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

[bradleybecky]

?

[StubbleTurnips]

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!

[BroomstickOfLove]

Clothes. Nappies. Sling.

[CoffeeCoffeeAndLotsOfIt]

Gro bags

[scrumptiouscrumpets]

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

[doleritedinosaur]

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

[albertcampionscat]

Sling.

[jelliebelly]

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

[toffeeboffin]

Swing chair.

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

[toffeeboffin]

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

[YouAndMeAreGoingToFallOut]

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!

[JohnLapsleyParlabane]

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!

[123bananas]

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.

[Blumkin]

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.

[LifeLong13]

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

[SausageSoda]

Perfect Prep
Snuzpod
Sleepyhead


Biggest mistake was a nappy bin - never used.

[SausageSoda]

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.

[5minutestobed]

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!

[DeepFriedCamembert]

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

[DOTLEYtheONEeyedDINO]

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.

[ThinkOfTheMice]

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

[chloechloe]

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!!!)

[LapinR0se]

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

[MrsMcAvoy]

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

[jimijack]

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.

[hazeyjane]

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)