Baby essentials? What do I need? First time mum.

[Jem9153]

Hi!

I’m 22 weeks and wasn’t going to start buying for a little while, but given the situation I’ve been slowly ordering bits and bobs online just so that we’re prepared in case things are still crazy in August.

What essentials do I need?

We’ve already been kindly gifted our pram, cot, and moses basket, and have just bought a car seat and baby monitor.

What other things do we need? Any bottles that you could recommend in particular? How many sleep suits would you suggest we buy?

Anything you can suggest would be a massive help!

Thank you 💕

--------
This thread is a little old now so some of the suggestions may be out of date, but if you’ve landed here looking for the ultimate baby essentials checklist, we’ve recently updated our newborn essentials article with the must-haves Mumsnetters think you can't live without when your baby arrives. We hope you find it useful.
MNHQ

I used a few bottles and MAM were our favourites

Have you looked a at a bedside crib, like a Next2me or similar? They’re excellent for reassurance and ease of night feeds

When you buy babygrows, it’s hard to guess what size your baby might be at the start, and how quick they’ll grow! I personally would buy a few across the newborn size range so you’re prepared for any size. But don’t waste money getting millions that might be the wrong size - it’s easy enough to stock up once you’re back home.

And people do love to seem to gift babygrows!

Couldn't recommend MAM bottles more.

If you are going to bottle feed, you'll need the accessories. Steriliser, bottle brush etc. If you're breast feeding and want to express, don't forget the pump!

Rain covers for the pram. Changing bag and Matt. Baby bath.

Babygrows. BABYGROWS. B A B Y G R O W S.
Cutesy outfits go right out the window after a picture or two. It's all about the babygrows 😂

I'm first time mum to so learning as well. But mummas and papas have a Tommie tippie bottle set with steriliser etc in a bundle in there sale at moment really reasonable.
X

A baby bouncer
Blankets
Hats
Cot bedding
Scratch mittens
Mirror for the carseat so you can see baby when driving
My friend has highly recommended a nappy caddy to me to keep organised

Nipple pads
Maternity pads

Nappies x100000000000000000000 (hehe)
Nappy rash cream
Bath stuff
A baby bath ?

xxx

There is a huge difference between what you need and what you’d like to have.

The baby needs something to sleep in. We used a Moses basket and then into a cot.

Something to wear - mine only really worn baby grows until they were about eight months. I didn’t bother with outfits - it’s down to your preference.

Feeding - a bottle fed from day one. It was straightforward and DH and other family members did a share so lack of sleep was shared (we had DT’s). Perfect Prep machines weren’t around then but they would have been at the top of my list.

Transport and car seat. Car seat is a must but pram is down to your lifestyle, size of car and house to keep it in and how much walking you do and public transport or car you use

I didn’t have a baby bag - just used a rucksack. We didn’t have a baby monitor and only used the baby bath for a couple of months before we took them into the shower with us instead.

Forgot - millions of nappies - once I worked out the brand we liked, I bought in bulk every time there was a sale on.

Don’t buy too many size one nappies if you have a big baby they won’t be in them for long and can even start on size 2.

Tommee Tippee also have 20% off on their website too! It's good for the bundle packs etc x

Congratulations! We had our first nearly four months ago and our essentials were;

• big pillow that goes around your body if breastfeeding
• MAM bottles
• Tommee tippee perfect prep if you're formula feeding (I stopped bf at eight weeks and this was a lifesaver)
• babygrow (we had loads of outfits but hardly used them as a lot of nappy changes, spit up, babygrows easier to change)
• baby bouncer (we wasted loads of money on a joile rocker and the baby preferred a second hand bouncer)
• nappies, a couple of different sizes (nutmeg Morrisons are good)
• angelcare baby bath (easier to get them in and out, your back will be thanking you)
• a good rucksack with compartments for nappies and milk
• a metric ton of sudacreme
• a few hats
• cellular blankets

That's all I can think of for now. Good luck!

Babygrows
Bouncy chair
Grosnug/groswaddle/sleeping bag - blankets are nice but if you don’t have the swaddling knack, a bag is much easier
Feeding pillow
Haakaa breast pump if bf - zero effort and so easy to use

I'm 22 weeks as well and this is what I've got so far (all from either friends/family recommendations or MN):

• A pushchair/carrycot
• A snuzpod crib
• Crib bedding
• Tonnes (and I mean tonnes) of 0-6 months clothes and babygrows donated from family/friends plus hats, scratch mittens, blankets, bibs etc
• Ardo Calypso breast pump
• reusable bamboo breast pads
• Nipple cream
• 2 MAM self sterilizing bottles
• A couple of button down nighties
• Nursing Bras
• A couple of books from Amazon for first time parents and breast feeding
• Lots of muslins
• Baby nail clipper/filer
• Changing bag

Still to get: car seat, nappies, nappy cream, wipes, cotton balls, baby moisturiser, changing mat, maternity pads, nursing tops, groswaddlebag(s), baby bath, BF cushion, baby monitor, haakaa,

There's probably more but that's just off the top of my head! I have never been so organised in my whole life.....this is what self isolating at home for weeks has done to me 😉

Cotton pads (not balls, the balls are useless)

Nappies

Baby grows/vests preferably with built in scratch mitts, the desperate ones are rubbish

Cellular blankets (if you’d like a grobag, buy 1 only until baby is here, my daughter hated them, I’d bought 9, most expensive mistake of my life)

Baby bath (I’d recommend a seat one rather than a freestanding one, much easier and takes up less space)

If you’re breastfeeding, I’d recommend a waterproof pad under your chest, bras are dreadfully uncomfortable to sleep in and milk leaks out like there’s no tomorrow!

Muslins (as many as you can get your hands on)

Lansinoh if you’re breastfeeding

Sudocreme (only need a little pot, you only use the tiniest bit as and when you need it)

Non bio washing powder/liquid and baby friendly fabric softener

A big bowl/bucket for soaking baby grows that are covered in poop straight away, don’t want to wait until you have a full wash because it will dry and stain.

A flask for your tea/coffee because trust me you will forget to drink it and at least a flask gives you a little hope of having it vaguely warm!!