Hello! I want to start by saying a HUGE congratulations if you’re reading this whilst expecting a little baby! And if not; I really hope you find this post interesting or useful for the future or for a friend/relative. This blog post (and video) talks you though everything that I’ve got in preparation of becoming a new mummy (I’m just over 36 weeks pregnant as I type!) and I REALLY hope you find it useful.
Prior to buying items for my newborn I did a LOT of research; I’ve read books, I’ve spoken to ALL of my mummy friends and (the most fun for me!) I’ve watched a tonne of YouTube videos from both UK and US mummies. I remember feeling so overwhelmed at this new baby world but I finally feel like I’ve got my head around it and I really hope the information below makes things simpler for you.
I started buying items when I was around 20 weeks pregnant (I did buy a few little things before this!!) and I think I’ve just about finished; but if you can recommend anything else to me please say as I am the queen of online shopping 😉
So let’s get into it and see what I’ve bought for my newborn under the following categories:
- Sleeping Arrangements & Clothing
- Nappy Changes & Bath Time
- Play Time & Going Out
- Feeding your Baby
PS You can also download my Newborn Baby Checklist to print and tick off as you buy!
Shop my Essentials!
SLEEPING ESSENTIALS & CLOTHING
- Moses Basket – For the first 6 months our baby is going to sleep in our room, next to our bed, in a moses basket from Shnuggles. It comes with a firm mattress and an ingenious wooden stand which turns upside down so you can turn it into a rocker for during the day (scroll down to see!). We also have their cotton cloud fitted sheets which are so adorable!*
- Swaddle Blankets – Swaddling allows your baby to sleep snuggly without the need for multiple loose blankets. I have two swaddle blankets (which are a bit like extra large muslins) from Storksak and 3 from Luxe Panda .. luckily there is a card in the box which provides visual instructions on how to do it but the aim is for your baby to have his or her arms wrapped over each other with their legs left with enough space to move around.
- Flat Sheet & Cellular Blanket – This is the traditional way of tucking a baby up to sleep; with his or her feet to the base of the bed you pop over a flat sheet and a cellular blanket, tucking both underneath the mattress well below the baby’s arms and shoulders (so they can’t wriggle under!). Cellular blankets have little holes in them which help the air to circulate so your baby can regulate their temperature better.
- Sleeping Bag (also known as sleepsuit bags, bundlers & Grobags) – Using a sleeping bag means that you don’t need a swaddle blank or any top sheets; you simply select the correct tog (thickness) of sleeping bag according to the temperature of your room and pop your dressed baby inside to sleep! I have a cute light weight fox-print newborn sleeping bag from JoJo Maman Bebe and a cosy grey Grobag from The Gro Company.
- Long & Short Sleeved Vests (also known as Body Suits) – These are what your baby will have on 99% of their time; they help the baby to stay warm and to keep the nappy in place. I’ve got some more expensive cute ones as well as a multi-pack of white ones from M&S & also Mothercare.
- Sleep Suits (also known as Baby Grows) – Sleep suits go over the top of the nappy and vest and are what newborn babies mainly wear; again I have some really cute more expensive ones and then a multi-pack set from M&S & also Mothercare.
- White Noise Maker – We have a white noise maker from My Hummy; it’s a super cute teddy bear that works via an app on your phone using blue tooth. You can choose from 5 different white noise sounds which are designed to help sooth the baby to sleep and stay asleep; Amniotic fluid with heartbeat, Rainfall, Sea waves, Hairdryer and Vacuum cleaner.
- Room Thermometer – I’m planning on getting a Gro Egg thermometer which changes colour depending on the temperature of the room so you can adjust the baby’s environment and/or clothing accordingly. You should aim for a temperature of 16-20 degrees C; look out for it in my nursery tour video!**
*The Lullaby Trust recommend that the moses basket or cot is kept free from soft toys and bumpers etc.
**For more information about sleeping arrangements as well as to see a temperature guide for using sleeping bags (tog guide) visit the Lullaby Trust and the Mothercare Website respectively.
NAPPY CHANGES & BATH TIME
- Nappies – I bulk bought Pampers Pure Nappies in size 1 when they were on offer as they sounded the most natural (and effective) for my baby’s bottom! They come in packs of 35 to 50.
- Changing Mat – We have a super soft grey changing mat from Shnuggles that is designed with an elevated head to help reduce colic as well as raised sides to help prevent baby rolling off.
- Cotton Wool & Top and Tail Bowl – It is advised to use just cotton wool & water to clean your baby for the first few weeks after birth and to make things easier you can get a top and tail bowl to pop cotton wool in one side and water in the other! At my NCT class I learnt that you must wipe each eye from the inside to the outside with a new cotton pad each time (to prevent infection).
- Baby Wipes – I have a small collection of baby wipes which I plan on using if cotton wool and water isn’t enough for the infamous sticky poo! I have Water Wipes, Aqua Wipes, Kit & Kin Wipes & Little Angels Wipes.
- Baby Bath – Although it’s not advisable to bath your baby for around the first 7-10 days after birth (you can top and tail them before this!), we have a super cute baby bath from Shnuggles that comes with a foam back rest and clever bum bump support so your baby can sit upright.
- Baby Bath Thermometer – I also have a baby bath thermometer which I’ve been using throughout my pregnancy; it’s a little duck from Amazon and the aim is for the water temperature to be 37 degrees C (body temperature).
- Baby Sponges – To help bath our baby we have some cute baby sponges from Little Angels at Asda.
- Whale Scoop – This was the very first thing that I bought our baby! It’s from Amazon and it allows you to rinse your baby’s hair without getting water in his or her eyes!
