Must have list for first time mum

[newmumtobe66]

Hello, I am putting together a list for shopping for my baby. I am a first time Mum so need to buy everything (although happy to buy some bits second hand). Can people tell me what essentials I need? I have made a rough list but want to ensure I have everything and avoid any extra bits which will never get used? Thank you to anyone who takes the time to contribute to this post. 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This thread is a little old now so some of the suggestions may be out of date, but if you’ve landed here looking for the ultimate baby essentials checklist, we’ve recently updated our newborn essentials article with the must-haves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

Following! In exactly the same position...

Absolutely jumping on this 😬 FTM too, thinking I'm organized but then someone mentions something that I've never thought of

No help but would also like to follow as I have no clue where to start!

Every person's essentials will be different and you may find you buy things you don't like/end up using and other things you can't be without. I think I was fairly minimal with DC1 so here are my suggestions:

Next-to-me cot/moses basket for first 6 months when they're in your room
Sheets and waterproof mattress protector for the next-to-me
Swaddling blankets if you want to swaddle (I gave up with these after 4 weeks because DC kicked her way out of them!)
Sleeping bags (life saver at night for helping DC feel secure)
Clothes - sleepsuits, vests, leggings, body suits (I'd go for comfy things for the first few months and perhaps have a couple of nicer outfits for photos or occasions. You won't want to be wrestling them into tights/fussy clothes on a daily basis)
Mittens/hats/socks
Cellular blanket
Muslins/bibs (all the muslins because they're really handy for everything)
Tommee Tippee perfect prep machine/bottles/formula (IF you are going to formula feed. I did and the perfect prep was a game changer. People will disagree but it worked for us)
Steriliser for bottles if using
If breastfeeding, a pump, milk storage bags, nipple shields, nipple cream, etc
Sudocrem/baby bath/shampoo/moisturiser/etc
Thermometer (we have one that can go in the bath and in their room but also one for baby to check their temperature)
You can get a kit from Tommee Tippee which includes all the essentials like a brush, toothbrush, comb, nail clippers which is really handy
Nosefrieda(?) nasal suction thing, which is a bit gross but makes clearing snot a lot less distressing
Nappy bin and refills for the bin (not essential but useful)
Baby bath/bath support
Pram and car seat
Sling/wrap (not essential but nice to have)
Nappy bag
Nappies/wipes/nappy bags
Dummy (if you want to use one)
Have some things in your medicine cabinet in advance that are suitable for newborns, like gas drops, colic relief drops and nasal spray/drops - so much easier if you've got things in just in case instead of having to run out and find them last minute

Toys aren't essential for a newborn but you might like to look at high contrast books/cards which are good for newborns to look at/teddies/Lamaze toys that jingle or have different textures
Bouncer/rocker chair (even if just for somewhere to put baby down safely for a few minutes)
Floor mat for tummy time (or a blanket is fine)
Towels/flannels/wash cloths
Toiletries like cotton wool/ear buds just in case you need them

You may want to get nursery furniture, so cot (for when they're bigger), changing table, glider/rocking chair and wardrobe/drawers for storage.
Changing mat
White noise machine (or there are playlists on Youtube you could put on your phone)
Week by week cards if you want to take weekly photos (not essential but nice)

I'm sure there's things I've forgotten but this might be a good starting point.

There was a great thread on here a couple of months ago with loads of really helpful suggestions - I'd do a search and see if anything pops up.

Car seat!
I had a travel system where the car seat clipped onto the pram. It lasted three children but we're talking twenty years ago so modern prams may be different.

Only if you are bottle feeding... A goodly supply of wine in the fridge.
Nice bubble bath
Nice shampoo and conditioner and bath scrubs
Candles
Chocolates
A list of babysitters always comes in handy for later on. Call in favours. Do not be afraid.

Apart from that I am sure you will be fine :) It's a journey :)

Microwave sterilisier from tommee tippee. It was a godsend, 4 mins in the microwave and bottles are done for the day.

I found the hand breast pump painful and ineffective- got more hand expressing.

Vibrating bouncy chair so you can put baby down in the bathroom doorway and go for a shower. Even if they get upset you know you are trying your best and they are SAFE and can see you.

A travel mug - camelback do a good one that stays hot for 8 hours and closes when you let go so if you drop it you won't burn baby

Baby monitor, we have the old fashioned type that flashes green or red lights and you can hear baby or turn sound off and still use it now as our house has thick walls

Look into isofix bases as some are only compatible with stage 0 car seats and some will also take the next sizes up, I think it's called family fix instead of cabriofix. Wish we'd known that!

