What items are essential for a new baby?

[BexJ78]

Title says it all really. Am due in December with DC1, so have just started getting a few bits for the nursery, but not sure what I absolutely have to get and what are going to ultimately be unnecessary purchases.

Also, on another point, at what stage should you start bathing your baby? DH said that for the first few weeks you just wash them, but I thought you could give them a bath from the start?

Very grateful for any help - am soooo clueless unprepared for all of this!

Burping cloths and some good swaddling blankets, little soft hats for a winter baby. Long mitts that prevent face scratching when they get to the age when they try to scratch their eyes out. Clippy things for the cot sheets, to keep them tight under the mattress. Several really big thick white towels to line the cot with do you don't have to change the sheets several times every day. If you bf, a bfing bra that makes you feel like a woman. If you have a snowsuit, get one with nylon lining in the sleeves (and legs if it has legs). Avoid flannel-lined anything -- it's too hard to push newborn limbs into anything but nylon. If you get a carseat, get a U-shaped pillow to wrap around the baby's head and prevent the headless horseman look. Sheepskins are wonderful.

I was told not to give a full bath until the cord dropped off and the belly button was healed. Until then, top and tail, especially in the armpits, palms of hands if you can get in to wash them, and under the chin(s). I had a plastic baby bath but had a very hard time using it in the bathtub because of the leaning over and sore tummy muscles. Couldn't fill it or empty it elsewhere, so I ended up using the kitchen sink (sterilised before and after the bath). I got rid of a changing table because it was much easier to use a washable travel changing pad on the floor or bed.

I think the advice is usually to wait for bathing for a few days e.g. until cord stump drops off. Don't think it's "compulsory" however you'll have enough to do without worrying about baths. Top and tail with cotton wool and water and that'll be fine, they don't get dirty (except from sick and poo).

Lots of muslins and I would second comments about using wipes, not cotton wool - but if you do want to follow the cotton wool and water advice for nappy changes smear vaseline all over the baby to stop the tarry poo sticking or it will be a nightmare.

I found litres of gatorade really important in the first days of bfing, for some reason. Also that plastic thing you put over the carseat so it baby doesn't get soaked/freezing between car and house. And a fleece carseat liner than zips up all snuggly round the baby so you don't have to bother getting those teeny arms in and out of coats and snowsuits.

All irrelevant if you don't have a car though.