Well, it's been a busy few months - pregnancy symptoms, trying to stay awake at work, ticking baby-related chores off a gazillion to-do lists and, of course, buying all the baby essentials, while trying to not get ripped off...easier said than done.
I trawled the internet for the ultimate baby list and finally settled on Mothercare's version, which seemed extensive (like them all!), but also with a pinch of common sense.
It's expensive, it's exhausting, but I'm finally done.
Here are a few of my main purchases...
The pram
It took me a loooong time to decide which pram to buy. It seemed like the biggest and most important decision. After reading a million reviews, asking parent friends what they thought, and a few trips to Mamas and Papas, we (ahem, I!) decided on the Sola 2. For some reason, the lime green version was half the price of the red or black version - I actually preferred this colour, so happy days!
The seat lies flat and is therefore suitable from birth, which means there's no need for a cumbersome carrycot. I was a little concerned about this as we're having a November baby. However, the carrycot was an extra £70, was very big, and I really believe that a foot muff will keep the little one cosy enough.
The pram arrived last weekend and I'm still trying to work it all out. But now it's here, it seems very very real.
The car seat
Another of the big and important purchases. I actually bought this with the pram at Mamas and Papas as there was an offer on at the time. The car seat can be extended as baby grows, so hopefully it'll last us a while. We took advantage of the car seat fitting service as well. The member of staff was so knowledgeable and friendly, and gave us a chance to try it out before we left. It's very simple to fit in the car, without the need for an (expensive!) isofix base. I loved the orange colour, but decided to go for the more baby-friendly black option.
The cot bed
Even though the Little One won't be sleeping in the cot bed for a while yet, my Dad wanted to get us something as a baby gift, and this seemed ideal. It's from Argos and was in the sale at the time. It's much bigger than I anticipated to be honest, but hopefully that just means it'll last longer. It seems very sturdy and I really like the simple but elegant style it has.
The moses basket
So, I've read on many a forum that these are a real waste of money as babies only use them for a few months. Therefore, in an effort to save a few pennies, I bought a second hand one from Gumtree. The basket hasn't been used, and the stand is in great condition. I paid £20 for both, and after a bit of research, I've found that the basket is actually from John Lewis (£35) and the stand is from Mamas and Papas (£30) - so a great save. I also found a (new!) mattress on ebay for £8.
All in all, it has been an expensive process, but I've also managed to grab a few bargains along the way. There are always sales around and it's definitely worth waiting for them, especially for the big purchases. Also, there's nothing wrong with second hand baby stuff. You might feel like you want to buy all new for your first born, but to be honest, mums generally take good care of everything they buy and you can get better things for the new member of your family, for less money - definitely worth it in my opinion.
Only 6 weeks to go now...!
The cot bed
The moses basket
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