To ask what a first time parent absolutely doesn't need to do or buy?

[glabicki]

I'm pregnant with my first and we are starting to order things for the baby.

There are so many gadgets, and I wonder what things I absolutely won't need and what is a life saver?

And what parenting advice should I ignore, and what advice should I take on board?

Trying not to get too worked up about everything, but I'm starting to feel like I don't know anything and I need to buy everything!

Thanks in advance!

The only things I bought or did ahead of birth were...bought nappies, few baby grows, a warmer outfit, and a car seat. That was it. I sorted out everything else once she was born. Worked for me.,

Oh, and a Moses basket with blankets.

Remember you don’t need to buy most things before the baby’s here! Just buy the basics and then if you catch yourself thinking “hmm maybe a bouncy chair would be handy” you can get one delivered.

I had so much stuff we never used for my first... totally agree with basics (basic clothes, car seat, nappies, Moses basket, blankets) and an amazon prime subscription ... everything will then be fine!

If you plan to go out walking and you also have a car, you will need a pram and a car seat, most of the time can be bought in a set for newborn age group. If you are breastfeeding you will need a pump, breast pads, nipple cream. If you're bottle feeding you will need bottles, formula and a steriliser. You'll also need nappies, wipes and some baby grows (people will mostly buy you outfits and bibs when they're born so really you don't need to buy much of that). I'd recommend having a bouncy chair as my newborn hated his Moses basket and we needed somewhere to set him down!

If formula feeding a perfect prep machine is a godsend. I'd also recommend a proper swaddling blanket as the newborn reflexes make them jump about and they can disturb themselves (and then you of course).

A white noise app on my phone to get them to sleep - best money I ever spent!!

Same as arethereanyleftatall. We didn’t even buy a pram until a week or so after the birth. The one thing I bought later on, but definitely didn’t need was a nappy disposal bin like this . Complete waste of money and gross!

Nappies in a few different sizes, just so you're prepared. And more muslins than you think

If I went back I'd not get the 2 Moses baskets I got (for upstairs and downstairs) as my baby was on me 90% of the time for the first 6-8 weeks or so; then he was too big for it anyway I'd also meal prep more; I laughed it off at the time but we ate a lot of chips once he was born!!

@Nogodsnomasters
You don't necessarily need all that stuff though. For example, I didn't need nipple cream. Had I have bought that, it would have been a waste of money. Had I not, and I needed it, I could have got it then.

The one thing I bought and never used (except to store toys in!) was a play pen.

I’ve never used a baby bath. We used a waterproof cushion-y thing in a few centimetres of water. You’re leaning over either way and they got room to splash about and don’t need to be constantly held.

You don’t need masses of toys either - have a look at a Montessori treasure basket. Cheap, easy and just as stimulating.

Muslin squares, and depending on what you intend a cheap, cheap breast pump.

Also, don’t need to get new stuff. Check out the second hand website for things like the Moses basket or cot and buy new mattresses. I got rid of every single beautiful baby thing I had after DS2 and when “surprise” DD came along managed to get everything for a grand total of €100, including a €5 cot. People simply can’t get rid of this stuff when the kids have outgrown them and would nearly pay you to take it away.

Don’t buy too many size one nappies if your baby is big they won’t stay in them long.
Also asda 0-3 months only goes up to 12 pounds my DS is only 7 weeks and is 11lb 11 already so i have a whole bunch of vests and sleepsuits that won’t fit him much longer! Total waste!

An ear thermometer also, and a changing mat

I really recommend something to put the baby in that is in your living area. We had a Fisher Price Kick and Play bouncer which he used for 6 months and was brilliant when I needed to eat lunch or wee. Play mat with dangly toys was useful for similar reasons - bring baby downstairs, pop down, get kettle on. You can get both on Facebook Marketplace!

Never bothered with a changing unit. With ds and dd never had space. We have now but always just used a mat on floor.. Or. Sofa when tiny and I couldn't bend.

You don't need a moses basket, changing table or alot of baby specific stuff which you can use other things for (like you don't need a baby bath you can wash baby in a sink or normal bath). I bf but never used a pump. I also never used a bottle for one of my kids.
Do as suggested and buy the minimum and see how it goes. I'd say you need nappies, onesies, little cap, muslins, breast pads, maternity pads, baby blanket, car seat and pushchair, cotton wool for bathing and something for baby to sleep in which for me was a cot in baby's bedroom and a travel cot downstairs. Baby wipes when out and about. Changing bag. Then build from there.

Some things like nipple cream are preventative though. I wouldn't have wanted to get sore cracked nipples and then buy some.

Definitely didn’t need a bottle warmer (despite mostly bottle feeding) or. Travel system (too bulky, mostly used sling, then stroller)
Definitely did need lots of muslins, car seat and Moses basket.

Car seat and somewhere for baby to sleep!

Then you can just buy everything else as you go along if needed. My boys have had different preferences for swings, chairs, jumparoos etc.

I agree about a nappy bin, they're horrid!

Ah now I really liked my nappy bin. Stopped me having to go down to the kitchen bin every time I changed a nappy. Maybe because we were living in a tall thin terraced house (three floors) at the time.

Muslins are a must-buy. Unbelievably useful and they last forever. My DS is 6 and we still have a few kicking around the house.

Buy: nappies, changing mat, wipes, babygros, car seat, buggy, warm layers or blankets for outdoors

Don't bother with: fancy little outfits (far too much faff for nappy changes and impractical/incomfortable for newborns, they will need their nappy changing every hour and puke and shit all over them.)

Also, I never used my changing table - in the end I just had a changing mat that moved from room to room and stashes of nappies upstairs and downstairs.

Don’t buy ANY baby clothes below about 6-9 months that have buttons up the back. If you do you will hate yourself as you try to do up the fiddly bloody things with a tiny newborn flopped on your chest.

Don’t buy a parasol for the pram. We did and it was worse than useless at shading the pram. Had to readjust every two steps and it was a right faff.

Don’t buy tiny shoes. They’re cute but the baby will probably hate wearing them and they are so unnessecary. You will spend enough money on shoes once the child starts walking honestly!