To ask what are the essentials for a baby?

[justtheessentials]

I've name changed as I could be identified by other posts. I'm posting here for traffic.

My husband and I are in the middle of the adoption process, it is likely we will adopt a very young baby (less than a month old) due to the type of adoption we are likely to pursue (early permanency). As we are adopting, we don't get to experience NCT groups etc and don't have any friends who are parents. We are finding it quite overwhelming trying to figure out exactly what we need for a baby.

So far we are thinking;

Buggy (silver cross horizon go as it's parent facing and doesn't need a separate bassinet...thoughts?)
Car seat (no idea which one, seems like a total minefield)
Cot bed
Some sort of crib for our bedroom (again, no idea what)
Tommee Tippee machine
Both normal and cloth nappies (again, total minefield)
Baby bouncer thing (Baby Bjorn?!)

I have tried looking on all the specific chats for these things but they aren't particularly active. So can you recommend your absolute essentials and particular types/brands of things I've mentioned? Thanks in advance!

At the very start you literally just need a moses basket, a stand for it is useful, nappies:it's trial and error for brand, different cuts suit different babies but pampers, though expensive, tend to be worth it. You need Muslin cloths for myriad purposes, buy multipacks. Bottles, again there are many types but until you try them you won't know. I had an avent microwave steam steralizer that came with 6 bottles. Milk I used pre mixed CMA at first.

Any 0-9 month car seat from Halfords etc will meet safety standards. Am isofix base makes it easier to clip in and out but you can just use the seatbelt. Some pushchairs will allow you to clip the car seat to the chassis which can be handy.

Don't spend megabucks on the pushchair, make sure it fits in your boot and if you're using public transport make sure it folds.

Hope that's helpful.. Good luck!

Oh and bouncers.. I think a big soft cushion is nice in the earliest months but otherwise, again. Just a basic canvas frame one is fine. Over, my biggest tip is wait.. Just make do for a couple of weeks until you get the hang of things and work out what works for you and the baby. I spent ££ on things like bumbo seats which some swear by but mine hated and got stuck in!

Ah good luck!!
I would add a sling- a sling library would let you try on a few. For us it was really handy- she loved snoozing all snuggled up with one of us. (Still does at 3, just in my bed not a sling).
I wonder if you contacted nct they might be able to put you in touch with local group that meets for your dates? Our course was 6 weeks, 5 ‘teaching’ sessions, then a social meet in the pub once babies were born. Perhaps they would let you join that?

Hi !

If you want a bedside cot for the bedroom the Tutti bambini bedside cot is great... even if you just need easy access to baby to comfort. But it is quite pricey so perhaps a Moses basket would do well for you as you can move around the house?

No advice re the pram you mentioned as I have a bugaboo bee but I would say go to John Lewis and actually try them out. Think about what your lifestyle is like... where will you be walking it? (Rough terrain or smooth) will you need to be able to lift it? Does it fit in boot? I found the sales advisors at JL very helpful. They can also advise re car seat.

The sleeping bags are good for nighttime grobags- means you don't worry about the covers going over their face.

A baby bath is helpful.

I have loved soft fury blankets for lovely cuddles and to lie my DS on.

I like my sleepyhead for naps but no need if you get a Moses basket.

The M&S multipack vests and sleepsuits are brilliant, really soft and wash well. Don't bother with outfits really.

Get a good backpack you can use as a changing bag - I have a nice sweaty Betty one and inside a £1 pound shop make up bag with nappies, zinc and castor oil and water wipes in.

Hope that helps! And good luck with your beautiful baby

Congratulations! If the buggy fits well in your car and you find it easy enough to fold away then that's all that really matters. I would get the silver Cross infant car seat that you could use with the buggy if you're just popping into a shop etc, generally it is safest for baby to keep them in the infant car seat for as long as they still fit before you move up to the next stage car seat. The cot bed can wait a bit as baby will probably be in your room for a while. We had a wooden swinging crib, but there are lots of options like ones where the side drops down, can you get to a mothercare to have a look at them assembled and chat to an employee? We had the perfect prep machine but don't necessarily buy all of their bottles straight away as some babies prefer different ones, like MAM ones are good for colic. Same with milk, you may have to try a couple of brands to see which suits baby best. We used normal nappies but if you want to use cloth then look into how you would make it work, e.g. Put them to soak straight away and do a really hot wash once a day, what detergent to use. We had a standard bouncer which had vibration and then got a swinging one, but baby preferred the first 😂
The only other things I can think of are some sudocrem if they get a sore bum, some baby grows in a range of sizes as you aren't sure how old/ big LO will be. Baby wipes (and maybe reusable cloths if you are going down the cloth nappy route?) aldi do super sensitive wipes similar to water wipes that are more affordable.
Don't worry too much as newborns don't need a lot, a loving home is the most important thing and you will have no problem proving that! X

Nappies, wipes, nappy sacks
All in one vests that have poppers that go under the legs
Babygros (all in one sleepsuits)
Hats/gloves depending on the weather
Rain cover and sunshade for the pram
A baby bath, baby toiletries, cotton wool balls
Bibs.
Sheets and blankets for the cot
Shawl.

