Baby Gear

OK, as I approach my third trimester I'm starting to think baby gear.  Anything you can suggest that you could not live without?  Didn't need at all?  Could have used? (This would not be including buggy's or cots)

Thanks so much.  (I'm sure all the expectant mom's will all be appreciative of this as well)

receving blankets
onesies
socks

We bought the diaper dispenser, it's a thingy that has bags in it, and you throw away the used diaper into it, and twist the top, and it dispenses the bag with the used diaper into the bottom. But more than likely, we were just tossing the used diaper into the bin, wrapped into a nappy bag of course. That to me seemed like a waste of money.

mine lived in onsies wrapped in receiving blankets for the first 3/4 months didn't want them too hot

I also had one of those big V-shaped pillows, that I used when I was pregnant. It was sooooo comfy!! After my son was born, we would drape a soft blanket across it, and lay him in there, he absolutely loved it, more often than not, he would fall asleep in it. It was cosy, and surrounded him, even the health visitor, when she came, would comment on how comfy he looked, and how well he was doing. My son had slight jaundice when he was born, and being as it was warm at the time, we'd just put him in a onesy, and prop him on that pillow near the window, and he was just fine.

Really Loved.....

Bumbo 4mths onwards
Baby Born Carrier
Lotsa nappies  
nursing bras (no fun shopping for one, right afterwards)
American Bassinet with vibration and nightlight feature (She was in it in our room until she was 4.5mths)
GroBag for sleeping
Baby Bath
Bouncy Chair (Ours vibrated and it calmed Hope down immediately)

Didn't really use or could def have lived without....

Boppy
Swing didn't get much use
Nappy Bin (just as easy to throw them out like we do now)

I'll add more if I think of anything.
Good Luck, this last trimester seems to drag but when you look back it actually flies, enjoy!!

Do they call them receiving blankets here?

Thank you! Keep them coming!

-10 for £2 IKEA face cloths and tons of muslin clothes and receiving blankets.  i keep them in a nice basket w/a lid next to the couch, handy for changing baby on the floor w/o having to change rooms, catching big spit ups or cleaning up those explosive poos or accidental pees.
-a swing
-a bouncy chair - can take baby w/you into another room whilst you work - i put mine next to the washing machine and chuck in a load whilst i work in the kitchen
-the tiny love matt w/toys - roisin is cooing happily on it right now and batting the toys
-LOTS of babygros and onesies
-a good thermometer - go for the Braun or some top brand.  you won't need it often, but when you do, man it's good to have
-nursing pads - yes, i still need to use them 
-blackout blinds for whichever room baby sleeps in
-lots of sox for baby
-many maternity towels
-a subscription to sky plus, you're gong to spend lots of time watching telly
-a lamp w/a dimmer switch
-a coffee maker and some ground dean & delucca
-a dressing gown and tank tops - i wore these instead of nursing gowns b/c you can still whip out the boob pretty easily and then you're actuslly wearing clothes and not spending all day in your nightgown

a modern woman with experience!

I bought about 5 receiving blankets since she has a habit of spitting up on them!
A vibrating bouncer (I don't know what we'd do without it!)
Lots of stuff for her to chew on since shes in a teething stage now
A reclining seat for her to sit in while I bathe her
a baby monitor that does a lightshow of moons and stars on the ceiling (it puts her straight to sleep)
an activity blanket that has toys above her to swat at
bottle steralizer

Baby monitor Absolutely.

unless you've got thin walls.  we have and never needed a monitor. 

Oh wow!  Thank you ladies!  This helps so much.  keep it coming.

A BIG changing bag.  Those designer ones never hold enough - I foolishly bought one that's going on Ebay this Sunday - especially w/two kids.  Also, if you have a changing bag that's roomy enough, you can ditch your handbag.
-I second the bath seat.  Got one for Aillidh and still using it.  I can also put Roisin into it and set her on the floor whilst I draw her bath
-old bath towels
-a u-shaped pillow - great for breastfeeding and for later helping support your baby when he starts to learn to sit up.  also good for naps.

I had a diaperbag from Landsend, which I absolutely LOVED.  I think it's similar to this one.  We used it all the time, it was roomy, tough, and my husband didn't feel goofy carrying it.  We used it for years after she was a baby, it's brilliant as a carryon and a hold absolutely everything for family trips-we even used the bottle holders to carry bottles of water.     I'm going to go look for it now.  I'd forgotten how much I loved this bag.

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