LIST OF BABY THINGS FOR FIRST TIME MUM TO BUY BEFORE BIRTH

LIST OF BABY THINGS FOR FIRST TIME MUM TO BUY BEFORE BIRTH

Looking forward to the birth of your first baby? Wondering what you need to buy? I’ve put together a comprehensive list of baby things for first time mums to buy before birth.

Scroll to the end of the post if you just want a download of the list to print or save.

But keep reading if you want the lowdown on the absolute essentials you need to buy ahead of giving birth and pointers on the best brands and places to buy the most popular of each of the things on the list.

This is the only newborn baby shopping list you will need. You can totally rely on it to make sure you are ready with everything you actually need when your baby arrives. All based on my experience as a first time mum and from comparing notes with other first time mums.

Did you know you can start a Baby Wishlist on Amazon? You can save up to 15% when you spend over £200 on products on your list. PLUS choose the free welcome gift you want from a selection of best-selling baby things when you spend your first £20, the selection currently includes Tommee Tippee baby bottles and a cute Fisher-Price baby toy. Oh and there is a 365-day return policy, so anything you don’t use can go back! Get signed up in an instant for your Baby Wishlist.

THE MOST USEFUL LIST OF BABY THINGS FOR FIRST TIME MUMS

When it comes to preparing for the arrival of your first baby there’s no better way to plan what to buy than by asking mums who have already been there and done it. 

So if you are a mum-to-be keen to get started buying things before the birth of your baby, I am here to help. Having been through it myself, I’ve learned a lot and I’m sharing all of it here with you. 

My list of baby things to buy before birth is based on my own experience of researching the essential baby things I’d need – and oh boy did I do the research – the things that turned out to be great buys, the stuff I realised I didn’t actually need to have bought and some of the things I wish I’d bought. 

I’ve created a useful list of all the baby items you’ll need and I’ve included pictures of the essential baby items because it’s easier to plan when you can see what you need to buy!

I’ve gone back over all the things we bought, thought about how much we used them and how much help they actually were for caring for a newborn baby. 

Off the back of my reminiscing and analysing, I think I’ve managed to put together a pretty useful and reliable list of baby things for first time mums to buy.

LIST OF BABY THINGS FOR FIRST TIME MUMS

So now, without futher ado, here is your big super duper newborn baby shopping list complete with pictures and examples of the very best item in each category.

1. BABY SLEEP ESSENTIALS

1. Bedside crib
2. Crib sheets
3. White noise machine
4. Blackout blind
5. Swaddle sacks or blankets
6. Video monitor

Sleep is everything when you have a newborn! Both for your baby and for you. So having the means to get your baby to sleep and stay asleep is vital. 

One of the big things we found really helped was creating a womb-like experience for our baby daughter. 

Somewhere cosy to sleep, something cosy and reassuringly womb-like to wear, womb-like noises and total darkness. 

Here is a little more detail about the best-selling baby sleep essentials to buy.

1. BEDSIDE CRIB

A bedside crib is the safest way to have your baby sleeping right next to you in your bedroom.

Take a look at the SnüzPod 4 video to see just how brilliant they are and why they are so popular.

2. CRIB SHEETS

3. WHITE NOISE MACHINE

4. BLACKOUT BLIND

5. SWADDLE SACKS OR BLANKETS

6. VIDEO MONITOR

2. NURSERY NECESSITIES

1. Cotbed
2. Cotbed mattress
3. Cotbed sheets
4. Sleeping bags

We started off with our baby daughter sleeping in our room at night, which is in line with guidelines that say it’s safest for a baby to sleep in the same room as its parent/s for the first six to 12 months. 

However, we also set up a nursery for her, where she slept during the day and which she transitioned into. We also transitioned her from swaddling to sleeping bags as soon as she started wriggling.

Here is a little look at some of the best-selling nursery essentials to buy.

1. COTBED

2. COTBED MATTRESS

3. COTBED SHEETS

4. BABY SLEEPING BAGS

3. NAPPY SHOPPING LIST

• Size 1 disposable nappies
• Nappy cream
• Nappy bin
• Nappy bags
• Wipes
• Changing mat
• Reusable nappies (aim for 12-18 nappies)
• Reusable nappy liners

There are ecological pros and cons to both disposable diapers and reusable diapers. So I suggest you go with what you feel most comfortable with. We went with disposable diapers and I am really happy with our choice.

