What's on your pre-baby grocery list?

balamama · May 2016

In addition to freezer meals (or in lieu of them) what are you stocking up on before baby's arrival (or for those who have their babies already, what has been helpful or what do you wish you had stocked up on)?

balamama · May 2016

I'm loading up on paper and household products (paper towels, toilet paper, tissues, trash bags, cleaning supplies, etc.), quick grab snacks like granola bars, cereal, hummus and pita chips, easy to prepare dinners like pasta and sauce, frozen pizzas... What am I missing?

lizChesnut · May 2016

I need to double check what I have on hand. All those paper goods would be a pain to run out of. I shop at costco so I always assume I have a minature stockpile....until I forget to double check and runout of something!!! That might just be the plan for today! And round up some snacks! Due date in 1 week!

kbrands7 · May 2016

I second grab and go snacks as well as household products that sometimes get noticed as low last minute (toilet paper, shampoo, dish soap, body wash, papertowels, contact solution). For snacks, I like to keep protein bars, freeze dried fruit or frozen fruit, fresh fruit, cut veggies, cheese sticks, yogurt, V8, gatorade, peanut butter, and general ingredients for smoothies. I'll send DH for the fresh things before we come home from the hospital.
Eta: we bought an extra laundry bag too to help to keep us organized with the increased laundry load-- not just baby's, but the first couple weeks you'll likely go through more clothes, towels, and sheets than usual too.

doozer1345 · May 2016

Thank you for this! I went to Sam's Club Friday but need to go to the smaller grocery to pick up some essentials. I don't know if it's my pg brain or what but I can't think of what "essentials" mean haha.

At Sam's I picked up: Paper towels, toilet paper, drinks, muffins (I planned to freeze but have already dipped into..they're huge though!), coffee, fruit, Brookside fruit/chocolate, crackers, and chips.

yogahh · May 2016

We went to bjs yesterday. Stocked up on toiletries, tp and paper towels. Got a ton of freezer meals- lasagna, chicken tenders, fish, shrimp, some pasta meals. Cereal. Bottled water and sodas. Now, I'm tempted to eat it all!

Charla1224 · May 2016

I coupon and I left my job. My hope/ plan is that I won't need to go find a job for 6-12 months. In order to do that I've been stockpiling paper towels, toilet paper, laundry detergent, bathroom essentials (toothpaste, body wash, etc.). I've got a handful of freezer meals done but I still need to go buy a ton of those steam in the microwave veggies (we eat those a lot). Pita chips, hummus, and snacks are also on my grocery shopping list this week but I struggle with what to get because we usually use fruit or chopped veggies for that . Not sure how practical that is with baby though

proudparent2b · May 2016

I'm planning on lots of deli meat sandwiches and grilled foods. I just can't do frozen and slow cooker foods in the late spring/summer.

Charissadeats · May 2016

@Charla1224 I am fascinated by couponing! Is it really that easy (with planning) to get food and groceries for so cheap?

BeansMom2014 · May 2016

Just sat down to make my grocery list too. I have chicken Apple sausages from Costco. So great on salads or just with veggies. Tons of fruit. Yogurts. Cereal. Lunch meat. Cheese. Eggs TONS. Stuff to make cheesy meatloaf and baked spaghetti.

Charissadeats · May 2016

So far I stocked up on medicine. All the stuff we use regularly, and then the stuff we might need for cold/flu season. Also already got some pain and fever meds for baba. Running out of meds usually happens at an inconvenient time, so I'll try and avoid it.

I am still planning on buying double of all my cleaning supplies, toiletries etc. Will also do freezer meals and snacks.

And, seeing as this is South Africa, I will stock up on back up lights (solar or battery powered) since we will most probably have load shedding during the winter. Note: Load Shedding is when they switch off electricity in areas for 2-3 hours at a time - and this is rotated throughout the country. All in order to save electricity. Blah.

Jenly17 · May 2016

Everything that PP's have mentioned is great. I would also add oatmeal to your list if you intend on breastfeeding. I ate oatmeal for breakfast for the duration that I nursed DD and it really did help my low supply. You can also make overnight oats (there are lots of recipes out there) that you can have ready in the am. I'd also add toothpaste, and some of the bathroom essentials that you won't want to run out for in the first few weeks.

I remember that after the first week of pizza, and prepared foods, I was really craving something healthy and fresh. Making sure you have frozen fruits or veggies on hand is a good idea. I also agree with @kbrands7 about smoothies. Sometimes you just need something quick, and a smoothie with some fresh fruits and yogurt is a great way to get some nourishment on the go.

NinnyJean · May 2016

We went to BJs yesterday and got lots of stuff to make freezer meals and then a big bag of frozen fruit for smoothies. Still planning on getting some granola bars and stuff to make trail mix, as well as Gatorade. We got paper products already but glad people mentioned toothpaste and soap, should probably check to see how much we have left of those

Charla1224 · May 2016

Charissadeats said:

@Charla1224 I am fascinated by couponing! Is it really that easy (with planning) to get food and groceries for so cheap?

