babyurbeautiful

 

It's been so long since I packed a hospital bag that I've been looking online for lists of what I need.  Babycentre has recommended lists, and forum posts suggest taking three bags.  Three bags, seriously?!

 

Last time round I went to hospital with no bag.  I called the labour ward with pains at 25 weeks and they told me to come in and bring a bag "just in case", but me being me, decided they'd send me home so off I went just myself and a book!  This resulted in Mr J having to race home from work, 70 miles away, quickly sort me a few essentials and then drive another 50 miles to the hospital I was transferred to.  3 days later, still stuck in a delivery room with no window and I was trying to shave my legs with his electric shaver.  That was of course before I lost all my dignity and Mr J was fishing out bits of carrots after emptying my sick bowl down the sink!

 

Bearing that in mind, I decided three bags including a tens machine and a handheld fan is a load of bollocks.  I've even read ladies packing a plastic jug for those first wee's after giving birth.  Whatever happened to just weeing mid-shower?!

Last time, Mr J was dispatched to the nearest supermarket for maternity pads, big pants and new pyjamas and so I realise it's really not the end of the world if I don't have a fancy pants going home outfit or a year's supply of nappies with me.

 

I've not yet fully packed, but I have a bag prepared with a few essentials ready...

 

 

 

 

Starting clockwise, here's what I have so far

 

1. Asda Little Angels newborn nappies - these have dreamskin technology to protect newborn botties. 

£4.50 for 26, or 3 packs for £12

 

2. Cotton wool pads- easier than faffing with cotton wool balls for nappy changes

 

3. Wash bag- packed with the obvious shampoo and conditioner, shower gel, toothbrushes for us both etc.

 

4. Superdrug My Little Star New Mum maternity pads

99p (currently buy one get one half price on selected products)

 

5. Pyjamas- dark PJ's are obviously recommened post baby, and I decided to treat myself to some nice ones. 

Ted Baker at Debenhams pyjamas £25.

 

6. Superdrug My Little Star New Mum nipple cream- 99p.

 

7. Black knickers- Why bother with grotty disposable ones when you can just ditch these?

Primark £2.50 for 5 pairs. 

 

8. Pampers new baby wipes- these were a freebie from my Emma's Diary pack. These are more for me, for makeup removal and general freshening up!

 

9. Newborn neutral baby sleepsuit.  £11.00 from Boots.  I obvs will pack a couple more and vests and a hat.

 

10. Lanisoh breast pads- again a pregnancy pack freebie.

 

11.  Soft blanket.  Neutral and a Primark cheapie.  Can you tell I'm not convinced the sonographer got it right?!

 

 

 

FJ

Now I'm at 28 weeks, it's time to give some serious consideration to what I need for this baby and so over the coming weeks I'm going to share my shopping trips and top picks with you. 

You may have seen my post last week about moses baskets- I found a bargain at Kiddicare, so take a look!

Whether we breastfeed or formula feed, it's inevitable we'll still need to sterilise and so I posted on Twitter recently for your suggestions about the best sterilisers as after all, mums know best!  There's so much choice out there, and the prices vary considerably.

With my first little one I used a cold water/microwave steriliser, and had an electric steriliser at home with Oliver which I used for sterilising my expressing equipment. 

During our time on neonates alone we were at four different hospitals, and all but one of these hospitals used the cold water method. Presumably this is because of cost and ease of use, but equally the NHS have very strict guidelines, and we're talking about some really sick and prem babies, so no chances can be taken when it comes to making sure all those pesky germs are eradicated.  With Oliver, his immune system was incredibly compromised, and so we always had to ensure that any cups, spoons etc were sterilised way beyond the usual 12 month recommendation.

Milton have very kindly sent me a cold water/microwave steriliser, and so this is what I plan on using this time around.  To be honest, I am a fan of cold water sterilising as it's easy, it's cheap and everything gets fully submerged, whereas with steam sterilising I'd always be a bit paranoid that there could be blackspots that might not get treated.

So what are the pro's of this steriliser?

2 in 1 microwave or cold water steriliser

Holds 5 bottles of any brand

Sterilises from 2-6 minutes in the microwave (depending on power) and in 15 minutes with cold water- perfect if you're in a rush!  

Unique patented safety vent technology increases the temperature inside the Milton Combi for better sterilisation

Spill free thanks to the unique seal on the lid

Contents stay sterile for 24 hours with cold water method (and if lid is not removed for microwave method)

Fits the majority of microwaves

Supplied with free tongs and Milton Sterilising Tablets (for cold water sterilisation)

Strong carry handle

BPA free

Easy to use on the move, simply fill with water and chuck in tablets or sterilising fluid- there's no need for a plug socket or microwave.

