you have a friend who is about to give birth for first time: what is the ONE piece of baby kit you would recommend and the ONE piece you would tell her to avoid cos it's a complete waste of cash?

[gotogirl]

Ok, it's a hypothetical, but I am fascinated to know what bits of kit you loved and found invaluable and those that were only a good idea as long as the baby is in utero.....

For me, the best thing EVER was a Buddha Baby stretchy carrier.

and the worst (which is the flip side) was a Baby Bjorn carrier (the backache! ouch)

Please spill. But respect the rules, please, MNers! One in each category only!

Definitely need - bouncer chair!!
Don't really need - any clothers other than sleep suits for about 6 months!

Also, really wish I had got phil and teds first time around as would have saved a lot of cash. I now have 2 under 3 years and could not survive without phil and teds (as live in an area that we walk everywhere!)

Best - play gym
Worst - Travel cot

definately vibrating bouncy chair!

invest in a decent highchair when the time comes (instead of third time round getting the decent highchair...ooh the waste!!)

and get a proper pushchair 1st time round (only later invested in a p&t..to me a proper pushchair)

don't go too mad buying cute little outfits....keep them in babygros as long as poss.

do: bumbo (I think these are a love/hate thing though)
don't: bouncy chair thing (ditto)

I hate to say it but it completey depends on the baby!

Sling and bumbo were both a godsend with my first. My second hated both.

Overall, my best buy would be baby gym.

Worst buy would be bath seat. This was a present but it was useless.

With DS1 I loved my Boppy breastfeeding pillow (those V shaped ones just didn't do it for me) - but I didn't use it so much with DS2 (more confident then and just used any old cushion).

Wish I hadn't bought a high chair - we've used a travel high chair with DS2 and it takes up far less room.

Agree with hormonalmum that it depends on the baby.

DS1 LOVED the bouncy chair but DS2 hated it.

In all the best thing was my kari-me wrap that I got for DS2 and wished I had for DS1.

Worst is a toss up between the moses basket and the top and tail bowl

Different do's and don'ts for each of my Dc's.

For Ds the Best was breast pump. Worst was Sangenic Nappy bin after the first few months as the bin wasn't big enough to cope with many bigger nappies.

For Dd The best was The Wilkinet sling; it took me right through until age 2+ and would've been ok longer had she been an average length child. The worst was snowsuits because by the time she fitted them, it was too warm, so make sure things like that will fit if having a winter born baby.

I am sticking to the one each rule!

Best Buy - Tripp Trapp high chair. DS now 3 is still using it. It was the only thing I bought new, everything else I got handed down from friends or bought second-hand from NCT sale. They are a bit pricey, but worth it...

best thing - phil & teds buggy (with the doubles kit if you intend to have more than one child)

worst thing - cocoon for use with the buggy, you really won't use it very much.

Buy a Moby sling definitely, DS is 15 pounds and he is still so easy to carry. So nice to have a little snuffly face so close to kiss.

Don't buy a Baby Bjorn or similar. We used ours twice with DD and then sold it. Very uncomfortable and I couldnt get her in it on my own.

recommend - a u cushion.

not recommend - a light show, my baby just cried and hated it.

I disagree about the Phil and Ted's cocoon - we were lent one for DS2 and used it all the time. We had to give it back, so we've bought one in preparation for DC3. I think it depends whether you walk or use the car - I rarely use the car, so the cocoon is great - but if you have to keep shifting between car seat and pushchair, it's probably not that convenient.

Best - breast pump
Worst - Idiotic top and tail bowl. Totally unnecessary.

Don't buy - change table. Mat on floor/ bed is usually fine.
Do buy - wrap like moby wrap or ring sling.

Best - those two compartment cleaning caddies for carrying your furniture polish etc. in. I had one full of nappies, wipes and cream on each floor of the house that I could just tote around with me/take to people's houses.

Worst - cot-top changer, just put a change mat on the floor. They can't fall off the floor

Best - an Amby hammock

worst - a polystrene floaty bag thing so the baby would not go too deep into the bath

Worst buy - the rigid, tastefully coloured non-vibrating chair which matched the decor. Both dcs were unimpressed.

Best EVER buy - the garish Fisher-Price all singing all lit-up vibro chair which my dd and ds were both in love with and allowed me 20 mins to have a shower in the morning.

Best - baby sleeping bags - although also loved my changing table too. No broken back and running around to get the bits together.

Worst - breastpump. Couldn't work it for love nor money!

Worst - baby brush and comb kit (what was I thinking?!) or SIL's gift of 3 pairs of baby Timberland boots (v hard, never worn)

Best - any hard back/musical/lift the flap book

Best trip trap high chair and sleeping bags

Worst baby bath and expensive travel sytem pram thing

Best - Lansinoh, antilop high chair, bushbaby carrier and expensive and plasticky jumperoo.

Worst - any padded clothing/snowsuit, moby wrap (weirdo baby ), bouncing chair (but I too bought a crap tasteful one)

DS1 Best: Baby swing
DS1 Worst: Trip Trap high chair (fine when he was older but the baby set was no good - he was too fat bonny to use it.

DS2 Best: Baby Bjorn Baby sitter bouncy chair. I bought this for a tenner at a NCT type sale . It is the most basic but most bouncy chair and DS2 loved ituntil he grew out of at about 7 months. It retails for an extortionate 3 figure sum new but I would still recommend it.

DS2 Worst: Bumbo