First baby essentials

[EnjoyItAll]

I'm over 19 weeks pregnant with my first baby and trying to figure out what we need but each website or book seems to say different. so far we have sorted what cot, pram, car seat and baby monitor we will be getting. we have been offered a more a basket so will be getting a new mattress when we know size. I hope to breastfeed as well so what do we need?

Moses basket not more

Bottles
Bottle brush
Formula (just incase)
Breast pump & pads
Some form of steriliser
Nipple cream
Muslins or bibs (which ever you prefer)
Dummy's (If wanted)

Baby bath& towels

Pram
Carseat
Blanket
Changing bag

Bed
Bedding
Cellular blankets or grobag

Clothes-
Vests
Babygrows
Socks & mittens
Hat, coat, snowsuit (depending on month)

Nappies
Wipes
Changing matt
Bum cream

Chair/Swing to put baby in

That is my 'essentials' list for baby #2 not getting a cot or monitor till we need it this time round as it just collects dust :)

Tuppence and crumble star wrap has easily been my best buy. Worst buy - thankfully by other people - pram suits. Absolute waste and dd hates them.

This pump has great reviews and not to expensive

Large muslins are great for multi-purpose.. feeding in public, extra layer blanket etc. Plus some nice soft blankets.

I think the M&S multipack vests and sleepsuits are great, really soft and good value. - don't bother with any other outfits initially, just keep it simple.

Our DS loves his mobile over his big cot - he doesn't sleep in here yet as he is still in the bedside cot (which is excellent).

A cloth sling is nice when they are little, loads of reviews on the internet.

Mixed opinions out there on sleepyheads but we like ours for naps-

I didnt bother getting a monitor at the start as baby should take all naps with you until 6 month.
I didnt have formula in the house either as i would prob have given up breastfeefing in those early days if i did! I did on the otherhand have to send DP on a mercy run to asda for a pump though just to take the edge off when my milk came in...i was in agony and hadnt bought one yet as my friends told me i didn't need one until bf was established (in fairness he just got a cheap hand one and i got a fancy electric one later).
Ewan the sheep was rubbish as he was too quiet for my DC as a newborn...i used white noise on youtube on my phone instead...although i do use ewan now.
My ultimate essentials are lanisoh nipple cream and a stretchy sling!!

From memory...

Don't buy too much bedding. DC was in the Moses basket with just a light fleece blanket even in March. When they went into the cot it was in gro-bags. We gave away a lot of unused cellular blankets and sheets several years later.

Ditto clothes. Babygros are fine for many months and you don't really need a lot of outfits. We had a lot of clothes as presents which, whilst lovely, were never worn. Buy bigger than you think, DC never wore the newborn sizes.

Buy muslins. Lots of them. Great for protecting the sheets in the Moses blanket from dribble and sick, mopping up stuff, covering up if BFing, impromptu nappy changes and then for using as dusters!

Things like washing powder, stain remover etc. are worth stockpiling! Milton fluid is worth having in the cupboard.

Remember that Amazon can deliver most things the next day so there is very little that you actually need to start with. If you don't BF or it doesn't work someone can go out very quickly and buy formula, bottles, steriliser etc.

With hindsight I would have bought much less and kept the labels on things so that I could return them if needed.

Also l I loved the Gro company Gro snugs for dd to sleep in. We were inundated with blankets as gifts so I needn't have bought any blankets and only use them in pram and moses basket anyway.

If your breastfeeding you won't need bottles straight away, you'd need lansinoh nipple cream, a feeding pillow, muslin cloths.

Gro-snugs and love to swaddle bags are great for newborns, mine used them for. Over 3 months before he was big enough for a 0-6 gro-bag.

I have the Bellababy breast pump (£36 on amazon) and it's fantastic - I don't think you need to spend a fortune on a pump. I didn't buy it until I needed to use it, as ideally you should just feed and not pump for the first 6 weeks - if you pump as well you can end up with an over supply.

I got a box of formula and a couple of bottles in 'just in case' but didn't use them - it's personal preference if you want them in the house.

