Every mum-to-be is bound to face this overwhelming question: what will my baby need?
What do I need to buy? How to know what is good enough and necessary when the range of products (and prices!) is as wide as the gap in my baby-knowledge?! Asking around doesn’t always help either – babies and mums are different and so are their needs and preferences. And of course the baby product business is a huge industry which thrives on the insecurities of new parents and their understandable urge to offer their baby the best money can buy.
I’ve compiled a list of items categorised by their uses, which I’ve shared with you below. It’s based on common sense, tips from friends and family, NHS and Google. Not everything on the list is needed from day one, some perhaps never, but this should help me get started!
My Baby Essentials List
NAPPYING
- Nappy rash cream
- Dirty nappy bin
- Baby wipes or muslin squares
- Newborn nappies (10-12/day)
- Travel changing mat & cover
CLOTHING
- 8 all-in-one suits
- 6 vests (aka body suits), short and long sleeved
- 5 pyjama sets/sleepers
- 6 pairs socks
- 2 pairs soft booties
- 5-7 pairs stretch cotton pants/leggings
- 3 bibs
- Cotton sweater
- 1-2 cardigans
- Knit cap
- Mittens
- Warm all-in-one suit for winter
FEEDING
- Nursing pillow
- 6 burp cloths/muslins
- 6 bottles equipped with newborn teats
- Bottle warmer
- Bottle brush
- Insulated bottle holder for diaper bag
- Nursing bras
- Nursing pads for bras
- Breast pump and milk bags
- Nipple shields and cream
- Bottle steriliser
- Formula in case not enough mother’s milk
- Dummies
BATHING
- Hooded baby towels
- 2 packs of washcloths
- Cotton swabs
- Baby shampoo
- Baby body wash
- Baby bathing tub
- Baby nail clipper
- Soft brush and comb
- Digital thermometer
- Bulb nasal aspirator
- Mild soap for laundry (note: NHS says normal is fine)
LINENS
- 4 sheets (fitted are the most convenient)
- 2 cotton blankets
- 2 waterproof liners (one for the bassinet and one for the crib)
NURSERY
- Cot (bars 1-2.5 inches apart), Moses basket and stand
- Cot/Moses basket mattress (snug, no gaps) and waterproof mattress protector
- Rocking chair and footrest
- Chest of drawers
- Baby monitor audio/video
- Changing table/mat, mat cover
- A room thermometer
- Cosy baby sleeping bags
- A cute mobile and some blackout blinds
- Note: Cot bumpers are not recommended! No pillows or duvets in bed either!
ON THE GO
- A rear-facing baby car seat
- Pram (incl. carrycot for baby, rain cover, cup holder)
- Portable playpen (?)
- A changing bag
- Sling/baby carrier
PLAY
- Bouncy seat
- Baby books
- Baby music (?)
- Playmat with toys attached
SAFETY
- First aid kit
- Safety gates (for stair cases)
- Outlet covers
- Smoke & carbon monoxide alarms
Ok now that I’ve listed everything I could think of (not even 100% what all these things are!), I’ll start from the items that sound like I might need them straight away such as car seat, moses basket and changing mat. We will be moving not too long after the baby is born, perhaps a few months later, so I will not stock up now with anything I won’t need until then! And obviously I may not buy all this at all!
Last Saturday we spent a few hours at John Lewis Nursery Department familiarising ourselves with these products (i.e. how they even look like in real life!). We had a “nursery advise” appointment booked, but unfortunately I did not find this useful at all. Our sales person lacked confidence and knowledge which made his presence rather pointless. That being said, it was useful for us to take this time and to go see the stuff together because some of it, like prams, are very expensive and we should do our research on them before buying.
Shopping without buying anything is so frustrating!! But equally I don’t want to be silly and waste money. Now we are better informed and next time we will order some of the items! There is no rush, we have 13 weeks until due date, but sometimes delivery times are long (4-6 weeks). I’d rather not leave this until last minute in case our girl arrives early!
Time will tell how right or wrong I got this!!
xoxoxo,
Sini
PS. The picture above relates to shopping for me rather than baby but check out these smart slim trousers I got from Seraphine!