Things you couldn’t live without
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
Forum Description: Want help? Need support? Want tips? Men and women share advice and tips in this supportive community
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16972
Printed Date: 13 September 2025 at 12:25pm
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Topic: Things you couldn’t live without
Posted By: Henna79
Subject: Things you couldn’t live without
Date Posted: 06 May 2008 at 7:58am
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Hi Ladies,
As I start to get my first babies room ready  I was trying to think of things on a list that maybe I couldn't live without and so I thought I would ask you all to let me know what you couldn't live without.
Thanks |
Replies:
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 06 May 2008 at 8:06am
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My lazy boy and change table.
I picked up a cheap lazy boy from trade me and put it in Daniels room and I have used it every day since he was born. My change table has saved my back and I only got an el cheapo folding one but we still use that as well. I only paid $20 for it so I think it was well worth buying. |
Posted By: miss
Date Posted: 06 May 2008 at 8:14am
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I found the change table useful too for the first few months, especially as I ended up with a c section. I wouldn't have used it from about 5 months of age though, i always change her on the floor, so I am glad that I only got a fold up one off trade me ($10! bargain).
Other than that the only things that are really useful in the room, that I feel are the things I use the most are: cot (lol) touch light with different levels (got ours for around a tenner from warehouse) thermal blind and drapes as well so it is really dark in summer Other stuff: -we had a sangenic which we used till 6 months so that was useful for us, you could live without it. -a really good mobile, has been a good sleep cue for Lily, although we don't use the mobile part, just the music box part. - something to put all the soft toys you get given in. So that is all the stuff in her room anyway! good luck! -------------  
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Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 06 May 2008 at 8:30am
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we couldnt live without his stereo, dummy and wrap:) and also his fab change table that his Dad made:) ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: caraMel
Date Posted: 06 May 2008 at 9:07am
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Wraps, definitely.
Cloth flat nappies for burping/catching spew/boobie let down. Rocker. ------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and: 
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Posted By: nicci
Date Posted: 06 May 2008 at 9:31am
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Hi, definately the chair in his room. We only put that in at the last minute but makes to easy to feed him in the middle of the night. Muslin wraps, Lincoln is a hot baby so the muslin material is fantastic. His change table, everything I need is right there. A clock in his room, I can tell how long he has been feeding for because he will drink and drink until he's sick given half a chance. A lamp, makes the night feeds feel very calm and relaxed. A feeding pillow, I have the one that wraps around your waist, saves my arms and he rests on it while I get the breast out. Sangenic nappy bucket, because his room in upstairs I didn't want to be running downstairs with a dirty nappy all the time and it's hot up there, the sangenic takes away the smell. That's all I can think of right now but I'm sure there's more. ------------- http://lilypie.com">   http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: sadie
Date Posted: 06 May 2008 at 9:32am
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Wraps - mine is a wriggler so we ended up getting a couple of Swaddle Me wraps which have been amazing. Also white noise cd really helps settle him.
Flat cloth nappies are so useful for everything. Decent sized basinette - ideally one that rocks eg Ezee Rocker. Now a decent heater too, with a thermostat. Oh and a good playgym. I got a cheap one which was a mistake as the toys were all out of reach. Ended up getting one of the Tiny Love ones which although pricey has been so worth it as he loves it. I haven't really used the sangenic bin at all. |
Posted By: BellaBoo
Date Posted: 06 May 2008 at 9:36am
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Definitly my Angelcare monitor. I dont think I would sleep without it.