A sling is fantastic - I used it very early to help soothe DS and use it for dog walks. You can get a soft wrap for around the house and I have a baby Bjorn air for when we are out and about. DS fitted in from about 4 weeks and we can use it until he's 3ish I think. It just converts and is used in different ways.

Muslims are essential. - reflux babies go through a lot of them!

Don't overbuy nappies/sleepsuits as some babies go straight into 0-3 or you could have one Lego is in tiny baby grows for weeks. You might also find your baby reacts to a certain brand of nappies.

Congratulations

I agree with**@Rarfy** - the Tuppence and Crumble Star Wrap is just so handy for the pram and the car seat, fiddling with buttons and zips and arms and legs for coats and pram suits was the bane of my life!

And yes to the GroBags too - we got given 15 (!) different blankets and use only one regularly, our baby is a wriggler at night and constantly kicked blankets completely off.

I would also recommend the Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep machine for making up formula. One midwife suggested we wait until 6 weeks to use it (I think there was some question whether the water is uses is really hot enough to kill any formula powder bugs and by 6 weeks baby’s immune system would be stronger) and we did wait, although if I had to do it again I would use the Perfect Prep from birth, as I found the constant boiling and cooling and reheating of water to make bottles the “traditional” way a total pain. I know others might disagree, but it was a life saver for us, especially through the night.

Asda long and short sleeved vests are cheap and wash very well.

I got a V-shaped pillow which makes sitting up in bed to (bottle) feed more comfortable. We had bought a glider nursing chair but when breast feeding didn’t work out we found we never used it and sold it on.

The Shnuggle bath is really good.

We also really like our Pacapod changing bag - we managed to get one brand new on eBay for £35. The separate pods for changing and feeding make it really easy to get what you need quickly.

Congratulations on your pregnancy OP and all the best

Agree with perfect prep if you are going to formula feed. We keep ours upstairs on a tray with formula dispensed into tubs ready to stick straight in bottle. Takes 2 minutes roughly to have a bottle ready. We used ours from birth with no problems.

I would recommend having some infacol in too. If baby gets colic you will be soooo glad to have it there. It's cheapest in places like b&m and savers.

Oh gosh sorry my dd is only 15wks so I could go on all day. If you plan on using disposable wipes I've tried pretty much them all. Used cotton wool and water until 4 weeks (PFB) then water wipes for another few weeks then have used Johnson, pampers, Aldi and I have to say I find huggies by far the best. They actually come out of the packet 1 by 1. That might not sound that exciting but believe me it is lol! And metanium nappy cream for a sore bum. Dd had antibiotics and hers was terribly sore when newborn. Tried sudacrem and bepathem and aveeno, metanium in the yellow tube was the only thing that touched it.

And one last thing - baby bloody suncream stains. I did not know that until I slathered my little redhead in it at the weekend and wrecked a load of clothes.

Essentials:

Somewhere to sleep - basket/crib/cot/cotbed + mattress and 3 sheets
Something to travel in - car seat, lie flat pushchair/sling
Something to wear - 10 vests, 10 babygrows, 2 cardigans, hat
Something to eat - boobs/6 bottles, formula, sterling equipment

Nappies, wipes/flannels

Everything else is an add on :)

I'd honestly wait to buy a pump, just see how it goes for a couple of days. I bought one and then didnt use it and then couldnt sell it, just annoying having it around the house.
Moses basket....? I wouldnt bother, i rarely hear of a baby liking it and they outgrow them soooo quickly. If u get given one then fair do's, but wouldn't buy one otherwise?
Also when u get given presents etc. dont take off all the tags etc until you use them, you could get duplicates or need to change them and by the time it comes round to using whatever it is it may have collected 6 months of dust by which time you've changed your mind and want to use something different. Dont be afraid to take stuff back! X

Things I have found essential:

Sleeping bag for baby to sleep in. (Safer than blankets as less risk of it moving over their face)

Lots of vests and babygrows. Like other posters have said don't bother with normal clothes and cute outfits as when they are tiny you just want them to be comfortable. Jeans/ zips/ waistbands etc are just not comfortable for them to sleep in.