I don't coupon for food very often simply because coupons are rare for fresh foods. I'm not one of those crazy get everything for free ladies like you see on TV. But I never pay full price for paper or bathroom products. Same thing with laundry detergent. It's really pretty simple. I use store and/ or manufacturer coupons in combination with clearance items or things that are on sale.

Example. $12 laundry detergent on sale at target for $10 and if you buy 4 you get a $10 gift card. I buy the 4 for $40 and use 4 coupons for $1.50 off (1 for each). Now it's $34 and I keep a $10 target gift card in my wallet at all times to float on deals like this. So it's like an additional $10 off when they give me a $10 gift card and I use a $10 gift card. That's 4 detergents for $24 when it normally would be $48. 50% off.

mommar13 · May 2016

After DS I had no interest in hot food for a while. Idk why, maybe some combination of PP sweating and it being hot outside. All I wanted was fruit. So I'm going to send DH to grab some fresh fruit or some things to make a big bowl of fruit salad when DD decides to show up. I also really liked frozen fruit so I'll grab some of that too. I'd just dump it in a cup and crunch on it like ice lol particularly blueberries.

thismakes4 · May 2016

@Charissadeats I'm stocking up on medicine and pedialyte for my family as well.

I have to get more paper supplies as well as laundry detergent and cleaning supplies. I'm gonna bug DH today to pick up a stand alone freezer so I can start freezing some meals or at least stock up on meat, burger patties, frozen fruit, just a food in general. I usually don't buy frozen foods unless it's pizza, ice cream/popsicles, or fruit/some veggies. Also, it's going to be summer real quick here and I have 3 other kids that all seem to be hitting growth spurts so I will make sure that they have enough summer clothes and shoes. I guess some random things would be things like cards for birthdays, fathers day, things that are coming up.

Wine/beer should be on all of our lists.... just saying.

Bellodomani · May 2016

I stocked up on dry goods and was planning on getting more snacks/ groceries but my husband put a stop to it because he thought I was getting too crazy

we live in an urban area so we're planning on leaning on instacart/ seamless for the first few weeks.

bkjade · May 2016

We are planning on leaning on Seamless for the first few weeks too. I've made about two dozen freezer meals, which is about all that will fit in my freezer since we don't have a back up freezer situation. I have most of our toiletries/household cleaning stuff/etc. on Amazon subscribe+save so that shouldn't be an issue.

Someone mentioned muffins, totally going to get stuff to freeze some muffins today. I

muffins!

Also restocking the bar (DH has been getting after the whiskey lately!) and placing an order for a couple of cases of wine from my local wine shop. And coffee! I need to get coffee!

Bellodomani · May 2016

@bkjade Good reminder, gotta restock both whiskey and wine! I know everybody feels differently about drinking + nursing, but with my son I often had a drink during/ just after his last nursing session before bed. He was a fast nurser so I always figured he was done drinking before it really got into my system!

katxattack1212 · May 2016

I bought a huge costco sized thing of paper plates, the usual paper towels, TP, etc. My dog/cat food is delivered monthly already so that's a lifesaver!
I have 3 weeks and still haven't thought about food. I'm having the third trimester food aversion thing. Nothing looks good, and half the stuff I do eat gives me reflux. Last time I made some breakfast burritos and something else. I never even touched them. Oops.

folamij · May 2016

I've stocked up on household necessities. I figured if I run out of any other non food supplies, I'll just quickly send an Amazon order in and have it in 2 days. As for food, I was going to make freezer meals but lack of energy and realization that parents with picky palettes coming would basically make it a waste of time. Instead, we're just planning on grilling and for the most part I have everything we need for that.

kitandcat · May 2016

I have some freezer meals done, so far just foil packs for the grill because there's no way I'm going to cut up veggies!! Today I picked up lots of cleaning and household supplies (toilet wand refills, Clorox wipes, 409, duster, paper towels, TP, laundry detergent...). I think later this week I'll have to do what you guys have suggested and get some easy snacks and oatmeal !! I have a list of like 12 or so more freezer meals I want to make and DH thinks I'm overdoing it. His general opinion is that we will still have all the time in the world to make dinner and go out when we need to. Today I was making a list of household items and it was starting to get long, and I said .. Technically right now we are ok on baby detergent, but if we have the baby this week then we'll wish we had gotten more! To which he responded, sarcastically, "One of us will be able to go to the store. It's not as crazy as you think it's going to be" .... well for both our sake I hope he's right but I feel like my hubby is in for an awakening LOL!!

lizChesnut · May 2016

@Kit&Cat "one of you" means him....everytime! He's crazy if he thinks you're running your post partum butt to the store for detergent! Or something similar I don't understand why some guys find it strange when mama gets ready for baby. Why would you NOT want to be prepared? Sounds like you're on top of things!

salbb · May 2016

I would recommend things to drink that are handy, bottles of water/juice - I was always leaving drinks in early days and getting dehydrated but having something portable made it easier -
food wise we have still been able to cook but eating it hot has been a struggle !! Baby seems to know mealtimes - I ate dinner not only with one hand last night but using my hands!!!!

