Buying stuff... what would you recommend?

[ImpatiencePersonified]

Cheesus, who knew buying stuff for such a small thing would be SUCH a minefield?

I'm wading through reviews for cots/cotbeds, pushchairs, car seats and many many more things and I'm lost. It's my first baby and I'm cross eyed trying to work out what really is a benefit compared to a crappy USP.

Does anyone have any recommendations for ANYTHING baby related that I might need?

Please help me...

Go awn...

Size 1 nappies
Newborn sleepsuits and vests
Cellular blankets
Bottles and steriliser if your bottle feeding
Crib or moses basket and sheets
Car seat
Pram or sling
Changing mat
A tommee tippee perfect prep machine ( this is not essential but something I recommend it makes a bottle ready in a matter of minutes )
Cotton wool /baby wipes
A million bibs

I'd recommend a crib over a Moses basket as baby grows out of Moses basket very quickly and it seems a waste. We have a swinging crib for our bedroom and we'll use pram with carrycot for downstairs for daytime naps. I'd say we'll get an extra 3/4 months out of a crib

With prams/travel systems, make a list of what's important to you and go shopping with that, if the shop is any good the staff should help. For me it had to be small and light (I live upstairs and have limited storage), decent basket as I do shopping on foot etc etc. They will often come with a recommended car seat or be packaged with one, so you can get a lot ticked off in one trip. I'd narrow it down that way then go home and look at reviews.

The thing is, whether other people's recommendations will suit you depends very much on your lifestyle/parenting style/how much you want to spend. In the early days you need:
Vests, sleepsuits and nappies to wear
Somewhere safe to sleep (Moses basket or similar)
Cotton wool for cleaning
Muslins for mopping sick and other bodily fluids
Boobs for feeding
Car seat if driving home from hospital.

That's it. Anything else you can get if you find you need it later on. Kiddicare and Amazon both do next day delivery! Don't be bamboozled by "baby essentials" lists, half of the things on them are not essential.

Also I'd say with the pushchair reviews, have a think about your lifestyle then go from there. Do you use public transport a lot and need something small light and foldable? Or do you have a massive car and house to store a massive pram? Will you be on pavements mostly, or off road, etc etc? All of that sort of stuff makes a big difference to what is "best".

Muslins, a bloody God send, many uses.

We got so much use out of a basic swing chair, allowed me to make meals with 2 hands.

Play gym/nest - need not be too fancy, but all the DCs used it.

Lots of the 'must-have' new baby things are a load of poop.

One other thing, a cuddle towel. Not essential but so handy for getting baby out of the bath and straight into your arms, all snuggled up. I don't mean a hooded towel, more of a towelling apron that you wear and then wrap them up in. We've got 4 DCs and I wish I had one for the first! You could probably make your own Good luck X

I'd disagree with the muslins and bibs - DS was not a sicky or dribbly baby - we never used the big pack of muslins, or bibs! Even when he was BLW he preferred to eat naked, so we just washed him afterwards - he absolutely hated having a bib on.
Ended up using the muslins to clean the house with, or wipe down slides if it had been raining.
So my advice re that would be to get a couple, and then stock up if you do need them. Do not bulk buy!

Essentials:
Car seat (if you have a car)
Nappies (I recommend cloth)
Wipes (cloth again)
Some vests/babygros.
A sling.
We co-sleep so didn't need a crib/cot/moses basket.

You really don't need much, and when you find you do need something, send someone out to get it for you.

I would highly recommend a baby bath. But a proper one, that has a standard and a plugged hole. It means you don't have to bend over the big bath, as it is working level. Emptying is also easy. You pull the plug and catch the water with a bucket you have placed underneath.
It saves both your back and a lot of water!

You don't need much!

We never used bibs until weaning, had a massive drawer full we were given by people but never used.

If you're planning on breastfeeding then a couple of decent bras, and plan to buy a couple more a few weeks in when your milk has settled a bit. Also breast pads.

Some vests, sleep suits, a couple of cardigans/jackets and a few packs of nappies for baby will get you started until you know what size they are.

A car seat.

A pram or sling.

A comfy chair for you to sit in while feeding.

Something eg Muslins to mop up spit.

Babywipes/cotton wool.

Oh yeah, and somewhere for baby to sleep! We used a crib at night and carrycot in the day for the first few months.

I hugely recommend a bed side crib, one of the only exception that you attach to your mattress.