Help!! - What is really worth buying, what isn't?

[LozC0411]

Hiya everyone!

I'm expecting my first child and I want to be as prepared as possible. I am starting to buy things and just want to know what is really worth it, and what isn't worth it?

I also want to know if there are any random things or things people usually forget about that I need to buy.

So far I have only really brought clothing items as I wanted advice on other things that are really worth it before I buy.

Any help is appreciated! Thank you🤗

My second is 5.5 months now

i used the next to me with both kids but tbh he grew out of it by 4 months as i have a very big baby this time (daughter got near 7 months out of it)

if i was to do it again id go straight to the big cot raised as high as it can go and not bother with a next to me

i had a little pop up travel cot that I had in living room and a bouncy chair

with the buggy I only had a babyzen yoyo with a newborn attachment for it as was low on space !

don’t bother with a changing table just put a mat on top of a chest of drawers

reusable wipes are amazing Ive loads of cheekys

sleep bags you can use from day one instead of blankets are great if your worried about them getting a blanket over their head

a little play gym was super useful for the floor

I didn’t bother with a steraliser this time round as was breastfeeding and just used Milton sterilising tablets for anything needing to be sterilised

I didn’t even bother this time round with a bath seat or baby bath or anything - I just washed him in the kitchen sink or give him a quick dip in the bath while we hold him

car seat obviously important

baby carrier too is a must for us but I don’t have a car and live in a big city where buggy isn’t always possible to use

also don’t overdo it with clothes! my baby was in 0-3 months clothes for less than 2 weeks and then we was needing 3-6 months so loads was never touched ! And he was into 6-9 months fairly quickly after) and now he’s in 9-12 month clothes (he’s only 5 months)

so you’ve no idea of the size your baby will be until he or she is here :)

A little brain dump so sorry if it's confusing:
My advice would be not to overbuy pre baby as so much is dependent on the baby.
Eg bottles - buy one of a few different brands because your baby might reject one brand but take another and if you're got a whole set of one brand you've wasted money.
If you don't overbuy before baby is here you'll have more cash to spend on things that you think will help with specific problems you're having with your baby. You will have middle of the night panic buying for things that you now feel you need that you never would have thought of before.
Eg, my friend needed a 'rockit' for their pram because they're baby woke up anytime they stopped walking with the pram. Whereas once mine was asleep they wouldn't wake back up if you stopped walking. Those aren't cheap so you want to be able to buy something like that if its going to make you life a lot easier but you won't know if you need it until baby arrives.
Buy clothes if you want but the number 1 gift you will get is cute outfits from people because everyone loves buying tiny clothes.
100% recommend second hand, especially for baby clothes that hardly get any wear. Baby books etc.
We had tons of baby grows etc but I didn't have a sicky baby so she wore the same outfit for days at a time! Most of her clothes got packed back up unworn as she went through sizes so quickly.
I found that in terms of baby carriers/baby seats etc the ones my friends recommended my baby didn't like anyway, so if possible try to borrow or buy second hand so if they don't like it you can afford to buy a different option.
Get a red light lamp for overnight wakes!
Have a look at baby baths - we found the schnuggle one meant you didn't have to use one hand to hold the baby up like some, so keep an eye out for that when choosing.
Definitely recommend a rotating car seat, makes a huge difference getting them in and out of the car easily. (Unless you go for a carry car seat initially, but even then as the next stage up I really recommend)
Second hand pram will save you hundreds of pounds, they're so expensive!
We bought a moses basket & a next to me (second hand but new mattresses) - with the intention of moses basket downstairs to put baby down and next to me in our bedroom. Baby refused next to me, never slept in it, loved the moses basket. Again second hand means you haven't wasted too much money.

Not a list but a hint I now swear by...

Pick a colour for the first size(s) clothes and stick with it as much as possible.

For example most of my newborn and 0-3 clothes are white as it makes chucking it all in one wash so much easier. Same as my muslin squares and bedding etc.

I do have a few coloured/character bits but the white suits, squares and vests go on constant rotation and because I can throw them all in the wash together I don't need as many as they are washed quicker.

(this "trick" was so handy for my 2nd baby who was reflux baby and threw up on everything - I used to just bundle all the sicky stuff up and throw it all on a white boil wash each night, no sorting colours etc)

Things that were absolute godsends with my first

• love 2 dream sleepsuits.

• a baby sling that's lightweight and easy to secure yourself. Mine was a close caboo lite.

• a nappy caddy with changing mat to keep downstairs so you're not constantly going up and down stairs (I just got a cheap one from amazon)

• muslin cloths. Millions of them.

• a good travel system. Look at FB market place for good deals on second hand.

Other than that, it's just the usual nappies, wipes, cream etc and whatever you'll need for feeding whether BF or bottle feeding. A few starter babygros (get the ones with built in mittens) and layers for keeping baby warm.

You'll also need postpartum items for yourself

Don't buy
Baby bath - can use a sink. Hurts your back filling and emptying
Bottles etc until you know you will use them
Cloth nappies until you know you will use them
Toys

Do buy
Push chair with pneumatic wheels as easier to push
Baby sling.

I would get most things second hand from eBay or Facebook marketplace or local second hand shops

I agree with not getting a baby bath, pointless item, but not the sink thing. Both have the disadvantage of you having to hold the wet slippery baby with one hand and try to wash them with the other. Never got the point or the hang of it. Bath seat however like the Angelcare one was brilliant. Just run a few cm of water and they lie in the seat so you can have both hands free for them.

Prime example of there not being a single thing that everyone needs or gets on with though.

100% the anglecare and just put a muslin on it before you sit them in it and a muslin over them in the seat to keep them warm it's a great affordable option.

I do think it's a bit personal, there were things I used loads and found invaluable that friends/family didn't and other things they used etc I didn't. My personal tips would be:

• don't bother with outfits, vests and sleepsuits are much easier in the early weeks and socks fall off.
• a wrap, i found a simple wrap was much more comfortable for me and baby than any of the carriers. I'm Scotland so got one in the baby box
• breastfeeding, if you can and want to, personally I feel it saved so much faff and money with bottles etc. Get a couple of decent nursing bras and tops.
• muslins and bibs, you use a lot of these.
• imo things not to bother with - baby bath, nursing chair
• Shnuggle Squishy Changing Mat I know this seems ridiculously pricey for a changing mat but imo soo worth it. Both my babies would lie for hours content on here, it's not cold and horrible feeling like other changing mats, and it's slightly tilted so baby isn't lying dead flat
• Tiny Love 3-in-1 Baby Rocker and Napper | Smyths Toys UK Mine also loved this and I used it as a downstairs bed instead of a moses basket, it vibrates and plays music so great for naps.