NOW CLOSED Tell Amazon.co.uk your top 5 'must-have' products for when you have a baby - you could win a £100 Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate

[KatieBMumsnet]

You may have seen another thread recently on MN telling you about the new Amazon Family programme. Here's what Amazon.co.uk say about the service:
"We know that the amount of information available on what to buy when you have a baby can be overwhelming, and that making the right choice is not always easy," said Samantha Nash, Family Manager at Amazon.co.uk Ltd and mother of two young children. "We have launched Amazon Family to help our customers find the right products at the right price, along with hundreds of product reviews to help guide them in their decision. With special offers available to Family members across a wide range of products from nappies, children's shoes, toys and beauty products, it helps parents save precious time and money, with orders delivered direct to your door."

Amazon.co.uk would like to know which products you really need when you have a baby. What was your absolutely essential bit of kit? Was there anything you bought maybe when pregnant or at home with a newborn that you later found out you didn't really need or never used?

Please share your top 5 'must have' and top 5 'not so necessary' baby products with Amazon.co.uk. Your advice may be used to help them create a list of top tips on what you do and don't need when you have a baby. Your comments may also be used in an email MNHQ will be sending out soon.

Everyone who adds their comments to this thread will be entered into a prize draw to win a £100 Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate. Ts&Cs can be found here

If you've not already signed up to the free three month trial of Amazon Family there's still time. By signing up you can gain access to discounts on a wide range of family products, three months free subscription to Amazon Prime giving unlimited One-Day Delivery on millions of eligible items, £10 off your first order over £50 in the Baby Store, and up to £50 worth of exclusive offers every month. Find out more here.

Thanks and good luck.

MNHQ

[Pandemoniumwearspurpleshoes]

Must haves:

1. Vests and babygos
   
2. Nappies and cotton wool (initially) then wipes
   
3. Muslins - white for bottoms and pretty coloured ones for everything else
   
4. Baby sleeping bags
   
5. Feeding pillow
   
6. Tumble drier (winter baby!)
   

Not necessary:

1. Proper clothes for baby- dungarees, jeans etc - too fiddly until 3-4 months old
   
2. Scratch mitts - difficult to put on, and didn't stay on long, better to get babygros with mitts built in
   
3. Snowsuit - too difficult to get a wriggly baby into!
   
4. Teddies, just not interested until much older
   
5. Top and tail bowl - bought by dh in panic mode I think! I use plastic pots/Gu pots

[InterpretativeRepertoires]

Most useful;
big enough bed to sleep in comfortably if bf at night
comfy big pants for post birth and moist loo roll!
two changemats - one for upstairs and one for downstairs
breast pads for leaking boobs
nightgowns with zips/drawstrings rather than poppers when nappy changing at night

Pointless buys
Sling - my babies hated theirs for several months
nappy wrapper bin thing - just smelly
disposible pants - just buy cheapies from primark
babyclothes other than sleepsuits - just impractical
teething rings - does anyone's baby ever use them??

[MainlyMaynie]

Must haves:
Muslins
Sling
Amby hammock
Nappy bin
Tummy tub

We could have managed without a pram for a good few months.

[MainlyMaynie]

I forgot the feeding cushion, could not have managed without it!

[seabuckthorn]

Nappies & wipes
Cot wedge
Crib
Muslins
Swaddling blanket

[OneTwoOrThree]

Must haves:
1 - nappies (lots of, although beware as they grow through the early sizes really quickly)
2 - wipes / cotton wool and water (whatever you prefer)
3 - lansinoh & breast pads (if bf, otherwise I guess you need bottles, steriliser and formula)

[GetKnitted]

1. Nappies. 2. wipes. 3. cot 4.plenty of onesies 5.pushchair/carseat (sorry that might be 6!
   

don't need

1. outfits (other people will probably give them!). 2.baby monitor (unless you live in a palace, if baby is crying you'll hear them(IMHO)).

[Tinkerisdead]

Must haves:

1. Lansinoh ( its what enabled me to feed really well with no cracking etc. miracle cream)
   
2. A good buggy thats flexible for your needs. I use a bugaboo chameleon and to have forward or rear facing, off road or city, sun hood or footmuff etc. brilliant.
   
