New Baby Essentials

So the baby came! His name is Leon Kalim and he's the sweetest.

It's been nearly 5 years since we last had a newborn and so much has changed! This time around when I found out I was pregnant I wanted to make sure we saved money by only buying what would be really useful - I can't tell you how helpful it was to read other bloggers lists of essentials and I loved being able to see what other mums recommended - so for any soon to be mamas, here is my list of what we used and loved.

swaddle blanket - crib - sleep suits - blanket - rocker - bottle - stroller - vest - bath support - baby gym - soothers (similar) - car seat - pram suit - changing mat - changing bag 

Everybody has their own list of essentials - things that some parents love others don't enjoy using - but if we had a do over these are the only things we would buy for a new baby.

Sleeping

1 Crib

We used a Moses basket for the girls which worked fine, was super cute and a great price, but this time a friend lent us a Chicco crib and I love it! I especially love that you can position the mattress on an incline, something that I think helped all my kids to sleep better. 

2 Sheets

I like using jersey fitted sheets when its warm and a soft blanket as a sheet in the winter. Either way I found I only really needed 2 - they wash and dry so quickly.

4 Blankets

I've found that I only ever use 4 - all the other ones we have sit in the drawer. 

2 Swaddle blankets

I bought a ton of muslin swaddle blankets but really loved using a Groswaddle that we were gifted. It was so easy to use and worked so well - I think 2 would be enough, just like sheets they wash and dry quickly. 

***we didn't use a cot, sleeping bag or baby monitor until about 3 months so although you will probably want to buy these you could definitely hold off until after the baby is born. 

Eating

6 Bottles

I combined nursing and formula feeding with all 3 of my babies - I used these Tommee Tippee bottles and didn't have any problems when I started introducing them at about a month old. Because it's advised to wash the bottles soon after using them I found 6 was enough (if you have these bottles these mugs from Ikea are the perfect size for filling with cold water to cool the milk down).

12 Muslin squares

I find that bibs don't work as well as a folded muslin square for tiny babies - milk tends to find it's way under a bib. I fold the square into a triangle, tuck it under baby's neck and drape it over their shoulders at feeding time. 

*** I use Milton fluid and a large tupperware for sterilising - I find it easier than steaming. 

*** This time I've used Hipp Organic formula - Leon hasn't had any tummy problems and I really like that it's organic and usually the cheapest option. If you use formula a milk dispenser is so useful - this Avent one is the best one I've used, it's so easy to fill and clean.

*** For nursing I highly recommend Lansinoh nipple cream and disposable breast pads from day one (these were my favourite) - both for stopping any cracking or bleeding and preventing infections. 

Clothing

14 Sleep suits

I think tiny babies look the cutest when they're all cosy in sleep suits - and they really are the easiest for constant newborn nappy changes - so I save buying outfits until about 3 months and instead just buy a stack of sleep suits - they grow so quickly so I try not to buy too many of each size - for me 14 was enough. 

14 Vests

For another warm layer for winter babies or to wear alone on hot summer days.

2 Pram suits

All my babies were born in colder months so a couple of pram suits - one to wear and one to wash - was the easiest way to make sure they were nice and warm when we ventured out.

2 Hats

For keeping winter babies warm and summer babies cool.

*** If you buy sleep suits with feet and built in scratch mitts you won't need extra socks, shoes or mitts.

Changing

2 Changing mats 

I like to keep one upstairs and one down stairs for quick and easy nappy changes.

1 Changing bag

I use a regular bag with an organiser like this one - it works great and was so much cheaper than buying a real changing bag (and easier to find one I liked in my budget). I use these hooks to attach my bag to my stroller.

Wipes

We used Huggies Pure wipes for the first couple of weeks, and then Mamia sensitive wipes from Aldi - we get through a lot of wipes and non of our babies had any problems with sensitivity so we were happy to switch to cheaper ones (I used to use these Smart Price wipes but I always needed to use 2 at a time - the Mamia ones are much thicker, I use less and it works out cheaper).

Nappies

Nappies are so much better now than they were 5 years ago! I use Aldi nappies - they are cheap and soft and except for the occasional blow out we don't have any problems with leaking even over night. 

