Your number #1 go-to baby product?

[Luk]

I'm expecting my first baby and looking at the usual shopping lists to get ready - they all contain the basics like moses basket, vests, babygrows, nappies etc. So far so simple.

Layered on top of this is all of the extra bits and pieces - sleep pods, particular sterilisers, thermometers, bathing bits, swaddle wraps, white noise devices. It's hard to know what's marketing hype and what's genuinely useful.

So I'm interested to know - what has been your absolute favourite or most helpful product that you'd recommend?

Love to Dream swaddle bags 100%

We thought our DS didn't like being swaddled because he always broke free from swaddle cloths and squirmed in swaddle bags. He would only sleep for short periods of time and would only contact nap. Then around 2.5 months I realised his moro reflex was super strong and he kept hitting himself in the face and waking up. Researched stuff online, bought a love to dream swaddle bag and the first time he went in it he napped for 2 hours straight in his cot.

We got the size small one and the size medium transition one so we could transition him into having his arms free when he learnt to roll.

Perfect prep !! Absolutely the best thing we had !

The things we couldn't live without were mam bottles, muslins, sleep bags, sleepyhead (still fine and safe compared to others) and a white noise machine. Those are the only things that we used loooong into toddler-hood.

Also a good simple bouncer is great to plop baby in when you need to go toilet/shower/cook and doubles as a feeding chair once on solids :)

Cloth wipes!

Snuzpod (next to bed crib, used it from birth to 6 months), cheeky wipes (washable wipes, 100s times better than disposables) and cloth nappies.

It's all really subjective tbh. It's like saying what do you need when you have a boyfriend. Different for everyone.

Babies need somewhere to sleep, clothes to wear, something to keep them warm, milk to drink. Get that sorted and pick up the rest as you go along.

BabyBjorn bouncer. I had two for my twins, and they were invaluable.
Yellow metanium cream for nappy rash - gets rid of it with one application.
Tommee Tippee GroBags - the twins used these until they were 2.5, when I finally moved to pajamas and a duvet.
Pre-made formula. It's more expensive, but soo handy when you're out and about.
A soft mat to cover wooden floors - great when they're learning to walk.

Not essentials, but things I've used literally every day:

Next to me crib
Wearable breast pump (Elvie for me)
BabyBjörn mini carrier
Babywearing coat if they'll be a winter baby
Clips for dummies and Bibs dummies (if you're using them)
Tommee Tippee nappy bin
Nasal bogie remover stick thing
Baby car mirror and window shades
Lansinoh breast pads
Silver nipple caps (so soothing in those early weeks!)
Battery operated nail file

Electric nail file!!!

This will vary from person to person. What one person finds useless will be essential to another.

We loved our sleepyhead, would always be an essential item for us. Changing Mat and caddy upstairs and downstairs, somewhere to place the baby (bouncy chair, something like that) upstairs and downstairs. Being fully equipped on both floors made things so much easier especially if you have more than one child!

Bouncy chair/cradle. Cheap and easy to use. Baby in and you can rock with your foot until they go to sleep. When awake they rock themselves.

Baby sling like the babbasling but all are brilliant

Our babies were different so for example whilst one needed lots of muslins another didn’t need any at all really or one would have done! So my main advice would be don’t spend unnecessary money on expensive prams etc as Facebook and eBay are awash with amazing things and I wish I had realised our precious baby wouldn’t have noticed any difference!

I’ve loved my ring sling for all 3 and sudocream.
We aren’t bothering with baby wipes this time unless out as prefer a wash in the sink. I don’t know why we didn’t do this earlier as I used to even wash reusable ones

DD now three but things we are still using and wouldn't be without
Bath thermometer
In ear thermometer
Nappy caddy
Sleepyhead (have the grand one too)
Mam bottles
Gro egg and the safe sleep temperature dressing guidelines
Alot of stuff was trial and error, thought we would cope with Moses basket - thank god for next day delivery with a next to me crib!!!
She didn't like swaddles - used sleeping bags
Congratulations OP

fyi Sleepyheads aren’t advisable for newborns but maybe ok later :
www.lullabytrust.org.uk/the-lullaby-trust-issues-warning-about-some-popular-baby-sleeping-products-sold-in-high-street-stores/

(I learnt this from my friend who gives talks on sleep safety )

I have a 3 week old and so far, the things I can't live without are -

mam bottles
perfect prep (I have 2, upstairs and downstairs)
sleepyhead (for day time, not night)
bouncer
swaddles (love to dream)
white noise (lumi)

So far, not much use for muslins or the sling but that could change. Right now, he isn't sick much and cries in the sling.

Mam bottles
Sleeping bags
Humidifier (it helps with coughs/colds) - game changer - we have the Viks one.
Snot sucker - essential is all I will say. You don't realise how bunged up they get at such a young age.
Medicines - calpol, nurofen, olbas oil (kids) - all essential from 2 months plus.
Infacol and gripe water - good for constipated babies.
Yellow nappy cream - really good for very sore bums.
Dummies - you might be "lucky" and your baby doesn't want one but some do and ours have been a comfort in stressful situations when they're poorly or having their injections.

Good luck with baby! 😀

• cheeky wipes instead of disposables.
• in ear thermometer
• muslins
• yellow metanium
• cold water sterilising instead of electric or microwave steriliser.
• caboo sling

Thanks everyone! I'll probably wait until she's here to see what we need, but great to have some recommendations ready to go 😊

Double pump. Nasal aspirator.

Oh and a dummy.

I didn't swaddle so not that. Sleep pods aren't recommended for safe sleeping so not those either! Also I don't think it's wise to get them used to sleeping in a super cosy space in the day only to then introduce a different type of environment at night. Personally I found my playmat brilliant, not for the very first weeks but my DD was finding the toys on it fascinating by about 3-4 weeks old and she's still interested in it at 3 months!

Oh yes and I agree a baby bouncer is a must buy. My daughter loves sitting in hers watching what's going on.