I agree a sling is very useful esp if baby can be tricky or doesn’t go down well in the day.
As above check books space when buying a pram- yo-yo is very space saving but does require a newborn base maybe not an issue if using sling for first 6 month.
Next to me cribs are good for co sleeping and bigger than Moses basket. Thereafter cot bed.
Some newborn sized clothing for the early days maybe?

Buggy- think about what you really need. We don't drive and do lots and lots of walking so with our first our priority was heavy duty chassis with proper wheels (we got through several wheels!), we got a Quinny and it was great but it was heavy so if you had a car it might have been a pain lifting it in and out. Also worth looking at second hand for buggies too, you can get some bargains.

Car seat. Mothercare will help with a car seat, they fit them into your car. Practise! You don't want the first time you use the seat to be with your new baby in it!

Sling. Have you thought about a sling? I got so much use out of out Caboo close one. You might have a sling library near you?

Nappies. We used disposable ones, it's just trial and error really but I needed more than I anticipated (d's needed 10 a day at least as a tiny baby). Have you seen if your council does a reusable nappy scheme? Look up your local nct and see if they have a sale , you can get some amazing bargains and at every one I've ever been to there's a stall with re usable nappy help/trials etc. You can often get them second hand there too.

We had a moses basket and the carrycot of the buggy for sleeping. We had a Fisher Price woodland bouncy chair and would highly recommend it, we paid around £45 I think, it did 2 babies and we sold it on.

Seconding sling and backpack for a changing bag. Both are so much more practical for normal popping out type trips (a pram is great for longer trips). I would recommend a stretchy wrap sling for the early days (I had a close Caboo organic thing).

Car seats. Does your car have an isofix point? If so get a base that can be used with all the seats you'll ever need (I have a maxicosi 2way base thing, and that fits the pebble, and then the 2 way pearl. I'd recommend actually testing it in your car before you drive away with it though, see how much space the front passenger is left with. Isofix is particularly great for the early days because you can just pop the seat in and out without faffing with straps and belts.

Most things can wait to be honest. I had a sleepyhead but DS hated it so it never got used (likewise Moses basket and bath seat). You'll work out pretty quickly what you need and what you don't.

Good question - I wish I had asked this - all of the above we seemed to fall into making a decision as we went

Car seat - depends if you want a car seat that will clip onto the pram (that then limits your options depending on the pram)
If you want the base in which the car seat fits and then you can turn the seat round and click in and out (easy, very convenient but expensive)
If neither of the above, I found mothercare's own brand car seats absolutely brilliant - paid £60 for 2 (twins). They have to meet all the same safety standards but just don't do the above two things

If there's a Mothercare near you, they do expectant parent event with talks about car seats, extra staff to talk through prams and you get discount vouchers (10% off anything etc).

IKEA for our cot bed - loved the one you could have at 2 different heights and then turn into a bed

Tommee tippee perfect prep machine is amazing.

We picked up loads of things like bouncers, clothes, toys and books at boot fairs and nearly new sales - very popular

Nappies - I'd recommend any but pampers (ironically) but different friends like different brands so buy some from each supermarket - we tend to use aldi ones as cheapest (no difference in quality) and we also use Aldi's formula milk

Hope that helps - I don't think I ever felt prepared or in the know and certainly learnt the most very quickly when I took them home!

Hospital Bag
Car seat
Travel pram set
Nappies & Changing Bag
Babygrows
Scratch mits
Hat
Blanket
Moses basket/Crib
Cot
Cot Mattress
Cot blankets
Sleep suits (closed foot bag thing) for different seasons
Baby sling/carrier
Babygrows/vests
Muslins
Bibs
Nappies - Aldi or Tesco
Babywipes - Aldi sensitive
Metanium cream
Baby monitor
Movement monitor
Room thermometer
Baby thermometer
Baby manicure kit
Baby bath/wash set
Baby towels
Changing table
Changing mat
Cheap towels for top of changing mat (Ikea/Wilkos)
V-pillows
Sterilising unit for Microwave
Bottles/Pump/formula
Sort Maternity/adoption/parental allowance
Sort Child tax credits
Sort child benefit
Dental and prescription exemption form if you qualify (not sure with adoption but unlikely)
Working tax credits - update

Buy the babygrows and vests when you are advised of the match OP/the day before you are given your baby. You will know what size to buy then :)

Just had my 4th baby so think I should be able to give a good idea...

What you need...

