Avoid baby blues and shop wisely

The Duchess of Cambridge may be buying designer baby accessories but it’s the essentials that matter, writes Arlene Harris.

Sat, 15 Jun, 2013 - 01:00

SINCE the Duchess of Cambridge became pregnant, her movements are constantly under scrutiny — with regular media updates on what she is wearing, how visible her bump is and what nursery equipmentshe is buying for the royal baby.

Recently, the mother-to-be was spotted doing a bit of pre-baby shopping with her mother, Carole Middleton, and eyewitnesses revealed the 31-year-old purchased, among other things, a €1,424 Bugaboo pram for the impending arrival.

New parents are often a vulnerable group — having just created a miraculous new life, they want to do their very best for their baby. But the consumer world is waiting in the wings just ready to pounce on its unsuspecting prey.

From high tech-monitors and state-of-the-art prams to room temperature gauges and bottle warmers, the market is stuffed with paraphernalia aimed at would-be parents.

And while very few people have the budget to provide a set of wheels of the royal calibre for their infant, when times were good it was a different story — we had the means and wanted our kids to be kitted out in designer gear. But now most parents can’t afford to buy items which will be obsolete after six months — particularly if there are better value options available.

Fiona Rae, ante-natal teacher with Cuidiu, believes much of the baby paraphernalia is unnecessary, but says people expecting their first child are bombarded with advertising and advice from the moment the happy news is revealed.

“As a first-time parent, it’s tempting to go on a spree from the moment you have your positive pregnancy test in your hand,” she says. “But babies need far, far less than the baby care superstores would have us believe — they don’t care what they are wearing, sitting in or playing with.”

The mother-of-four says people can get away with a lot less than the advertisers would have them believe. “What you will need to have ready for the birth is lots of maternity pads, some new-born nappies, a few vests and babygros, blankets and a warm suit and hat if it is winter.

“A car seat isn’t even necessary on day one if you give birth at home, but if you have your baby in hospital you will need one for the journey home. Newborns shouldn’t be carried around in a car seat for long periods of time, so you should consider buying a cheap secondhand pram and a good buggy for trips of less than two hours. Slings are another option, and before rushing out to buy one you can contact a sling library or go to a sling meet and try before you buy.”

Though a Moses basket looks lovely, it is only suitable for up to three months. Rae recommends using the cot from day one. And there is no need to buy everything news. “There is an abundance of second-hand baby gear available from friends and family, car boot sales, charity shops and classified ads. Cuidiu holds Nearly New Sales in most parts of the country. So you can buy virtually anything you need second-hand,” says Rae.

Margaret Hanahoe, assistant matron at the National Maternity Hospital, offers a list of essentials and non-essentials for your newborn baby.

ESSENTIALS INCLUDE:

Car seat — new or second-hand as long as it meets current safety requirements

Pram — new or second-hand

Cot – second-hand is fine, but new mattress advised

Breast pads if breast feeding

Bottles, formula and sterilising equipment — a pan of water is sufficient

Nappies and nappy bags

Vests and babygros

Oversuit, cardigan and hat

Cotton wool, Vaseline and Sudocrem

Three cellular blankets