Tell me your most ‘can’t live without’ items for a new baby please!

[MilkAndFenty]

Hit me with the stuff you absolutely love- also interested to hear what was a massive waste of money in your opinions!

I know a lot of people say baby baths and Moses basket are useless, but I've had the opposite experience of them. My daughter slept really well in her Aldi moses basket until she was 6months old and she absolutely hated her cot. We had a schnuugle baby bath and she loved that too.

Also for when the baby is older I recommend an IKEA highchair it's easy to clean you can even put the char and try in the dishwasher. There's an inflatable insert available to support the child too. The baby is held in securely without feeling too trapped. Another great product I couldn't have lived without is the jumperoo. She was very clinging and hated being laid down. But I was able to put her in the jumperoo and let her bounce away to nursery rhymes while I got stuff done.

I keep remembering useful stuff. A horseshoe shaped feeding pillow. Even if you're not breast feeding they come in handy and as many other people said a good mattress protector for your bed.

@MilkAndFenty i disagree the nappy bin has been brilliant for us! We got the Tommy tippee one, v simple and easy to use especially in the middle of the night

@MilkAndFenty clothes that are a little too big so it’s less of a struggle to dress them if they’re wriggling around and you’re in a rush

Haven't RTFT but I have the best answer to this: nailfrida clippers.

You'll look them up and think "Nah they can't be worth the money, I'll buy a cheaper pair." Then, you'll nearly chop your baby's fingers off trying to cut their nails and realise i was right all along. The way they are designed you can't injure your baby's fingers when cutting their nails. Nearly everyone I know has issues cutting their LO's nails (by issues, I mean screams and blood) and I've seen panicked posts on MN from parents on their way to A&E with part of the baby's finger falling off... you have been warned.

The other option is to bite their nails off which I find fiddly but other people are ok with.

Star wrap - super cosy and easy to put on and off. Not too bulky for car seat or sling.
Video monitor you could view on your phone.
Perfect prep for formula feeding
Jumperoo aka plastic babysitter aka circle of neglect

Surprised anyone said nappy bin

We have the Tommee Tippee twist bin. Never smelt

There is another option - electric nail file! I absolutely love ours, it’s whisper quiet and I trim her nails when she’s asleep. Definitely one of our best buys.

We have this one amzn.eu/d/byx7vKP

I love my bottle warmer! Bung a bottle in when LO wakes up. Change her, talk to her a bit and the bottle is ready!
Crinkle books are a god send too. She'll play with one for 20-30 mins.
Never used a baby bath, just have a seat in the bath from John Lewis.
Never used a swaddle, just blanket until 3 months then sleep suit.
Muslins, obviously lol

@Porridgeislife Ooh that looks good too! I might consider buying it as a back up.

Haven’t read the full thread but mine are

Best:
Touch nightlight from Amazon - can dim/brighten with touch and is rechargeable so can carry round the house if needed.

Reusable water bottle with straw - this is really good in labour and the first few days as you need to drink plenty.

Muslins

Strechy wrap/structured sling for when older

Worst:
Swaddles

Outfits that weren’t babygrows

Bouncer/anything that they have to be strapped in as baby hates all these things (inc pram and car seat but these aren’t really negotiable 😬)

@MilkAndFenty

As you can see there's nothing universal.

it really does depend on you, your house & your baby, the season etc etc

in one house I'd have said a nappy bin (baby's room was on the 5th floor) but in this house it's so easy to put them in the outside bin I wouldn't use a nappy bin.

(my knees are crying remembering that house, it was beautiful & improved my memory, but never again!!)

Baby Bath my back was very bad at one point, baby was bathed in the baby bath on a table in the lounge. I could fill by jug from the kitchen then add kettle boiled water. It had a wee drain plug for emptying if muscles wasn't home!

changing table, I prefer a solid chest of drawers with a changing mat on top.

for me, finding things the right height helped the most.

I wouldn't use Perfect Prep, if you understand why you're doing xyz when making bottles up, they're easy & quick to do.

I loved a wee hooded towel. Baby one day, duckling/panda/frog another! The hoods just help keep them in place & the baby warmer. Of course a normal towel will do the job, but a bit of cuteness never hurts!!

nowadays with next day delivery on practically anything, you don't need to get most stuff until you decide you really want xyz & babies use things for such a short time, second hand saves money & waste.

trip traps are worth the money. Great for babies right through to teens at desks/music practice & great as spare chairs for slimmer guests! *great adjustment for kids to sit comfortably at the table as they grow.