Planning ahead

A question about : Planning ahead

Hi, first time dad, was abit put off posting as alot of threads seems to be concerning break-ups, divorce etc.. anyway

Bit of an open ended question but I'm wondering, dads and mums, what things you did ahead of time for your child be it short term or long term planning. Again, I know this could literally cover anything and everything, so some examples,

- Stocking up of baby products
- Opening savings account(s)
- Registering your child for stuff
- Signing up for freebies

My daughter is 3 weeks old now and I feel we've done a fair few things ahead of time that will benefit her and us in both the short and long term.

We opened a savings account for her (cash) that allows anyone to make gifted deposits as well as us, this will be her's when she's 18. Also opened a family (hers) stocks and shares ISA with small monthly contributions within our budget.

I've started a passport application, although I know it's only valid for 5 years and we don't plan on going away anytime soon I figured it would be handy to have sorted anyway, just incase.

Did a complete family budget, w'ere currently buying our first home so this was necessary anyway but it helps to see what we need for her as well as us.

Might sound silly but we made an e-mail account for her, anything that is primarily for her, like her savings we register it via this, so when it comes to later she'll have access to everything in one place, the main reasons behind doing it was, to make use of online storage, where we'll put up all her baby/child pictures (private)

I was looking into bulk buying formula and other items eventually. I figure it will work out cheaper in the long run and ensure everything she needs is always available. Am I right in saying that first time baby formula can not be competitively sold? So it will always be at the same minimum price no matter who is selling it?

Starting looking ahead for a cot bed and other furniture that she will require later on, not rushing but using the time to try and (snipe) a bargain.

If anyone has any suggestions please feel free to contribute, I just wanted to plan ahead to give her the best possible start and always thinking I'm overlooking or forgetting something and thne it will be to late.

Child benefit and registration are done, GP's registered and all her appointments noted.

Best answers:

• Start a first aid kit. Midnight and they have a fever you really dont want to be finding a 24hr chemist to buy calpol. Things like menthol drops/plug ins are worth getting. Dont know how you they can be to use them but I used the plug ins and at the time the local supermarket was selling the plug and tablets cheaper than the refills alone. Get to know your local pharmacist - mine is invaluable for advice.
  Yes re the freebees - weaning spoons and MOCs etc.
  If you are not fussy about second hand search out the bootsales. I used to buy lots of clothes for my twins at bootsales. They will stop in september so get any winter stuff now. Coats for Ј1 or so are a bargain and you will probably need 2 so you can wash one and wear one. I didnt car if my sons ruined bootsale clothes if they were only pennies. Good for gro bags too. As well as toys. I bought their first bikes there for Ј5 the pair rather than Ј50 each. They used them for one summer and then moved up a size.
• Sounds like you need to relax and stop worrying that you're missing something. Right now is the easy bit, it's tiring but not complicated so stop trying to make it complicated. 3 week old children do not need an email address.
• Never said it was complicated and I'm a pretty relaxed guy to be honest, just thorough. The worry was more for those one time opportunities, nothing comes to mind but doesn't hurt to check. Just wanted to gather ideas on what, if anything, people did along the lines of my question, I'm not stating anything is difficult or complicated, nor trying to make it out that way, not sure if you replied to right thread?
• We got a passport soon and DH said it made her feel like a real person rather than just a baby. Our local photographer took the photo so it complied with standards. (Cheap too).
  Consult a doctor for any illness. Advice and meds and dosages change quite a lot, so I'd only buy it as and when, especially if you have a 24 hour decent supermarket.
• If your wife/partner is returning to work after maternity leave then start looking at child care places now as the good ones have limited availability. At nurseries they move from nursery room to toddler and then to pre-school so you would need to get yourself in line for when a child moves to the next room to gain the place they ave vacated.
• Find out where and when your local NCT sales are - they're a very useful source of clothing, toys and other baby essentials.
• I wouldn't buy a cot bed personally as they are in it for a limited time only. I would get a decent single bed (we got ikea with a frame that runs around the wall side, and turned it to used as a bed guard) with a not fantastic matress. When they are past the throwing up in bed and weeing, change the matess and keep the bed. Our beds will do until teenagers as they are not 'cute'. We put cute wall stickers up when they progressed to big boy beds. Just make sure they sleep at the feet end (we tucked the quilt in sideways).
• Join mother cares birthday club for a 20% discount on toys around your childs birthday.
• I went to nearly new sales and bought clothes and sleeping bags for the next six months. There's no point stocking up too much on nappies in case they don't suit your baby, and formula is never on offer. I tried to make sure I had a really good thermometer as well as medications like Calpol, nasal spray, Calprofen, etc, so that I had what I needed when I needed it. I kept an eye on ebay so that I got expensive big toys at a good price like a swing and a jumperoo. Plus we waited until the sales to buy the nursery furniture as baby will be 4-6 months before they move into their room. If you want to do a weaning class then book early as NCT classes book up and you want to do it at about 4 months.
• I would advise buying second hand, items like cot beds and baby baths, pushchairs / prams - intercoms, clothes, nursing chairs, can cost thousands and they are used for a few months or a couple of years. Buying second hand you can save hundreds - and still have top quality. Just clean up the items like new.
  I didn't do this and regret it, I could have used the extra money to set up a larger investment for my kids :-(
  Also buy life insurance !
• Thanks all!
  We've been buying (still are) second hand furniture pieces before she came along, totally understand what you mean. Nursery furniture is extortionate and what I've managed to pick bits up on ebay for make it even more so.
  I've been looking at life insurance for the past month, not a simple task, almost got it narrowed down after going through insurance, assurance, decreasing, level term etc..
• A Will. Essential once you have children.