- Hooded Towel – I couldn’t resist buying a gorgeous bear hooded towel (as shown in the video above) from M&S to use after bath-time. You can also get them from Amazon.
- Bepanthen or Metanium – These are nappy creams which you should only use if your baby suffers with nappy rash; the best way to prevent nappy rash is to change the nappy regularly, dry your baby thoroughly, and to allow some nappy-free time too!
- Nappy Sacks – I plan on keeping nappy sacks in my changing bag for when I’m out and about (to pop dirty nappies in!!)
- Nappy Bin – To save us going back and forth to our main bin we have an Angel Care nappy bin in our nursery which locks away smells as well as dirty diapers!
For more information on bathing your baby check out the NCT and Baby Centre websites.
PLAY TIME & GOING OUT
- Baby Bouncer – We have a cute baby bouncer from MyBabiie (which I will actually be giving away in my nursery tour post on Instagram!!) which vibrates to help sooth a baby too. It looks amazing, feels so comfy and even has its own matching highchair too (which I think we’ll be using from aged 6 months!).
- Fleece Blanket – We don’t have a play-gym as yet but we do have a soft fleecy blanket from My Hummy!
- Muslins – Muslins are cotton squares and are essential for both inside and outside the house; you can use them to mop up sick and spillages.
- Baby Carrier – Babies like to be close to their parents at most times of the day, and a carrier allows you to ‘wear’ your baby whilst getting on with jobs whilst they sleep. They are also a great alternative when going for a walk if you don’t want to take a pram! We have the Baby Bjorn Mini in light grey.
- Baby Hats – Baby hats are essential for cooler days when you’re out and about and I have a selection from JoJo Maman Bebe!*
- Baby Cardigan – Similar to baby hats, cardigans help to keep your baby warm; a must in the winter months (my baby is due in November!). I have one from John Lewis so far and my kind mum has crocheted us some too!
- Pramsuit – Yet another winter essential for keeping your baby warm when you’re out and about; I love our pramsuit (as shown in the video above!) as it even has a cute teddy bear hood and paw print gloves!
- Pram Blanket – To keep your baby nice and snug; our pram blanket is grey and white and is from Shnuggles.
- Changing Bag – A changing bag is essential for when you leave the house with a baby and mine is the Charlotte from Storksak; it has special straps which attach to a pram and inside there’s loads of room for nappies, a spare change of clothes and much more. It even comes with its own folding changing mat and bottle insulator!
- Car Seat – This is an essential requirement if you’re leaving hospital in a car; we have a grey Apramo All Stage Car Seat which as well as spinning 360 degrees C, is suitable from birth up to 12 years of age!
*Hats are not recommended for when the baby is sleeping or for when the baby is inside.
FEEDING YOUR BABY ESSENTIALS
- Nursing Pillow – A nursing pillow has multiple uses; from supporting your body during feeding time, to acting as a support for your baby during tummy or sitting time. Mine is from Asda!
- A Mother’s Cocoon – If you plan on breast feeding in public but don’t want to ‘show all’ then this piece of clothing is for you; it’s a beautifully soft large shawl/scarf that can be worn in a number of different ways. You can get one from Amazon.
- Muslins – I love these bamboo and cotton Storksak Muslins as a change from my plain white ones!
- Breast Pads – If you suffer with nipple leakage when these will be essential; I have some from disposable ones from Lansinoh and Asda too however I know that the re-useable nursing pads come highly rated too!
- Baby Bottle – I plan to do a whole blog post on expressing breast milk (which I only plan on doing once breast feeding is established), but for now I have a slow-flow baby bottle for when the time comes! I’m also going to buy a manual breast pump before looking into electric ones; I’ve been recommended the Lansinoh brand though.
- Nipple Balm – I didn’t show this in the video (as it’s featuring in my Hospital Bag Video!) but I have No Harm Nipple Balm from My Expert Midwife which is designed to make breast feeding more comfortable; as a bonus you don’t have to remove it prior to feeding either!
OTHER ITEMS YOU MAY NEED
- Pacifiers/Dummies – I’m still not sure how I feel about pacifiers but I have heard that they can be quite soothing for a newborn baby and there is some research that they can help to reduce the risk of SIDS. The Lullaby Trust has some excellent advice on this and suggests that you don’t use a pacifier until breast feeding is established, which can take around 4 weeks.
- Baby Scissors & a Baby Hair Brush – I think these are self-explanatory! A baby kit such as this one from JD Williams may come in handy.
- Your Baby Week by Week – I’ve been recommended this book by so many people that I cannot wait to read it; it’s a bit like a baby manual!!
- Brain Rules for Baby – This book was recommended in a US baby video that I watched and I thought it was right up my street; I haven’t read it yet but I plan on doing so during those late night feeds!!
- Black & White Book – I didn’t show this in the video but I remember Fleur de Force recommending this Black & White Book (so I bought it!); this one is for the baby as opposed to the parent!!
- The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding – Again I didn’t show this in the video but this is a book that has been recommended to me so many times; a must if you plan on breastfeeding.
Do let me know if you find my list useful & GOOD LUCK!
PS You can also download my Newborn Baby Checklist to print and tick off as you buy!
*This blog post is NOT sponsored. Most items have been bought with my own money however some are gifts. All opinions are my own and are 100% honest. Some links may be affiliated.
Awww Nic this is so great, I’m just reading it breast feeding my bubba who has decided not to sleep tonight.
I wish I had been this prepared, you have everything ready 🙂 just need baby now! Good luck with everything xxx
So excited for you
Author
Aww thank you Anna!! I can wait for the final piece of the puzzle just a few weeks longer 🙂 I also cannot sleep.. been awake 3am-5:30am.. ohh no!!! xxx