Large muslin cloths. (Better than bibs as you can tuck it right round them to keep them and you clean during feeding!

Liquid formula for nightfeeds so no need to go downstairs and make up bottles. (And as a back up in case breastfeeding doesn't go to plan)

Poddle pod for popping baby in when you need to put them down quickly ie to answer door or go to the loo etc.

Things we didn't need/use

• we bought loads of tommee tippee bottles only to find that the baby didn't take to them so we ended up having to go out and buy different ones.

• we stocked up on far too many nappies in advance and didn't realise how quickly they would move up to the next size. We've ended up giving away loads as baby grew to next size up quickly.

• bought loads of blankets but found the sleeping bags better so blankets have gone unused.

• sling wrap. Never used it.

• tommee tippee dummies. Bought quite a few in prep but like the bottles baby didn't like them so money wasted.

On the mother care app , there are essential lists for all baby stuff I found this to be really helpful to know what I need !

Congratulations on the baby 💗🙈

I had my boy back in March and as a first time mum have found the following has been useful for us / baby so far - hope it helps some what.

• Cot - Baby has been in there since birth - we used a wrap around pod type thing I got from Mothercare to swaddle him into it - I do think this helped him sleep and feel more ‘secure’ in the cot. He loves it still at 7 weeks!

• Sleepyhead - Instead of a Moses basket so we can take it around the house with us when needed

Tommee Tipee anti colic feeding set - great bit of kit - also found the closer to nature one good as I’m mix feeding at the moment so the teats are better on the closer to nature should you end up mix feeding at any point

Breastfeeding Pillow / Pillows - When baby is newborn this will help to prop baby to breast

Nipple cream for BF - Lansinoh has worked wonders for those first weeks BF

Breast pump - in the case of engorgement during the first 6 weeks this will come to use and later expressing if you wish to do that

Cot Mobile - It has the lights on it reflecting on to the wall which is great for night time feeding so it’s still dark but just enough light to see what you’re doing plus baby loves it now he’s a few weeks older!

Shnuggle Baby Bath - Great bath tub for baby - lots of support and grip for baby & great size! Baby loves being in there 🙈

Nursing Bra’s

Muslin cloths

Nappies - get just two packs or so to get you started as sizes vary and may grow out of one size pretty quick & they go through so many! Or reusable nappies

Baby grows / under garments for baby

Baby hats

Blankets

Mittens or babygrows with mitts on them already to avoid baby from scratching and scarring self

Sling for baby - great for walks and generally around the house as newborns love to still be close to you - you get much more done with a sling. It also helps having baby on you to help breast milk supply come in as it helps release certain hormones apprenrly when baby is with you. I have found it so useful so far.

Travel system - lay baby flat / up and car seat

The Positive Birthing Company digital pack - great online course for pregnancy and labour - delivery. Invaluable & lots of info in it for breathing techniques etc. Highly recommend it!

Good luck with the pregnancy and wishing you all the best

Be careful with tommee tippee bottles. We had them. First day community midwife came to house she asked which bottles we planned to used and advised us to go out and buy some others straight away.

Something to do with the teats and colic. We replaced ours with the mam anti colic bottles. Baby still got colic but I prefer them anyway. Like the twat shape and the fact you don't need a steriliser and can do them one at a time if needs be.

I’ve had two and never bought bottles, pump, steriliser or any of that. If breastfeeding doesn’t work out, you can get them later - don’t waste your money now on things you might not need.

I also didn’t have a cot mobile or baby bath.

Things I bought and didn’t use included baby swings (both my children hated them), and a breastfeeding pillow.

Things I used a lot: sling, Angelcare bath support, pram, car seat, video monitor (when they get a bit older), Lansinoh nipple cream, Metanium for when they get sore bottoms!

Thank you for all the tips on what you found good and what was not so good. It's good to hear people's honest thoughts rather than relying on companies who seem keen to sell every extra possible! I will be constructing my shopping list!

LOL @Rarfy and her twat shaped bottles 😳😂😂