What To Buy For Your Baby - ALL You Need To Know
Hi guys! So, today I wanted to make a post listing everything that you need to buy for your baby if you're a new parent to be. I will put a '*' next to things which are optional, so, things you might want or find useful but aren't necessary.
I would also like to say that I have based a lot of this post on the 'WHAT TO BUY FOR YOUR BABY' by Liat Hughes Joshi & Caroline Cosgrove, book which I received in one of my Project-B pregnancy boxes. It's full of great information! If you're interested in the Pregnancy Boxes, which have the book as well as many other amazing products, make sure you check out www.project-b.com
This is just a guide and you might or might not need all this stuff. It all depends on your circumstances :) Either way, I thought including everything was better. Enjoy.
Let's begin!
1. Clothing and Shoes
- Sleepsuits (6 in newborn size; 6 in the next size up)
- Short-sleeved bodysuits (6-8 in newborn size; 6-8 in the next size up)
- 2 cardigans in 0-3 months size (lightweight for summer, medium-weight for winter)
- 4 pairs of socks
- 2 hats
- 2 pairs of mittens (winter babies only)
- 2 pairs of scratch mitts
- 2-3 bibs
- 2-3 sleepgowns*
2. Nappies and changing accessories
- Nappies
- Towelling squares
- Cottonwool pads and/or wipes
- Lidded nappy bin; if using washables you also need two laundry nets or a waterproof but washable drawstring laundry bag
- Nappy sacks
- Nappy cream
- Changing mat*
- Changing bag or equivalent
- Nappy disposal unit*
- Wipes warmer*
Some of the things mentioned above are marked as optional but I will definitely buy a nappy disposal unit this time. You can get really cool ones, for nappies only, which lock in the smell completely. I think that's really handy as the nappy sacks only work so well, unless you're planning on running to the outside bin, everytime the nappy is a stinky one, I would recommend a nappy bin.
3. Bathing
- Bath support or baby bath with integral support
- Soft towel solely for your baby's use
- Flannel or sponge
- Baby nail clippers or scissors
- Hairbrush
- Baby Bath*
- Baby bath stand (only if you have a bad back)*
- Bath ring (for use from around six months)*
- Bath thermometer*
- Toiletries*
- Travel baby baths (unless you'll stay somewhere without a normal bath)*
- Bath dressers*
- Bath 'sets' (such as baby bath plus towel, top and tail bowl, toiletries)*
- Top and tails bowls
My mum bought William a baby bath when he was born. It was really cute; it had integral support as well as a built in bath thermometer (there's a picture on my instagram) and.. we only used it once. I much preferred just using the bath, but this time I will definitely invest in baby support that I can just put in the bath, because I already know I won't be using a baby bath.
4. Breast and Bottle Feeding Equipment and Weaning Items
Breastfeeding
- Breast pump (essential if you develop mastitis or engorgement)
- Breast pads
- Nipple cream
- 3 breastfeeding bras
- 2 feeding bottles
- Breast milk storage containers/bags
- Nipple shells/shields
- Breastfeeding clothes*
Bottlefeeding
- 6 feeding bottles
- Formula
- Formula dispenser
- Flask*
Both breast and bottle
- Steriliser
- Bottle brush
- Burp cloths/muslins and bibs
- Feeding pillow*
- Insulated bottle holder*
- Dishwasher basket*
- Bottle drying wrack*
- Bottlewarmer*
Weaning
- Weaning spoons and bowls
- Storage tubs and cubes
- Weaning bibs
- Highchair
- Training cups (from about one year)
- Baby food blender or hand blender (if making purées for weaning)*
Electric breast pump - I had a manual one the last time and it is so stressful. It takes twice the time to use and they can break really easily. It just wasn't convenient for me.
Nipple shields - I honestly don't know why midwives are against these. When I was breastfeeding William, there was a time where one of my breast was so full of milk and got so hard that William couldn't even latch on! The little shields helped William latch on. They're really great!
Dishwasher basket - They just look really cool, ha ha. I probably don't need one but will give them a try anyway!
