Newborn Essentials: Things you need, not want, for your baby

New Baby: Essential Buys

All new parents want to see their newborns kitted out properly, but many make the mistake of assuming luxuries are essentials.

So, what do you really need for your newborn?

The following are the essentials any new parents should purchase before and immediately after their baby is born.

1. A carseat - for a newborn (rear-facing)
2. 5 or 6 newborn babygrows - Although your baby will have outgrown them in a couple of months, it is important to have several sets as they will need changing on a regular basis. One a day probably won't suffice.
3. 5 or 6 baby vests - for the same reason as above.
4. Scratch mitts
5. Two or three cardigans or a couple of cardigans and a jumper.
6. Snow suit for winter babies.
7. A couple of pairs of baby socks or booties.
8. A hat.
9. Nappies – your newborn will need changing every few hours for the first few weeks. Try and stock up on disposables so you have a week's worth - if you have space! If you are using reusable nappies, remember that you'll be washing them every day, so enough to see you through the drying process until they can be reused.
10. Waterproof pants - If you’re using reusable nappies you’ll need several pairs of waterproof pants for over the top (unless you have the all-in-one kind). You might also want to think about disposable liners that can be flushed down the loo to minimise the nappy soiling.
11. An easy-clean changing mat or unit.
12. Baby wipes.
13. Baby bath, bowl or newborn bath support for an adult bath and baby wash.
14. A couple of small towels for after bathing, as soft as you can afford.
15. Feeding accessories - Bottles, teats, a steriliser for bottles, whether bottle feeding or expressing milk.
16. A crib, moses basket or cot – depending on your preferences.
17. Bedding. A waterproof mattress cover, soft flannel sheets and cellular blankets or a baby sleeping bag.
18. A couple of blankets for the pram or buggy.
19. A pram or buggy suitable for newborns and/or a baby sling.

• Nursing bras and breast pads.
• Maxi pads to manage post-labour flow.
• Squares of muslin to protect your clothes when feeding or winding.
• Somewhere quiet and comfortable for feeding your baby. This can be a traditional rocking chair in the nursery, or a quiet corner of the lounge with a comfortable seat. You'll be spending a lot of time in it at first to feed, change and quiet your baby, so make sure it's comfortable, warm and cosy.

And that's it. Don't forget - family and friends will go all out on baby toys and cute little outfits, so you really don't need to get these if you can't afford them. But if you can't resist - well, maybe just one wouldn't break the bank?