What are your non-essential but ‘nice to have’ baby items

[Prettylittlelady]

Currently sorting things for little one who is due in the next couple of months.
I think I’m sorted in terms what I need for essential items but I was wondering if anyone, who perhaps had a bit of a left over budget for things, had any things that might not have been needed but were just lovely to have.
Anything that would be nice for baby or me?
Just looking for ideas really. Thank you :-)

A totter and tumble mat...worth every penny. It saved my knees crawling on the floor and my little one can’t take it apart like he does the tile foam mats. They’ve got a discount code on today as they’ve just launched in John Lewis

I really did love my Tiba and Marl changing bag. Could easily have got one for a 1/4 of the price but I love it.

A really decent flash. It’ll keep your coffee warm and prevent it spilling onto baby

A few nice outfits for baby and easy to put on but nice outfits for you. After a sleepless night and when it feels like everything is falling apart, at least you look presentable

Nice shower gel/soap/shampoo. Those few minutes in the shower will feel like heaven, savour them

Nice hand wash/hand moisturiser. You’ll wash your hands so much when baby is born that they will get ruined

We started using HelloFresh as well. It meant that I didn’t need to go to the shops/DH could cook without any instructions/no thinking about food

Put a bit of money aside for nails/hairdressers/salon if that’s your sort of thing.

We also bought a nepresso machine. By the time I had filled up the kettle, waited for it to boil, made me coffee, waited for it to cook etc baby would need me for something else. The coffee machine meant I could make a drink in 15 seconds and drink it straight away

A Tuppence and Crumble star wrap.

Saves a lot of time fannying about with cardigans/ buttons/ trying to cram tiny little arms into a coat when you just need out of the house

Oh my word yes @TerribleCustomerCervix

I forgot about this!

Quite possibly the best item of clothing we ever purchased. Never again will I wrestle with a snow suit!

Yes another star wrap vote. Seems ridiculous now but I was in tears tying to get new born into a snow suit. Those wraps are absolutely wonderful. That's my go to baby gift now.

I also loved the Angel care bath seat, Dd is nearly two and still lies in it voluntarily to get her hair rinsed. Think she knows her eyes are safe that way!

Keep the money aside, once baby comes you will think of things that work for you - we can read articles or ask friends but every baby and family are different. You may also change your mind on things.

Quite possibly the best item of clothing we ever purchased. Never again will I wrestle with a snow suit!

I bought them in every size and we still use the Large one for DS 16 months when I can’t be arsed changing him out of his pjs (which is often)...

Thanks for reminding me I wanted to order a star wrap! Done. They just seem like genius.

I had an October baby and found putting him in a newborn sleeping bag kept him cosier during night feeds and he was less disturbed when I put him back down as he wasn't going on to a cold sheet.

I used a Sleepyhead loads - expensive but well worth the money. And also the BabyBjorn bouncer.

I got a really nice coconut oil which I used loads for massage, cradle cap (on his scalp and eyebrows) and baby acne. He had cradle cap on his eyebrows at the same time as the baby acne and I don't have many photos from this time! But coconut oil really helped.

@MOR19 where’s the discount code for those mats?

Mamaroo - life saver.
Aden and anais muslins, swaddles, sleeping bags.
Totally agree on tiba and marl changing bag.
Maxi cosi foot muff for the car seat - especially for an autumn/ winter baby, no kicking it off.

Totter & tumble mat! You won’t need it straight away but we’ll worth the money, I wish I’d got one earlier.

Giant muslin squares, more than one baby carrier/sling (because one poo of vomiting disaster and you need to wash it and then don't have one!) Teething gel and teething granules. Dummies, I wouldn't advise using them a lot initially especially with breastfeed babies, but equally they can be a sanity saver if they give you 2-3 mins to catch your breath and think up your next move!

Lanolin nipple cream, but also have some other toiletries on hand. It's no fun having dry hands or lips either when sat for ages feeding. A cup with a straw, a cup for hot drinks that won't spill. All the snacks.

These suggestions are amazing - thank you - I had been eyeing up the Tiba + Marl changing bags actually!

Completely non-essential, but I got a necklace and baby keys from yummikeys this week, they're great for the little one to fiddle with while bottle/breast feeding, or while on your hip. Babies seem to love metal things and they make a nice jingly sound.

But I agree with an earlier pps advice to wait and see what you feel you need. You may find you order (bizarre) things on amazon in the middle of a night feed, and completely forget about it until it arrives...I did anyway it was almost like being drunk for me

Oh yes, I loved my breastfeeding necklace!

But amber teething beads can go to hell

Echo the Tiba and marl change bag, mine is still going strong three years later. Also a rucksack is much more practical than a shoulder bag when chasing a toddler.

Star wraps are brilliant too.

I got the grey and white skiphop floor tiles as they've been on display on my living room for years and look much nicer than the bright ones.

Nice PJ's for you for when you're back home. You spend a lot of time in PJs so they should be lovely.

Can you use a star wrap in a sling?

PK Beau changing bags are amazing and suit both you and your partner

Mabel and fox do really pretty changing mats

Babygrows/sleepsuits with zips

Second the coffee thermos thing! I have one by built and it keeps it hot for hours and hours!

Black and white book by tana hoban, stands up on its own so you can entertain baby from a few weeks so you can shower/get a drink/food etc

Baby monitor. It really was reassuring.

In hindsight I'd have bought one of those Land Rover /jogger prams as we've ended up really using the pram for the last 6 years. Yes, the Graco did it's job but I think we could have benefited even more from a tougher pram.

Some nice treats for yourself! I’m pregnant with my second and have been collecting a box of nice toiletries, pyjamas and a couple of things to wear postpartum (I felt rubbish about myself after my first)

For you- spritz for bits and a really comfy cushion to sit on, plus some nice shampoo and skin stuff. My skin was really dry and my hair where it was shedding and didn't wash it as much as usual it needed some TLC, and made me feel so much better; plus comfy loungewear and subs to netflix etc if you don't already have them.

For baby- Ewan the dreamsheep, a scrapbook to keep their congratulations cards in and some photos, most other stuff was bought when they were a little bit older and could 'do' more.

@Rainbowchampagne where did you get the babygrows/sleepsuits with zips from? I've been looking out for them as heard them recommended, but a lot of the ones I've found so far seem quite expensive compared to the button versions so I want to wait and see how big my baby is before I invest