Having a baby is one of the biggest and most exciting life-changing events you can experience, and it can be expensive.
There’s kit available that aims to make almost every aspect of parenting easier. Some of it you’ll find to be a life-saver, some of it you’ll rarely touch.
You can buy a lot of the things you need second-hand for a fraction of their retail price, and friends and family are often only too happy to offload baby items as young children outgrow clothes, toys and equipment so quickly. The main exception is car seats, which you shouldn’t buy second-hand for safety reasons.
At a glance
- You don’t need to buy everything new
Many baby items can be bought second-hand or borrowed from friends and family, with car seats being the main exception for safety reasons. - Focus on practical essentials
You might want to prioritise comfortable, easy to change clothing and items to help with feeding and sleeping, that will get used again and again, over aesthetics or items you might not end up using.
Below is a list of things you may want to buy ready for your new arrival. It’s not all necessary, but worth consideration.
Post-birth recovery
Recovery from giving birth, whether vaginally or via caesarean section, can take weeks to months. A few items which you may want to have in your bathroom to help you recover include:
- Disposable pants
- Maternity pads
- C-section hydrogel pads
- Perineal cream
Feeding
Whether you’re planning to breastfeed, formula feed or both (combi-feeding), you’ll need the right gear to ensure you can comfortably feed your baby. In the early days, they’ll spend a lot of time feeding, so comfort for both of you is essential. As well as the list below, you may want to consider buying a nursing chair, rocking chair or recliner swivel chair (the swivel is great for accessing drinks, food, TV remote and phone while holding the baby).
| Breastfeeding | Both | Formula feeding |
| • Nursing bras • Maternity/nursing tops, dresses or pyjamas • Breast pump • Nipple pads • Nipple cream | • Bottles • Bottle teats with appropriate flow rate • Bottle sterilising tablets or a bottle washer/steriliser • Bottle drying rack • Feeding pillow | • Formula • Bottle bag |
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Changing and washing
A common worry when it comes to the cost of having a baby is nappies, but actually supermarket own-brand nappies tend to be cheap and perfectly good. If you choose reusable nappies, they may be more expensive initially but can work out cheaper in the long-run. Other items like nappy cream, baby shampoo, changing mats and even a baby bath can all be found in supermarkets.
You don’t need special baby towels but may want to pick up a couple if you don’t have any small, soft towels already.
| Changing | Washing |
| • Nappies • Nappy cream • Wipes • Biodegradable nappy bags • Changing mat | • Baby bath or baby bath seat • Baby shampoo • Baby body wash • Flannels • Thermometer to test water temperature |
Sleeping and carrying
Where to put your baby when you’re not holding them is not always easy to plan for. Every baby is different; some will hate being anywhere but your arms, some will have reflux if put down flat too soon after a feed, some will be very content in their own space.
It’s worth doing your research on any of the below items that you are interested in, and reading up on safe sleep guidance.
- Pram
- Car seat
- Baby carrier
- Cot
- Cot mattress
- Cot mattress covers
- Moses basket
- Bouncer
- Sleeping bags
Clothing
There’s a wide range of adorable baby outfits to choose from, but they’re not all practical. Baby-sized shoes and tops that need to be pulled over the baby’s head or fastened at the back aren’t likely to get much use. You may prefer to stock up on comfortable clothing that’s easy to get on and off.
It’s good to see what the clothes are made of too – acrylic, nylon or mixed fabrics can be sweaty and uncomfortable, especially if your baby is born in the summer. It’s best to look for 100% cotton or muslin.
Items you’ll likely use a lot include:
- Baby grows/ rompers/ sleep suits / body suits
- Cardigans
- Dribble bibs
- Socks
- Hat
- All-in-one coat/ pram suit
Other
A few sundry items that can come in useful include:
- Baby thermometer (for testing their temperature, rather than the room or bathwater)
- Muslin cloths
- Baby hairbrush
- Snot sucker and/or saline spray for clearing a blocked nose
- Baby nail file or nail clippers
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