LADIES DUE SEPTEMBER 2015 :-)

Bag also packed!

Yes, I wash every single item first! Who knows what germs are on the clothes? Plus, it's so much fun to wash and look through everything

Thanks for all the very useful Info Dieswartkat...
Very helpful for all the first time mums like myself...

Anyone's hospital bag packed? I did mine... Keep adding stuff to it that I have forgotten tho...

Also does anyone wash all baby clothes before baby uses them? In terms of new clothes?

Ok, now about medicines.

You obviously can't predict what will happen or what you will need, but there are a few standard items that you should keep in the house. Don't use or buy any other products without a doctor's advice.

1. Calpol/Panado syrup (your choice)
Buy plenty of 3ml syringes from Dischem. Used for pain and fever (babies under 6 months can only use paracetamol, if you want to use another product make sure it contains paracetamol and not ibuprofen). BY THE WAY: Do not give your baby Calpol/Panado before a vaccination (like some people suggest), it can effect the way the vaccine is absorbed by the body. Only use afterwards, if baby has pain or fever.

2. Saline nose drops
For nasal congestion. Don't use any other decongestant

3. Gripe water
Useful for cramping, especially in newborns. Telament is a good brand, it has a yellow box. Woodwards is also available but has a high alcohol content. NOTE: with any medicine you buy, always check the alcohol content and buy and alternative product if it's too high. No wonder our moms and grandmothers swore by Woodwards, they drugged us to death with that stuff!

4. Telament colic drops
For more severe cramping when gripe water doesn't help. One or two drops directly in baby's mouth.

5. Bennetts Colic Mixture or Buscopan syrup (buy only if needed)
For severe cramping, used only if nr 3 and 4 doesn't help. You will need a syringe. Squirt a tiny drop in baby's mouth, follow the dosage on the box very carefully and don't try and squirt the whole 2ml in baby's mouth in one go. Tiny little drops, they choke easily! And don't add to a bottle (if you're bottle feeding), must go in mouth, as far back into the throat as possible. These 2 syrups are the same, you need to go to the pharmacy (but don't need a script). I used Bennetts, because the Buscopan tastes absolutely dreadful!

6. Lennon's glycerine suppository
Not for a newborn baby. But it's useful if your older baby (after 12 weeks or so) is severely constipated. It's quite a large suppository, so cut it in half an only insert the front end. Useful to keep some johnson's lubricant jelly in the house for this reason.

7. Reuterina drops and probiflora
This is not necessary unless your pediatrician recommends it. Don't buy until you're told to.

Then, if your baby runs into a specific problem, high fever, diarrhea, nappy rash, I suppose best is to post and ask for help then. We can't all buy the whole Dischem before baby is actually sick.

Hi all,

I used Pampers Premium the first time around, for the first 6 months or so. It worked very well. This time I'll use the Pampers normal range (it has a blue pack) because I just feel like you change the baby every 2 hours initially and don't need the very top of the range nappies. The premium is very good in terms of absorbing better than others, so if your baby is going to keep his nappy on for 6 hours or more, then Premium is the way to go. But like I said, at first they poo after every feed and you have to change them a LOT, so might not be worth the extra money.

I didn't like Bennets bum cream, because it's quite a hard cream (I found it difficult to spread it nicely on my baby's bum and I didn't like dipping my fingers into the pot....cream under my nails....yuck). We used Fissan, but specifically the one that looks like a toothpaste tube, it's nice and soft and easy to use.

In terms of baby products, I don't think it matters as long as you buy fragrance free. I prefer Elizabeth Anne's to Johnsons, but it's all about your preference because they do the same. I just like the smell of Elizabeth Anne's. As a newborn your baby only needs the following toiletries:
1. Bum cream
2. Aqueous cream (you use this to wash the baby instead of soap)
3. Shampoo
4. Lotion

Save all the other baby products for later, if you don't receive any at your baby shower (which you will) then don't buy at first!

Wipes: Don't buy 100 packs of a specific brand. Rather buy a few packs of different kinds (but all sensitive/fragrance free). You'll find that every type is different, some are wetter/drier than others, bigger/smaller, easier to use. Try different ones to see what you like. I like Pampers as well as Pigeon, if you get different brands at your baby shower try them all, don't throw it in the cupboard if you received Cherubs (for instance) but want Pampers.

A must-have item is Johnson's oil massage, babies love to be massaged, especially when they are distressed. It's excellent for bonding. Buy one (about R30) and massage your baby every day. Soooo rewarding!

LoL Vendah!! Shame he wants the best for his baby it's cute

I bought pampers premier as well because my husband has very sensitive skin. Thought I'll be safe a bit in case he is like his father. Bought the sensitive wipes as well.
In terms of bum cream, how is Bennets? And also for the soap. Bennets?
In terms of lotion, my trainer told me that she never used any baby lotions but used a little olive oil and it makes their skin soft and supple and locks in natural moisture... My mum told me johnsons not good cos skin gets dependent on it lol GOSH!!!!!
I was thinking of using a few drops of Bennets aquaous drops in bath water and IF a lotion is needed, using E45 lotion? ... I'm confused really...

HI LADIES

@kamogelo20 I have not even thought of anything in terms of the nanny the thought just turns me off, hubby and i are so used to our privacy its gonna be challenging and like i mentioned our place is small.

Maternity is tricky especially if you are going natural.

@TCS84 yeah please lets talk baby products, oh and i received my dischem baby bag iyooh it has alot of things bt they are mostly dishem brands and hubby says i must give them away. i also received one from medical aid and hubby was still not impressed, he is suffering from first time dad syndrome ( my child only wears pampers premium range, my child only used pampers wipes, my child will only use johnson and johnson) lol so the baby bags will not help much.

Hey ladies

Glad to hear everyone is doing well

Can we chat about baby products?
What do you guys suggest that are not first time moms?

Looking for the good brands of bum creams, lotions, soaps etc etc etc

Thanks