TXmamatobe · May 2016

I like to have some things on hand but between Amazon, Amazon Prime Now, Walmart delivery and DH and other family, I feel like I can get things pretty quickly if I needed to. I like having drinks and paper goods stocked up - paper plates save me from a million dishes even though it's not the most environmentally beneficial option.

lionstigersbears · May 2016

We are starting to stock up in the typical things like paper products, laundry detergent, and cleaning supplies (especially the "easy" ones that we don't typically buy but will for convenience like swiffer pads and clorox wipes). Same as @TXmamatobe it's nice to have drinks around too! Something that isn't really a pre-baby stock up but just a general approach we have adopted is to be eating tons and tons of fresh food right now and leading up to baby, and stocking our frozen meals and easy options for after baby. Sure it's not the healthiest, but I'm a believer in all things balancing out eventually!

leah.bleich · May 2016

Lots of cans of soup, jars of pasta sauce, pasta, frozen rice and oatmeal from Trader Joe's, and lots of easy snacks! Also froze some breakfast burritos, muffins, crockpot meals, and sloppy joes.

Dasha420 · May 2016

Nada. Husband said not to do a thing- he said we will purchase as normal. ^-^.
I already told him I'm not cooking so this will be exciting to see unfold.

littlebb22 · May 2016

Dasha420 said:

Nada. Husband said not to do a thing- he said we will purchase as normal. ^-^.
I already told him I'm not cooking so this will be exciting to see unfold.

My husband is being the same way about it and I'm very curious to see what happens when he realizes just how much cooking I do for us... am actually hoping this is something I'm wrong about and that he will step up to take over groceries and cooking for those first few weeks. Fingers crossed!

dsmith211 · May 2016

Dasha420 said:

Nada. Husband said not to do a thing- he said we will purchase as normal. ^-^.
I already told him I'm not cooking so this will be exciting to see unfold.

This. He actually got annoyed when I wanted to buy an extra pack of diapers yesterday. He said he wants an excuse to be able to get out of the house if needed and that we don't need to stock up. I just warned him that I won't be going anywhere so he better actually keep to his word. On the plus side we have Amazon Prime and a grocery store less than a min driving distance just in case.

Dasha420 · May 2016

@littlebb22 @dsmith211 let's see these guys step up to the plate (literally)

TXmamatobe · May 2016

This might not quite fit in on this thread but I'm a huge believer and have to share. If you don't already have carbon monoxide detectors in your home, get some! They can save your life! You can even get them on Amazon so no need to drive to the store for an extra trip. Also, check your smoke detectors - test them regularly and make sure they are in ALL sleeping areas. Something important to add to shopping lists if you don't have them already!

AdorkablePixie · May 2016

I don't plan on doing any big shopping trip. I will want fresh fruit and vegetables purchased. I need a new stick of deodorant, we might need a new tube of toothpaste. This is all stuff that DH can run out and get through, need be.

As far as other food goes, I spent literally all day Saturday making freezer meals. Or chest freezer is PACKED and it feels so good to know I won't have to worry about cooking and DH won't either. I think there are like 14-15 meals in there, with duplicates of a few. We also have a lot (by a lot I mean 6, but some of those will be eaten pre baby, I am sure of it) of frozen pizzas because they were on sale at Food Lion. lol

As far as anything else, I don't really have any ideas.

timeywimey1 · May 2016

For food, I'm planning to get granola bars, frozen fruit for smoothies, eggs for quick meals, chicken to grill, and chicken salad.

galain · May 2016

I've been preserving spaghetti sauce, applesauce , chili and ratatouille for a while now. My MIL showed me a technique that works really well and takes up no freezer or fridge room. All you need are clean glass jars with metal lids, like pickle jars. You put the sauce in while it's bubbling and close the lid. As it cools the jar makes a vacuum seal and you're good to go.

Bltbear82 · May 2016

bkjade said:

We are planning on leaning on Seamless for the first few weeks too. I've made about two dozen freezer meals, which is about all that will fit in my freezer since we don't have a back up freezer situation. I have most of our toiletries/household cleaning stuff/etc. on Amazon subscribe+save so that shouldn't be an issue.

Someone mentioned muffins, totally going to get stuff to freeze some muffins today. I muffins!

Also restocking the bar (DH has been getting after the whiskey lately!) and placing an order for a couple of cases of wine from my local wine shop. And coffee! I need to get coffee!

I've sent Postmates to Buy Buy Baby twice in the last week. I'm never leaving for the suburbs.

artteacher19 · May 2016

@bkjade I've made a definite point of restocking the bar too! DH picked up the new Watermelon Shandy for me, I've got a full rack of wine ready... I just need to grab some maraschino cherries for that Manhattan I've been craving!! No, I'm not an alcoholic or anything... Just love a cocktail or glass of wine with dinner couple times a week. And my mom swears by beer/wine helping with breastfeeding.

bkjade · May 2016

@Bltbear82 - right?

Postmates!

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