads up the Possums Centre for mother’s an babies in Brisbane. She’s leading the world in infant research and evidence based care. A brilliant and highly regarded expert. There’s a lot of conflicting information and misinformation out there. Pamela cuts through it all.

    Possums also have three fabulous online resources:

    Bringing Baby Home - a 2 hour video on what to expect in those first few months. This is included in their online support program PIPPS.
    Gestalt Breastfeeding Video - if you have latching issues look at this before investigating tongue ties
    The Possums Sleep Film

    https://possumsonline.com/possums-bundle

    If you need any help with breastfeeding it’s always good to have a good lactation consultant on hand. Possums do Skype appointments, but if you can find one who does home visits that’s ideal.

    Also invest in a cleaner, pre-prepared meals etc to make life easier in the first year.

    • macrocephalic on 08/09/2019 - 15:58
      +1

      On that note, I can recommend 'The Baby Book' by Sears et al. It's not very expensive, and it's written in easy to digest language. You will be really confused about what to do and if you're doing it right, this book will help clear up s lot of confusion. Get it and read it while you're pregnant, you won't have much time afterwards.

      I would recommend staying off Facebook groups etc, those seem to cause my wife more grief than anything.

  • Jcww on 08/09/2019 - 11:32
    +1

    First up, before the financial impact, get your own head space sorted. Babies are shitty energy sucking vampires. Two is worse lol. If you shave ANYTHING that requires time to complete, do it before bubs comes out. Painting, renos, car servicing, anything. Very soon you will have no time to yourself.

    Make sure you have a good mate or mates you can hang out with, you will need a break. I don’t know how mums do it, I do 30, maybe 40% of the work and even that is just such hard work!

    You will figure out what you need. Basics are a good car seat, bassinet and pram. The rest you can add to later. Hugh chair really only needed after 6mo.

    • FoxJump on 08/09/2019 - 22:19

      I made sure my tax return was done before they come out

  • Rockets84 on 08/09/2019 - 11:39

    If you are going to use disposable nappies then a nappy bin is something that I'd recommend. We had the Tommee Tippee Sangenic for our three. Keeps the smell down and you're not walking to the outside bin all the time. Just don't overfill it, you can break the parts where the used nappy sits when you spin cartridge that seals in the smell.

    We also had an electric swing that my wife could put the baby in so she could get things done with out lugging a baby around all the time. We only had that with our last baby but it was a god send for my wife. She gave to a friend who was a single mum and she also thought it was very helpful.

  • [Deactivated] on 08/09/2019 - 14:48

    Don’t spend money on the most expensive models, basic things will do, rockers, bounciers, expensive breast pumps are not necessary . Buy used from marketplace, gumtree or ebay if possible or borrow items if you can - return them when you are done.

    From experience it’s best to get through the pregnancy and do all the prep in the later stages, 7 weeks is very early.

  • TEER3X on 08/09/2019 - 15:03

    I have these and think they work great:
    https://www.target.com.au/p/childcare-vexo-stroller/61498044

    https://www.target.com.au/p/mother-s-choice-allure-convertib…

    The car seat was 1/2 price when I got it, so if not in a hurry, wait for a deal.

    Also just noticed you are only 7 weeks pregnant, you have heaps of time. I would wait until after the baby shower. We pretty much got everything we needed from that.

  • macrocephalic on 08/09/2019 - 15:52

    Gumtree or FB market place. Pram is whatever you are comfortable with, just be sure that it's easy to use (fold etc).

    Car seat: you will need one for the first 9 months or so, then will have to change to a different type (rear facing Vs forward facing). Have a look at super cheap, you can get them starting at about $150. You might want to be wary of used ones here as they are a safety item.

    Baby monitor is just s fancy name for an IP camera. You can get s reolink (reputable brand) IP camera on Amazon for about $85.

    High chair: get the $20 one from IKEA. Don't spend a fortune on something that you just use to sit a baby on.

    Cot: just buy one used and out a new mattress on it. Same with change tables.

    The hardest part about having a baby is not having clutter everywhere, so buy only want you need and buy cheap so you don't feel bad for getting rid of it once you no longer need it.

  • peterw1 on 08/09/2019 - 16:20

    the kiwis got it right. 'Choice' bro. Go to your library and look up choice magazines for tested baby/child equipment, especially child restraints - the standards have changed.

  • solidweiner on 08/09/2019 - 17:47
    +1

    Don't want to echo too much of what has been said, but -

    Pram - no need to go overboard, some may disagree with me but some of the more expensive prams are more fashionable than useful. Think of blokes comparing fast cars, but the parent version. You want something that is comfortable to push, not too heavy for when your wife needs to load it in the back of the car. Who cares if it's not the 'in' brand.

