What is the best thing you bought for your baby?

[dadtobe19]

Wife is expecting our first baby in 2 weeks and we have bought everything we need.

We are interested to know if there is any one thing in particular you bought that helped you through those first few months? Anything special that kept the baby amused/helped out you?

Angelcare and 4moms chair. Good luck.

Ewan the dream sheep! Can't recommend it enough

Morrck car seat hoodie
Jojo Maman bebe sleeping bag with removable sleeves
Poddlepod
Ewan the dream sheep
Sock ons
Changing station

I can't recommend the first 3 things enough, morrck is fabulous!

Sling

Bush Baby snowsuits too

Angelcare bath seat - lasted til she was 9 months.

Tripp trapp

Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep, if bottle feeding. Gadget-y and quite expensive, but so worth it for us. We got it cheaply thanks to a sale and Boots vouchers, but knowing what I know now I'd have happily paid full price. Yes, you can use a kettle or a flask. I use those too when necessary but nothing compares to the ease of the Perfect Prep!

And another vote for muslins. Useful for everything and now DD can't sleep without one. We have loads!

Two more . . .

Feeding pillow and chair.
I used to think the gliders were really naff but bought one for DD2 and it was a godsend, and still is 18 months later.

Another vote for the Ergo - I used it from day 1 (with a borrowed insert) and continue to use it occasionally with my son who is now nearly 3. Love it

This nursing chair: www.kiddicare.com/p/Kiddicare_Cloud_Nine_Deluxe_Glider_Chair_And_Stool_Fudge.htm

Bespoke cloth nappies - they just made me happy! Eg www.weenotions.co.uk/nappies.html and reusable wipes. Saved a fortune in the long run, and much better for a baby's skin.

Ewan the sheep.

I had a Moby wrap, loved it. Pg again and am tempted by an Ergo now, and maybe a woven sling too, possibly unnecessarily excessive.

Wabaloo car seat footmuff as not suppose to use coats in car seat.

Thick cardi for above reasons - we have a marks Spencer one with ears n seems everyone I see with babies has the same one!!

As a maternity night nanny I recommend tommee tippee perfect prep machine if bottle feeding

Sleepsuits with integrated scratch mitts on sleeves are great

Sleeping bags/gro bags

Angel care or similar monitor with apnoea mat I advise every parent to get one even if buy second hand.

Cheeky wipes - amazing for cleaning up poonamis and my baby has never had nappy rash (Google it, there is a website)

Sleepyhead- if you value sleep, buy one of these, available at John Lewis, Amazon, NCT website- read the reviews, all true! We just ordered the bigger size as DD grew out of the first size one.

Bouncer chair.
Sophie the giraffe- baby loves chewing on this.
Organiser/cup holder for stroller, we got the Uppababy vista and bought the parent organiser which straps across the handles, it's great.
Mamas and papas snug seat.
Another vote for the Jumperoo.

If breastfeeding, the My Breast Friend (UGH to the name) breastfeeding pillow. I got mine about 2 weeks in and it was a godsend. Saved backache and was wonderfully comfortable. I used it for months.

-play mat
-white noise machine
-jumperoo/Exersaucer

• those Playtex bottles with the disposable inserts

Ooh also large muslin or easy swaddle wrap and lightweight breathable growbags for later on

A sling. One baby loved this

A baby swing. My other baby loved this!

Reusable nappies are great too.

A stretchy sling (close) plus a visit from an experienced friend to teach me how to get it on absolutely right
Tummy tub (amazing for colicky babies)
Sky + for me
John Lewis muslins
A my breast friend feeding cushion

Later:
Sheepskin
Large baby love play at
Jumperoo

Muslins
Ergo carrier (I loved a moby with my second when tiny but found it difficult to get the hang of with my first so ergo much easier. Also lasts till their 2 or so).
Tiny love classic mobile
Simple cheap bouncer
Later, a jumperoo

I know you didn't ask but if you're interested I bought but didn't need, a plastic baby bath (the softer supports are much better), playmat, bumbo.

A pouch type sling. I used it for years with DD and wished I'd had it when the older two were little.

We are very interested in this whole white noise and ewan the sheep!

Some really brilliant ideas on here and great to hear from people who have already been through it. Thanks!

Our best buy has been the Stokke Tripp Trapp chair. A bit pricey to start with, but DD1 is 3 and has been in hers for every mealtime (including sitting in it while we ate our meals when she was tiny) since birth.
It adapts to fit them as they grow so I imagine DD will be in it for a few more years.
They also seem to retain their value quite well so you could get most of your money back when you're finished with it by reselling.
Going against the trend: we didn't actually like the sleeping bags until DD was older as they seemed to bunch up by her neck/cheeks as she wriggled and aggravate her.

Yet another vote for Ewan.

The Tuppence and Crumble Star Wrap has been the best thing though for a cold winter both in car seat and pram. The Baby goes to sleep in it straight away which helps. Don't get it fromNotonthehighstreet, its much cheaper direct from the manufacturer.

We had no idea how much we would actually need muslins. We got some massively expensive bamboo thread ones as gifts but our favourite ones are actually the ones from Aldi! So keep an eye out for their Baby event which happens from time to time.

Oh and the BadaBing nappy bag. We got ours in TKmaxx. Its unisex and has a satisfying amount of compartments so very good for anal organised parents.

Cocoonababy. Hands down the best thing ever. Dd would only sleep for an hour or less on either mine or dps chest, but the first night in the cocoonababy she slept for 4 hours straight. It was amazing.