Preparing for a new baby is a whirlwind of a time. It’s so exciting, but it can sometimes feel a little overwhelming at times. Not only do you have to mentally prepare yourself for the arrival of your little one and the fact that you’ll soon be responsible for another human, but you also have to prepare yourself for all the STUFF that babies require. It can be very confusing figuring out what to buy for baby, given the fact that there is just so much out there to choose from. And it’s very easy to get wrapped up in the excitement and buy ALL THE THINGS even if you don’t really need them. I sure did! When I was pregnant with Aidan, I found myself looking at (and subsequently buying) a lot of “new baby essentials” that, frankly, I didn’t need.
Here are some of my baby must haves! I do realize that this is all relative – what may be essential for one parent, may not be for the next. We’re all different, with different parenting styles. But I thought I would share these, as they are all the products that I’ve genuinely used over the last ten months. All of these essentials can be found at Mamas & Papas, meaning you can get all of your shopping done for baby in one shot! Talk about productive.
So if you’re working on your list of new baby essentials or your registry, then make sure you save this post.
GEAR
Side-Sleeping Crib – Buying a side-sleeping crib was probably one of the best purchases that we made. It attaches right to your bed, so all you have to do is lift baby out. It makes the night feeds so much easier, I swear. We used the Chicco Next2me, which was great. It could be used as a stand-alone crib, side-sleeping crib, and as a travel crib (not that we went anywhere, but the option was there!). We purchased this type of crib when he was born instead of an actual crib as we didn’t feel that we needed the actual crib yet. Aidan was still in our bedroom, waking up constantly at night, etc. You don’t really NEED to buy a huge crib right when they’re born, especially if they’re in your room. We kept Aidan in the Chicco Next2me until he was six months old, and then purchased him a proper crib. Mamas & Papas has a large range of side-sleeping cribs to choose from.
Pram/Pushchair & Car Seat – I put so much thought into these purchases. There are so many different safety regulations and different types that it can make your head spin! Do I get a travel bundle or buy everything separately? Isofix or no isofix? And most importantly, will it match my car?! (Just kidding, unless you’re my husband…). We bought a starter bundle when I was pregnant. A starter bundle comes with a carrycot and pushchair (so it can convert and grow with your child). There are also options that come with an infant car seat. We opted for one with the infant seat. I think getting a bundle is a really great option if you’re completely overwhelmed by all of the choice out there. You can get everything needed all at once. It’s also so handy to be able to just attach the infant car seat right onto the pram base for quick trips out. Aidan has now grown out of the actual infant seat, so we’ve upgraded to the Joie Every Stage car seat. It transitions from newborn to 12 years old, which is so great because it keeps you from having to change car seats. We’ve only had it a couple of weeks, but already used it on a trip up to Leeds and Aidan was so comfortable that he pretty much slept the whole way! I cannot recommend it enough!
CLOTHING & ACCESSORIES
Onesies & Sleepsuits – We were gifted so much adorable clothing for Aidan but guess what? Most of the time he just wore onesies and sleepsuits. You’re going to go through so many of these, so these are the clothing items that I definitely recommend stocking up on. Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice to dress baby up, which I did do…when I felt like it. But honestly, Aidan was a winter baby, which meant we weren’t leaving the house much anyway, so what was the point? So basically, what I’m saying is yes, buy the cute frilly outfit or the adorable little suspenders, but make sure to stock up on the things you know you’ll need day to day.
Trousers – I recommend having a few pairs of really soft trousers or leggings to just put on over a onesie. Literally the easiest outfit ever.
Hats, Scratch Mitts & Socks – You really only need a few of each of these. Is it absolutely adorable to match a hat with every outfit? Yes, yes it is. But not practical whatsoever.
Dreampods– I never put Aidan to bed for the night without wearing his dreampod. I don’t put it on him when he’s taking a nap, but it MUST be on when I put him to bed. It’s the part of his routine that signals it’s bedtime. Make sure you buy different togs for each season.
CHANGING
Nappy Bin – I honestly feel so weird saying nappy; I’m so used to calling them diapers that it just feels STRANGE (#america)…okay anyway, getting back to the point. If I could suggest anything, it’s not only to get a nappy bin, but I’d even go so far as to say get TWO. We keep one up in the bedroom, obviously. However, we spend most of our time downstairs. So I would recommend getting one for the area that you spend the most time in as well.
Changing Mat – We simply put one of these on top of a chest of drawers. It’s the perfect height to change him on, and it wipes clean.
Diapers & wipes – Need I say more?
Rash Cream – Sudocrem is hands down the best nappy rash cream!