Here are some of the best-selling nappy bits and pieces for babies.

1. DISPOSABLE NAPPIES

2. NAPPY CREAM

3. NAPPY BIN

4. NAPPY BAGS

5. NAPPY WIPES

6. CHANGING MAT

7. REUSABLE CLOTH NAPPIES

8. NAPPY LINERS

4. TRAVEL EQUIPMENT LIST

1. Convertible stroller system
2. Car seat
3. Baby carrier or baby wrap
4. Changing bag

Walking out of the hospital as new parents with your baby for the first time is one of the strangest feelings in the world ever!! We were eternally grateful that we’d taken the time to fit the car seat in the car way ahead of the birth. But even so, we drove home at around 10 miles per hour because we were so struck by how much responsibility we now had to keep our baby daughter safe!!

Here’s a list of the stuff we found essential for travelling around with our daughter in her first weeks and months.

1. CONVERTIBLE STROLLER SYSTEM

Much as it is lovely to have your baby snuggled into your chest, there are times when you will be thankful for having a stroller you can use.

One of the most cost-effective ways to buy a stroller is to choose one that converts from a flatbed to a stroller, so you can use it from birth through to the toddler years.

The BabyZen YoYo2 is incredibly popular and with good reason. Watch the video and see how brilliant this slick, well-designed stroller system is.

2. BABY CAR SEAT

3. BABY CARRIER/BABY WRAP

5. FEEDING EQUIPMENT ESSENTIALS

• Baby bottles
• Sterliser
• Breast pump
• Nursing pillow
• Formula
• Nursing bras
• Breast pads
• Burp cloths
• Highchair

You may plan to breastfeed your baby, you may plan to formula feed your baby. Until your baby is born there is no certainty about how you will actually feed your baby. 

For example, I planned to breastfeed but ended up combination feeding – breastfeeding and formula feeding – for a year. 

Top tip: Don’t go buying a bunch of bottles until you know for sure how you’ll feed your baby. That said, it’s a good idea to have a couple of baby bottles ready for your newborn, at the very least, as it takes the pressure off and that can only be a good thing if you’re starting to breastfeed for the first time. 

So here is a list of some of the best-sellers that you might like to buy.

1. BABY BOTTLES

2. STERILISER

3. BREAST PUMP

4. NURSING PILLOW

5. BABY FORMULA

6. NURSING BRAS

7. NURSING PADS

8. BURP CLOTHS

9. HIGHCHAIR

6. KEEPING BABY SAFE AND AMUSED

1. Baby bouncer seat
2. Baby gym

Much as sleep is a big focus, it’s also important to be prepared for keeping your baby safe and amused during his or her waking hours.

 If you’re feeling tired or need to get stuff done, the waking hours can feel very long at times. I think it’s pretty much essential to have a baby seat and it’s an added bonus to have an activity mat as well. Both of these will keep your baby safe and stimulated during their waking hours.

Here are a couple of absolute classics you might like to buy.

1. BABY BOUNCER SEAT

2. BABY GYM

7. BATHING AND HEALTH SHOPPING LIST

1. Hooded towels
2. Wash cloths
3. Baby shampoo and body wash
4. Baby lotion
5. Baby bath support

I found it useful to have a couple of baby towels with hoods and a stack of baby washcloths. Plus baby shampoo, baby wash and baby lotion. Please don’t buy talc, it’s really not good for your baby in so many ways. 

There is a lot of debate over whether you actually need a baby bath, but my vote is firmly that you do. Unless you go for a baby bath support, which is the item I am going to add to the must-have baby shopping list. 

In short, you want baby bathtime to be as safe and easy as possible. So you will really value having either a baby bath or a baby bath support when you’re tired and wrestling a wet, wriggly baby. 

Here are a few suggestions of best-selling things you can buy for bathing your baby.

1. HOODED TOWELS

2. WASH CLOTHS

3. BABY SHAMPOO AND BODY WASH

4. BABY LOTION

5. BABY BATH SUPPORT

8. NEWBORN BABY CLOTHES NECESSITIES

1. Short-sleeved onesies
2. Long-sleeved onesies
3. Ankle socks
4. Sock-ons
5. Snowsuit (for cooler months)
6. Baby beenie hats

I’m going to stick to the absolute newborn baby clothing necessities here. You will no doubt get bought gorgeous baby clothes as gifts – and find yourself buying a ton of gorgeous baby outfits as well once your baby is actually born and you know what will suit them. 