5. Baby Beds and Bedding
- Small first bed such as a Moses basket, crib or carrycot, plus mattress or hammock*
- Cot or cot-bed plus mattress
- Bedding (if using a smaller bed first you will need two sets in two different sizes): 3-4 fitted and flat sheets, 2 mattress protectors and 4 blankets unless using sleep bags (2-3) in which case you need less blankets and no flat sheets
- Moses basket/carrycot stand*
- Baby sheepskin*
- Swaddling wrap*
- Cot bumpers*
- Cot separator (for twins only)*
- Cat net (essential if you have a cat)*
- Sleep positioners*
- Quilts, coverlets and pillows (not under 12 months)
We used a moses basket for the first six months with William and then we put him in his own room, in his cot. It wasn't one of the wooden cots, it was just a travel cot. The travel cot is now two years old and still going strong! This is what we will do this time as well, except, baby #2 will have a wooden cot that can then be changed into a toddler bed.
6. Nursery Furniture and Decoration
- Cot/cot-bed
- Storage - drawers, wardrobe or both
- Changing unit*
- A comfortable chair for feeding*
- Finishing touches*
- Blackout curtains or blinds, or blackout cot canopy*
- New lighting*
I will hopefully be getting a changing unit this time. Not for changing, but probably for storage, but it might be used for changing too, ha ha. I also want to get these cool things you can get for the wardrobe to make the space smaller (not as tall kind of thing?) so I can hang up baby stuff and then hang up more baby stuff straight underneath without a lot of the space getting wasted. I'm sure I'll get it organised once we move into our new house and then I'll write a blog / post a video.
7. Prams, Pushchairs, Slings and Carriers
- Pram/buggy with a lie-flat seat or carrycot (unless using a sling/carrier all the time)
- Rain cover
- Footmuff*
- Sunshade and insect net (for summer/holidays)*
- Buggy weights*
- Sling/carrier*
- Cat net (essential if you have a cat)*
- Pram parasol*
Baby #2 will be born in August so I need to remember to buy and insect net, etc. Just thought I'd say :) Ooh, I also saw some really cool pram organisers. There's a lot to choose from, all different in one way or another.
8. Car Seats and Driving Accessories
- Group 0+ 'infant carrier' car seat
- Car seat base*
- Car seat footmuff*
- Sun blinds*
- Special mirror so you can see your baby in a rear-facing seat*
- 'Baby on Board' sign*
I like the prams that come with a car seat that just clips into the pram, if that makes sense. That's what we have just now and we're thinking about reusing it. IF I stop looking at all the cute prams out there!
9. Safety Essentials and Medical Equipment
- Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors (if not already in place)
- Baby monitor (unless your home is very small)
- Childproofing items appropriate to your home
- First aid and medicine kit
- Thermometer
- Medicine dispensing syringe or dummy*
- Nasal aspirators*
There's no way we would've survived without a baby monitor, so we will need another one of these. The flat we are in now, already had childproofing items in place so we will be buying those when we move to our new place too.
10. Toys and Playing
- A small selection of toys
- Sleep aid*
- Bouncy chair*
- Baby swing*
- Playnest*
- Sit-in activity centre
- *Walker
I love the bouncy chairs! When William was little I used to use it all the time. It wasn't anything fancy, but it was a life-saver.
11. Travel Equipment and Accessories
- Travel cot
- Portable highchair/booster seat
- Sun cream and insect protection
- UV protection clothes*
- Swimming nappies*
- Swimming aids*
- Sun protection tents/shelters*
I'm really looking forward to having this baby in the summer, especially because the new place will have a garden. It will make a change as we always had to go to my mum's to sit in her garden :)
12. Shopping for Your Older Baby
- Potty or toilet-training seat
- Toilet training items - pants, wipes, disinfectant, waterproof sheet or pad, step stool
- Toddler or single bed plus bedding
- Bed guard/rail*
- Back carrier*
- Second stage car seat*
So, that is it for the shopping list. It may seem like a lot but like I said, you might not need it all.
Make sure you check out www.project-b.com to get your 'What To Buy For Your Baby' book, too! It's filled with information and has a lot of great stuff in it! You won't regret buying it!
That's it for tonight.
Baby dust from Me to You,
Love, Daria xoxo
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