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What are your baby and toddler must-haves – and why? Chance to win a £200 Tesco voucher

68 replies

CeriMumsnet · 08/04/2026 12:02

The Tesco Baby & Toddler Event is back, and to mark the occasion we want to hear from you about the products you and your little one genuinely couldn’t do without.

From everyday essentials like nappies and wipes to feeding must-haves, toddler snacks and those game-changing finds you recommend to every parent you meet - we want to hear your top picks (and why you love them!).

We’ve spotted some great deals in the event on bulk-buy essentials and handy baby gear, so it’s the perfect time to stock up on your trusty go-tos or try a new recommended product!

Share your favourites below by 6 May for a chance to win a £200 Tesco voucher (T&Cs)

OP posts:
BristolMum96 · 08/04/2026 12:42

As an anxious first time mum, my best buy was a Gro Egg room thermometer. I was far too paranoid about overheating my winter baby! The handy layers chart helped put my mind at rest

sharond101 · 08/04/2026 18:43

A bumbo chair for sitting on the dining room table whilst we eat and a JUmperoo. Best purchases ever.

MerlinsBeard87 · 08/04/2026 19:49

For us it was an endless supply of muslins, a good bouncer chair and a toy that played white noise to help with sleep

treetop122 · 08/04/2026 20:28

Next to me cot was the best for us!
Also a good nightlight that would tap on/off/fade/bright and feeding pillow!

Kweenxo · 09/04/2026 00:52

In no particular order:

  • Pampers brand nappies (found these to be the only ones that didn't leak when put on properly)
  • Light bulb and night lamp with adjustable brightness so light wasn't too harsh on baby's eyes as the normal ones we used to use were just too harsh.
  • Adjustable height cot with a zip down compartment on the side suitable for newborns that could then be zipped back up so that it was suitable for bigger babies and toddlers
  • More than 2 nappy changing mats. I don't know why we thought 2 was the magic number but it's definitely not enough!

There's more, but those are from the top of my head

AnotherObliviousWife · 09/04/2026 12:01

I'm a second time mum and swear by Tesco's F&F nappies and pull ups.

Also Milton sterilising tablets - great for baby bottles but you can also use for wiping down surfaces / high chair etc. as baby grows. I still use them now and my youngest is 2!

chickenpotnoodle · 09/04/2026 13:38

I honestly love the Tesco Baby & Toddler Event – it’s the perfect excuse to stock up on all the things we go through so quickly!
For us, nappies and wipes are the absolute essentials. You can never have too many, and bulk buying during the event saves a lot in the long run. I’ve also found having a good stash of baby snacks is a lifesaver for days out.
One product I always recommend to other parents is a reliable sip cup with a safe lid, it made such a difference when we were transitioning away from bottles.
Another item I wish I'd had more of would be muslins! I don’t think you ever truly appreciate how useful they are until you have a baby, we use them for everything.
Definitely worth stocking up if you’ve got the space (and spare cash).

Britanniahouse · 09/04/2026 13:42

Another vote here for muslins, better than a bib, and always have one on my shoulder in the early days.
The event is a good way to stock up on food pouches and snacks for when we have days out in the summer - and the packs of nappies and wipes - next size up if you buy enough 54% off is such a good deal to make use of.

KrillBrill · 09/04/2026 14:37

Mini icecube trays with lids, to freeze fresh fruit puree to mix into yoghurt later.

JacCharlton · 09/04/2026 15:23

Hooded bath towels to wrap them in, lots of bibs or muslins, you go through 5 or 6 a day, and pampers - I've tried own brands - they are ok for during the daytime but always pampers for night time - it's worth it.
I could not do without breast pads - I had so much milk even between feeds, always needed a stock for multiple changes throughout the day.

Haleyscomets · 11/04/2026 15:35

My must haves are barrier cream, muslins, and a pram rocker for soothing when we are out. I have stocked up on Johnsons products - the best, love using them and how they smell, also nappies - go through so many and buying quality ones is really worth it.

