What were your BEST baby buys?

[PayingMyWayYouSay]

Not really sure where to post this as I'm guessing those on the pregnancy board are still pregnant with DC1 in a lot of cases

What were your best buys? So far, from recent recommendations, I am buying...

• Next/JoJo Sleepsuits

• A Next 2 Me thingy

• Sleepyhead

• SMA Formula

• Swaddling blankets

I like the tip of not bothering with baby towels and just using a fuss free, normal towel.

Snot sucker!

I didnt/don't like muslins, but use terry towelling cloths and winciette cloths (muslin square sized) every day.

And instead of Ewan (which plays for 20 mins) I just use YouTube and type in baby white noise to play, we still use white noise to get him to sleep.

But what's definitely worth repeating is buy as little as possible until baby is here

Its a while ago but yes to the Tuppence and Crumble starsnug - you can whip it off very easily while baby snoozes in car seat.
Also car seat rain cover - I scoffed when I first saw this, then I realised how often they stay the car seat for quick trips to shops, Drs, clinic etc....

Aiden & Anais muslins. I always avoided them as they're pretty expensive, but they're worth every penny. Thick and much more absorbent than cheaper ones.

Mam anti colic self sterilising bottles

Movement sensor monitor

Piles of muslins to use for comfort rather than risk losing a toy you only have one of

Some sort of bath seat - but when baby is older and sitting steady, a plastic washing basket with holes in for the bath. Best tip I've ever been given!

Blackout blinds/curtains

Baby bjorn chair by a country mile!

Agree with larger muslin cloths and sleeping bags as well. Spendy but the merino sleeping bags were great for reassuring me on temp control.

Also - for dd2's non sleeping issue, Ewan the sheep. I know he's a bit of a divider but we found him a godsend.

Also a divider - dummies!

The BabyBay side sleeper. I'd never heard of it and after three weeks of not being able to get DD to sleep for more than an hour anywhere than on one of us I was so desperately sleep deprived I bought it next day delivery.

From the first night she was in it she slept brilliantly and DS was in it from the beginning.

Dr Browns bottles I agree with too.

Shuggle baby bath for baby no 5. Love it!

I breastfeed mine but if you want to formula fed please look at first steps nutrition advice on formula feeding preparation including perfect prep machines.

I recommend buying less.

JoJo sleepsuits I actually found to wash terribly - seemed to shrink and go baggy at the same time, if that's even possible. The sizing is also tiny, or at least it is for a long thin baby. Next, John Lewis, Mothercare and M&S all much better.

Agree Jo Jo sleepsuits are overated.

Muslins. Can't have too many - just the supermarket 3 for £3 are perfect!

This may seem odd but in early months with night time feeds, we found having a mini-fridge upstairs for keeping babys milk in (ready to use formula or breast milk) really good - meant at night when baby woke us up for feed we could quickly get her milk before the screaming got too bad, this meant she settled faster and we got more sleep during night time. Fridges make a bit of noise that is noticeable at night when drifting off, so we put it in the room DD was going to have when she became 6 months, and since that room had a comfy chair in there already we made it our little night time feeding room. Whoever was most awake and up for feeding baby, took her into that room and fed her in there and waited until she fell asleep again. The other parent went straight back to sleep once they knew dd was being taken to the next room.

Oh and don't bother with powdered formula unless you really can't afford ready to use (unless those machines make it as convenient as ready to use).

Stretchy wrap sling. Look up your local sling library and plan a visit there when your little one is a few months old, there are so many available and different slings suit different people. Stretchy is best for newborn.
SMA formula gave my baby terrible constipation and he ended up on medication for it. Switching to apatmil sorted it out.

I agree with the prev. posters who have said buy the bare minimum before baby arrives and then work out what you want/need as you go. I'm in Australia do my product list is a little different in parts but I've added links:

Bonds Zippy Wondersuits
These are the best onesie thingy suit. Double zip (zip down from neck & up from feet for easy nappy changes) is so much better than any suit with buttons or poppers. They have normal feet and hand holes that can also be folded over to make booties/mittens. They are soft cotton and wear really well, they never lose shape and resell amazingly. No Aussie baby is without a stash of these.

Ergo 360 Baby Carrier
Lots of others have mentioned these. Wait until baby is born and try out some different slings/carriers to see what works for you. Priceless during international travel and walking around cities, as well as mowing the lawn/cooking dinner/doing anything at home with 2 hands.

Bubnest Bed
There are other similar beds to this available in the UK - made it easy for our baby to sleep anywhere. In her cot, cosleeping, in hotels, on the floor of a tent etc. This is definitely a luxury item.

A sling - moby wrap for the first 6 months was a lifesaver

Massive muslins - used them for everything

I think they were my best buys

And lanisoh, makes awesome lipsalve when your nipples no longer need it.

Agree with the bonds wondersuits, they are awesome. Also, baby bundlers (like nighties with an elasticated bottom ) you can get them from Marks and Spencer, they are soooo much easier than babygrows in the middle of the night for nappy changes.

For slings, we had a cheap stretchy wrap for when he was a newborn and then bought a connecta when he was about 12 weeks, hands down my favourite piece of baby kit. Still used daily, take it everywhere. Have since bought a mei tai aswell which my Dh uses as he's too wide in the shoulders to fit in the connecta. I love slings.

Dr Brown bottles (it's goods as a preventative measure for colic)

Dummy clips!

Avent dummies with case

Cocoonababy - brilliant for sleeping in. Allows baby to feel safe and snug

Ahhh yes Lansinoh. I started using it when I was 36 weeks pregnant (I saw someone suggest it on Youtube ) anyway I don't know if it was a contributing factor or if it was just chance but I never had cracked or sore nipples in my early BF days. If you intend to BF, use Lansinoh at least a couple of times a day as a preventative, don't wait for something to be wrong to use it.

Also the Haakaa breastpump. Wouldn't suggest it for exclusive pumping (go the reliable Medela Swing for that) but after 5 months of EBF I have a good supply and the Haakaa is collecting a nice freezer stash for me, at it cost around $20AU.

Agree with zippy wondersuits, you can buy them in John Lewis in the UK at double the price you can buy them in oz.

Aden & Anais - the big muslins and also the little security blanket muslins

Ergobaby 360

Pregnancy pillow that then became a soft landing for when DS was learning to sit up and also padded out the cot when he transitioned into it (you're not meant to do that but he could already roll and sit up by the time I put him in there so figured it would be fine - I put it round the bottom half of the cot)

Ewan

A good quality electric pump if you're breastfeeding

Silicone ice cube trays for freezing EBM and purees when weaning

My DS hated the sleepyhead and would never sleep in it so I consider that a massive waste of £120.

Sun hats & winter hats that tie under the chin.
After the swaddles ours slept in GroBags until they were 3, bloody brilliant they were. Had most sizes and thicknesses (DS is v big & tall).

P.S: Also loved our open-side cot (perhaps called co-sleeping cot these days) that you pull up and attach to your own bed. Saved sooo much faffing at night and felt lovely and safe.

The little ramps you put in the bathvto bathe baby on. Hands free and no need for a baby bath.Brilliant!