FEEDING
Bottles – This obviously goes without saying if you are bottle-feeding. If you’re breastfeeding, I’d definitely recommend having a few bottles handy. I breastfed Aidan in the beginning and had some issues when I came home which meant I had to give him formula in a pinch. Plus, if you plan to express/pump then of course you’re going to need to have some bottles eventually. Breastfeeding is incredibly hard to begin with, so just know that you always have options when needed.
Breastpump – I bought the Medela Swing Flex. It works really well, but next time I would splurge for the double pump.
Breast Milk Storage Bags – Put in the freezer to build up a good milk stash.
Muslins – We bought muslins in bulk. They are so handy, and can be used for so many different things! As burp cloths, to bathe baby with, and I even use them myself. We honestly just scatter them around the entire house so we always have one there when needed (which is very frequently!).
BATHING
Multi-stage Bathtub –These bathtubs are great, as they can be used from birth until baby is about a year old. So baby can lay on one side, and once able to sit up, you simply swap to the other side! The one that we have even has a little thermometer sticker on the side of it.
Bath Seat – Of course, the bathtub is great unless your baby is a climber like mine. We had to ditch the bathtub for a bath seat so we could confine him, but I’m definitely keeping it to use for our next baby!
Towels – The hooded ones are the best.
Washcloths – We use terry washcloths, but you can also use a muslin.
Bath & Skincare Products – We always use a gentle baby bath wash and lotion after Aidan’s had his bath. Bathtime routine CANNOT be disrupted!
Bath Thermometer – When it comes to bath time, I don’t take any chances with the bath temperature.
GOOD TO HAVE
Baby Monitor – I actually wasn’t going to buy one (I don’t know, I’m weird) but I’m so glad I did. It’s just easier to get stuff done AND keep an eye on him while he’s asleep, than constantly going up and checking in on him. If you want a really high-end monitor, there are some great options out there, but I do recommend a video baby monitor, which is so easy to use.
Forehead Thermometer– So much easier than trying to hold a regular one in a squirming baby’s armpit.
Healthcare/Grooming Kit– Apart from the thermometer (see above!), I use everything in this kit.
GroEgg2 – I definitely find this room thermometer be a necessity! I won’t lie, it’s not 100% accurate with the temperature, but it’s pretty close.
NOT ESSENTIAL (BUT COULD BE USEFUL)
+ TIPS FOR SHOPPING
Baby Bouncer – Moses Baskets are a bit cumbersome in my opinion. Yes, they are the perfect accessory for a really cute Instagram photo/baby announcement but chances are, you’ll be holding your baby a lot of the time. I’d recommend getting a baby bouncer if you’re looking for somewhere to put baby when you need free hands.
Top & Tail Bowl – We skipped this completely and just put Aidan in a baby bath tub when we started bathing him.
A huge stockpile of nappies – You do not, and I repeat DO NOT need to hoard dozens of packs of nappies before baby comes. Just buy a pack or two, in case you decide to change brands or something. Plus they grow out of the Size 1 nappies a lot quicker than you think.
Loads of swaddles – I bought DOZENS of swaddles. If I saw a cute swaddle, I bought it. I imagined taking gorgeous photos of Aidan perfect swaddled like a little angel. Did I do that? NOPE. I didn’t swaddle him at all. I probably should have, because he was one of those babies that just flung his arms out ALL THE TIME. But hindsight is a great thing. Swaddling isn’t for everyone; I personally found it very difficult. I know some people love it and find it so helpful for their babies. Mamas & Papas has great options if you swaddle your baby, like these swaddle wraps.
Baby Changing Station – Purchasing an entire nursery set with changing station is a great option for some people, but not a necessity. I basically created my own changing station by simply placing a changing mat on top of a chest of drawers. All of his nappies, creams, etc. were already in there, so job done.
Bottle/Food Warmer – Another product that I personally didn’t find necessary. Any time we needed to heat a bottle up I just ran it under warm water (or placed in boiling water in a bowl/pot).
Baby Swing – I splurged on a swing and Aidan hardly ever used it. To be honest, I think he was in it a handful of times before he quickly grew out of it. We ended up buying him a bouncer, which he loved. When he was old enough, he loved being able to bounce/rock himself. Remember, some babies take to some things more than others, and that’s okay! You just have to find out what works for you and your baby.
Diaper Caddy – Just keep a pack of nappies and wipes downstairs. You’ll keep forgetting to refill the caddy. Trust me, I know from experience.
Okay mamas, what were YOUR new baby essentials? And what did you buy that was a complete waste of money? Let’s share some experiences and tips with one another!
