What baby must-haves would you recommend that a first time mum should buy? Anything from buggies to breast pumps to books!

[CR7]

After many years of trying and heartbreaking losses, I’m finally pregnant and due early January.

I would love some advice on what you bought for your baby that you got loads of use out of and would recommend.

There is so much conflicting advice out there that I don’t know where to start. I’ve looked at some baby essential checklists but I’m not sure how good they are and some contain sponsored items which doesn't really sit well with me!

I’d love to know from real mums what you would recommend / steer clear of.

Thanks in advance!

I will never stop recommending the bbhugme pillow. It's so comfy, it's so useful post partum as well, for breastfeeding, to prop you up in just the right way, and it doesn't look ugly on the bed. I'm pregnant for a second time and mine hasn't been put away since my first in 2020!

Also if you're planning to breastfeed, a haaka pump is a really gentle way to collect milk from the breast while your baby feeds from the other. Build up a stash while you're feeding anyway without having to spend extra time pumping.

Congratulations on your pregnancy :)

The best thing that I did was think about needs and buy around that.

So for example, baby needs somewhere to sleep - could be a moses basket, cot, bedside crib - have a look at all the options and think about what would work best for you. Then obviously you need bedding for it, and something to keep them warm (swaddle, sleeping bag, blankets, or just a thicker sleepsuit?) - again look at the different options to see what seems to make sense.

Then they'll need washing so what are the options for that. Do you have anything (like towels, face cloths) already that you could use rather than buying baby-specific versions.

You'll need some way to transport the baby around, what works best for you.

They need to feed - breastmilk or formula - think about what you want and what you'll need.

Clothes - look up some different suggested clothing lists but also think about how often you expect to be able to do washing and whether you have a dryer or need to air dry etc.

Make a checklist of needs and work down it for research one by one. I would recommend looking at the more expensive items (big three are pram, car seat and cot) first, because if you work out what models, or at least what features, you want on those ASAP, you can keep an eye out for offers and discounts, or second hand (for pram, not for cot mattress or car seat).

The problem with essentials lists is that one person's waste of money is another person's couldn't live without, and baby stuff seems to be incredibly polarised a lot of the time!

Also, when considering buying something, it's worth thinking whether you'll actually need it from birth, if not sometimes it can help to hold off and buy later. You have more of an idea of what's realistic after the baby is born. Remember supermarkets sell baby items and amazon still has next day delivery after the baby is born. You can wait and see if you need things.

The only thing I would say to look at which people don't necessarily think of, is if you plan to breastfeed, it's a good idea to get a couple of books about it, or go on a prepatory course, or follow some BF-support influencers, or just look up where your nearest support groups are and go along before the baby is born, so you can see some real BF in action and so that you know where to go if you have any questions or problems in the early days. Everyone has different preferences for learning so just pick the one which works for you.

Bibs that just slip on over the head! The Velcro ones stick to everything in the wash and the ones with poppers are too fiddly with carpal tunnel!

We also really love our trip trapp because we like having baby at the dining table with us.

Oh I would also 100% echo PP on the breastfeeding bit, if that's your plan. We're led to believe because it's 'natural' then it should come 'naturally' to us and the baby will just latch on and that's that. But there are techniques, and positions and different latches and and and....

I read 'the womanly art of breastfeeding' which was really good if you can get over the vomit inducing title ;)

Also Milli Hills The Positive Birth Book is excellent

Double electric breast pump saved breastfeeding for me (Medela flex maxi). My girl didn't latch until she was 4 weeks old, but with my pump I was able to bring in my milk and protect my supply, and was still able to offer her exclusively breast milk until we got breastfeeding on track. I then used it to pump milk so that my husband could give her the odd bottle so that I could get some sleep, and then when I returned to work I pumped once a day in the middle of the day to stop my boobs from bursting and to be able to leave milk for her while I was working. It cost about £250 but I've got so much use out of it that it's been great value.

A snoo

Ahh congratulations OP!!

