Newborn / baby essentials... List your top 3 please!

[MrsLilac]

I see a lot of 'newborn essential' lists on YouTube and other websites but many if them are American and seem that have products that we don't over here. So, I was hoping you could share the things your found essential for surviving being a first time mum. I'm slightly clueless and don't know what I need versus what is nice but not essential (and I realise all babies are different!). Please let me know what you loved and what your found useful too. Thanks so much in advance.

--------
This thread is a little old now so some of the suggestions may be out of date, but if you’ve landed here looking for the ultimate baby essentials checklist, we’ve recently updated our newborn essentials article with the must-haves Mumsnetters think you can't live without when your baby arrives. We hope you find it useful.
MNHQ

You'll find everyone differs with what they find useful. The only thing I've had and used loads is a bouncy chair from birth. One that's easy to move around the house, that way you can get stuff done especially showering. Mine are currently a god send for feeding the twins.

Boobs
Nappies
Babygros and vests

Different babies like different things. You need nappies, clothes, car seat, a safe place to put them down (moses basket/crib, bouncy chair, playmat although there's no guarantee they'll like being put down so these might not work for you, at least for the first few months) and something to feed them (boobs or bottles, depending on preference - if you plan to breastfeed, you can buy the bottle stuff later)

Non-essentials I found brilliant in the early days:

Changing mats from Ikea that have washable covers
Stretchy wrap sling

The most useful thing is a willingness to change your mind if needed. You might need to cosleep to save your sanity, even though you hate the thought now. You might be absolutely determined to breastfeed but then find it's so painful and tiring that you just can't cope. You might decide you'll only use a sling, then have a baby that hates being wrapped up and wants to be in a pushchair, etc. Be flexible :)

Other than the absolute essentials, with 19 day old DD the things we love and use every day are:

muslins (millions of them, especially the giant ones. If you buy lots of different colours its easier to keep track of clean versus sicky)

this swing makes her nap when all else fails

washable wipes get poo off far better than regular disposable ones, are nicer on her bum and just get washed with the tons of other washing - see above re muslins :)

A few bottles of witch hazel to soak your pads in after the birth are great too, it feels lovely and cool on your bits particularly if you keep the soaked pads in the fridge, and apparently helps reduce swelling

Reusable nappies and wipes - disposable have mine rash, saved a fortune ( as used for new baby also), and the disposable plastic smell made me gag more than a filled nappy!

Babygrow and baby vests -0-6 months. No faffing with lost socks etc then or cold legs in winter if carry or in sling

Sling - get one that goes newborn, and eventually onto back into toddler years. Great for baby walks, and toddler mode great at airport/ on trains / rough ground etc or once child does really need pram but may get tired before home ( boba 4g sling would be my recommendation)

cloth nappies are a lot easier than disposable imo - bunging a load of washing in is far quicker than dragging a baby round a supermarket! i have a load of cheap flannels (99p shop packs of 6) that get washed with the nappies then kept wet in a freezer bag - saved me a fortune

Something to swaddle with. You can just go it with a large muslin, but I could never do it so bought a swaddleme which attaches with Velcro. Your baby may hate swaddling, but lots of them find it comforting so good to be prepared if you want to try it when they're screaming at 3am!

Sling, bednest and when he was little, a swaddle suit because he'd wake himself up endlessly otherwise.

Washable nappies are the best, but we only started with them at about three months. There are newborn size ones, and I'd probably look at those for next time.

For my newborn - a sling, blackout blind, tummy tub

And now he's a bit bigger - ikea high chair, ikea wooden play arch, sleeping bag

Ooh, take tummy tub back and replace with a bednest. Amazing.

Essentials:

-somewhere for baby to sleep in: crib, moses basket, cot. New mattress for whatever you choose and sheets. A couple blankets. If/when baby is over 8lbs you can get a baby sleeping bag (grobag) which is not essential but very useful if you have a wriggler who likes to kick off covers.