Dizzywizz · 12/04/2026 13:45

Definitely things from Ella’s Kitchen like https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/323770711 - they don’t need to be in the fridge, so you can take them out and about for when the kids are screaming for a snack

Happywifehappylife18 · 13/04/2026 21:57
  1. Red castle cocoonababy.
originally we purchased a little sheep Moses basket. But I was always worried about it being knocked over. A friend gave me their cocoonababy and it served well until baby could roll.
  1. Dr browns anti colic bottles.
due to bad tongue tie my baby used to get terrible wind and gastro issues even with other anti colic brands. Dr browns worked so well from day 1
  1. Get a good breast pump.
we were in the hospital for a while after birth due to some health issues for us both. While there the hospital has me pump with hospita grade medela pump. It was fantastic. Came home to a tommie tippie one that was not great and not as effective and it was so noisy it sometimes woke baby up. My milk flow decreased so much after two days and we had to go buy a better one.
  1. Get some milk aid tea bags from Holland and Barratts. Can’t remember the name but you can look it up. These helped me a bunch.
ruqiya1965 · 13/04/2026 22:08

I swear by water wipes. They're more pricey than other wipes but very worth it for sensitive babies as more gentle.

saffysabir · 13/04/2026 22:20

Thermostat so that you know the room is at the perfect temperature. I also agree with a good breast pump. Don't go the cheap route, get one that is gentle but strong otherwise it'll be pointless.

yellowrocks · 13/04/2026 22:23

Sleeping bags

Whowhenwhatwear · 13/04/2026 22:28

Sleeping bag. I had a winter baby and was quite anxious about baby being too hot, too cold, so Sleeping bags were invaluable.

orangegato · 14/04/2026 12:03

Absolutely baby wipes. The savings are insane so I always make sure to stock up.

hannahp1209 · 14/04/2026 18:38

Mine was muslin cloths! You can never have too many! Stash in car, each room and changing bag!

incognito1991 · 14/04/2026 19:04

my daughter is currently 2, as a baby I could not live without:
Baby bouncer/jumperoo - she always wanted to be independently active and this really helped with her frustration of not being able to stand independently.
Ewan the sheep - this was a lifesaver at night time
Infacol - poor baby suffered badly with colic and cows milk allergy, I found this really helped

Now:
Megablocks Lego
Peppa pig
scuttle bug

Angelil · 14/04/2026 19:38

Perfect Prep machine - as a formula-feeding mum it was a lifesaver.
Philips Avent formula powder dispenser...amazing when travelling. I had a MAM formula dispenser too but the shape was not as good and you just couldn't get all the powder (that you had so carefully pre-measured...) out every time the way you could so easily with the Philips one. The Philips one was mess-free too.
Reusable wipes...they soak up the mess rather than just spreading it around like normal wet wipes do, and our wipes are still in service now that the kids are 7 and 3, for hands and faces as well as bottoms.
Ditto reusable nappies...both our boys were trained before they were 3 (at 2.5 and 2 and three quarters) and I do think them actually being able to feel that they were wet played a huge part in them being able to train relatively painlessly. To that end...the Oh Crap potty training book. Read it a few times once your baby turns 1, as even if you don't follow the method exactly to the letter...there will be some useful tips in there that you will retain for later, that you won't retain if you read it in a panic when your child is 2.5.
A set of foam tiles for whatever floor you are using as the children's main play area...so much nicer on your knees when you are down on the floor with them playing, especially if the floor is tiled or wooden.
An Audible subscription for long car journeys...f*ck giving them a phone or iPad to play with. Get them to listen to lots of stories and exercise their imaginations. If you all listen together then you can talk about the stories later as well. Our kids are well used to 12+ hour car journeys as both sets of grandparents live abroad, and they have never been given a screen in the car.

I am probably forgetting something! But those are the ones that immediately come to mind.

ladyluck13 · 14/04/2026 20:10

Grobags (winter baby, kept her cosy), kendamil formula (only one her lil body could stomach) and her ewan the sheep.

AnIncandescentGlow · 14/04/2026 20:22

A white noise machine, blocout blind and blackout curtains for naps and sleep!
Love to Dream swaddle bags helped us gain a few more hours sleep in the early months.
Baby Bjorn carrier for when my little one hated the pram.
Mamia nappies!

Theimpossiblegirl · 14/04/2026 21:07

Muslin cloths are always so useful for wiping, discreet breastfeeding, catching sick ups, emergency sun shades, hi chair belts, so many uses.

salemaxo · 16/04/2026 20:36

Have a number of changing mats, not just a couple but quite a number. Accidents happen and can happen one after the other so whilst you're waiting for the initial one(s) to dry, you need backup.

I'd also say a good number of blankets and different types of those for the different seasons.