In the early days, we used:

• jojo maman bebe swaddles
• ready made infant formula was a life saver when I couldn’t bf
• dummies (from a few weeks old for my DD)
• white noise machine was helpful but take the time to listen to a few before you buy as I found lots of them to be painfully tinny
• amazon nappy caddy
• black and white baby stimulation cards
• A towel, cotton wool and a cup for warm water to do a proper bum wash
• comfort milk
• Moses basket was fine next to my bed
• newborn high chair (we used Stokke new born set, but there are lots of similar)
• I wasted loads of money on breastfeeding clothes, because I couldn’t bf in the end. So I wish I’d waited to see if it was possible
• just baby grows and vests would have been fine for us, no outfits or dresses were necessary

Lots of nice hand cream for you. My hands were wrecked with constantly washing them.

@Spottypineapple @BertieBotts @annahay @pbdr @PlumPudd @FoodFann

Thank you all so much for taking the time to reply. I'm really grateful and already googling 💙🩷

I went to the library and read as many parenting books as I could find there. Some were extremely odd and some were helpful. You don't know what sort of child you will end up with so it's good to read a range.

A baby sling. Cloth one to begin with then something more sturdy like a Tula. Life-saver for me

Sling that we used for the first couple months before he woke up. He was a sleepy baby at the beginning and it meant I could go out and about really easily, he liked his contact naps.

Bouncer that went in the bathroom when he was little.

Then he woke up after a couple months and didn’t like to be constrained or held, so a play gym where he could spread out and be on his front.

But I wouldn’t buy them in advance because babies are quite individual about if they like slings/carriers/bouncers etc.

Yes a sling. 100%. I didn’t really use a buggy at all with DS2. He lived in it for years, fed in it, everything. I had a Manduca, a stretchy wrap and an Ergobaby.

Congratulations!!! So exciting 👏🏻 👏🏻

Don't over do it! There's nothing that can't be delivered the next day!!

you don't know what size your baby (😄😄😄) will be. So no point in getting loads of clothes that might be too small on day 1.

one persons 'can't live without' is another persons 'useless, waste of money'.

january - you'll need warm things. Depends on how warm you prefer & can afford to keep your house).

id go with just vests, babygrows, soft cotton hats & mittens, cardigans, booties, and cellular blankets. you'll get loads of presents too!!

muslins are great for all kinds of things so a few of those.

if YOU like hot drinks, a travel mug is brilliant and you might find a heated throw helpful.

newborns only really need you, a safe place to sleep, a method of feeding, a few babygrows and nappies. (Don't buy too many in case they're too small).

im SO excited for you!!

I'd say try to keep what you buy simple, nothing that needs specially fitted sheets only available in one place, or that has to be plugged in if you won't always be near a plug.

We used a big Tupperware box with a lid as a cold water steriliser which was just so easy and it was portable so could be taken on holiday without needing to check there would be a microwave to hand.

If you get a standard sized Moses basket then pillowcases make the perfect sheets, you just put the mattress inside the pillowcase. Cheap, quick and easy so I could have lots of them for the days/nights when she had milk vomit or poosplosions.

Muslin squares do everything, get the big ones from Aldi when they do baby weeks. They're bibs, shoulder covers, breastfeeding covers, swaddles on hot days, floor covers to lay on, comforters for them to chew and twist. I even improvised an outfit for DD by tying a couple on at the shoulders one day when she somehow managed to poo through her original outfit and 2 sets of spares in the short space of time I was out of the house one day.

Pretty nappy bags are nice to look at but think about your real needs. If you're going to be out walking a lot or using public transport to get about then a proper sturdy backpack might be a better option.

Aldi nappies were fab, better than any other supermarket for my chunky legged little darling, but I would say that every brand is cut a bit differently so don't buy a bazillion in advance because you might find yourself with a wall of leaky nappies.

Vests and babygrows are all you need for clothes. DO NOT BUY TROUSERS THAT NEED SEPARATE SOCKS!!! Socks do not stay on little floppy feet, if you buy socks you will end up having to put them back on your baby every 10 minutes, even though your baby doesn't seem to move enough to wiggle the bastard things off. You will find yourself considering duck tape as a reasonable solution to the sock problem. Vests have the funny envelope shoulder's because that way they can be removed either by going up over the head or being pulled down the body. This is very useful when the whole bottom half of the vest is covered in bright yellow baby poo and you do not want to try to pull it over their head.

