Absolute must haves for baby?

[CJones11]

I'm due my second in 3 months time. Everything feels so long ago since my first and I really need to start buying for this baby.
What are your absolute must haves?

bundles of love

A partner who is willing to genuinely do much, much more than 50% of the parenting. With two kids, you need a dad who is willing to do it all, cheerfully and without being told how. Otherwise you'll be overwhelmed and miserable.

@FleeUpFreeTime that is such a lovely reply. I feel like I've been so busy this pregnancy. I haven't taken a moment to stop and think about how much we will all adore this baby 🥰

@MolliciousIntent I feel very fortunate to have that 😇 I breastfed my first so could do a lot about the lack of sleep. But never resented my partner because he was always up with me and ready to settle our son back down so I could rest. Best yet, he's more domesticated around the house than I am. The perfect "house husband type" haha.
He's taken on all the school pick up and drop off responsibilities for our son so that I can focus on my career and will be taking shared parental leave instead of me taking a huge financial hit on maternity!

A wrap sling.

Much easier to wear all day if you have to run around after another child

Yours sounds just like mine, congrats!

The only other thing you really need is a super easy to use, comfy sling. I had a close caboo with baby #2 and it was incredible

IME you don't need that to begin with, it might come later. To begin with you need resuseable wipes, a decent sling that supports baby and your back, a sleeping bag of the right tog, a load of second hand sleepsuits and vests, a safe sleeping environment. I also had a monitor that clipped on their nappy.

Muslins
Sling/baby carrier
Boob accessible clothing

Nappies HTH

Very little- especially if you are breastfeeding.

Comfy sling, I use a ring sling
Starsnug
Reusable wipes
Loads of muslins

Somewhere warm and safe for them to sleep, milk from breast or bottle, clothes and nappies! Everything else is nice, but not essential. I've never bought in to fancy prams, next to me cribs etc. We got a basic travel system and a hand me down Moses basket. We did get a nappy bin, but could have just used cheap nappy bags in reality.
I always say get the basics and then work out what you need/would like as you go. Don't buy it all beforehand, you'll end up wasting money.
Support and help from your other half as well

Access to audiobooks I'd say is an essential, via your library or Audible.

All we got was a car seat and sling.
We don't need a buggy, use re-usable nappies and wipes, breastfeed. I bought a few bits of clothes as we went along but really didn't need much at all!

All those saying a sling, so you have specific recommendations? I have a carrier still that I used with my little boy. Are slings much different? I've always been a little put off because of the faff of putting them on?

Also, reusable nappies are something I'd love to try but have no clue where to start?

Such good advice!

Any reasonably priced items you'd recommend? I just use the wear a vest underneath everything with my first!

Baby due in January. Any idea what tog sleeping bag?

Cheap bouncy chair thing so you can put them down safely near by?

Really very little, eat, poo, sleep.

Possibly a white noise app for ipad, heart beat or wave noises were very soothing.

God yes, sleeping bag. Don't know how I forgot that, best thing over so they don't notice the lack of heat when you put them down.

I used a 2.5 armless one. But for a newborn I'd rather tuck in tightly with a blanket.

Muslins, a supportive other half, muslins, a plan for if breastfeeding doesn’t work out (that doesn’t involve a screaming hungry baby and horrendous amounts of guilt and shame) and if you don’t breastfeed or combi feed a Nuby Rapidcool. Oh and muslins.

Not much at all, nappies, muslins and bottle feeding paraphernalia if you're not BF

Slings - I prefer ring slings to the stretchy wraps. I got a second hand lenny lamb on vinted for about £35. its lovely and easy to use.

Reusable nappies - Little Lamb bamboo fitted nappies are brilliant, size 1 for newborn. Plus Nature Babies wraps. Our 2nd is nearly 4m old and we've used this combination since he was a week or so old, I think we've had one poo leak so far. when our first was this age we had loads of poo leaks (in disposable nappies). Reusable wipes also great, you can buy the kits but tbh we didn't like the boxes etc, we use an old peanut butter tub 😂 or tupperware, ice cream box etc. my MIL buys big loads of hotel face cloths (I think) off ebay and they are the best wipes we've used, also super cheap.

I've a 7 month old and these i found were the best buys.
Tommee tippee perfect prep machine if you plan on bottle feeding
Steriliser - I use an electric one but I also think Milton cold water sterilising tablets or liquid is great
Bottles and bottle brush
Baby wrap or carrier - see if you have a local sling library they can help advise you on the right one for your body shape and you can rent ones out before buying.
Car seat - we had the Doona which was amazing as it converted to a pushchair with the wheels flicking out ( although be aware it is a carseat so you need it make sure you stick to the time limits of having a baby in a carseat) it's so handy for popping to shops or doing a school run etc.
Baby sleeping bags again godsend and you don't worry about baby throwing off blanketa
Baby monitor - I didn't use one that you can have an app on your phone BT 3000 I think.
Groegg to monitor temp of room baby sleeps in
Change bag - I like the backpack ones and mine came with a change mat - I think I bought it off Amazon but there are loads on there.
Shnuggle baby bath - thought this was a gimmick but it's brilliant it has a wee bump on the bottom that baby can sit it's bottom on and I thought made bathing much easier
1 million muslin cloths haha.

Can't think of anuthing else except essentials like clothes, nappies, wipes etc