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.

Reusable nappies and wipes. Especially the wipes. I only ever used disposable wipes when out and about. At home it was one resuable dipped in water to clean with and a fresh one to dry with, then both in the nappy bucket. No fuss, no chemicals. I bought a job lot of small towelling ones off ebay I think. Cheap flannels work just as well. I still use them now and DS is 9! They're great dusters, floor rags etc.

Poddle pod for naps. Transportable, washable, affordable. I think Moses baskets are a ridiculous amount of money for how little a time they are safe to use.

Bumbo seat. So handy and again you can clean it and take it with you.

I was lucky to be gifted these for dc3 and don't know how I managed with the first 2dc without them!

I am joining this thread to read all the tips later - thanks ladies!

snot sucker

What I would recommend and buy again if DH goes for dc3

Stretchy wrap for the first 6/8 months or so.

Buckle carriers for back carries etc - we still use ours. DC are 4.5 and almost 3.

We had an ergo but it was never my favourite. Definitely recommend a sling library!

Washable wipes. We tried out a couple. Cheeky wipes get my vote. Their normal cotton towelling ones have done a good job for about 3 years now. And a decent wet bag for them when out and about. With a clean and dirty pocket.

We had an Ikea high chair at the PIL. At home we use Stokke Tripp Trapp. Love them both.

And giant Muslins are so handy and pack up tiny.

Didymos slings. I had three in different lengths. DD was incredibly clingy but wrapping her up in a sling meant I could go about my business with both hands available while still snuggling her close to my body. And they were an absolute Godsend when she went into a plaster cast for her hip dysplasia and no longer fitted into her pushchair.

Baby sleeping bags. Made for easy night feeds keeping the baby warm with the added security of knowing she couldn't get herself under the covers and suffocate.

Another vote for baby sleeping bags. So easy to use and wash and very safe to sleep in.

I have a little pop up tent which folds down really small which I use as a travel cot and for naps at friends houses
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00BIE5BGU/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1498153699&sr=8-1&keywords=baby+pop+up+tent+cot&dpPl=1&dpID=41JToqTg3CL&ref=plSrch&tag=mumsnetforum-21

I have a nuby steriliser and dryer which I love - no more wet bottles after sterilising them.

I have mam bottles which I use the self sterilise thing if we stay at PIL House. All my NCT friends use mam too.

I have what I call baby stations around the house which are basically places I can safely leave the baby. I have baby seats in the ensuite for when I have a shower and the bathroom for using the toilet or running the bath and a play nest and a jumperoo in the kitchen for when I'm cooking.

Ergo baby 360 sling (or similar)
Gro Blackout blind (we've got 2!!)
Some sort of baby comforter for around 6 months onwards (our 12m old baby's rabbit thing from JoJo sends him into some sort of weird trance like state and he will now sleep anywhere with it

And yes, we've got 3 of them in case we lose it!

Another who says buy less before baby comes and keep recommended items in mind for after. We bought absolute minimum but invested in Amazon Prime so we could get things the next day if we decided we did want something and didn't want to wait long.

My recommendation for before baby is here would be:
Next to me/Snuzpod (especially if breastfeeding)
Lots of muslins (including large ones that can be used as a swaddle)
Cellular blanket
Angelcare bath seat
Stretchy wrap/close caboo
Electric breast pump if planning to breastfeed
Lansinoh if planning to breastfeed
Mam bottles (don't get many if planning to breastfeed though, can always add to them if/when you give formula)
White noise app on phone
Nail scissors
Thermometer
If formula feeding, just get one of the starter kits to take to hospital then see if baby takes to the brand you have chosen

In terms of sleepsuits, I would invest in John Lewis/Next/M&S quality for 3-6 month size upwards. They are barely in the smaller sizes and the cheaper supermarket ones were more than adequate for when smaller.