3. A bouncy chair. Cheap as you like but just having a place to put them was heavenly.
   
4. Grobag especially a travel version. Perfect for just picking baby out of car and into cot already ready for bed.
   
5. A camera. You'll take a thousand photos even of an impressive poo at times!!
   

Waste of time:

1. Top/tail bowl. Seriously, one bowl dont double dip you'll be fine if you know a head from an arse!
   
2. Baby bath. Get a bath support and use the big bath. Better still use the sink!
   
3. Big frilly dresses. They just bunch up around your babies ears from all that kicking/wriggling. Sleepsuits are far better.
   
4. Bottles/steriliser etc. boobs are free.
   
5. Cot bedding bales. Just use a grobag and you wont worry about layers and heat levels.

[LollopingLil]

Top five:
-iPad - saved getting stuck with nothing to watch/read but unable to move
-What DH kindly refers to as my 'vagina pads' (gel ice packs for perineal injury)
-Lansinoh
-iPad
White noise CD

Bottom five:
-Expensive reusables (I never got past 'temporarily' using disposables )
-Sterilising kit
-Dummies, but only because the little blighter wouldn't take one
-Five thousand slightly different bouncy/vibrating etc chairs
-Baby's first swim suit. He'd grown out of it before I was ready to venture to the pool.

[ceeveebee]

My must haves for twins

1. Baby bjorn bouncy chairs - can bounce one with each foot and useful for tandem bottle feeds
   
2. Travel cot with bassinette and changing mat for downstairs naps so they can sleep together instead of in seperate baskets
   
3. Tandem travel system with car seats
   
4. Baby bath seats so I could bath them together on my own
   
5. Baby monitor that also plays lullabies
   
   Not so useful
   
6. Double sling - used twice, cost £90!
   
7. Twin feeding cushion - was so huge it was easier to just use normal pillows/cushions
   
8. Baby bath - only used for first couple of weeks
   
9. Bottle warmer - jug of boiling water just as quick
   
10. Iron. Who has time??

[Cahoots]

Yes
Washing machine
Push chair
Nappy changing paraphernalia
Bouncy chair
Pram

No
Overly expensive pram
Excess baby clothes
Too many toys
Baby shoes
Special baby towels

[CheeryCherry]

Nappies/wipes
Sudocreme
Bibs
Blankets
Baby's first book& nice pen to jot down all special moments. (yes I did it for all 4!)

Not needed...
Baby bath (get in big bath with them)
Changing station (put changing mat on chest of drawers)
Nappy bin (why?)
Soothing whale music...
Baby sling

[ICutMyFootOnOccamsRazor]

Must have:
Car seat
Nappies
Sleepsuits
Sling/baby carrier
Changing mat - so useful for exploding poos


Not useful:
cotton wool - why?
toys - not til much later
steriliser - although comes in handy for chutney jars
breastfeeding pillow - pointless
shampoo, bath wash, baby oil etc - still have it all, unused.

[ICutMyFootOnOccamsRazor]

Oh, and forgot the most useless baby thing of all - I give you...the wipes warmer.

[WhatWouldWitchesDo]

Must have:
Nursing bra and Breast pads (cloth not disposable)
Nappies (cloth) and Wipes (cloth not disposable)
Sleepsuits/babygros
Electronic breast pump
Sling

Didn't need:
Muslins
Toilettries
Denim outfits
Amby Hammock
Shoes

[stealthsquiggle]

Must haves:

Bouncy chair
Flannels (cheap, ikea, lots of, for all purposes, still in use 10 years later)
Car seat
Babygros
Changing table at the right height for parents' backs
Bottles and steriliser -BF doesn't work out for everyone, no matter what they tell you.

Pointless:

Just about everything else, really!

[notcitrus]

5 things vital before baby:
Grobags
Blankets to put baby on so could lift with one hand
Sleepsuits
Lots of laundry liquid!
Simple bouncy chair

5 things rapidly needed for me and my baby:
Electric breast pump
My Breast Friend cushion
Lansinoh breast pads
Functioning microwave and new kettle
Simple bulb snot sucker
And baby gym, swing, musical mobile and many more.

5 things I found useless:
Stay-hot drinks cup - not for long enough and not microwaveable
Cute outfits in first 6 months
Changing bag - couldn't fit washable nappies
Off-road buggy - I live in London and way too big
Most baby toys. Just keep giving mum chocolate and ready-cooked meals!