A Morrck car seat baby blanket, especially for a January baby! The blanket has holes for the straps to go through so the baby lays on the blanket, then you can do the straps up. It makes it easy to cover and uncover the baby without having to undo them. Also works well when you move to the seat part of a pushchair. This is my go to baby gift for anyone who has a baby - put it on your list for someone else to buy 🤣🤣

morrck.com/

That is another point though, don't go and buy everything yourself - know what you need so you can buy it if you don't get it but you will get a lot of gifts and a lot of people asking what you might want so it's a good idea to have a discreet list of things (and know how much they cost) to give to people when they ask.

An angel care baby bath was also awesome and so easy to bath baby until they can sit up.

Also echo what everyone has said about breastfeeding prep. I'm an NHS volunteer at a children's centre for the breastfeeding clinic so if you plan on bfeeding find out if you've got one in your area. You can go just to feed, chat and also for advice, guidance and support. You can even drop in to have a chat even while you're pregnant if you want too to get some tips!

Congratulations and good luck!! Xx

Congratulations @CR7 I've name changed many times now but I think you were on the conception boards back when I was trying for DC1 in 2020. Might have the wrong person though! Massive congratulations either way.

My overall advice is actually not to buy too much at all! There's very little that can't be delivered in 48hrs and then you don't end up with things that you don't use or don't work for you.

Essential items for me were:

• Chicco Next2me
• Vital Baby UV steriliser
• A spinning car seat
• Lumie Clock for the bedside table (can have it down really low for night feeds)
• Coconut oil (instead of nappy cream - only use when they actually have a rash!)

In a similar vein to what @Imenti has said. Start looking at baby friendly groups/parent and baby sessions at cafes or garden centres etc and make a note. Babies are wonderful, beautiful, miraculous little things, but they're not that interesting and I really found myself feeling starved of adult interaction. Having some places you can go to that are more about you was great, sitting in a comfortable space and having coffee and cake knowing that the space is safe and welcoming for your baby, with a few toys and bits.

@lavenderdilly yes they would have been me!

Thank goodness for online shopping and how quick it can be! Thank you for remembering me and posting your essentials xx

And lip salve because of not drinking enough water.

A haakaa/naturebond passive pump and/or some medela breast milk collection shells. The pumps are great for drawing out letdown when you’re at home but they’re a bit of a fiddle to put on sometimes and not the most discreet, however the medela shells just sit in your bra so you can pop one in if you’re feeding when out and about. You’d be amazing how much of a stash you can build up, especially in the early days when your boobs go a bit crazy!

A sling and/or carrier. I used a kanga wrap at home and an ergo baby omni 360 when I was out. Look up local sling libraries so you can try a few out and see what works best for you before you buy your own.

Dummies- controversial but I think they’re great. They help get rid of wind, promote peristalsis, strengthen the mouth and tongue muscles if baby has a weak latch or tongue tie, and reduce the risk of cot death (a baby can’t suffocate with a dummy in its mouth).

If you’re happy to try mixed feeding then the Aptamil first milk bottles with the disposable teats are great- you can pop a couple in your changing bag for emergencies and they’re handy for on the go feeds if you’re somewhere it’s not necessarily practical or possible to breastfeed like in a car or on the bus.

Rite Aid hydrogel breast discs are amazing for sore nipples- I tried the Mam ones but they’re just a bit too soggy, the Rite Aid ones are absolutely fantastic.

Breast pads- the Lansinoh ones are the best disposable ones in my opinion, you can get washable ones once your supply settles down a bit.

Every list I have ever seen has a ridiculous number of items on it. Get the basics only. You will learn what you and your child need once they are here. You friends and family will give you presents and pass on their out grown things. Shops are open six days a week and Amazon does next day delivery. There is so much to spend on children as they get older but babies don't need much and for most of us it is a time when finances are tight.

Congratulations 🎉🎉🎉
To add to the probably more up to date advice muslin squares were one of my most used things. I still have some & use them for straining jelly and my baby is now an adorable 15 year old.

Some things can be really individual and pretty much everything can be bought on next day delivery, so I’d say just get the essentials.

Eg a pp has recommended a very expensive breast pump, but despite exclusively breastfeeding 2 kids a pump didn’t work at all for me.

The thing I always recommend that people get though is a really good in ear thermometer because if you think your baby has a fever you can’t wait for next day delivery!