    Also if you're thinking of more kids in the next 2 years or so, look into something that
    can convert into two seats. That will save you from having to buy a double pram for when you want to grow the family.

    Carrier - Ergobaby 360 hands down. Also has optional infant insert.

    Car seat - isofix is nice and easier, but not 100% necessary. Traditional seat belt attachment is just as safe if installed properly.

    High chair - you won't need one straight away. It will be a while before they sit up, much less commence solid intake. IKEA chair is best bang for buck, but IMO Baby Bjorn chair is the best of you've got cash to burn. No harness (table top restraint) and fully plastic - just wipe it down and it takes me 10s to lock in the kid.

    Electric rocker - we bought a 4moms one, and for a few hundred dollars didn't get much use.

    Cot - don't buy designer crap. Some of them even have odd sized mattresses that force you to buy their sheets as well. We initially had a timber cot, but it started to crack so got a metal one instead. Haven't looked back since.

    Showering - Charli chair is great, but a bit bulky. If you're cramped, keep that in mind.

    Change table - seems unnecessary at times, but a good investment for your back.

    Best of luck, dude. Don't listen to everything the baby store sales people say. They use emotional persuasion because you're a parent.

    • trapper on 09/09/2019 - 11:47

      Pram - no need to go overboard, some may disagree with me but some of the more expensive prams are more fashionable than useful. Think of blokes comparing fast cars, but the parent version. You want something that is comfortable to push, not too heavy for when your wife needs to load it in the back of the car. Who cares if it's not the 'in' brand.

      Absolutely. Also the fancy prams inevitably end up taking your entire car boot space, it's crazy.

      • solidweiner on 09/09/2019 - 15:00

        Yeah, sometimes I wonder if it's just a pissing contest.

  • Charybdia on 08/09/2019 - 17:54
    +8

    Bose QC35s

  • frewer on 08/09/2019 - 18:14

    If you or your wife arent do co-sleeping. Get one of those sleeping bag for baby ( 6 -12 months ) at ALDI it looks like this, best invention ever for baby.

  • Dr Techno on 08/09/2019 - 19:48

    find a friend or someone in the neighbourhood who has already been through the journey previous to you. get all their hand me downs, especially clothes.. I always get a friends hands me down from their kid is about 1 year old than mine.. I havent purchased clothes for my little one for a few years so far :P

  • Herbse on 08/09/2019 - 20:05
    +1

    Sangenic nappy disposal bin

  • kaleidoscope on 08/09/2019 - 20:20

    must haves
    - wet / dry wipes ( buy when sales are on)
    - lots of singlets, bibs and clothing for early months (i found aldi bibs are really good. baby bunting ones are expensive and crap)
    - car seat + pram or capsule + pram. buy which suits u best. i find capsule is better as you dont have to wake up the baby when putting on and off from car. i got joie capsule + pram combo on sale and they’re really worth every $
    - diapers on sale or from costco
    - change table, ikea one is very good, their mat and other accessories are too good as well. i also got their mattress for cot
    - bassinet or cot : its your call. i find bassinet on early days is very useful but some would call it waste of $. either way i got both cot and bassinet from two friends (2nd hand)
    - bottle warmer / sterilser ( get these from sale)
    - changing table mats (these are disposable ones that goes over the cushion and wont let liquid go through, very handy)
    - baby wraps
    - sleepin bags, get one or two thats suitable for the season of the year. they’re very good
    - some hand towels (5-10) would be good. these are to put iver your shoulder when burping or feeding as babies often throw up milk… you need like 1 for each feed and every 2-3 hour feeding. so do the math and find how many u may need before each wash.

    good to have
    - breast pump. its too early to think aboht this, but if ur wife has trouble early on, it will be really valuable. hiring from hospital would be lot more expensive.
    - baby monitor. again, its too early. get it if you feel like wanting it when u need it.

    others like playpen/ hughchair are too early to worry about, get them as they seem fit.

    i’ll add if i remember any more.

    congratulations!

  • bi7m4p on 08/09/2019 - 21:09

    First up congrats!

    Second
    I'd recommend waiting on announcing it before making most of the big purchases.
    As they will likely ask if you need anything and allow them to get a gift that you will use.

    In the end we only purchased the pram and car seat ourselves from your list.

    Its been mentioned a few times already but gumtree and facebook groups are pretty good.
    We got our bassinet, playpen and a few other things on there.