The steriliser I have is the Milton combi, pictured above, and available from a range of stores including Superdrug where it is £24.99.

FJ

uelty Free International is the global campaign to end animal testing for cosmetics. We are calling on governments and regulators around the world to introduce a ban on the testing of animals for cosmetic products and ingredients. - See more at: http://www.crueltyfreeinternational.org/#sthash.pjQw5Man.dpuf

Cruelty Free International is the global campaign to end animal testing for cosmetics. We are calling on governments and regulators around the world to introduce a ban on the testing of animals for cosmetic products and ingredients. - See more at: http://www.crueltyfreeinternational.org/#sthash.pjQw5Man.dpuf

Cruelty Free International is the global campaign to end animal testing for cosmetics. We are calling on governments and regulators around the world to introduce a ban on the testing of animals for cosmetic products and ingredients. - See more at: http://www.crueltyfreeinternational.org/#sthash.pjQw5Man.dpuf

Cruelty Free International is the global campaign to end animal testing for cosmetics. We are calling on governments and regulators around the world to introduce a ban on the testing of animals for cosmetic products and ingredients. - See more at: http://www.crueltyfreeinternational.org/#sthash.pjQw5Man.dpuf

Cruelty Free International is the global campaign to end animal testing for cosmetics. We are calling on governments and regulators around the world to introduce a ban on the testing of animals for cosmetic products and ingredients. - See more at: http://www.crueltyfreeinternational.org/#sthash.pjQw5Man.dpuf

Breast pads- 99p for 26

These are great value if you are in the early stages of breastfeeding and changing your breast pads every hour or so, which can become very expensive! However, they are a little small, which increases the risk of leakage if not positioned properly. My personal fave are Lansinoh pads, quite large, super absorbent and very sticky so they don't move around- but at RRP £5.49 for 60 (about 9pence each) that's over double the price of these little beauts, so I would be tempted to go with these in the daytime and maybe a Lansinoh at night. Final note- Lansinoh are individually wrapped, useful for popping in your handbag, whereas these would need to be wrapped yourself, though not a big drama at the price.

Nipple cream- 99p for 75ml

Cute packaging, no strong fragrance, not too sticky; yet feels like it is really moisturising the nipple. I actually really need this at the moment because my bubs is feeding on my sore pregnant nipples ouch! The only issue I have with this is the Lanolin content (a yellow waxy substance secreted by the sebaceous glands of wool-bearing animals animals-yuk!). However, most of these creams contain Lanolin. I have tried Kamillosan, which was quite similar although more fragranced, but apparently is lanolin-free. However, this again at £4.19 per tube is much more expensive, so the Superdrug version wins for me here.

Fragrance Free Baby wipes- 79p for 56

These were fine for mopping up after a wee, but not up to the job for a 17 month old's large poos, which should really be going into a potty by now (naughty bubs!). Only Huggies wipes do they job there I'm afraid, as they are carry the Superdrug version in my bag to use as face and hand wipes, as they are great value and very mild (no irritation for bubs). Also like the flip-open plastic opening, rather than the sticker-style opening found on Huggies and other brands, which often lose their stick or don't seal the moisture in properly.

Safety Cotton Wool Ear-Buds- 55p for a box of 50

These are ergonomically shaped for safe and gentle use, so that they don't go too far into the baby's ear. Brilliant! What a fab idea! Love these and will definitely buy again (once I use up all 50)!

Top-to-toe Softwash- 99p for 300ml 

This seems mild and didn't irritate bubs' skin. I also used some and it worked well. It left a nice baby powder like scent on the skin afterwards. However, the SLS content put me off a bit so I will probably stick with my Green People Organic Babies Wash. However, for 99p this definitely beats Johnson's.

Bubs actually liked to feed from the spoons, a nice rounded shape perfect for attempted self-feeding at 17 months. Super-value!

Other than the price, one of the really great things about this range is that they support the Cruelty Free Campaign to end animal testing of cosmetics. I was also pleased to see that items such as the baby oil and baby wash have no animal products and are therefore marked as suitable for vegans!

 So! Save yourself a trip to the shops and stock up on some basics at Superdrug.com. Your purse will thank you (and probably your hubby too!) With free delivery on orders over £25, I wonder if you can manage to spend that much! 

CB