Going to be a First Time Mom
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Hi all I am here to find tips, freebies and bargains for baby items!
I’m super excited to being a first time mommy and I really don’t know where to start so looking for some advice to what I need, that generally people don’t initially think of abd items people bought that you think you could have done without!
Thanks in advance
Congratulations on you bundle of joy!
For freebies look at Emma's diary and bounty and sign up to pampers as they often do free samples.
I went very minimal when I had my son. I bought a cot, a bouncer and a play gym. I never bothered with a moses basket as they are barely in them so a waste of money in my opinion. I bought a very small amount of clothes as we got given so many! My best buy was our travel system! It has been well used and is brilliant as it all fits together and you could technically use the bassinet part as a moses basket for their day time naps, just don't let them sleep in it over night! If you are breast feeding then nursing pads are a must! Asda does really good affordable nuraing bras. If you plan to express then a good breast pump is needed. If you can afford it get a double one. I had a nuby one and it was good. If bottle feeding I found Nuk bottles to be the best. You don't need a fancy steriliser, a big bowl and sterilising tablets work just as well and much cheaper.
Look online at places like gumtree, fb marketplace for maternity clothes as they will be much cheaper. I would look on there for baby items too, as long as you don't mind second hand, some items are practically new, you get some brilliant bargains, especially on baby clothes. I got my sons wardrobe for his next size up for £30.
Get a good changing bag, believe me it will be needed.
George at Asda is good for bedding, sleeping bags and clothes. Tesco is good for baby clothes too.
If you are using disposable nappies then Aldi, Lidl, Tesco, Morrisons and Sainsburys nappies are really good. I've tried them all and they are just as good as pampers or Rascal and friends and are a fraction of the price. Same goes for baby wipes.
Also if you have any friends or family that have babies who will be slightly older than your wee one, ask them if they have any items that they don't need anymore and that you could have for a small fee.
Look at everything you think you might want and then ask yourself how often will I actually use it and do I really need it.
I didn't buy anything I didn't need as I went very minimal on items and glad I did as I was given so much anyway!
gaelle0501 fb marketplace is brilliant for clothes! I just got my sons 12-18 month wardrobe from there for £30. I went on the basis that if I realised I needed it after he was born then I would buy it, but I never needed to! Plus as I'm in Scotland we get the baby boxes so he slept in that till he outgrew it.
Loads of new parents buy stuff they don't end up using and I didn't want to spend money on something only for it not to be used. I'm glad I went minimal.
Aww thank you so so much! for all the great advice and taking time to give me plenty of tips! i really appreciate it.
I keep looking at things and find it alittle overwhelming as I’m not sure what is good and what is not so thank you for taking time on telling me where to look
kylosMum I felt exactly the same way! There is so much stuff and they make you feel like you need it all!
I did loads of research before I bought anything, so if there is something in particular you have seen and not sure about then just ask! I like helping other mums find things that work for them. Babies are expensive so if I can help save some money then I'm more than happy to help!
Check out plenty of companies that do baby items, many offer freebies. Boots also do a baby club worth using. We find many allow you and your partner to sign up so get double the freebies. We also used some factory shops such as mama n papas factory shop in Huddersfield and saved a small fortune
Congratulations. Thr best thing we bought was a Mamaroo, quite expensive but so worth it, i only wished they were available when my older son was born. I sold it on fb marketplace after so didnt really lose money on it.
Many congrats there is nothing better than having your first child. I used Asda a lot my little one had terrible reflux when he was born and I ended up changing milk to hill organic it was the best decision ever and also he tended to get rashes in his rear end from all baby wipes apart from wet wipes which are purely water based I used to buy these in bulk from amazon as they are the most expensive wipes out there but sometimes Asda done deals on these too
Aww bless there’s so much to think about I am really overwhelmed with it. thank you for the advice! I sure will be buying bulk buy if it saves me some cash in the long run haha
Awww congratulations. I think bounty still do free bags for mums. And if it’s your first baby you can claim £500. Try not to buy too many clothes even though they are cute they grow out of them fast and sometimes never get to wear them at all
Thank you it is so tempted to buy loads of clothes for sure haha I am tempted to but resisting as plenty of people have told me not to go crazy buying, thank you
Community usually give away free clothes....you should check what i near by...playgroups. People share all of their unwanted clothes there and u can get some clothes for the baby. Maybe have a friend who has older baby they can give u clothes.
I bought the cot bed on Amazon, it was a lightning deal with a voucher code and I paid with Amazon Gift Card, sometimes they have offer on those too....and if u make a baby wish list and spend an amount they usually give u something. I paid 60pounds for a bed which is usually 140 on full price and bought the mattress from the same place.