    Try and get a few different nappies and wipes as well before buying in bulk in case the little one has a reaction.

    I would also suggest not buying clothes until after the baby shower and they were the go to gift for people.

  • mooney on 08/09/2019 - 21:36

    Congratulations!!

    Too many comments to read. From your list my two hot tips are:

    • Don't bother with a change table. Everyone I know ends up changing nappies on the floor with a padded mat. No one past a couple of months continues.

    • For chair rocker/ breast feeding chair, ikea is your friend. Cheap Poang chair is comfortable and rocks nicely (even the non rocking version) we bought an expensive chair which we ended up giving away and we replaced with IKEA. Just worked better.

    Good luck.

  • SpendLess on 08/09/2019 - 21:46

    Bonds onesies are really good and convenient. We had a crap load and they get dirty very very quick cause the baby poo just explodes everywhere and gets it dirty quick. They grow out of them very fast as well especially when they are young so its best to pick them up at a garage sale or second hand somewhere. Troll gumtree or facebook marketplace for garage sales that list baby clothes and you can pick them up very cheap and they are usually in very good condition cause they grow out of them so fast so they dont get much use out of them. I picked all my small sizes from garage sales for like 50c to $1 back then and they were like $10 brand new! I found garage sales one of the best places to pick up cheap baby clothes. Ebay and the markets had too many competition or prices werent usually as cheap

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 08/09/2019 - 22:16

    Congratulations OP my wife is almost 22 weeks it is a super exciting time!

    However i walked out of baby bunting shocked at he blatant rip off certain things were being flogged at!

    Im going to fork the cost of a good car seat and pram based on advice of friends

    ill also get a decent baby monitor everything else will be either be 2nd hand, k-mart/ikea stuff.

    Also keep on eye for Ozbargin things like 10% off gift cards etc good way to stock up on gift card money which can be used to stock up on stuff like wipes/nappies etc when on sale - you still got plenty of time so it is a good way to get stuff without breaking the bank

  • readeral on 08/09/2019 - 22:19
    +1

    Borrow AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.

    Children outgrow everything so quickly, it's a massive money sink to buy for yourself if you have the benefit of family or friends one step ahead of you. Especially if you don't intend to have any further children.

    Also Baby Bunting 20% off sale is literally at least once a month so don't let it suck you in automatically. Assume their 20% off price is their base price, and only buy when there's a sale. That being said, we found that they were often the best value anyway.

    Things we borrowed:
    - Bassinet
    - "Chest Carrier" (ones we had access to were Baby Bjorn and a big wrap style one)
    - Infant Capsule (hired it)
    - CLOTHES - especially up until size 0, you want to borrow as much of this as you can. Including bodysuits and singlets.

    Things we got off gumtree:
    - Pram (which connected to the infant capsule we were hiring)
    - Cot (Only needed it around the 6mth stage - N.B. we bought a new mattress for it)
    - Playpen (won't need it until they're shuffling around)
    - High-chair (won't need it until your bub can sit themselves up)
    - Nappies (we went cloth nappies. Not for everyone I know… but in our circumstance it has been cost effective)

    Things we bought new:
    - Breast pump
    - Instant read Thermometer
    - Baby gate (so cheap at Baby Bunting that buying off gumtree with no warranty wasn't worth it)
    - Breast-feeding chair (only because it caught the wife's eye… ultimately ended up feeding on the couch/in bed most of the time anyway!!)

    There's a tonne of stuff you need for a kid - but the big ticket items don't need to cost you an arm and a leg if you can borrow or get second hand. In terms of wraps/towels/bibs/terry squares - this is the stuff that people will love to buy you 'cause it's cheap, and useful, so don't go out and buy yourself until a week or two before delivery when you'll know better what you'll need.

  • [Deactivated] on 09/09/2019 - 00:11

    Booties and a lobotomy.

  • Cunning Linguist on 09/09/2019 - 00:54
    +2

    Something I wish we got earlier was a good thermometer. You'll be measuring bub's temp often and a good instant forehead thermometer makes a difference rather than trying to mess around with an in ear or arm pit thermometer.

    Highly recommend the Braun forehead touchless thermometer - should be able to pick one up at a good price at your local chemist warehouse.