-feeding. If you plan to breast feed then you might need breast pads. I now some women go without breastfeeding bra but for me that was a must. Lansinoh for nipples although you might be lucky and not need it. If formula feeding then bottles, formula and a way to sterilise them (can boil in a saucepan if you want)

-dressing the baby: lots of babygros (get the ones with integrated mittens) and vests. Some socks if he/she will be born when cold. A couple cardis. Thin newborn hats. Outerwear depending on season.

I would suggest not to buy any cute baby outfits as you'll probably get tons as presents.

-changing. Nappies (whatever type you choose). Wipes/cotton wool. Something against nappy rash (we use Bepanthen). Changing mat.

-transport: pram and/or sling. Car seat.

Nice but not essential: bouncy chair, playmat, changing table, baby bath.

That's my list anyway, everyone is different. I would suggest buying the minimum - you can always get more stuff later if you feel you need it.

Good luck OP

Purchases I've been very thankful for are the breastfeeding pillow, adaptor thing to make the car seat fit in the pram, and a baby carrier (we had the moby but now use the Ergo baby).

There's obviously heaps that's handy, but these things are brill.

Everyone will tell you to bath then in the sink, but the plastic bath seat was really useful - gave me a free hand (or two), saved my back and let DD have a good kick

A sling is crucial - just pop them in and get on with whatever you were planning on doing.

White noise - Ewan the dream sheep or just a phone app

My top baby essential is a washing machine. My mum very kindly bought us one when I was pregnant. Once DS was born, I saw why!

A good pram/buggy DS wasn't a baby who likes to be carried my first pram was beautiful but heavy and to wide for most car boots and the bus so I changed to a mamas and papas buggy at 10 weeks (from birth type) and it was great light enough to carry up stairs folded easily think long term they are only in the newborn part for a while 8 weeks and DS wanted to be propped up!

A baby swing or bouncy chair if you don't fancy carrying baby around (and baby agrees)

A really good high chair again my DS wasn't the carrying around type so once he got to 10 weeks he sat in his high chair to watch me do things it was one that reclined and was height adjustable also had a thick big between the legs so he didn't slide he used it until he was just over 2 to eat and just chill in so worth the money.www.pramcentre.co.uk/high-chairs-and-feeding/multi-position-high-chairs/bonito-bebe-feed-me-now-highchair/21664#content.

Like other posters have said you just don't know until your baby is here from MN I was expecting to carry DS around in a sling of he'd scream but he was to total opposite and liked to sit up and watch the world go by. I would wait to buy everything if you can have an idea what brand/version you want of each thing then see how it does or keep everything boxed with receipt until baby is here.

Not obvious but saline nose drops and a nasal aspirator (get one of the ones you suck). It'll all be to hand in the (inevitable) middle of the night when LO gets first snuffles and can't sleep.

Nipple cream
A wrap sling
Chocolate

Sling- I have the close caboo
Bouncy chair suitable from birth. I was given a few but the most basic one is the one ds preferred.
Car seat adapters for pram. Great when he fell asleep in car and we were just popping into quick shop etc so we didn't have to wake him.

Nappies
Somewhere for baby to sleep-your bed can do.
Blanket
Car seat
Buggy-I loved my sling too, but my buggy is the best.

Car seat adapters

Bouncy chair

Sleep suits with little scratch mits in sleeve....

Ready meals, chocolate, tea.

Nappies
Cotton wool
5 babygros
5 vests
2 cardies
1 hat
(snowsuit if born in cold months)
Car seat
Sling
(basket or crib if you're not co-sleeping)

That's all a newborn needs. Anything else is a variation on a theme.

You wash them with water and cotton wool, in the sink or a washing up bowl. You can use two bowls from the kitchen or just get water from the tap. They don't need toys when they're tiny, just conversation and singing from you and hearing you speak to them. They don't need a fancy pushchair. They don't need a fancy cot.

I got a newborn starter kit from asda for about £7 with baby grows, vests, hat etc in all plain white and perfect for bed time, spares etc.

Lots of Muslins!

We couldn't live without our playmat, DS has been on it since 3 days old, he's 12 weeks now and still loves it. It means I can have a shower/bath/cup of coffee in the sun in peace for 20 mins or so!

Good luck :)