From baby clothes to the baby car seat, it can be overwhelming thinking just how much stuff one tiny person needs and the costs can soon mount up.
But the good news is that all these things can be easily split into what's a baby essential, and those bits and pieces that are by no means a must.
Even if the buggy's been ordered but hasn't arrived yet, don't stress! There are only some baby essentials that you need from day one. You can invest in that all-singing/all-dancing baby sensory system centre later…
To make things easier, and make sure you don’t forget anything important, we've broken everything down for you so you can simply follow our shopping lists below to help you tick off everything on your baby checklist. As with most things, we recommend that the earlier you start, the better as not only does this give you lots of time to do your research before your due date, but it'll spread out the cost of some of the bigger items too.
In this article:
Baby feeding essentials
Baby nappy essentials
Baby clothing essentials
Baby bathtime essentials
Baby nursery essentials
Baby health essentials
Baby gear essentials
Extras
Newborn baby essentials
Baby feeding essentials
Bottles/teats/bottle brush if not breastfeeding (around 8-10)
Plenty of bibs (around 4-8)
Muslin squares or burp cloths (you'll want a lot of these!)
Breast pump (manual/hand or electric)
Sterilising equiptment: Steam steriliser, microwave steriliser bags, microwave steriliser or cold water steriliser
Sleep bra
Baby nappy changing essentials
Changing mat - so baby can lie flat to be changed wherever you are
Disposable nappies - you'll need around 2-3 boxes or reusable nappies - you'll probably need around 30
Nappy bags or nappy bin
Changing bag/diaper bag
Baby clothing essentials
Cardigans/jackets
Scratch mittens (or you can buy sleepsuits with built in mittens if you prefer)
A few pairs of socks/booties (though if you're having a summer baby you may want to wait longer for these!)
Baby bathtime essentials
Baby nursery essentials
Moses basket/crib (plus baby bedding including mattress, sheets and blankets) - for baby sleeping in the room with you for the first 6 months.
Sleeping bags/sleep sack
Waterproof mattress covers
Baby health essentials
Calpol - it's a good idea to have some on hand to give them after their 8 week jabs
Baby gear essentials
Added extras
4-6 dummies
Cradle cap shampoo
Dishwasher basket for small items
Hand muffs (a great one for winter)
More baby recommended products
Our team are constantly on the lookout for the best baby products to make your life a bit easier. Get some good ideas for your little one to come in our full list of baby recommended products.
Popular articles to read next
Newborn products for your upcoming arrival
The 12 baby care skills all new parents need
12 essential items to help with breastfeeding
16 essential things every new mum needs for less than £5 each