    Heaps and heaps of cloths - you'll be cleaning up so much you can't have enough. The ikea baby face cloths are great get like 20 of those, and I would get 1 or 2 of these larger 8 pack towels from Big W

    https://www.bigw.com.au/product/big-softies-coloured-towelli…

  • Aerith-Waifu on 09/09/2019 - 04:29
    -1

    Fish! Lots of fish for the wife to eat:)

    Kids will be very smart when he/she cane out:)

    Congrats

  • 22slurpee on 09/09/2019 - 05:19

    Silicon bibs with the catch 'pocket', easy to wipe and amazing what food it manages to save by catching it
    https://www.woolworths.com.au/shop/productdetails/870330/?is…

  • sraymond on 09/09/2019 - 06:41

    A baby cam for the car saves your wife worrying what is happening while driving. On sale currently for $159. I found this company really good with any support/warranty issues too.

    http://www.babysafeaustralia.com.au/shop/

    Easy to install
    https://youtu.be/j5ZNsdvvOME

  • Alex10 on 09/09/2019 - 07:50

    Buy ear plugs for yourself :P

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 09/09/2019 - 10:29
    +1

    BUY EVERYTHING SECOND HAND except for the car seat.

    Buy a capsule car seat. Trust me. Taking a sleeping baby into or out of the car with a capsule is a godsend. Also serves as essentially a portable cot when away from home.

    Don't buy an expensive baby monitor. You only need a cheapie with sound.

    Don't buy a change table. Just buy 1 or 2 cheap Kmart yoga mats.

    Go to Woolies and fill your trolley with boxes of wet wipes. You'll need em.

    Also please read this. Essential.
    http://resources.beyondblue.org.au/prism/file?token=BL/0775

    Good luck.

  • thefatpanda on 09/09/2019 - 15:07

    For a bassinet, I'd recommend renting a hospital bassinet e.g. http://www.hospitalbassinethire.com.au

    They are on wheels and can easily be moved around as needed. e.g. If the baby is asleep, the bassinet can be in the bedroom/nursery. If the baby is behaving (fingers crossed) and happy to keep to itself whilst you are doing something around the house, then move the bassinet to whichever room you are in.

    As for the bassinet's construction, it is plastic (air?) mattress inside a clear plastic tub on top of a metal frame. You can easily see how the baby is doing and the tub can double as a bathtub. Because its a plastic tub and plastic mattress, it is also very easy to clean if required. We ended up just wrapping a muslin wrap around the mattress.

    The only caution is that it is not that big - you will only be able to use it for ~2 months max (YMMV) but I think it gives you some extra time to work out what will work for you and your baby depending on any routine that hopefully develops.

    It's not cheap but it leaves your options for 1 or 2 months down the track.

    • bl1027 on 09/09/2019 - 15:50
      +1

      I'm glad to see I'm not the only parent who went functional over aesthetics. We have a hospital bassinet and would recommend it too.

      In the middle of the night when the baby is crying, you just don't care how cute everything is.

      • thefatpanda on 09/09/2019 - 16:13

        Haha damn right - you just need quick access to the baby so you can settle it. Other people who also rented these off our recommendation were very satisfied. The portability is a big plus. The big rigid metal frame is definitely a bit of an issue though! Had to fold seat down even in a 550L SUV boot!

        Actually one other plus is that because it's relatively small is that there's a lower risk of baby rolling over as there's no space to - though you should always err on the side of caution and wrap/bind appropriately.

  • grizzle on 09/09/2019 - 15:14
    +1

    Lots of good advice above. A couple of extra points.

    Aside from quality etc. some things do have 'fit' considerations, so really need to be seen in person.
    - What type of car you have, and how much leg room you need, might influence what kind of car seat you can buy. Led us to a Britax Graphene over other models
    - Baby carrier fit will vary by person. My wife is quite short and a number or popular brands didn't work for her. Ended up with Baby Bjorn One Air. But you can wait for the baby to try these, see how they feel when 'loaded', how easy to get bub in and out.
    - Pram - think about how you will use it. A lot of fancier ones are quite heavy and bulky when collapsed. Will you be taking it in the car lots, storing it collapsed, carrying it up/down stairs, carrying while carrying a baby etc? Or will it generally be in its expanded position? This would influence which way you go. Worth trying some in person, but obviously the best value is second hand.

    • bl1027 on 09/09/2019 - 15:42

      With the car seat, make sure you take the actual car seat to your car to check how it fits. I had to go with an alternative brand because the one I had wanted didn't suit correctly in my car.

      Very true re the pram to consider how you would use it. A colleague swears by her Stokke pram (rrp $1300!) so I bought one because I couldn't be bothered doing the research. I absolutely hate it! It's too bulky and heavy and does not collapse easily. It's a good pram but just not suitable for me. I ended up buying a lightweight, compact, collapsable-with-one-hand pram and I love it.

      I'm selling the Stokke pram, PM me if you're interested.

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