A cot
Mattress protector for cot
Cot sheets x2
Blankets ideally 2/3 as you will need for the cot and buggy.
Pushchair - the ones that you can attach a car seat are great for if you need to quickly pop into the shop and don't want to wake baby.
Car seat - again check which ones are compatible with the pushchair.
Baby change bag
Baby bottles x 6
Baby bottle brush to clean
Steriliser
Nappies
Baby wipes
A sponge for washing baby - some people also just use water but I've always brought baby wash too
Bibs so the milk doesn't ruin clothes or get them wet
Sleepsuits
Baby vests
A coat and hat if the weather is colder

Things I have found useful but that are not essential...

The tommee tippee prep machine makes making bottles at home much easier

For making bottles on the go I use a similar method and so use a flask and also the milk pots that hold the powder.

Sleepyhead - my baby settles really well in here

Crib or moses basket - not essential as you can use the cot from birth but really much easier to have a smaller crib right next to your bed for ease at nighttime wake ups!

Nightlight for the evening feeds

Baby bouncer - fab for taking baby in when you bath, cook etc! I made a mistake and brought a lovely expensive one this time round but it's heavy and annoying to move so really the lightweight bouncers are much more functionable!

Isofix base for the car - I've only had it for my last baby I always just used the seatbelt before but really it makes life a lot easier and going back to strapping the car seat in this week while away I've realised how useful it actually is!

Dummies - some babies like them some don't! Mine have always had them.

Then one baby is a little older around 3/4 months things like a few toys - lamanze type things that hand on the buggy, a comforter, jumperoos are fab.

A bumbo (or mamas and papas do another similar) are great for starting weaning and before that once baby can hold head I used to sit baby in there with a few toys.

Oh and a sling/cloth carrier for bonding time against you and your partner/skin to skin and comfort for baby, OP.

Dont use a mattress protector with a baby younger than 6m old OP. They affect the breathability of the mattress which can increase sids risks.

Prep machines are awesome totally recommend one of those...best investment.

You might want a travel system rather than a separate car seat and buggy, this makes the transition if they are sleeping in the car easier if you are then out and about with them .

A bouncer, to be honest any old one will do unless you really want to splash the cash. We’ve got one from Argos £25, a play mat - also Argos cheap around £15, very useful.

Aldi nappies are good first sized nappies, dummies just in case would be good?

Sorry just seen you wanted brands -

Baby bouncer - baby Bjorne are great but expensive! The fisher price ones are also just as nice although a little more lairy with the designs!

Pushchair - silver cross is well known, we've had quinny, Phil and teds, bugaboo, I candy and now have a joolz and they've all been great! Again we've always had a travel system and then moved to a lighter buggy around 2 years old. Always had a maxi cosi car seat and had no problems and they are compatible with most brands but if you go into a local mothercare or John Lewis they will help you find one that fits with your pushchair and also make sure it fits your car!

Cot - any brand really they are all similar - we have a snuzpod as our crib which we love and also heard good things about the Chico next to me!

We've always used the tommee tippee bottles (just the normal closer to nature ones not the anti colic ones - as have heard they aren't great!) you can get a 6 pack on amazon for about £13.

Again the tommee tippee steriliser - used both the electric and microwave one and both were fine.

I like next/mothercare/ M&S for sleepsuits as they wash and tumble dry well and they also have the built in scratch-mitts!

Dummies the mam ones are good and they do the smaller size for newborn.

M&S for bibs and Muslins - best quality and soft!

Forgot to mention gro bags are also great!

Whatever type of buggy you get, make sure the car seat you get can be clipped onto it so if the baby is asleep in the car, you won't need to transfer her over to the buggy.

A mirror for the car so you can see baby in the rear facing car seat.

We got a travel system with a bassinet which was handy for sleeping during the day downstairs although baby grows out of them quite quickly (less than 3 months in our case).

We have a changing table downstairs and I know lots will say it's unnecessary but it is one of the best things we bought and we still use it for our 2 year old. All the stuff is in one place and nappy explosions can easily be cleaned compared to using a changing mat on the floor.

A bouncer - for entertainment and naps.

A floor mat with mobile

Ours loved white noise for sleeping - we got a Ewan sheep or you can try an app on your phone first to see if it's worth it.

A baby thermometer - more to reassure yourself when she won't stop crying in the middle of the night.

Ready made formula - handy to bring to bed with you and transfer into the bottle for night feeds and when out during the day.

A million muslins, bibs and baby gros

Go and play with prams and see what you prefer. Think about your needs. Where will you be taking it? Do you live in a city or will you be taking a pram more off road? Does it need to fit in the boot of your car? How big a basket do you want, do you want to be able to fit a car seat on it with adapters (babies can’t stay in car seats for long btw). Adjustable height handles? Parent facing?

We have a Bugaboo Bee and I absolutely love it and it’s also a good toddler pushchair.

