What You REALLY Need For You New Baby

Eleven months ago we found ourselves proud parents of a little baby boy.  In the run up to the big event we found ourselves running around trying to get everything prepared for the big day.  I found it difficult to determine what we actually needed and what we did not.  As the result of our experiences I've jotted down some of my views of what is essential, what is nice to have, and what you really could do without.

Nappies (or Diapers if talking US English)

OK, the biggy first.  Do you go for one of the myriad different types of re-usables or disposables?  We went for reusable at first but eventually succumbed to the guilty pleasures of disposables.  We found the supposedly waterproof outer liners on the particular brand of re-usables we chose were far from waterproof as our baby grew and began to generate more waste.  They are also big and bulky, meaning it is difficult to put on trousers and take up a lot of room in the changing bag (both spare and used nappies).  We also found that our washing machine was constantly on the go, using up considerable amounts of electricity.  If you do elect to use re-usable nappies, don't bother with all the expensive used nappy systems that claim to trap odour etc.  Just get a small plastic bin from Poundshop/Ikea etc with a sealable top.  Does the job just as well, until of course you need to open the lid!

Modern disposable nappies are slim and incredibly absorbent.  The argument about using up landfill I think is spurious - they're made of paper and cotton and contain biomass once used - they'll degrade faster than anything else in there!  You're not using vast amount of energy with the washing machine on, and with the offers that are constantly around you can get them at a reasonable price.  Its easy to carry several in a changing bag, then throw them away - you're not carrying a bag of baby pooh around for the rest of the day.  If you need nappy sacks, get the economy ones (about 12p for 100  in the UK) in the supermarket.  They are well up to the job.

Admittedly it helped that our boy is one of those babies that just sees a full nappy as a bit of extra warmth, so we only go through a handful a day.  I'd recommend disposables any day, but, as they say, your mileage may vary.

The Pushchair/Pram

This is one of the big costs a modern parent faces.  You can easily spend several hundred pounds on travel systems and the like.  An admission here.  We have a Bugaboo Bee and we love it.  Lightweight, easy to move around shops, takes a car seat on top.  We've had several people come up to us to get our opinions of it as they've regretted getting the equivalent of a massive 4x4 when all they need it for is the high street.  They current trend seems to be for these massive pushchairs with huge wheels.  You just don't need them - they are far to big and bulky.  There is the question of going cross country but how often do you actually do that?  We've taken the Bee across muddy fields and tracks with few problems.  Which leads me to my next point...

YOU DON'T NEED A PUSHCHAIR.  Wow.  Got that off my chest now.  Seriously, much of the cost of the pushchairs is to enable them to be used to carry infants at a very young age.  Once they're 6 months old and able to hold their head upright a cheap £20 one from a Supermarket will suffice.  Up to then you can use a relatively inexpensive infant carrier or sling - a huge selection are available.  It keeps your baby close to you and means you don't have to manhandle a huge pushchair around the place and you can go places a pushchair can't, like up STEPS!  Once the baby gets too heavy to carry, use the £20 pushchair from the Supermarket or get a backpack baby carrier.

The Changing Bag

This is just a bag with convenient places to carry the paraphernalia that comes with having a baby, from a bottles through foodstuffs to nappies and spare clothes.

YOU DON'T NEED A CHANGING BAG.  At least not at first.  During the run up to your new arrival you'll get lots of vouchers and offers (in the UK at least).  Among these will be one for a baby pack from Boots.  Included in this is a respectable looking changing bag FREE OF CHARGE.  It even includes a changing mat.  This will be all you need for the first few months, until you start needing to carry solid food and bigger clothes.  Even then, you have to think, is there a bag that I already have that can carry out that function?  Be very careful with this purchase.

To be continued...

Next post will cover clothing, baby wipes and nursery furniture.