Buggies...Hauck is great, you only use it for 1.5 years and they give u car seat, moses basket and later us can change the buggy....this set is around 150 pounds....
Bottles....I have MUM bottles and they are good, because u can change the parts on them one by one.
If u can not breast feed good to get a tommy tippe milk machine, it makes life easily. It goes on sale on Amazon often.
Join Mummy clubs online, they have offers and u can find cheap nappy changing bag there....mine was 14.99 and perfect.
Nappy and wipe deals are usually shared here.
And infant milk powder never goes on sale.
If u were near by I could give u size 0-3month soon....because my son is growing out of them now...
Ohhh thank you so much for your fab fab advice I will defo be looking into some of these items you have suggested! I really appreciate you taking your time to me so many tips!
I’m hoping I can breast feed but if not I will look into getting tommy tips milk Machine Anything to make things easier haha
aww that’s lovely of you Love I’m not sure where you are but im based in Sheffield
kylosMum I am sure there are Mum groups and play groups and they exchange clothes...you should have a look....I am in London.
I will have To do some research and find out if there are any local ones I can go to thank you for your help
Congratulations! I have 3 children and i will say clothes when they are young is a big cost, my first had so many he didnt wear most of them as they grow so quickly. My 3rd virtually lived in babygrows as they are comfortable and warm and easy. I just bought a few outfits fir when we went out as they are grown out of them within a month or two. When newborn they dont need a lot of toys. Playmats are great, and the wrist and ankle rattles. A few simple books, i have read to all my kids from birth. Things i woukdbt bother with are baby bath, they soon get too big and a bath support/seat in the normal bath is fine. As your baby outgrows things sell them on on sites like ebay or facebook and then you can ymuse the money to buy other things they need. It can work oyt cheaper to buy the travel systems rather than a seperate pram and car seat. I had the hauck miami and got ut on sake fir about £200 and it converted from the carry cot pram to a pushchair so i didnt need a seperate buggy and when baby is asleep in the car seat you can just clip it onto the frame without having to take them out of the seat. Keep an eye on supermarkets who do baby events i git a stair gate in the asda baby event fir about £12, ask friends and family if they have things left from their children you could use. Best wishes to you and cobgratulations again x
Aww thanks so much I am hoping I can catch some baby events with good deals like your baby gate! I will definitely be buying one of those haha
Thank you for telling me what to buy you wise cos there so much out there, to choose from and I don’t really like wasting things.
I will most definitely TRY my hardest not to go crazy buying loads of cute cute clothes! it’s very tempting!
congradulations try boots parent club for freebies . rest as much as u can and always have some time out when poss
Congratulations. Always worth checking local groups on facebook or selling pages people might be giving you baby stuff for free. Also Emma's diary is the place to be if you want freebies and vouchers/coupons.
Breastfeeding has been the best money saver for me. 8 months in and still going strong! Bought a pump from eBay but never used it so am reselling it for same price. Got the cot and changing chest of drawers in Mothercare sale. IKEA kallax unit to keep the room tidy with all the stuff. Asked for things like baby Bjorn carrier and pram for presents. Babyzen yo-yo fits in a Micra so that saved me buying a new car to fit a pram in. Most clothes were given by friends. Got Emma's diary and bounty. Somehow I ended up with 280 free nappies collected before my son was born. Then got given more nappies for presents and from joining various review panels.
Oh wow you defo are savvy haha sohnds Perfect! i have just got myself a bounty pack and Emma’s diary pack! i will also have a look at the kallax unit! I feel cheeky asking for things hahah xx
Don't go buying to many baby clothes for the first year they grow out of them way to quickly, I went to a friend's baby shower a few weeks ago I made her a nappy pram with had about 200 nappies on it then filled it with toileties wipes lotions bath stuff while most ppl bought little dresses, always trust your own judgement, but never turn help down when offered. I am a mum of 3 girls and grandma to 5 and still learning every day
Aww that’s lovely! I’m hoping people do what you’ve done! one of my friends have said to me she started making me a baby care pack which is lovely idea! I will try not to go crazy buying clothes, it’s really tempting when there’s so many cute things around! X
Marketplace deffo find loads of bargains and amazon you can also get freebies on Emma’s diary , nu by website and sign up for insiders product testing
Thank you for the helpful tips!! I’ve got myself on Emma’s Dairy’s now based on everyone’s suggestiins and I will have a look on the marketplace also! Thanks again
One money saving tip I found out was the stopper on the top of calpol can be removed and placed in any other children's paracetamol bottle so you can still use the syringe. Saves money buying the cheaper bottles without losing the convenience of the fitted syringe
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