Share your knowledge

Ok all you mummies,

Am just trying to get organised for bubs arrival and have everything except all the bath and washing stuff

So what do I need - eg creams etc

Also would like to wash babies clothes before she comes - do you put them in the dryer - I would hate to shrink them

Any other useful advice - like what to make sure I have in my hospital bag would be great

Thank you all

I do like J&J bathtime bath and baby powder (only like baby powder cause of the smell - but if you want to get baby powder and this is not an essentual items get a little bottle as it lasts forever)
What i got from the Uk was a baby sponge - its really good for all over baby wash and i am sure you can get smaller sized sponge here.
I got seperate towels just to use for baby (I got four of them)
I did not put babies clothes in the dryer - for the risk of shrinkage - so if you got a little while i would suggest line (outside or inside) drying.
Now what did I put in my hospital bag?? I did take clothes for baby but we did know what we were having and was not in hospital after day one - went into a maternity home. I took my own maternity pads, toiletries - don't forget something nice to shower with afterwards. I honestly wouldn't be bothered with make up - I took some but never used it, more important to coo over my baby.oh i also had a dummy - both my previous babies were dummy kids so I was prepared. and ofcause clothes for yourself, pjs etc.. oh and extra knickers incase you have a over fill.
and like haleighs mum said prepare for more than one day there as sometimes things don't go to plan and have to stay in longer.

Hospital bag:

Extra maternity pads and cheap knickers that you can throw away after PP bleeding is finished. I got a 5 pack from the warehouse for about $5.
Breastpads for when your milk comes in.
Wet wipes if you're going to use them and some extra nappies for bub. Some hospitals don't provide wipes and only a few nappies.
I made sure I took makeup the second time round! Didn't bother when I had Ella and I HATE all the pictures of after she was born.
I know it sounds superficial, but I look at them and think, gee that would be a nice photo if I didn't look so crap! Also made me feel better looking a bit better, and with all the visitors too.
***Something to snack on and drink*** I was so grateful for my lollies, powerade and fruit!
The hospital meals can be a bit on the small side, and after labouring, being woken to feed etc, it was so handy having something to munch on.

When you are at the hospital and filling in the menu cards always tick the large meal. It is still on the small side but far bigger than the smaller ones. Coins is something to have in your hospital bag so you can go to the vending machines to get food you want - you can always get other people to get something you want when they visit.

I didn't bother with makeup or with shampoo either. There is soap available and it's alright if you have a short stay. If your stay is going to be longer, your DH can get stuff for you on his next visit

Things for the hospital I found really useful:
Muesli bars (something filling, with energy, that you can snack on between meals. Water is provided and in Palmy hospital there is toast and hot drinks too but that varies between hospitals)

At the hospital I was at I didn't need to bring wipes, nappies or pads. And there were hospital gowns and towels available for me and baby. I feel more comfy with a bra and t-shirt under hospital gown though, so I packed a couple of those and a nice comfy (stretchy ) change for going home. (btw immediately after having a baby my size was roughly what I was at 6mos). For baby going home I packed a singlet, all-in-one suit, hat, and a cuddly blanket (I love blankets for babies hehe!).

Undies. I thought what I had packed was enough but it wasn't, and DH was sent home to swap yuk ones with clean ones I should have allowed 6-8 per day to be on the safe side. I know it sounds icky but the bleeding generally settles fairly quickly!

Pen and paper. There's a lot of stuff like meal orders to fill in, but I also like to jot down my thoughts in a journal (especially when I'm at hospital on my own ) so I like to have paper handy.

Deodorant. I mightn't have used lippy at the hospital but it sure was nice to have a fresh spray of deodorant on.

Powders etc. Don't worry about buying these for baby. If s/he has excema you won't be able to use most of them anyway. At first there will be soaps available at the hospital and samples of powders and creams in your Bounty pack that you will get from the hospital when the baby is born.


About prewashing clothes, you don't need to do it but go ahead! The dryer should be fine for standard clothes - just watch woollens and aplicque (eek can't spell) of course. If you have time I'd hang them out cause there's nothing like fresh air for drying clothes.

To the hospital - lots and lots of granny undies. I went thru about 12 pairs in 3 days. And breast pads.

I agree with some of the others re: baby soaps/lotions etc. I was given a heap of Huggies stuff when I had the gremlins and ended up not being able to use it coz it gave them bad cradle cap, and I don't use much in the way of powders, creams etc. Altho when they were in hospital I got given some Karicare Nappy Ointment and it is brilliant if their wee butts get a bit red.

Wow you guys are amazing thank you.

I am going to write it all down

Well am off to get more undies I brought some really cheap ones from the warehouse - 10 but that not going to be enought

I have very sensitive skin so will not go out and buy heaps of stuff for bubs and can try the things I have - may just need to get some nappy rash cream

I have heard that they say baby wipes can cause rash if you dont dry - what do you use to dry

Also Are Muslin squares usefull - the babycity site recommends them for breastfeeding

I didn't find soaps necessary for baby at all, and we still wash her soap-free (sensitive dry skin).  The only things we use are a no more tears formula shampoo, barrier cream on her bum if she gets a nappy rash (don't need to use it otherwise), and a moisturiser and lotion for massages.  Powder can come in handy occasionally. 

You mean little muslin cloths, or the muslin nappies?  Either way we use the lot!  The cloths are lovely for bathing baby, and flat cloth nappies always come in handy, but the flanellette ones are more absorbent than muslin ones.  Good to have around for when you burp bubs. 

BTW... I took 12 undies to the hospital and that was more than enough - you'll be right!  You can use disposable nappies the same way as you'd use pads for the first day after the birth - they work much better!