Prepping for first baby - advice needed | ExpatWoman.com
 

Prepping for first baby - advice needed

74
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 23 December 2011 - 17:17

Hi, I'm preparing for the arrival of our first baby in a couple of months and need some advice on what to buy. Here are a few questions for now but I am sure I will come up with more later! All thoughts and advice gratefully received!

1. Which brand of baby bottles and how many? - I'm hoping to breastfeed for the most part but planning to also express so dh can join in the feeding experience, particularly in the evenings! But with so many bottle brands out there I've no idea where to start, all I know is I should get wide necked bottles.

2. To Moses basket or not? - I know the baby won't be in it long so trying to decide whether it is worth getting or whether there is another alternative that can be used or the first few weeks. I have the Bugaboo Cameleon - would the pram base for that work? Would the mattress in it be sufficient? I'm also planning on getting travel cot with the crib bit, would that be ok for daytime sleeps? At what age can baby sleep in the big cot at night?

3. Microwave or electric steam Sterilizer? - does this depend on the type of bottles I buy or can they generally be used for all types as well as other stuff like pump equip, dummies etc?

TIA!

66
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 31 December 2011 - 01:50
3) I did wash all the clothes and bedding before use for both of my kids and would advise the same to you. Congratulations on your pregnancy. Your first time is very special. Enjoy every bit of it and i would stress on one thing which is to make sure you get a lot of 'relaxing "me time" because life will never be the same again :) lol obviously better than ever before but a lot busier :) Wish you all the best xx
74
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 30 December 2011 - 19:43
Thanks ladies, very helpful! Made some progress with my preparations today and finally bought nursery furniture (from PBK on sale too! :) ) So, next round of questions: 1. For those that also have pottery barn cribs, are there any other fitted sheets that will be ok with a PBK cot/mattress or am I now limited to buying all my bedding from there? From a comparison of sizes it's looks like Mothercare fitted sheets are about 4cm longer and wider than the PBK ones so not sure how much difference this makes or if sheets should be really tight. 2. Does anywhere sell swaddlers with velcro fastenings? I've heard these are much easier than swaddlers without velcro but Mothercare only seemed to have swaddlers without Velcro. 3. How much should I wash in preparation for baby's arrival - do I need to wash everything before use e.g. Clothes, blankets, sheets, muslins, flannels, towels, swaddlers etc? 4. Which stores sell Moses basket bases that don't rock? I've only seen rocking bases so far. I see on the Mthercare website that they have two in the range ur havn't seen these instore. The mamas and papas site also shows fixed bases but the basket we're looking at getting (baby k design) is from mothercare so not sure if it would fit. 5. Finally (for now), Bit of a long shot since I've not had any responses to my separate thread on this but anyone know where to get Babycare self adhesive electrodes? I have someone coming over fom Australia in the next week so if there's anything I can more easily get from there (ordering online to be delivered before she heads back) it would be great to know what and where from! Sorry, I'm sure many of my questions are really stupid! Thanks v much! Appreciate any input on any of the above!
60
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 December 2011 - 11:56
Hello DX Bchica, congratulations to your pregnancy. I have a kind of the same problem, as I am due in 3 weeks and this time I definately need to express which I did not need with my 2 other ones. I have some Tommy Tippee bootles and some from NUK, just to find out what will be best _ only 2 of each and then I will see, if it will work. These are the ones, which they advertise are "harder" to use, so that the baby won't get used to an easy "milk flow" I got an electrical sterilizer from a friend as we do not have a microwave, but she used herself also the microwave ones as well as another friend, and both think, the microwave sterilizer are better and faster. Regarding the moses basket: I used one for both of my kids but without the rocking option, as I didn't want them to get used to falling in sleep only if they get "rocked". But that was my decission. I found it very useful to have it in the living room during the day. In the bedroom we used a crip/cot almost from the beginning. In fact I am actually selling the Moses Basket with Stand at the moment,as with No 3 I won't use it as it will be too dangerous with my 2 other ones running around :o). If you are interested in buying it, I can send you pictures. Asking price with stand and some sheets 150 DHR. Please email to sithum at web dot de Good luck
500
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EW GURU
Latest post on 27 December 2011 - 22:07
I would also recommend attending on of the babywearing workshops look up this one Dubai Babywearing on fb <em>edited by Frances on 27/12/2011</em>
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 December 2011 - 15:26
congratulations DXBchica, 1. Which brand of baby bottles and how many? - I use Pigeons with wide teat. Work great for us. I have only one bottle for each of my kids (+storage bottles) and I boil them once a day for 10 minutes. I do not have a sterilizer - big pan does the job ;) 2. To Moses basket or not? - We put the baby in the cot from the beginning, but I found a moses basket very handy. With my 2nd child we opted for a rocking base. It is great. You can browse the net, whil rocking the child in the basket . I think we Used it until DD was about 4 months. Travel cots dont have a strudy mattrace, so they are not ideal for newborns in my opinion, but I know people who swear by them. I bought a breastfeeding chair with DS. Super comfy with a high neck-rest. Did not have one with DD - BF of course is douable without BF chair, but DS loves being rocked and it makes it so much easier to sit down, BF and read magazine. HTH
500
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EW GURU
Latest post on 27 December 2011 - 15:13
Congrats, I remember how exciting this was for me too, my first in now almost 12 years old. Enjoy every minute of this magical experience. I can help with the Breastfeeding, drop by our Facebook page Breastfeeding Q&A UAE, we will be more than happy to answer all your bf inquiries. Happy holidays
 
 

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