Clothing (massive dump!)
Sizes - DS2 was absolutely massive as a baby but he wasn't born big, he just grew really fast in the first year. He measured ahead a week or two for the whole pregnancy - you may have had an estimated gestational age come up on scans - if it's slightly before or ahead of where you are, you can guess whether you'll have a big or small baby. I have also been told I'm measuring big again this time so I'm expecting another tall/chunky baby, but because I'm not big I don't seem to birth them big. DS1 was 3040g / 6lb 11oz and DS2 was 3420 which is 7lb 9oz.
But I have this as the ages he wore various clothing:
Size 50 (first size/tiny baby/newborn) - about 2-4 weeks (summer)
Size 56 (newborn/up to 1 month) - birth to 8-10 weeks (Summer > autumn)
0-3 months - about 6 weeks - 4 months (autumn)
3-6 months - about 3 months - 5 months (autumn > winter) (he must have had a growth spurt!)
6-9 months - from 4 months (haven't tracked any further)
50/56 are European sizes, but that's because no UK shops can agree on what to call them. Newborn is used in some shops for one and some shops for the other and some as a kind of catch-all for both. Some split into newborn/up to 1 month. Some split into first size/newborn. 🤷♀ If you want to use my delineation check what cm they have it listed as up to!
You can see they overlap a bit. That's because not everything in one size is actually the same size 
So you'll have things which are a bit smaller and fit a bit sooner, or bits which are bigger and are too big when you first move up a size. Some people like to shift up a size in one go, I tend to keep a box for too-small clothes and when I notice something is a bit tight or the arms/legs look short I chuck it in there after the next wash. And I have the next size clothes all together in another box and every few weeks I'll get some of the smaller bits out and try them on and if they fit, add them into the clothes rotation. If they're still a bit big back into the box they go. Sometimes you'll also get an item which is so much bigger/smaller than the label size that it fits more closely with the next or previous size so I group it with those. I do actually remember thinking with DS1 that you could get away with skipping sizes if you didn't mind starting when they're a bit baggy and rolling up sleeves :o
Anyway, this is what I have/will top up to this time, from size 56 onwards.
- short sleeve bodysuits - about 12
- sleepsuits with full sleeves/legs/feet - about 12 up to 0-3 months, as worn all day. About 8 in 3-12 months.
- short arm/leg rompers - a couple in size 50/56 - it will be too cold by the time they are in the bigger sizes.
- cardigans - a couple in age 0-3 months. Not bothering with any smaller as it will be warm.
It's nice to have a few things in size 50 because it's nice to have a couple of things that properly fit them and don't need to be rolled up when they are very first born, I have some stuff already so not getting any more but if I was starting from scratch I'd prob get no more than 5-6 of anything. If you are measuring smaller, or likely to give birth early, or are quite petite and so is baby's dad, then it's maybe worth having a full set of size 50 as well. But I found my 6/7lb babies fit just fine into size 56. I think DS1 had about 2-3 things in size 50, and that was fine. Too many tiny things feels like a waste as they just don't wear them for long at all.
Not bothering to get any of these:
- long sleeve bodysuits - didn't use these really, except for under dungarees. If you use sleeping bags they can make good autumn pyjamas for under them. But I like sleepsuits too much!
- socks - didn't use until wearing trousers.
- mittens - never used. Didn't even use the fold over sleeves on sleepsuits.
- joggers - as in trousers? Didn't really use until size 3-6 months+ and then with long sleeved tops. I prob have about 3 trouser/top combos in 0-3 month size, but wouldn't buy again. I ended up putting them on for the sake of it not because I wanted to.
- hats - just one or two is fine. You'll end up with a couple if you get any sets or gifts anyway. I only used one in hospital and I put a different one on him each day because we had some ludicrous number. :o A warm hat is necessary for winter, but wait and see what size head they have! They aren't expensive to buy later and it's much easier to try them on in the shop when you have a real baby.
- muslin cloths - loads! 20?
- bibs - I think useful if you bottle feed? Or if your baby dribbles loads. Get them if you need them, or if you like the look of the bandana ones for about 3m+, but I didn't use them before then. And not at all for DS1 until weaning.
- shoes - you're right, this is madness for a tiny baby. Shoes once they are properly walking outside. Maybe soft leather type ones if you have cold or slippy floors at home once cruising.
Bedding:
I find 2 cot mattress protectors is fine. I think I had 4+ sheets but rarely used them all. If your baby is sick a lot you'll want at least 4-6 so you can keep washing them, but you can get sheets on amazon for any size of cot. I did line the head of the cot with a thicker muslin or a spare flat sheet/tea towel so I'd have a layer to whip off if he did a little posset.
If you're using blankets for sleep, cellular blankets are what is recommended as they help babies to regulate their temperature. Also, natural fabrics are better than man made ones like polyester or plastic fleece as they can cause overheating. Sleeping bags are also great. If it's really hot they don't necessarily need a cover, just sleeping in a vest + sleepsuit or even just a vest is fine. In the UK in August most people are worrying about keeping their baby cool enough rather than warm enough :) Although for the first 48 hours or so, they do need a vest + sleepsuit and possibly hat and antenatal/maternity wards are all roasting hot, because they can't initially regulate their own temperature.
When you say comforters do you mean those little blanket things they can hold? Seems to be baby dependent - mine never really caught on to them. However I really want one of the ludicrously overpriced cuddly toys that clips onto a dummy this time, now that they make them for normal dummies and not the ones that make your baby's mouth look like a weird hole!
Never liked snowsuits/pram suits. I swear by a nice thick cosy toes for the pram (not the car seat please, unless it's a brand specific one and they are ££££) for when it's really cold, and then blankets for in between or for using in the car seat where you shouldn't put anything bulky between the baby and the straps. I find you need a thicker blanket for out and about than at home in bed so I have used fleece ones for that, but I also have some really nice knitted ones from I think Mamas & Papas which are great for the car seat or pram, and you can use the cellular ones here as well if you want to. The fleece ones are often sized for a single bed so they're way too big for a car seat or carrycot and just fall out over the sides or you need to fold them over into a million layers which is then too hot.
With any blanket, bear in mind if you fold it once you've made one layer into two layers. Then if you fold it again your two layers are now 4, etc. Layers seemed to be very important when I had DS1 as the midwife and health visitor and antenatal classes all talked about them a lot - not sure if this is still the case? It was to do with overheating and SIDS.
Babies under 6 months or so shouldn't use sun cream as the chemicals are harmful to absorb through their skin, I think. You should keep them in the shade or in long loose clothing instead, and indoors during the middle of the day. But unless you're due right at the beginning of August, it's not that likely you'll be having loads of sunny days with a newborn anyway as you'll probably be in hospital and then staying at home, it takes a few weeks to really emerge from that "bubble", unless you have a nice sunny garden to sit in anyway. I thought about getting a UV protective tent for them to lie in (beware of counterfeits on amazon) but I never got one and I wouldn't have needed it. Buggy parasols are the most useless accessory ever. Buggy UV shades are quite good, but not really necessary in the UK. Don't cover your buggy with a blanket or muslin for shade, as it will turn into a greenhouse as it prevents the air escaping.