What do you ACTUALLY need if you're having a baby?

ss3n08

I hope this is the right place to post but I am finding the sheer amount of products on the market for a new baby overwhelming and am wondering what things I will need immediately when I bring baby home.

Somethings I realise are essential like a car seat however, a cot isn't essential in the first few months.

From your experience, what is completely necessary and what can wait and what is completely useless?

pukkamum

I have had 3 babies and with each one the stuff I bought got less and less.
Cot - didn't get one til they had outgrown their moses basket, many don't bother with a moses basket but I wanted it for downstairs too.

Baby bath -cumbersome, only lasts till you get fed up with lugging it out, oh or you accidentally pull out the plug and flood the , living room. I had a fabric seat that sat in the bath, miles easier.

Moses basket sheets - a pillowcase fits perfectly and is easily replaced.

Big pram - mine were only in it for a while, soon switched to a lay flat buggy, so much easier for buses and shops.

Baby shoes - will fall off constantly, don't bother.

Bouncy chair - invaluable for a safe place to put baby.

Breast pads - at night I would use squares of towelling inside my bra, much more absorbent, stay put and easily washed.

Baby clothes - 3rd baby lived in babygroes for the first 3 months, so much comfier for them nd easy to deal with.

Sling/baby carrier - brill for shopping no pram to push and husbands are always fond of wearing them, mainly I think for the adoring looks from female's!

pukkamum

P.s basically I would just get absolute essentials for the first few weeks and work from there, essentials being, stuff to wear, stuff to clean, something for travel in oh and nappies.
They really don't need much else.

onlyroz

In general buy very little in advance, and then decide what you really need after the baby has arrived home. The key items are somewhere for the baby to sleep, a car seat if necessary, and a buggy that will lie flat. Most other things, even the majority of the baby's clothes, can be bought once baby is home.

Moses basket vs. cot is a personal preference. I never bothered with the basket and bought a cot-bed which my 4-year-old is still using now.

ss3n08

I'm torn between buying everything and pretty much buying nothing xxx

peachyprice

Not much really.

I always got the mulitpacks of plain white babygros and vests, no worries about mixed colour washing just bung them all in together, you can put them in a good hot wash if they get stained, and babies look so cute in all white.

I agree with PM, a bouncy chair is a must, it's your extra pair of hands when you need to put baby down safely and for rocking to sleep. Nothing too fancy needed though, just one that you can easily wash the cover of and isn't going to take an age to dry.

I had a travel system with a carry cot, nnot everyone does, but I'm a bit of a stickler for babies lying flat as much as possible, I got loads of use out of it because I used it for daytime naps downstairs.

Things you don't need;
Changing station - mat on the floor will do fine
Designer pram - Baby won't care as long as he/she is comfy
Separate nursery
Loads of tiny clothes that he/she will grow out of in the blink of an eye
Baby bath
Top n tail bowl

And loads more stuff they try to tell you is essential

Moggins_2

I love my changing table! No bending, everything in baskets where I can find it easily but is out of baby's reach. I will be gutted when my son is too heavy for it, I may just keep it for storage!

rpc

Why did this get moved? Doesn't it apply to dads too?

notanewuser

This question has been done to death on here, and usually results in a slanging match. OP, try the search function.

ss3n08

Will do, thank you

kathrynha

For me essentials were:
Cot - we had a moses basket only because we were given it, without it baby could of slept in pushchair downstairs
Car seat - obviously a legal need if you'll be travelling by car
Pushchair - doesn't need to be really expensive. Choose lightweight, easily foldable, fits in boot of car.
Bouncy chair - just a cheap one will do, it doesn't need to rock/vibrate/play music
Changing mat - If you get a travel one it will do for at home and out and about
Clothes - only vests, babygrows, hats, scratch mitt and cardigans and snowsuit for winter babies are needed
Bibs - if you have a spewy baby they will save you loads of washing

Useful but not essential:
Bath seat - especially if you are new to bathing babies, it frees up your hands a bit
Steriliser and some bottles - Even if you are planning on breast feeding they are there just in case. If you need them, you need them quickly, and my hubby wouldn't of had a clue what to buy
Sleeping bags - old fashioned blanket works just as well till baby gets active

Useful but not straight away:
Baby monitor - baby is in the same room as you at first

Waste of money:
Changing unit - what's the difference between that and a table with a box of nappies and wipes on it?
Nappy bin - unless your dustbin is miles away just take the pooey ones straight out and wet ones don't smell.
Baby bath - have you ever tried to carry a bath full of water without spilling it?
Toys - For at least the first 3 months baby isn't going to be interested in them

Check out your local freecycle, and facebook selling groups, as there are always loads of baby things on them, and if it's hard it can be cleaned with antibac spray and if it's soft it can be shoved in the washing machine. Only things second hand aren't reccomended for are car seats unless you know it hasn't been in a crash, and mattresses