completely no-brainer to get it in the UK. To give you an idea - my Phil&Teds (love it, recommend it!) costs £345 brand new from Kiddicare in the UK and... wait for it... 4000aed here (when you can get hold of one!)

I used to have an iCandy - very nice, very heavy, not good for flights. Bugaboos are also some of the top range ones are very, very nice, but the travel bag for the bugaboo bee will set you back around £100!

So anyway, I flogged my iCandy and bought a P&T double, which is far less "look at my superfandango suspension" and more "quit messing about - A to B with a purpose". I love it - and goodness knows I've given it a beating. You can get all kinds of accessories for it - carrycot (overkill, don't bother), Maxi-Cosi car seat adaptor (must have, so handy!), UV sunshade (my "buggy burqa" - fabulous) and a travel bag for the plane (£50 - best buy ever).

In fact, I bought mine second-hand for £200 all in (apart from the bag) and the absolute beauty of it is that you can buy virtually every part of it as a spare, so over the years, I've replaced the handlebar and footwell, so the buggy continues. They also hold their value really well, so when I'm done, I'll give it a good clean, maybe replace anything that looks really knackered and sell it for pretty much the same as I paid for it.

To get it back on the flight, just travel light on your way out and bring it back boxed up. It'll weigh about 20kg.

---

Anyhow, seeing as there is a breastmilk thing going on... pump'n'dump? I just fed my kids straight... they may have slept better! Seriously though, there's so little that gets through to your milk that it's not going to affect them.

Baby monitor? I've got one in the UK where they're upstairs and several closed doors away, but here we've always been in apartments, so I can hear them stir (never underestimate the power of Mummy Instincts - I would wake up as night *before* the baby would start crying). I also don't think the video monitors give any greater value. Watching your baby sleep will just make you paranoid and if you're worried they'd fall out of their cot or damage themselves in any way, then you need to look at a safer cot!

Thermometer? The Braun/ Phillips ear ones. The Drs use them and they're fab. We bought a forehead one at first and it's basically just as accurate as your "gut feel". I had to pack Mr Kitty out to a 24h Tescos one night when Miss was peeky - turned out she was at 39.8 or something stupid and when you're talking those really high temps, the 0.1 degrees are really important!

Lastly - you know what? Al the baby needs when it's born is love, food and a safe environment (including travel!). I found that by following the lists, I bought things I never needed. Play it by ear - if your wife is planning on breastfeeding, there's no need to buy the whole industrial steriliser and bottle shenanigans - wait and see if she needs it (I never did - neither of my two ever had formula)... same with a pump... same with all the weaning gadgets! Annabel Karmel would love us to think we need a specific set of kitchen utensils in funky apple green, but in reality, you can boil stuff in your normal pans and mash it with a fork.

It's not rocket science - people have been having babies for millenia

You should apologise for kicking off a discussion about breast pumps

Did I really?!

Gosh, that's going to come back and bite me!

If you are going to be anywhere near Edinburgh then feel free to pick up all you need from my garage. You would find (everything neatly packed & labelled – don’t know why Mrs bothered tbh), mosses basket and Crib from mother care, brand new mattress for the Crib (i bought 3 for some reason and end-up using 2), Pram with carrycot and separate recliner extension (iCandy), Car seat (maxi cosy) should fit most cars, baby dresser, Steam Steriliser and Bottle warmer (Avent) with all the kit, Ladybird Rock-a-Bye Nursing Chair (your wife will love this) and Medela Electric Breastpump – an electric pump is highly recommended.

Thermometer, we use the Braun ear ones and its fab.

Let me know if you are interested and i’ll PM you my sister-in-law’s contact details. In case my tenants asked you about garage keys tell them that I said piss off.

Best of luck

We were planning to try for another kid in +/- 12 months after birth, so good point on not spunking a load (which got me into this mess, lol) of cash on a fancy pram if we need to buy another one a year later. I'll see if there is a Kiddicare in Aberdeen and pick up a slightly cheaper one.
I'm not overly fussed about the baggage cost, it's a perk of my job for upgrades and excess luggage

I did think the baby monitor with display would be a waste of time, but thought best to ask.

About the thermometer, I also saw ones that are a dummy and take the temperature that way which seems logical, however will go with the consensus and get a digital one to put in their ear (I presume there is a mark to tell you haw far to put it in so I don't burst an ear drum??)

Sherri - Thanks for the offer of the freebies, but will be a little further north and don't intend to be sober enough to drive for the week!

thanks for all the replies. Newbie Dad!

another one within a year... tell you what, have the first one first and then reassess that. I had 2 under two and tbh, unless you have a lot of support, you won't know what's hit you (or rather your wife won't!). Just enjoy your first-born and all his/her milestones, because with the second - and especially if they're close together - you simply won't. It'll be a case of turning round one day and going "oh, you're walking! When did that happen?!"

Kiddicare is an online shop with free Uk delivery. If you're planning for two, just get the P&T double straight off - you can keep the second seat in a corner until you need it.

As for the thermometer - don't worry, it's been designed not to be misused! lol

Above all - relax and enjoy. Awww... there's something about newbie parents that's just soooo cute! [not at all condescending comment there - I genuinely think it's lovely]. Oh, and before sproglet arrives, GO OUT. Go for weekend breaks, go to the cinema, have duvet days... sleeeeeep! Make every moment count because your life will never be quite the same again!

No idea with any of this however its really nice to hear a dad to be getting excited! Congrats Brains


FYI my brother had my eldest nephew who was a dream baby- slept through the night within a few weeks, loved being cooed over etc after a few months they thought it would be nice to have two liyttle ones together- having two that are close etc. They tried one night but then decided they they should enjoy baby no 1 a bit more- too late she was up the duff. They have 16 months inbetween them and baby no 2 is demon child! So you may think its a nice idea to have two together just make sure you are really sure before you get working on no 2 as women are VERY fertile straight after having a baby.... Anyway all the best xxx

I've just seen a book that may come in handy sooner or later. It's called"Go The F*** To Sleep." Cutesy rhymes and sweary pleas apparently..