Items I would have on my list to buy soon after baby comes as and when you need them:
Sleepyhead/Purflo nest (if baby sleeps well without, then don't waste your money)
Breastfeeding pillow (absolute godsend if you do end up breastfeeding - at 7 months old, I still use this daily and take it everywhere with me)
White noise machine (Ewan is useless - not loud enough, can't be washed and only lasts 20 minutes. If baby takes to white noise and you want to use then when they are older and you are building sleep associations, you will want continuous white noise, get a proper machine from the beginning - costs less than Ewan and doesn't use batteries)
Sleeping bags - my baby kicked off all blankets at night then would cry

Other bits like bumbos, highchairs, jumperoos can all be bought later as baby grows up. I completely agree with pps suggestions of muslins for comforters - we have done that and life is so much easier than making sure we have multiple of the same toy!

Interesting reading! Agree with PPs about not buying too much til baby is here - Ewan dreamsheep doesn't do much here, found just playing a white noise track on continual loop off phone worked better. Also she hates grosnugs!

Currently have an 8 week old DC1 and things I couldn't live without:

Stretchy wrap (we have Hana wrap) she hates the pram so this is a lifesaver

Medea breast pump

Really big muslins - we got from Mothercare, can be used to swaddle in hot weather and as a sheet on sleepyhead

Muslin squares - double what you think you'll need. Found the Aldi ones great so far

Bouncy chair

We didn't buy any hooded baby towels but were given 4 as a gift.
Actually agree with a pp that they are good for keeping baby's head warm when you get her out the bath = less screaming!

Ooh also My Brest Friend BFing pillow, found much better than any of the other ones it's the only thing that's stopped my shoulder pain when feeding!

Muslins. Tiny ones, middling ones, giant ones.

For catching sick, for putting on a changing table when out, use as a blanket, wiping the endless snotty noses, all the way up to I recently pulled out some giant ones, wet them in water and wore them as a toga during the last heat wave (pregnant and whale like and they are so cool and comfortable) the uses are endless. Then when the baby stage is done they are excellent cleaning cloths.

Most recommendations really depend on the baby and there's no guarantee they will be right. But it's always handy to have a shit ton of muslins.

I meant to say on the clothes front I have actually found primark vests and sleepsuits excellent. They are really stretchy so last longer and are cheap as chips. My DS was still in 0-3 month ones at 7 months. They have washed ok too, not lost their shape.

A video baby monitor. When I first heard of such a thing, I thought it was a bit wanky, but actually it is brilliant. When you hear baby make a noise, you can have a quick glance to know what's going on, without feeling you have to go in and check and disturb baby. My daughter was/is a really light sleeper so it really helps. Also means we can sit in the garden where we wouldn't hear her but can know how she is all the time. Ours is motorola and cost about £80, which we got from gift vouchers.

And ps also meant to big up cheeky wipes. Sooooo much more effective at cleaning poo than disposables.

Sorry if this is repeated. In ear thermometer. Got the braun one and a shed load of plastic tips from Amazon. When they're ill it's really good to know exactly how warm they are. Worth every penny.

Pack away pocket high chair (from Jo Jo maman)

Hammock (for baby to sleep in)
iPod touch
4x4

Stokke Tripp Trapp and the newborn attachment.

I had a stokke xplory pram. 😍

Ergo!
Phillips Breast pump - miracle product!

Breast flow bottles

I hated everything else.

Oh wait - Ecover laundry bleach!

All my essentials have already been said but also get lots of good quality hand cream and some washing up gloves. Between all the bottle washing and hand washing after nappy changes/before feeding your hands get really sore and dry.

The perfect prep machine saved our lives- it made the night feeds so much easier.
A bouncy chair we had the vibrating mamas and papas one.
A little container which has separate compartments so you can premeasure out the right amount of formula. Again life saver for night feeds.
Grow bag. She's nearly 3 and still loves sleeping in one!
Dr Browns bottles brilliant.
Swaddling sheet/blanket - she loved to be all cuddled up.
Millions of muslins
Loads of kitchen roll.

Second primark (or Asda) sleepsuits, vests etc. Mine grew out of his at a rapid rate - I'd say buy as cheap as possible.

And I agree wait for baby to come. I hated my tuppence and crumble star, it just never seems to fit right.

A shnuggle bath. They can sit up in them themselves as its all supported and you don't need to hold them up leaving hands free to play/clean baby