Newborn essentials

I started by asking friends and people I know that have had children over the years if there were things they would absolutely recommend. Then if there were things I was dubious on I would ask if people thought they were useful or not. Generally they said no 😆 I’ve avoided places like mamas and papas as i think they would sell you all sorts of stuff for the sake of it! I’ve also followed someone on IG called Georgia.mumbestie who has some good advice too

Somewhere to sleep, we had a moses basket but a next to me last longer, sleep sacks, my baby really liked the love to dream arms up swaddles, a car seat (we got the cybex cloud t) a pram/pushchair with lie flat (think about the terrain you will be using it for and the weight) how will you be feeding baby do you need bottles and a steriliser, maternity pads and nipple pads although not loads, I probably wouldn't get many clothes as we were given lots of 0-3 and most didn't get a lot of wear. A blanket and a hat for leaving the hospital.

Push chair I went for the Icandy peach 7 all terrain just coz of where I live but tbh wish I hadn’t forked out so much money for one my opinion on that just get a decent travel system
For me the essentials were
Onesies - best advise for this is get some tiny baby, newborn, first size and 0-3
Nappies
Wipes
Bottles
I went straight for a cot
Maternity pillow
Pumps if your going to use them
Make sure you have enough maternity pads
Swing my son loved it daughter hates it had to buy her a static bouncer
Comforter if you think baby will have one
Dummies if your going to try them
Don’t bother with scratch mitts as most onesies have them built in and both my little ones managed to take them off

I know most of these seem obvious but it actually helps to have a list

This is the list I’ve created for myself, not included towels, baby bath, bottles as I already bout it. Shopping list:
Pram ✅
Car seat ✅
Baby canopy ✅
Cot mobile ✅
Cot bed sheets ✅
Runner to put in the cot ✅
Next to bed cot sheets ✅

Room:
Picture frames ✅
Posters ✅
Lamp ✅
Draw organisers ✅
Clothes hangers ✅
Matress protector✅
Baby carrier ✅
Swing ✅
Next to me cot bed ✅

Play mat/gym ✅
Toys ✅
Baby toiletries
Nail file ✅
Brush
Nappies ✅
Wipes
Cotton wool✅
Nappy cream
Dummies ✅
Bottle brush ✅
Steriliser tablets ✅
Milk
Brest pump ✅
Milk storage bags ✅
Colostrum bags
Baby monitor ✅
Nasal aspirator
Vitamin D drops ✅
Bath thermometer ✅
Temperature thermometer ✅

Baby hospital outfit

For me:
Towel ✅
PJ 2x
Dressing gown
Disposable knickers
Pads
Hazel Foam
Bottle ✅
Spray
Nipple cream
Breast pads ✅

I found it super overwhelming too. i went with the Red kite push me cruise for the travel system as its all foldable and at the time we had a smaller car.
I also use the pram indoors for naps so i can wheel him from one room to another if need to do something. This was also because he wouldn't settle in the larger moses basket we bought for downstairs. I also love the newborn nest pods you can get from amazon for supervised daytime naps.
We bought a side sleeper which he is now in but for the first couple of months i just got a basic moses basket from argos as he didn't settle in the larger space until he was bigger. The moses basket really helped nightime sleep. Lots of fitted sheets for any sleeping area as you will be washing them a lot.
Lots of nappies and wipes. I have an upstairs and downstairs caddy with all his changing bits and extra clothes. Ready to feed forumla is an essential in my house for travelling and emergency feeds when he wakes up off schedule. Vests and sleepsuits.

We were so overwhelmed when it came to pushchairs. We ended up getting the Cosatta Giggle 4 from the baby show, it was such good value and will last our daughter for a few years. The travel bundle was like half the price of other brands but the colour choices are lovely and our daughter likes it and weve had compliments when out to.

We do combination feeding now to, so id recommend a tommee tippee prep machine, it makes formula in like 90 seconds. We also use tommee tippee sleeping bags as our daughter doesnt like her arms in or being swaddled.

You will needs loads of muslins, we have about 20 and go through them.

A next to me cot is great, we got the graco 1. We also got a moses basket but she stopped wanting to use it after a week, so waste if money. We got a graco swing though and she loves it, she falls asleep in it.

Next do great 2 way zip onsies, you can get 3 for like £20 or under. These are very soft and so easy to use and have built in scratch mitts.

Smyths is great price wise.