I second the old cloth nappies that gets used for everything apart from being a nappy! ------------- http://lilypie.com">   http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 06 May 2008 at 10:06am
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oh of course the monitor....yes esp in the first few weeks but definitely still now.. i dont feed in his room but i second the comfy chair where you are feeding:) ! ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: arohanui
Date Posted: 06 May 2008 at 10:12am
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- flat cloth nappies for burp cloths/wipe up sickies/lay on the ground for them to play
- a little round push light from the $2 shop (battery powered) for night feeds... means I could still see (just turn it on to latch him on in the early days, then turn it off again) and kept both of us still nice and sleepy - wraps... big ones. I got these awesome ones that come 3 in a pack, they're called Bunny Rugs and I think they're about $20 for the pack from Farmers. They're Mother's Choice brand. - change table.. we got one for $100 or something, a nice white one from Baby Factory and it's great. Heaps of room for storage too which is handy. - drying racks to hang stuff to dry inside (depends if you wanna use the dryer or not) and this little blue circle thing with lots of pegs on it from the $2 shop, good for hanging socks and bibs - bibs! Lots of them. I find silly billyz ones really good, they're my favourite cos sickies can't go through to clothes. And if you rub the bib together when it's dirty, it practically looks clean again cos of the polar fleecy stuff. - I find dummies really useful, but not everyone is into using them - Curash powder... we use it most nappy changes and haven't had a nappy rash yet ETA another one ------------- Mama to DS1 (5 years), DS2 (3 years) and... http://alterna-tickers.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Bobbie
Date Posted: 06 May 2008 at 10:16am
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Flat nappies, drying racks, our tommie tippie monitor, breast pump and bottles, and we just got an oil heater with a thermostat and a timer. Great because we just run it from 6pm to 7am.
I have always fed Rowan in bed with a cushion or in one of our lounge chairs. She has a chair in her room but I've never used it. -------------  
 
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Posted By: arohanui
Date Posted: 06 May 2008 at 10:18am
I have a chair in Harry's room too but it rarely gets used either. At night feeds (and last feed before bed and first feed in the morning) I feed him lying down in bed, and during the day I feed him in the lounge so I can watch tv  ------------- Mama to DS1 (5 years), DS2 (3 years) and... http://alterna-tickers.com" rel="nofollow">
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Posted By: tishy
Date Posted: 06 May 2008 at 10:59am
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Leather furniture and lots of muslins for cleaning up spills. I have possibly 2 of the most spilliest babies ever invented.
Definitely the play gym and a good rocker as well. |
Posted By: sunnyhoney
Date Posted: 06 May 2008 at 12:58pm
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Flat cloth nappies are great for everything, even covering the seat in the supermarket trolley.
a comfy chair to feed in, bibs with elastic necks, rocker, change table (and high chair) with wheels, angelcare monitor, musical mobile (sleep cue too), dummy, big muslin wraps... my sewing machine! it's definitley not a neccessity but I have only had it for 4 months and have used it heaps to make clothes for bubs, to repair 2nd hand clothes and it makes repair jobs that much quicker - I love it! ------------- Mum to: Joy Emily 1.05am 27/09/07 7lb 3oz Austin Paul 12.47pm 18/04/10 10lb 8oz |
Posted By: WRXnKids
Date Posted: 06 May 2008 at 2:54pm
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For girl or boy nighties for sleeping in the ones with the drawstrings at the bottom although i pulled the strings out of mine. They make changing nappies in the middle of the night SOOOOOOOO much easier!!!!!
Dummy was awesome then he decided one day he didn't want it anymore but was really good in the early days A material bath seat (got ours from baby factory) Josh grew out of the baby bath really quickly and he very heavy so it has saved back pain at bath time -------------   
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Posted By: WRXnKids
Date Posted: 06 May 2008 at 3:00pm
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oh and dont buy many little clothes we got given heaps and josh has grown so fast a lot havent been used. For newborns onesies and nighties are pretty much what josh lived n. I was too scared id break him dressing him in complicated clothes -------------
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Posted By: Freesia
Date Posted: 06 May 2008 at 3:12pm
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With the wraps, try and get a couple of BIG ones like some have suggested. By big I mean 1.2m square or bigger. We found that the muslin wraps only lasted the first few weeks on Olivia and then she needed bigger ones. Smaller wraps can be easy for them to get out of (especially if you have a wriggler).