You will probably get given clothes so don't go too mad my 8lb 4oz wore 1month clothes for 2 weeks then 0-3 for the next month then into 3-6.

Bibs with poppers not Velcro as they will pull them off as soon as they can. Also the waterproof back ones are rubbish and sick just runs straight off and they stick out away from baby.

I was gifted a lot of muslins so don't buy more than a couple. I used them to wrap the carry cot mattress in mainly and to cover us in the early days of breast feeding.

Feeding tops if you go down that route as they can make u feel less exposed

Keep clothing purchases minimal before they are born. Newborns vary MASSIVELY in size! My DD was in preemie clothes to start with, but my friend’s DS skipped newborn size entirely and was 0-3 months at birth. You can always get more if needed, and people will give you things. The clothes that you do get, you really only need vests and sleep suits to start with. Fiddly little outfits are a nightmare to change when a nappy has leaked!

If you’re planning on breastfeeding, get DECENT breast pads e.g. Lasinoh or similar. You do NOT want something that chafes as your nipples can be soooooo sore in the early weeks or cluster feeding. You need to change the regularly too, especially if you are a bit leaky (I was, often leaked on the side I wasn’t feeding) so you can get through them fairly quickly to start with. Personally, I also got a set of 6 bottles and a steriliser just in case, although it did work out for us. They were handy later on as DH could give the occasional bottle of expressed milk to give me a bit more freedom as she got older.

Can I suggest for cot sheets that you get one more set than you think you need? They way I made up the cot was waterproof, sheet, waterproof, sheet. That way, if there was a disaster, I could whip off the top set and spare set was underneath so I didn’t have to faff getting clean sheets out at night.

You really don’t need much for a newborn, the only big purchases are travel systems. They don’t need toys until much later on, the only thing they are interested in when tiny is you!

A friend recommended me the Bottoms Up spray to sooth your bits if you will give birth naturally.
Velcro swaddle

Loving some of these suggestions, so following ❤

All so helpful! I will keep a beady eye on this thread too

You can drink alcohol if you are breast feeding!

To add to what is already listed, I'd get more than one change mat. I have one for upstairs and one for downstairs. I had just one to start with but after a few messy bum explosions I realised I needed another.

Listing you essentials that really helped me!
Next2Me Crib - I had another crib before this one for 2 weeks and no one slept, then we got this one and she sleeps so well!
GroEgg - Takes the effort out of wondering what the temp is for bed time and not knowing what to put them in.
Sleeping bags - my DC hated being swaddled but loves her sleeping bags.
A little baby grooming kit - comes with things like a thermometer, nail files, hairbrush etc.
Car seat with an ISOFIX base - save yourself on the hassle of trying to get the little one in and out!

I would say don't bother buying "cute" outfits for any age under 3 months, you honestly won't care as long as they are dressed!!

Oh also, post birth My Expert Midwife Spritz for Bitz is incredible!!

Amazon prime was without a doubt the most useful thing to us. Followed by a lovely Cook order from my friends.

Lansinoh cream and breast pads are a must to have in advance.

A pack of first size nappies and wipes.

We used a sling a lot in the first few months from a sling library then got our own ergobaby which we used until she was about 13 months. She was an early walker though.

If you’re breastfeeding:

Lansinoh cream! Nipple saver Don’t wait for them to get sore before you use it

Snacks for middle of the night feeds- cereal bars were handy for me to keep in my bedside cabinet!

A good water bottle to have ready anytime for feeds - I would often sit down and get comfy to feed DC, then get an overwhelming, intense thirst. Ok if someone is around tp bring you a glass, but better if you’ve got it to hand already in a nice safe drinking bottle

Train your DP to be ready to give frequent massages, as you can sometimes get sore and stiff back/shoulders when feeding

You will not regret buying one if these

I dont know if this has been mentioned but stuff like gripe water, teething gel and if they get sore bum demand trimovate from the chemist.
Those things are the real life savers when you have a screaming baby who is in pain and you're tired.

Most helpful thing for me was a turban towel from poundland.
Black out blinds.
Feeding pillow.
Clothes in newborn size. 3-4 sets is probably all you'll need.
Double layer of mattress protector, sheet, mattress protector, sheet. If they throw up you can just peel off the top layer and put them back to bed.

Oh and calpol with a syringe.

• Ergo carrier
• soft sling ( I didn’t get one and really wish I had. Definitely will if I have another)
• Lasinoh nipple cream (even if you’re not breastfeeding it’s a fantastic balm in general)
• MAM self sterilising bottles if bottle feeding no need to waste money on separate sterilising equipment.

A grosnug, why the feck didn't I get one for DC1

humour :) loads of it.

Great list @theruffles 👍