Best new baby purchases

[Whyisitsosohard]

With our first we bought so much that we didn't end up using (baby bjorn carrier, walker, jolly jumper, moby wrap) that this time I've been reluctant to make any new purchases. We got a bugaboo skateboard and I'm tempted by a perfect prep but are there any other recommendations so I can better handle a toddler and a newborn?

The baby bjorn newborn carrier is actually my best purchase this time round, its brilliant and used so much.
I also do like the prep machine so these are probably my top two things I've got which are different that with my eldest.

We have the stokke Tripp trapp for toddler. If we had another I would get the newborn attachment for it as it allows baby to be up high in kitchen or at dining table without toddler poking or tripping over them

Interesting.. the one thing we went super cheap on was the high chair (ikea) although we also have a ingenuity chair we take on holiday. I've heard good things about stokke but don't know if I can justify the price.

Somewhere to put the newborn while you handle the toddler. Downstairs I've got the baby Bjorn bouncer which can be used from birth and is light enough to be moved between rooms while carrying the baby (also the baby likes it!) and upstairs the angel care bath seat is used more out the bath than in it. DS1 is actually remarkably sweet with his brother, but I don't leave them in the same room together ever without me. DS1 is too keen on picking him up.

I loved the sling with my first, but I don't think I would have coped without it with my second. If you didn't like the ones you had previously then maybe try a sling library for something that suits? I use the Mamaruga Zensling and really rate it.

@Whyisitsosohard - look secondhand also. For use it’s definitely worth it and we didn’t have newborn part as Ds was already 5months before i realised it existed. Anyway, Ds is now 3 years and we use the seat every day still. It’s been in toddler mode about a year and it means he’s right height at table and we use as toddler climbing stool for helping bake and prep food at counter. It takes 110kg weight limit so dh and I use for reaching high up cupboards/ fire alarms/ painting as well

I would also get a high up basic wooden crib or Moses basket down stairs. With 1, I just put him on the floor when I was getting ready to leave house or answer door to postman. But 2 would be trampled on probably

I bought a tula baby carrier for dc2, wore him all the time, hadn't carried dc1 much at all but it was much easier having hands free for a toddler, so that carrier might be useful this time round!

I also buy everything second hand which means if it turns out not to work for me then I can likely sell it on without much, if any, loss! So many of these things depend on the baby.

Thank you, I like the look of the bjorn bouncer but again feel like I can't justify 200 quid and DH won't let me get anything 2nd hand.. I think the moby just didn't feel secure. The bjorn carrier I reckon we'll get more use of it this time.

Baby Bjorn carrier I use all the time but have never used my sling wrap so wouldn't bother with that. Perfect prep day and night is a god send. So many vests, long and short sleeved plus sleep suits - cute outfits are just wasted. A couple of really nice play mats/gym things, one for upstairs and one for downstairs. My baby didn't like the bouncer but loved a swing chair. It's just so handy having places to put them down safely in different rooms around the house.

Ignore husband and look on Facebook marketplace for bits like that - I picked up the swing chair for £10.

I had a Moses basket for downstairs but only really used that for a couple of weeks as he tends to nap in the pram, car or carrier while out, or in his next to me crib during the day. Changing table also a waste of money, just have changing mats upstairs and downstairs.

Tommee tippee prep machine and steriliser, took so much room in my kitchen but has been truly my 3am best friend.
Also plenty of bottles if you are choosing to formula feed.

Thanks everyone. Agree we're totally covered on bottles and clothes. Never used the change table or baby bath the first time round. Got some good playmats and a couple of rocker chairs (fisher price and mickey mouse). We also got a docatot style thing which we never had the last time. Annoyingly the bassinet got mouldy so we got a next to me for this time but I'm not sure when the toddler can upgrade from open cot to single bed so we can move baby in.

I'd wait until baby has arrived and see what you feel you need as you go. These days, it only takes a day or two for things to be delivered and as long as you have the basics met, the 'extras' are not urgent.
We had a very basic bouncer (£30) that worked, hand me downs and gifts. I did have a stretchy wrap then a second hand ergobaby when they were older. I used these more for the second baby when walking oldest to nursery.

Annoying about the second hand edict as I agree the baby bjorns are crazy prices new!

Sling every time for me. I wore DC3 constantly. Also as PP said a baby swing- got mine 2nd hand and was a Godsend (he liked the side to side motion rather than front to back) and it also had white noise which he loved.

DNieces have both just had 2nd DC and are loving the baby beanbag type chairs- seem great. Good luck.

What brand was the baby swing? There just seems to be so many choices!

Sling wise - ergo embrace. It’s soft but buckles. Wore constantly the first year before regular ergo/ Tula

i would also have car seat that can clip onto pram frame. With first we only had 0-4 rotate thing that stays in car. Worked well. But with toddler, I now do a lot more short car runs ie to nursery so would want an option to move baby from car, into nursery 5 min drop off and back in car 10 min drive home without waking baby in and out constantly

we stopped using cot sides at 18 months

Yup, we've got a Nuna for the bugaboo. Took the cot side off at 21 months but actually moving her into a single bed feels like a bigger step. Maybe when bub is 6 months and has outgrown the bassinet.

@Whyisitsosohard - you could always use just single mattress on floor an extra few months if you need to to save buying additional cot bed?

There are other cheaper brands that are essentially the same design, I think one was about £60 new so still expensive but not as much as stokke

Mine was a few years back, and passed on. Think it was just Mothercare brand.

DNiece rates the Joie for her newborn, which a friend passed to her.