[MrsHoarder]

1. Changing mat
   
2. Bouncy chair
   
3. Muslin Squares
   
4. Vests and sleepsuits
   

5 Sleeping bag

Not used:

1. Bottles and formula (EBF baby wouldn't take the occasional bottle)
   
2. Scratch mitts
   
3. Baby toys (until about 3 months, by which stage family/friends had bought mountains)
   
4. Dummies
   
5. Baby shoes
   

Essentially because everyone loves buying/making for babies, its best to buy stuff so that they will let you out of hospital and that will get you through the first couple of weeks. Aside from that, order online/go out to the shops when you think you need something rather than buying it in advance.

[Bicnod]

Must haves:

1. waterwipes - no faffing around with cotton wool and water.
   
2. Lots and lots of muslins.
   
3. Sling - neither of mine tolerated the buggy til about 5 months.
   
4. sports bottle - to drink water easily in the night while lying down and feeding.
   
5. Infacol - bit controversial but seemed to help both of mine.
   

Didn't need:

1. Any clothes apart from babygros for first 3 months.
   
2. Buggy for first 5 months.
   
3. Cot mobile - meh.
   
4. Changing bag - just get one of those changing rolls and stick it in your own bag.
   
5. Special swaddle blanket - just use a normal blanket.

[MegBusset]

Essential:
Car seat
Sling
Bouncy chair
Muslins x loads
Breasts :)

Non-essential:
Complicated and expensive nappy-wrapping system
Bottles & formula (people said YOU MUST HAVE THESE with DS1; with DS2 I didn't bother)
Top & tail bath
Baby lotion/shampoo/bath foam (just use water)

[3bunnies]

Must haves:-

1. Nappies - large number which don't leak.
   
2. Sleepsuits - large number, not necessarily stain free or right colour, at 3am you don't care.
   
3. Muslins - protect your clothes, only necessary for first child, by the third child you have no nice clothes left.
   
4. Sling - far easier on public transport etc, and can be used around the house for the baby which doesn't want to be put down.
   
5. King size bed - this is the only one we don't have, cos our double is still functional, however it is the one thing I have craved over the years - more space if co-sleeping, an extra body could crawl in un noticed and more space for opening presents. If I could I would travel back in time and tell myself to spend the extra cash for a kingsize.
   

Waste of money:-
1: Baby bath - used it once, baby felt too slippery, ended up co-bathing.

1. Nappy bin - gets smelly, best to just chuck out regularly.
   
2. Booties - you just lose one and they don't serve any real function.
   
3. Socks for any child which doesn't have shoes. Again they fall off, you lose one and then end up with odd socks - for tiny babies just put sleepsuit under every outfit - in a sick emergency it is clothing in its own right, for older babies of either sex use tights, they don't know, and they can't pull them off.
   
4. Moses basket, 2 out of 3 hated it and grew out of it in 2 months.

[Sparkles23]

Top 5 must haves:
Sleepsuits
Nappies
Muslins
Bouncer
Babybjorn

Top 5 not needed
Baby bath
Baby socks
Nappy bin
Top and tail bowl (i used 2 old ice cream tubs one saying bum and one saying face!)
Outfits (ds lived in sleepsuits for first few months!)

[EwanHoozami]

Essential:

1 - Baby changing unit. Loads of people will say this is unnecessary but it saved my back to have them at the right height. I have the East Coast one which will happily turn into an unobtrusive shelving unit when my DSs have ditched the nappies.

2 - reusable nappies. Motherease.

3 - bouncy chair. Even small babies love to watch their surroundings and gives you some hands-free time.

4 - LoveFilm subscription. Early breastfeeds are looooong.

5 - blurb.com account for making books of the pick of the thousands of baby photos. Bit of an indulgence but what's the point of having a phone full of pictures? Makes great gifts for the family too.

Useless (for me):

1 - slings. Of any kind. Aforementioned bad back and giant babies made these into torture devices.

2 - door bouncer. SO hard to get babies in and out of.

3 - pram suits and snow suits. Lots
Of layered clothes and blankets are so much easier to manage.

4 - parasol for a pram. Why make the blooming buggies even more bulky? They never cover the right spot anyway.

5 - those special towels that clip round your neck. Just tuck a bath towel under your bra strap and save yourself twenty quid!