What would be the one item you couldn't live without for your newborn?

[Rosyisgonnabeamummy]

I'm a mum to be, and I am hugely overwhelmed by all the stuff there is to buy on the market.
What's your best purchase? What made life easier?
Not just the obvious things like a car seat / pram, but for example breast feeding apron, or changing bag, or nipple cream????

[Poppins27]

Vests with the envelope necks...far easier to remove downwards off the body after a poonami!!

Infacol...colic was heartbreaking.

And my monitor and sensor pad kept me sane in the early days. I would have been constantly checking the Moses basket had it not been for the reassuring beeping in the background!!

[HermioneE]

Ibuprofen and paracetamol. For tackling the cracked nipples and painful stitches.

[georgyporgie]

weissdorn my thoughts exactly. Plus saves the inevitable bollocking from the HV for having 'toys' in the Moses basket with the boy..

[FadBook]

Angelcare monitor or similar brand with a sensor pad. The market has lots of video monitors but you can't watch baby monitor when you are asleep! The sensor monitor means you can sleep and know it will go off if the worst happens (morbid but honestly it's the type of thing you worry about once baby arrives, well I did!)

I never brought much, all you need is somewhere for baby to sleep (could be your bed), something for baby to eat (in my case, boobs but otherwise bottles and steriliser), handful of grows and nappies/wipes. Anything else is a luxury and you could technically live without if you had to.

Lansinol cream is good.

As is a decent box set to watch when your baby won't let you put her down, so relax and watch some tv instead!

[VilootShesCute]

Kari me. Without a doubt THE most used thing I have ever bought. Could actually go to the loo without holding baby in arms. That's priceless

[Rosyisgonnabeamummy]

Wow. This is all great! Thank you. You narrowed down the shopping / saving list.

[SingSongMummy]

Wanted to join in with the Kari Me lovers. Brilliant, but if you want a pre-tied sling, the Close Caboo is also wonderful. Good luck.

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

Muslin cloths. Get 2 dozen at least!

[abbyfromoz]

Nipple guards.... Could not have survived without them as apparently i have the wrong nips for feeding...
But if you are FFing, formula dispensers and a thermos!

[VinegarDrinker]

Sling (i have a Moby). Most Essential Item: No contest.

[Montypig]

Breast pads - the thin ones - Boots own are good

Wine

sling

more wine

iphone or similar for MNing and reading/ listening to stories one handed while feeding

wine

of course, the feeding rather buggers up the second, fourth and final options, but still....

Good luck!

[scratchandsniff]

I had a winter baby and for me one of my best buys was a foot muff/cosy toes for the carseat. DS hated going in his snowsuit so was good to zip him up in it and know he was warm enough on walks or in the car. I bought a fleece one from Clare De Lune.

[MakeItUpAsYouGoAlong]

Defo the grobags with a swaddle Velcro wrap!
A jumperoo when bigger.
Washing machine (newborn tv!!)
One of those cheap push nightlights
Record tv programmes now too

Did you want waste of money's too?
Mine would be my ilovemybear swing- made dd sick constantly!
Baby bath

Dd is 6 months now, I want my snuggly newborn back just for a day

[AThingInYourLife]

Another vote for Lansinoh (or any pure lanolin cream). You can get it in a good pharmacy.

Brazil nuts for the hunger pangs.

I hated washable breast pads. Hated them. They hurt my nipples. Disposable all the way.

[HappyAsASandboy]

Muslins
Lansinoh nipple cream
Metanium nappy cream (though Lansinoh works well there too )
Ready meals or a well-stocked-with-meal-for-one freezer
Box set. Cold Feet was good (recently! I'm a bit behind the times ...)
A tolerant partner who is happy to pick up all the washing/cooking/cleaning duties while you alternate feeding/sleeping/eating/nappy changing for a good two or three months

To be honest, I think the last of these items is the most important :)

Good luck with your birth and early days, OP :) They will probably be the most challenging and rewarding days of your life :)

[squiddle]

Muslins, Lanisoh, prune juice (great to help you go after the birth). I also found the Baby Bjorn bouncy seat amazing.

I would get a few breast pads but not lots - I didn't need them. I used Infacol but think it's main purpose is to make you feel like you are doing something rather than actually helping the baby.

[squiddle]

Oh and Sudacrem!!! Best nappy cream ever.

[PoppadomPreach]

Our cooker extractor fan. Wonderful white noise which would instantly settle DS1.

Swinging chair (turned mt life around at 6 weeks as finally, finally I was able to put DS1 down, whilst still awake, and he would sit happily. Previously I had had to wait until he had been sleeping in my arms for at least an hour before I could think about putting him down. However - it does not work for all babies, so see which type you have before buying!

[canran]

Definitely a gro-bag or similar. DD was such a little wriggler so it kept her warm and therefore kept her asleep. Also:

• Sling - I have a connecta. My one splash-out item. Worth it though.
  
• Easy to unclip nursing bra. You don't want to faff with the strap. Get something you can undo one-handed.
  
• Baby bath seat. Got mine from toy's r us for a tenner. It's a soft mesh over a frame. It fits in a baby bath too. It kept her head out of the water, made her feel secure and she started to really enjoy baths once we got it.
  
• Warm-upable breast pads. When your milk comes in you will want something either warm or cold on them.
  
• A camera!

[Pascha]

Thermal mug. Sanity saver.

[louisianablue2000]

You need so so little really: nappies (plus something to clean their bum, either wipes or cotton wool), vests, babygros, somewhere for them to sleep, a car seat, some way of transporting them (buggy or sling).

Anything else you can get later if you think you need it.

[Tallgiraffe]

Bouncy chair
Muslins - the giant ones if possible
Breast pads
Someone to cook for you

[Meringue33]

Bandanna bibs -dozens - saves changing their clothes six times a day

[MakesCakesWhenStressed]

Baby sling! Not a structured carrier, but a soft, stretchy piece of fabric sling. It was amazingly useful