Baby things you couldn't live without

[SophieStripe]

So I am going through my list and buying bits but there is SO much stuff out there I keep getting side tracked! I know in reality baby needs very little e.g clothes and somewhere safe to sleep etc but I know there are actually lots of good products out there that do make a difference and juts make life that little bit easier. So, what are the products you would recommend that you now couldn't live without?!

Re baby bouncers- thete ate plenty of plain/simple bouncers out there at a fraction of the cost of the baby bjorn!

We also found having a cheap second one for upstairs was great for when I was having a shower etc.

Thus is a nice one that's not to garish or has too much going on

www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/d9597.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwuafdBRDmARIsAPpBmVW9i4pC4Igi7KmrU66V92mYne7XzwfESWoRhu3CDFyD_BcJg20DOcwaAsi-EALw_wcB

• Tuppence and Crumble Star wrap. Same kind of idea as the Morck car seat blanket but can be used in the pram as well and has a little hood. I’m about to buy our third for DD in the largest size (10-18 months), they’re great.
• sleeping bags. Don’t know why anyone fannies about with blankets with a kicky newborn
• Netflix subscription
• lots of comfy leggings and pjs for you

Nappy bin. Loads of people will say they're a waste of money but it's much easier than faffing about with a nappy sack, especially when it's poo. We have an Angelcare and it doesn't ever smell and we go through 3 cartridges every 2 months or so.

Schnuggle baby bath, great for the first six months, cellular blankets, mam bottles (wasn't sure if I was going to breast feed or not so wanted to be prepared) mam dummies, gripe water incase of sore tummies, Muslins, dummy clips, baby grows with built in mits, Ewan the sheep(although my baby didn't bother about that til at least six months) jumparro, baby rocker, hats, snow suits

I wouldn't bother with MyHummy Ewan the sheep etc, we just downloaded a white notice soundtrack onto an old phone and play that, it's free and works well! White noise is essential either way I'd say. Also most useful things would be Muslins, car mirrors, blankets for car seats, bouncy chairs, jumperoo x

Perfect prep machine if bottle feeding
Feeding pillow
Nasal aspirator
Angel care bath support
Backpack changing bag - sooo much better than shoulder strap
Co sleeping crib - we have the Tutti Bambini
Nappy bin - although MN seems to hate them
Bepanthan nappy cream

Wouldn't bother paying out for a sleepy head or Ewan dream sheep right now - see what your Baby is like. You can find them second hand on selling sites for a fraction of the cost if you do think you need it. I also wouldn't buy lots of swaddles until you know they like it - my LO hated being swaddled & I ended up with loads!

Like everyone else - lots of muslins, infacol, nappy bin, some sort of bouncer (I bought 2nd hand). My son was a bottle refuser so am pleased I hadn't shelled out for a perfect prep so again I'd wait & see.

For you - big pants (size up from Primark!), lots & lots of pads, pain killers, constipation medicine because the first poo is like giving birth again , old towel to take to hospital

Shnuggle baths are brilliant - so easy to bath a newborn!

Feeding pillow is amazing if your breastfeeding.

I was glad I had a swaddle bag that i’d picked up cheap in TKMaxx. When I was on night 3 of the baby only sleeping on top of me and nowhere else, I remembered I had it and it was the first time i’d been able to put him down, it was a bloody miracle!!

Sometimes better to get the basics and then buy amazon prime and as and when you decide you and your baby may benefit from something - you buy.

I would have been lost without swaddle blankets. My two loved

So many great ideas! Going to go through everything and make my final list. Plus add some ideas of things to have on the wait and see list/order in an emergency!

rocking stand for the moses basket! Did not have one for my first because I thought they were pointless.... but someone gave me one this time around and actually its been great. I can have the moses basket by bed and just rock it a bit if she starts to fuss in the night and often she will settle back to sleep quite fast (unless she is hungry).

A disco light bulb! Not expensive and just put on a normal lamp. Mine loved watching the colours on the ceiling. Kept her entertained for hours!

Perfect prep
Sling
Tinylove 3 in 1 rocker napper

Watching with interest!

BLACK huge pants for afterwards

Lavender oil (mix a few drops and out in the bath afterwards/if you suffer from piles)

Perfect Prep

Mam Bottles - you don't need a separate steriliser so great if your away on hols/ staying over at someone's house

Hand warmer for the pram handle. Means your not constantly taking gloves on and off in the winter and your hands stay warm

Vtech baby walker ( the one with a phone). The activity board detaches is probably been our most played with toy and people are usually selling them cheap on Facebook

Before investing in a sling I can't recommend going along to the sling library first if you have one nearby

Sleeping bags

I've been looking at the cheeky wipes and they seem great. Can someone explain exactly how the system works? What to do you when out and about, take normal wipes? I am ashamed to admit I am a pretty lazy/easy life person. I would like to use cheeky wipes as the idea of them appeals to me - better for the environment and must be more economical in the long run. But are they a faff?! Could I use cheeky at home and disposable when out and about?

Cheeky wipes, at home I have damp wipes in the clean box, use then chuck in nappy bucket with dirty nappies. Wash repeat. I don't use the dirty box because it's easy to chuck in with nappies. Taking them out I chuck a few into the drawstring bag before we go, but yes you could also take disposable ones.

I also use coloured ones as face/hand ones which I do chuck into a dirty box until I stick in with clothes wash (I do rinse of if they're very mucky)

Ps thenappylady premium wipes are nicer wipes but the cheeky wipe boxes are great.

Following ❤️

A sling! Something easy to get on and off like a close caboo. It's a life saver when the baby doesn't want to be put down or you need both hands free.

One of the things I think was best was not something you would buy, but set up a basket of changing stuff and a changing mat for downstairs and one for upstairs. My DS is now 2 and I still have a mat and changing stuff downstairs (though its now more tided away than when he was a newborn!) as when there is a poo emergency (which happened A LOT in the early days) I cannot be bothered to trapeze upstairs to get all the kit! There is another "set" in his bedroom! It makes life a billion times easier!
Other bits, I brought a perfect prep and then breastfed, so not needed! I never brought a sleepyhead though lots of people rave about them. I did have a toddlepod for daytime naps (so he couldn't roll off the sofa!). Ewan the dream sheep has only really become useful in the last 6-12 months or so, he did not care about it as a small baby. My DS absolutely loved the jumperoo, but second hand ones come up all the time in great condition so don't think you have to buy new. I borrowed a beside me crib, that was the best thing ever, I literally never got up in the night, I just positioned myself slightly more upright to feed! As almost everyone said get loads of muslins! I still use them now when DS isn't well to put loads of obus oil on and strategically position around his cot!

Can I ask what is the point of a sleepyhead? We have a moses basket already so how would this be useful?

Sorry OP I am first time pregnant and looking for suggestions too! Atm we have the below which everyone said are fab to have:

Perfect Prep
Ewan Sheep thing (lol)
Dummy clip which doubles as a teething toy

If you drive, a base for the car seat is the best thing ever!

Sleepy head is meant to be good if they don't sleep without it. As it's expensive and dubious safety wise I'd wait and order one if you get desperate.

We've got a car base this time, didn't last time and tbh I don't think it's that good? It takes about a second to strap in with a belt and I always wake the baby up with the loud/sudden click into the base. Plus the seat weighs a ton (cybex) even with a newborn in it.

It would be useful if you have an awkward seat arrangement probably.