The most useful thing I bought for my first baby was.......

[bradleybecky]

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Our britax dualfix car seat, we got it late - but by god do I wish we had it from day one. The swivel car seat is brilliant for saving your back during the toddling years.

Bouncy chair.

I wish we had a cosleeper with DD but we persevered and in hindsight that was a mistake!

Clothes. Nappies. Sling.

Gro bags

Baby bath ! DS1 is 2 and we're still using it. Bouncy chair. Used it loads until DS could sit without support.

Sling & swing. Baby would not go down, the swing resulted in my first hot cup of tea in 2 months with first use.

Sling.

A light dimmer switch in our bedroom
A plastic seat to put in the big bath rather than a baby bath

Swing chair.

Also, it was a gift, but a bouncy car thing on springs.

Sorry, something else, a camera baby monitor. Used it loads.

I always think it's amazing how one person's "can't live without" is someone else's total waste of space. I invested a large amount of money in a double electric breast pump and I barely use the thing. Total waste of money for me.

My most beloved purchases for my now 4.5 month old have been:

Stretchy sling - invaluable. Only way to get baby to sleep at one stage, and much easier for public transport than the pram.
Cloth wipes - cheaper and more efficient than disposable wipes.
Baby bath - lots of people say these are pointless, but I find it's much easier on my back, and she enjoys it far more than when we've bathed her in the big bath.
Co-sleeper crib - I've actually rented this from Bednest. Saves a lot of getting up and down in the night.

I'm puzzled by the posters who say they don't use muslins. I use them all the time for wiping her face, catching milk overspray when I'm feeding, to dry her bum, as an impromptu playmat...all sorts really!

Cloth nappies and wipes
Cosleeping crib
Connecta sling (could not cope with a stretchy wrap)
Mussy Mate comforter
Cellular blanket in a larger size as she hates grobags
Thermos mugs for me!

Dd1 - jellycat bunny - still sleeps with it aged 7.5
Dd2 - a sling and a buggy board for dd1. Playpen to stop her climbing onto the table at 8 months old
Ds - a double buggy for him and dd2. Latex teats for bottles so DH could feed him.

I hired a cleaner to do a 2 hour house clean once a week for the first few months. This was definitely the best value for money thing I paid for - it saved my sanity and probably my relationship.

Chicco next to me
White noise app called Sound Sleeper! Bloody god send!

Perfect Prep
Snuzpod
Sleepyhead

Biggest mistake was a nappy bin - never used.

Oh, and I got an angel mat breathing monitor with the video monitor. Video monitor is still in box (DD is 16 weeks) but I love the reassurance that it gives me. I wouldn't purposely have set out to buy one but I'm really glad o have it.

Ds1 - sling - close caboo then a connects
. - door bouncer
Ds2 - cosy bouncy chair so I have somewhere to put him down.

I never really got muslins, carrying about stinky milk covered cloths doesn't seem appealing. I just used bibs to mop up milk dribbles and then get a fresh one. Mind you my two were on Neocate and that stuff really stinks!

A change table which turned into a bath with storage underneath. I really thought we could do without it, but it saved my back and DS was still in the bath until age 2. Loving this thread! I'm 4 months pregnant with number 2 and I'm getting heaps of tips

One of these. Once DC went into their own rooms in their cot beds (at 3 months), after stories, I'd turn the mobile on, turn lights off, say night night and leave the room. They were nearly always asleep before it finished.

Never used muslins for mopping up, but the huge one we had was used constantly as a sunshade, swaddle,blanket,chew toy etc.

Aden & Anais large muslins (for swaddling)

Baby Bjorn soft bouncer so DH and I could eat together (sometimes) and I could have a shower.

White noise app.

(DD hated Ewan the dream sheep and tried to kick him in the head at 5mo!!!)

Miracle blanket swaddle
Sound sleeper white noise app for phone
Video monitor
Blackout blind
Perfect prep machine
Jumperoo

I only have a small car so we bought one of those doona car seats which transforms into a little pram
Perfect for running to the shops or town

Infacol
One of those swings. 2nd hand from a friend who when she delivered it told me it was the "gift from God", she was SO right...it he only place my baby would sleep for about an hour at a time.
That & infacol prevented me throwing myself under a bus, literally in those early months.

Other than that, babygrows, LOADS of them, all different sizes.
Reason:
They wash fantastic, are cheep so when stained get chucked, you change them 40 Times a day, don't need ironing, dry quick on the radiators,easy to put on/take off.
Clothes are a waste of fucking time, seriously, mine lived in babygrows until about 12 months.

A humidifier
Reusable wipes
Top and tail bowl (I know I'm on my own with that one!)
Travel change mat (FreebiePampers one)
Bedside crib (instead of moses basket)