New born buying guide!

Preparing for the first baby can be draining for your wallet making budgeting worse as the big day comes closer or what we call *drum rolls pleaaaase* DUE DATE. Despite frequenting the baby department store, I never seem to have enough stuff for the baby. It's like a never ending list of baby must haves, and trying to weigh the essentials from fancy things I can totally deal without. It raises questions "Do I need a car seat already?", "What do I need for my tub, the sponge or the net type?", "What's the diff between birds eye and gauze cloth?", "How many bottles do I need?", "Do I invest on 4oz bottles". etc. Trust me, one day you'll find yourself smacking yourself in the head saying "Shucks I need this pala." With only two weeks to go, and after hundreds of trips to the baby department store, I still still and always end up saying this. You really have to settle all the things you need before the big day, because sleep will be rare, and trips to the mall...IMPOSSIBLE.


What every new mommy needs to know is the vitality of preparing early. No, this doesn't make me an expert mommy, but these are the essentials, the trust-me-you-cannot-live-without. I came up with this guide being a clueless slash broke mommy that I am with the help of parenting forums, and constant advice seeking from veteran moms. Buying baby stuffs, and saving for my delivery challenged the kuripot in me. I hope this helps you as much it did to me :) hehe

NEW BORN CLOTHES
-tie-sides (3long sleeves, 3short sleeves, 3sleeveless)
-onesies
-frog suits 
-6booties
-bonnets
-6mittens
-8 receiving blankets (Buy lots)
-4bibs
-washcloths


You also need to buy detergents made specifically for baby clothes, and for cleaning feeding bottles. Cycles for me has the best scent and is readily available in SM departments stores although I do have to warn you that they don't come cheap! A month before your due date, remember to wash all newly purchased clothes before the baby arrives, you have enough time to pack your stuff just in case you pop a little earlier that expected. 

Toiletries:
-ethyl alcohol 70% 
-baby bath soap (Other parenting forums highly recommend Cetaphil)
-cotton buds
-cotton balls
-baby wipes 
-disposable diapers (I bought Prokids as they have sizes for new borns)
-nasal aspirator
-nail clippers
-rubber mat
-baby powder

BreastFeeding supplies:
-breast pump
-breast pads
-nursing bra (Always purchase a bra a cup bigger than your current size.)

Feeding Supplies:
-2 pcs 4oz Avent bottles (You only need so few if you're breastfeeding)
-8 pcs 9oz Avent bottles
-pacifier (Make sure its orthodontic, Avent has one)
-nipples (Slow flow)
-bottle rack
-sterilizer ( Chicco, has the best reviews online too)

Furniture and Beddings:
-crib
-comforters
-pillows
-bolsters
-fitted sheets

Other Stuff:
-stroller
-carseat
-baby bathtub
- Desitin (diaper cream)
-toys 
-diaper bag
-1 dozen birds eye (Lampin)
-Medicine kit ( Nasa aspirator, temperature etc)
-1 dozen gauze (Lampin)

A lot of baby things are widely available that is unknown to oldies. So I didn't rely much on my mom because they used the basics talaga literally back in the 90's. hahaha, So I just read every freakin parenting forums out there especially when it comes to brand specifics. I was very careful when it comes to buying stuff for Patty, the cheapest wasn't exactly the okay choice, neither did the pricey stuffs make the best choice. Stuffs like sterilizer, and breast pump I wasn't OC with the brand, because any brand will work just fine. Unlike with BOTTLES where I cannot settle for anything less than the best, and cotton materials.

Avent bottles are BPA free, and is clinically proven to avoid colic and fussing. This will greatly reduce long hours of crying  during night time when babies get so uncomfortable for passing painful burps. Of course I haven't tried these bottles, but as of reading hundreds of parenting forums, Avent bottles always always get the best reviews. :)

Funny how a baby so small has so many needs eh? That is why it's very important to start preparing early. Buys you a lot of time to canvass the best products for your baby.

TIPS: 

• Baby gears such as crib, strollers, and car seats are best bought at Robinson Department stores. Get discounts for as much as 30% and installment promos for a single receipt of P3000 for 6 months, at 0% interest! :) 
• Anything cotton is best bought in Mothercare.  =)
• SM department stores has complete selection of your baby needs. 
• Avent bottles are best bought online. Sellers ship Avent bottles from US to sell it at a much cheaper price here in PHI.
• Mamy poko diapers, and Desitin diaper cream are best bought in SNR. :)
• TRY cloth diapers. Although I am yet to switch to cloth diapers once Patty don't poop and pee every 2 hours. 

SPENDING unfortunately doesn't end there in baby needs you have to set aside budget for your hospital bills, vaccines, and baptism expenses. Remember, purchasing the basic needs is only the beginning here is a run down of my expenses just to give you figures of how much you really need. 

Now don't let the expenses fret you--- YET! I'm sure family and friends will lovingly give you old stuffs that they don't use anymore.. or if you're lucky like me, someone will throw a baby shower for you! =) Say no to impulsive purchases and enjoy shopping, and preparing for the baby! :) 

Happy shopping mommies! :-) Just 2 more weeks till I meet my Patty!