A little table or something next to where you will be feeding. Then you can keep wipes/bibs, bottles, water for you, etc next to you within arm reach. I second a dummy. We never planned on using one but when you are absolutely exhausted you will use anything that will get them to sleep. It never hurts to have one on hand. A thermos with warm water in it if you intend to use cloth wipes. Expecially over winter  -------------  
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Posted By: lucky3rdtime
Date Posted: 06 May 2008 at 4:10pm
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change table definitely, saves your back.
tripillow for my back support when feeding. little gauze facecloths, I use them for bum wiping and cleaning: little sticky hands, fluff out of hands and feet and milky yuck in neck crease, and I use heaps of them. Pyrex jug, microwave steriliser and definitely bibs if bottle feeding cloth nappies for use on change table, under head in cot and just about anything really And definitely wraps, decent sized ones at least 1m square. If you know/think you are having a small baby buy newborn clothes, no one will buy you newborn stuff everyone buys 0-3 months and we had a 6lb 10oz baby who didn't even fit the newborn clothes very well at first and at 9 weeks is still wearing newborn clothes. DH had to go out and buy extra stuff for her in her first week of life. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: Bumble
Date Posted: 06 May 2008 at 4:13pm
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Cloth wipes
burp cloths washable breast pads. umm angelcare monitor Wraps (big ones - If you can, make them yourself cos then you can make them HUGE!!!) Dummy A sense of humour in the middle of the night when the little "darling" wont sleep!!! LOL ------------- formerly known as "Bee" Ethan ~ March 2003 Big 6 year old school boy! Micah ~ Aug 2008 ~ Smiley pants who loves telephones! |
Posted By: nicolaann
Date Posted: 06 May 2008 at 4:30pm
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Everything everyone else has already said, and.... even if you plan on only breastfeeding, I would have atleast one bottle ready to go. You never know when you may need one, and you don't want to be going out in the middle of the night, with a screaming baby to find one!! To go with that I would have a sachet (90c so who cares if yu never use it) of formula.... just incase!!
------------- Nicky, Mum to Alex (5) & Sophie (3) http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: McPloppy
Date Posted: 06 May 2008 at 5:11pm
LOL nicolaann I would agree with your last comment for may second time around as that is exactly what had to be done with mt little monkey...DH was sent out in the middle of the night for a bottle some formula and a dummy...My lowest moment
Heather I would agree with the old square cloth nappies we bought two packs and used them as change mats while out and as burbing cloths...easy to clean and quick to dry. I would not use a sangenic again if you paid me as it uses a heap of plastic and you are left with this heavy bin to change every couple of days. Music in the room let my one it was settling down time and a soft light i could turn on for feeding was good. I also had a water bottle with me in his room cause it turned out he was not the only thirsty one oh and a snuggly blanket for me aswell. Hope this helps |
Posted By: WRXnKids
Date Posted: 06 May 2008 at 5:54pm
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oh yeah i third having some bottle equipment! breastfeeding can at times get extremely frustrating and at 3 in the morning after many nights of next to no sleep being able to give a formula feed for your own sanity can be a life saver (while in my case it was)
bepanthem was good too i use it for everything from scratches nappy rash etc. -------------
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Posted By: Bobbie
Date Posted: 06 May 2008 at 6:36pm
oh my gosh I never thought of a thermos to put the warm water in! Good idea Freesia.  -------------
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Posted By: Tiff
Date Posted: 06 May 2008 at 7:00pm
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-Change table
-Cloth nappies (modern cloth ones that is for actually wearing) -Old square type cloth nappies -Carrycot for our buggy (we used this instead of a bassinette and it is great when out walking - very sad Rohann almost out of it now) -little face cloths -playgym -some baby music cds, Rohann loves her music, though I go to the library a bit and rent them from there as there is no charge on childrens cds and dvds etc -Definately loved the gowns, made life really easy Someone said not to by many little clothes as you get given loads. I didn't find this at all, infact everyone gave us 0-3months or 3-6months and even though Rohann was over 9lb she still fitted newborn for a month or so, and I personally liked her clothes fitting properly (plus it made my 'big' baby seem 'small' to me - silly I know!!), but if you're not worried about that go for the 0-3 etc! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: LittleBug
Date Posted: 07 May 2008 at 9:10pm
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- old flat cloth nappies (burping cloths/spill cloths/just about anything!)
