Halfway through my pregnancy I wrote a list of ‘essential baby purchases‘. This was based on other blog posts I’ve read and the typical lists you see in the Mothercare catalogue and Boots baby mag. There are always items that you buy that it turns out you’ll never use, just as there will be unnecessary items you’ll pack in your hospital bag.
Essentials for mum
– cabbage leaves. Make sure you have a cabbage in your fridge when you get home. Trust me, there’s nothing more soothing to tuck into your bra
– nursing bras. Even though I’m not breastfeeding these are super comfy as there’s no padding, no underwire and they’re extra roomy, perfect when you can’t stand anything touching your boobs in the first week or two if you’re ‘drying out’
– moisturiser. I found that my face was really dry after having Jenson, so I switched from my usual Garnier Moisture Match for oily/combination skin to one for dry skin. It’s incredible!
– lip balm. See above
– Netflix! When you’re confined to one spot when you’re feeding your baby or s/he’s asleep on your chest, wile away the hours binging on your new favourite show
– diary (or similar). Record those precious early days!
Essentials for baby
– Pampers. I wouldn’t use any other brand of nappy or baby wipes. We tried the Aldi baby wipes that came with the Bounty packs and Asda’s Little Angels nappies but they’re just not as good
– Mam bottles, bottle brush and dummies. The bumper pack of bottles we bought were great as they come in different sizes and are anti-colic and we’re using the dummies we bought as a back-up. We only use them as a stop-gap while he’s waiting for milk though
– bottle warmers. Luke’s parents got us some Tommee Tippee bottle warmers which are ideal for night time feeds. There are far fewer trips downstairs for fresh bottles and they’re handy for on the go too
– loads of clothes! Jenson is a bugger for being sick down his front (and mine!), peeing on himself mid-change and doing epic poos which explode out the side of his nappy. He goes through 2-4 outfits a day. He’s already outgrown most of his newborn stuff though and only wore some outfits once or twice, so secondhand clothes are fine. I really struggled with anything that went over his head early on (still do a bit) so try and get as many button through onesies as possible!
– moses basket. Because I can’t carry him around in his basket as it’s too heavy for my fragile state at the moment, we have two bases upstairs and Luke carries one basket between the bedroom and office and we have a second basket and base in the living room which my mum had for my nephew. This way I can carry Jenson around and he’s always got somewhere to lie down. It’s worth getting some extra fitted sheets in though as they can spit up a lot and no-one wants to try and sleep in that!
– muslin cloths. Perfect for mopping up baby sick and milk drool!
– baby oil. Just a bit rubbed in after a bath is perfect for dry skin
– cuddle robes. The first time Jenson had a bath he wet himself when he got out, so we needed an extra towel. Get a few in just in case you don’t fancy doing loads of laundry. They’re great for keeping them warm post-bath and feeling all snuggly
– non-bio washing machine tablets. Their skin can be super sensitive
And here are the items I’ve never/barely used:
– disposable breast pads. See cabbage leaves above
– swaddling blankets. Jenson was wrapped in a blanket for his first night home but it’s been so hot that he hasn’t needed anything since. He has spent the last few nights sleeping in just a vest and still wakes up sweaty, even with the bedroom window open
– room thermometer. We never actually bought one of these but they’re a waste of money. You know if a room is too hot/cold and if you’re clueless your baby will tell you if s/he’s uncomfortable
– toys. You really don’t need anything for the first few weeks. We’ve only recently brought out the play mat for him to lie on something soft for tummy time. I’ve tried getting him to engage with stuff but he’s only interested in us for the time being, not that I’m complaining!
– breast pump. If you’re going to buy anything for breastfeeding, do it close to your due date so you have time to return it if it’s not needed. Fortunately Boots took my breast pump back when it turned out that I couldn’t breastfeed, so I saved £30
– clothes in my hospital bag. Because I thought I was having a natural birth I didn’t really have anything suitable for coming home in. The PJ bottoms and jogging bottoms I took in with me didn’t sit right on my wound and my tops were too tight across my boobs as my milk had just come in the morning I left hospital. Make sure you pack something super baggy!