We had a Moses basket downstairs and crib upstairs, it’s recommended babies sleep in the same room as you for at least the first six months due to SIDS.

We had a maxi cosi car seat, if you go to mothercare or Halfords they should be able to advise you on the best and safest seats. Or look on Which. Oh and I loved the convenience of the Isofix base.

We found Aldi nappies to be amazing, and their wipes. Plus they’re cheap.

We used Tommee Tippee bottles. We also had a Milton steriliser and it was so much less of a faff than the Microwave steriliser.

Vests and baby gro’s. Bottle brush. Muslins were a god send for wiping up bits of vomit and for putting over your shoulder. Bibs, change mat. Never bothered with a change table, I just put the mat on the floor, had one for upstairs and downstairs.

Get a good sling, visit a sling library. They can advise you on the best wrap sling. We had a close Caboo.

My husband or I just handed our babies to each other in the bath. So DH would be in the bath and i would hand DS to him and he lay on DHs thighs to be washed and then handed back to me to dry and dress, so we never needed a baby bath or seperate bath items for our babies.

Also Grobags are a Godsend. We used them right up to about 2 years old. They stop a toddler escaping the cot as well!

Don't bother with "clothes", like tiny jeans or shoes. Just some lovely sleepsuits for about the first 4 or so months, or ones with short sleeves and no feet in summer. Buy more plain white vests (with poppers under the nappy) than you think you will need as they get stained by explosive yellow poo.

With my second I bought a lot less, because I realised how much didn't get used the first time. I would say...

Buggy-something that fits in boot and is light. Nothing too expensive as personally I swapped to an umbrella stroller around 7 months as easier and lighter and my £500 travel system suddenly felt like a waste of money

Car seat that fits on buggy makes life a lot easier

I breastfeed but got Mam starter kit-different size bottles and steralise in microwave.

Formula

Chico Next to Me Crib. Had a moses basket first time but much prefer this, I think she sleeps better as can see me

Joie 2 in 1 swing. My daughter loves it and has all her naps in there at home. Can also take it off and use just as a bouncer to move around house

Sling - I went to a sling library and then bought the sling I liked online after using it for 2 weeks. Some areas also have cloth nappy libraries or look at thenappylady.co.uk

Muslins/Vests/Sleepsuits (I got a couple of bundles off Facebook Groups)

Cellular Blankets

Swaddle blanket

First Aid Kit - Calpol, syringe, snufflebabe, teething gel/powder, thermometer, coconut oil for

Nappies (we use Aldi) and wipes (personally would stay away from anything fragranced, again we use Aldi)

At 3 months I've just bought

Next size clothes bundle (shes small and still in 0-3)
High chair
Playmat and toys
Jumperoo
Starting to look at cots

Good luck with everything!

You don't need a proper change bag, you can use a rucksack or a bag you already have.

The Muslin swaddle blankets are so so so handy! You can use them for loads.

I really recommend following the Facebook group Car Seat Advice UK, as it is a minefield and their moderators are trained to give correct advice. It is so important to get the right one!

A sling was super helpful for us too

We used a snuzpod next to me crib, attached to the bed for safe cosleeping.

A salt lamp is perfect for a night feeding lamp, bright enough to see but not too glarey

White noise machine or app on your phone

Loads of sleepsuits, we just kept him in them for the first few months.

We found the Little Z Sleep podcast invaluable. Highly recommend for sleep tips.

Good luck! It sounds like such an exciting time for you!

Also the best wipes we used were the cheeky wipes reusable ones - they come with a mesh bag thing, so you don't have to tough the dirty ones at all! And so so effective!

You may also want to enquire at your local hospital about getting some donated breastmilk? Completely your choice how you feed your baby of course, but you can ask if that is something you hadn't thought of!

Laughing at the person who suggested hospital bag, that's the one thing we won't need

We absolutely will have baby in our room for as long as possible really, cot bed won't fit so will look at the cribs people have suggested.

Definitely would like a sling, will google sling library!

We have popped in to John Lewis and had a brief browse of things but were too nervous to talk to staff as I am very obviously not pregnant, but I have heard they are adoption trained so will pluck up the courage over the summer when we are fully into Stage 2.

I would like to use reusable wipes as well as reusable nappies, will look up cheeky wipes.

Regarding car seats, I would quite like one from birth - child not needing one anymore, is this possible? Or would we need to buy one for the first few years, then another for the next few years?

For those who don't know much about adoption, early permanency means we are likely to receive a baby straight from hospital where social workers are 99% sure the plan for this baby will be adoption. However for up to 26 weeks we will need to facilitate contact with birth family (hence also using normal nappies) and there is a chance the baby will return to birth family (so we are trying to be practical as well as wanting to ensure bonding and attachment with us). I can pretty much guarantee we won't be allowed to use donated breast milk, but I appreciate the suggestion.