***if you use cotton wool and water for brand new baby nappy changes, big flat cotton wool pads like these are so much easier than the little cotton balls, and filling an empty squeezey bottle with cooled boiled water is easier than filling a bowl for every change. 

Traveling

1 Stroller

For most people a buggy is the biggest investment - they can be SO expensive. If you usually use a car to get around or are planning to use a baby carrier most of the time I would really recommend buying a really good value travel system like this (most of my friends who drive have swapped their buggies for light weight fold-able pushchairs after only a couple of months because buggies are bulky and hard to get in and out of the car). But if, like me, you have to walk with your buggy every day and you are able to spend a bit more it's so worth getting one you really love and that you find easy to use. Try them out in the store and find one that you find comfortable to push (make sure the handle is high enough fir you so you don't have to stoop to push) - try folding and unfolding it and find out if it has all the features you think would be useful. 

We were so so lucky to have been given a barely used Britax B-Smart buggy by a friend. It's great and I love that the seat relines all the way so there's no need for an extra carrycot. The seat can be forward or rear facing and there is a big, easy to access basket at the bottom - perfect for walking to school and grocery shopping each day.

1 Car seat

We were also gifted our infant car seat - it attaches to our buggy which is a nice feature but honestly the infant seats are outgrown so quickly - if I was buying my own I would definitely buy a group 0-1 car seat that lasts from birth to about 4 years.

Bathing

1 Bath support

I didn't have a bath support when the girls were little but this time I have found it so so useful! Bathing a new born is tricky but a bath support made it so much easier - We have this Angelcare one and I've been recommending it to everybody! It's a bit of a luxury but it's also so useful as an extra baby seat upstairs (I just drape a blanket over it).

Baby wash

We use this one from Asda which can be used as bubble bath, soap and shampoo - for me having only one bottle makes bath time easier. 

Nail Clippers

Baby's nails grow so fast and can cause scratches for everyone - cutting them is never fun but using clippers instead of scissors when baby is asleep makes it a little easier. 

*** Hooded baby towels are nice but they can totally be skipped - regular towels work fine. A baby bath is so useful if you only have a shower but we always preferred just using our bathtub.  

Playing and Napping

1 Baby gym

Although these aren't great for tiny newborns I found that my kids have enjoyed them from about a month old. We were lent this Mama's and Papa's play mat that was super cute and great for newborn naps but we found this Baby Einstein one was much better long term (I think it's now discontinued - this one is similar). The toys are detachable, Leon loves the music and lights and now he's a bit older it's also great for tummy time.

1 Rocker

Rockers are really great for having somewhere safe to put the baby down when you need your hands free and ones with vibration are really great for soothing newborns. We got this Comfort & Harmony one for Leon because I thought it looked perfect for cradling tiny babies and it was so cute and compact - but I really wish we had gotten a Fisher Price Infant to Toddler Rocker - we had one for the girls and although it took up more space it was soooo much better. I would really recommend getting one with different reclining positions - the one we have is too upright for a newborn and too reclined for Leon now he's bigger.

6 Soothers

Dummies aren't for everyone but I find them so useful and use them until the baby's sucking reflex cools off at about 6 months. 'Cherry shaped' soothers were the best for my kids (they would accidentally spit out the orthodontic ones). I found that 6 was enough that we could have a couple sterilising and still always find one when we needed it.

Laundry

Washing Liquid

I use biological washing powder for our clothes but use non-bio liquid for baby clothes until they are about a year old - my babies have been prone to skin rashes and I found switching to a gentle detergent prevented any irritation. 

Fabric softener

I usually skip it but because I wash baby clothes so often and usually on high temperatures I use Comfort Pure fabric softener to stop them getting too stiff - plus I love them smell!

Drying racks

Laundry really starts to pile up when you have kids and if, like me, you don't have a dryer having a good drying rack is a game changer. I invested in the Mulig ones from Ikea a couple of years ago - I have two and I love love love them, but when Leon came along I also picked up a couple of these radiator dryers from Poundland - they work great for tiny vests and sleep suits and I can have a whole load of baby clothes dry in a couple of hours. 

I'd love to hear what baby products all you seasoned professionals recommend - and a huge congratulations to any pregnant ladies reading this - you're beautiful, strong, and you're going to be an amazing mum!