- change table (saves my back big time) - mobile above the change table (has stopped her crying a billion times during changing/dressing... it's just a homemade one on a spring from the roof so it bounces and spins when u bump it!) - CD player with a repeat button (for her bedtime music - "rockabye baby") - thermostat heater - wraps for sleeping - dummies! - huge chest of drawers (who knew babies had so much stuff to put away!) I also bottle fed at night time (even if its expressed milk)... I found it easier to see that they take a good amount, and quickly, so that they can sleep longer and you can get back to bed asap! We just have a normal bin for nappies that has a lid that lifts when you use the foot pedal. It only smells faintly when you lift the lid, and that's only for a second, and only the two days before rubbish day  ------------- Chloe (4 years) and Oliver (3 years). |
Posted By: MummyFreckle
Date Posted: 08 May 2008 at 10:46am
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I made the mistake of not buying many little (nb) clothes, and ended up having to buy some in the first week out of hospital! The best things for us were: Cloth nappies - for all the reasons noted already. We still use them for loads of things, I always have a couple in the car to use at the supermarket in the trolley, or for temp playmats, or change mats..etc...etc... MB Carrycot that went on our buggy frame - great for walking when he was little, and we used it for daytime sleeps (as he wouldnt settle in the basinett during the day). Our Safe-T-Sleep....fantastic for knowing that he is going to stay in one place in the cot! Wraps - my mum made me some big muslin ones, fabric from spotlight, much cheaper than buying them. Moniter - we got a phillips one with 2 receivers, so we have one in our bedroom and one in the lounge! Change table, mobile, play gym....think everyone has covered it!
------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: BellaBoo
Date Posted: 09 May 2008 at 1:19pm
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Cant live without my feeding pillow too! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 09 May 2008 at 7:49pm
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Ditto ... although Isabelle was too teeny at the start and I couldnt really use it, but now I cant feed her without it! (although thats probably not good thing lol) I also agree with the change table and mobile And in the beginning I never would have survived the first few months without the "Happiest Baby on the Block" book or dvd
------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year  http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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Topsy wrote:Posted By: Rackhell
Date Posted: 09 May 2008 at 10:22pm
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Everything that everyone else has said! Knock yourself out and have a look at the 100 best buys list that ohbaby has done - you won't buy/use all of them but it's not a bad place to start for products.
Flat cloth nappies, cath is 9 months and we're still using them for everything - they are the best towels in this cold weather as they soak up the bath water (use gentle patting motions) without scratching bubba. Great as burp clothes, sheets, etc. Breast pillow - also useful for later on, cath used hers as a feeding pillow, something to put behind her when she was practicing sitting up, (also good when needed to barricade her when watching a movie too), she's now using it to push herself upright and to practice climbing. A comfy chair, I seemed to live in mine for the first few months. Change table with change mat (i wouldn't bother getting one that has a bath in it - too fiddly to drain) Cotton thermal blankets, one or two nice wool blankets. Nighties with drawstring at the bottom and domes on the front if you can find them, don't buy anything for at least the first three months or at least until they have neck control that does up at the back. You'll feel awful if you do. Try and get a couple of nighties with the fold over cuffs (for when their hormone spots come in and they start scratching them) i didn't and cath still has some little scratch scars 9 months on. Barrier cream - to help with nappy rash - sudocream. We used johnsons nappy liners as wipes (with a tub of water changed each day). Thermostatically controlled heater. There's loads of things but can't think of anything else. |