Essentials

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Hi everyone
21 weeks pregnant and starting to make a list of all the essentials/must haves we will need as first time parents to our baby girl 💕

Please can you all give your ' must haves' or that you think are essential from prep machines to baby carriers etc.

Thank you 💕🥰

I wasted so much money on stuff before baby arrived that ended up not being essential at all despite others saying it was e.g. peri bottle, spritz for bits, breast pads, sitz bath, nursing bra.

I'd recommend buying only the absolute necessities - sleep suits, nappies, vests, bottles (if you plan to bottle feed), formula (if you plan to use), moses basket/bedside crib, blanket, muslins, pram if you need one to get anywhere, and wipes. Everything else you will figure out as you go and can order for delivery to your house.

When you do know what you need gumtree and vinted are an absolute godsend. You can get bundles of clothing for next to nothing all in brilliant condition (because everyone buys loads in advance...) You will need your money when baby is born for takeaway and chocolate, lol.

Having said that Perfect Prep is amazing, but you can get them second hand and clean/buy new filters.

I wish I had listened to this advice!

I agree with @Nell80 my first I had so much crap everyone said was needed. It wasn’t. In addition to the above id say get a car seat as you need one to leave the hospital. This needs to be bought new though not second hand. An angelcare bath seat was great too, babies are slippery, and baby baths are just awkward. Get plenty of maternity pads as you will bleed for a while, I would get breast pads whether bf or ff as you will leak either way.

prep machine is great if ff but not essential. You will need the hospital packs of formula to take to the hospital.

baby needs to travel, feed, sleep, burp, get changed and get clean -that’s about it

we did a nursery shop session at John Lewis - was so useful

Obvious essential is the car seat - I size compliant one. You will need for the journey from the hospital

Changing: More nappies than you think you will need - a few size 0 in case and the rest size 1. Ditto wet wipes and nappy sacks

a portable changing Mat eg skip hop has been useful for us for 2 kids now

sleeping: sleepsuits, body vests, lots of muslins

Feeding; nipple shields and then perfect prep prep were my lifesavers for feeding - and you should take some ready made formula bottles to hospital in case you can’t immediately breast feed or your milk doesn’t come in straight away etc

Travel: Im in London and my favourite pram is the baby zen as it helped to kee me independent on public transport etc

Bathing: baby bath is useful - one that supports baby

baby towels

Sleeping: sleeping bags for when baby is 4kg - as baby can kick off blankets

but any blankets used must be cellular - look at lullaby trust website for safe sleeping advice

A baby bouncer/swing can be useful for giving you a short break

All the best

Honestly, just clothes mainly baby grows and sleep suits and outfits as they got past the 6month stage

next to me crib
Tommy tippee steriliser.
Play mat and gym type thingy with mirror on mat for tummy time
Pre-made formula for the hospital
Baby bath and hooded children's towel
Baby bouncer chair
Mamas and papas snug chair
Wrist rattles

Nappies from different brands to see which was best.
I found Asda own brand nappies were best and then switched to mama bear by Amazon. I found that pampers would leak at night.

Things I never considered and did just fine without
Antenatal classes!
Bottle warmer
Top and tail set
Baby walker

There is some good advice here 😊
Just to mention that the perfect prep machines aren’t recommended by the NHS as the hot shot does not get hot enough to kill all bacteria in the formula. I know many people choose to use them anyway as they’re very convenient but I’d just read up and make sure you’re informed.

Get lots of bundles of clothes on Vinted can get so many for so cheap and really good brands as well. I was shocked by the amount of second hand bits out there.