So here are the absolute necessities that you need for your newborn baby clothing necessities.

Tip: Go for 0-3 months rather than newborn size, because your baby will grow out of newborn size SOOOO quickly!!

There are so many briliant baby clothes out there I’m not going to make any suggestions, with the exception of Sock-Ons which I do believe are actual genius.

HOW TO PLAN YOUR NEWBORN BABY SHOPPING

There’s a lot to think about when you’re having a baby and quite a few baby things to buy before the birth. So it’s worth taking some time to plan how you are going to shop for the baby. 

Here is a list of some useful things for first time mums to consider that will help you plan your baby shopping better.

WHEN SHOULD YOU START BUYING THINGS FOR YOUR BABY?

Even though finding out you are pregnant can be one of the most joyous moments in your life, I would suggest you pace yourself before rushing to buy lots of stuff for your baby and the nursery. Maybe satisfy your urge to spend by buying yourself some first-trimester of pregnancy must-haves.

There are several things you should take into consideration before you start you baby shopping:

1. TIME IS ON YOUR SIDE

Unless you found out late, you have several months between finding out you are pregnant and giving birth.

2. 12 WEEKS

Consider waiting until you have passed the 12-week point and had your first scan. Maybe satisfy your short-term shopping cravings by putting together your baby registry/wish list? 

3. GENDER

I’m massively pro gender-neutral baby clothes and toys. However, if you know you are going to find out the gender of your baby ahead of the birth, you might well be better off buying certain things on your shopping list until after the big reveal. 

4. BABY SHOWER

If someone is throwing you a baby shower it would be good to sign up to a baby registry and then do your own shopping once you’ve had the shower. Baby showers usually take place between month six and month eight. So consider the timing that works best for you. 

5. AIM FOR DONE BY 8 MONTHS

It’s a good idea to have bought the most important baby things you need to buy before the birth of your baby by the time you are 8 months pregnant. There are several reasons for this:

• You will be at your heaviest and most tired by this point
• A due date is a rough estimate, your baby might come early
• It will keep your stress levels down and you can focus on buying the more fun stuff

As a side note, it’s also a good idea to have your hospital bag prepped and packed by eight months too. I’ve got a post on the hospital bag essentials to include for you, your new baby and the baby’s daddy/birthing partner.

6. MONEY SAVING

Depending on the time of year your baby is due, there might be some good opportunities to buy the big baby stuff and save money. 

I’m thinking Black Friday, the January sales and summer sales. It’s a good idea to have a budget drawn up and then you can plan on buying something if you find it with a big saving. 

Talking of money-saving, here are some great tips on how to save money on buying stuff for your new baby. 

Related: The best baby registries guide

HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON YOUR BABY SHOPPING

Here are some great tips on things for first time mums to bear mind before you start putting together your newborn baby shopping list.

1. PLAN BEFORE YOU SHOP ONLINE

Online shopping is SO easy and I wholeheartedly embrace it. However, it isn’t always the best way to save money. Especially if you end up filling up your cart to get free delivery! Sometimes a well planned shopping trip will save you money. 

2. NAPPY SAVINGS

Nappies are a big expense. Your baby is likely to be using them until sometime between 18 months (super early in my book) and 3 years old. Of course some kids need them for longer. Whilst buying your first packet of diapers will be a thrill, buying your  fiftieth will be less so! 

Some parents like to nappy stockpile ahead of the baby arriving, this way they can home in on the best deals.

Remember to hold onto your receipts if you do this, as you won’t know for sure that the nappies you’ve bought work well for your baby until your baby is using them. 

The other way to go about it is to ALWAYS LOOK FOR DEALS rather than just buy through the same retailer. There is always somewhere that will have a discount running. 

3. BUY MULTI-PURPOSE BABY STUFF

You can’t do this with everything, but here are a few ideas:

1. Baby crib that converts into a toddler bed
2. The Stokke Tripp Trapp baby seat is an amazing piece of kit, as it can be adapted as your baby becomes and toddler and on into childhood. 
3. Baby travel system – can fit a baby car seat, will support your baby lying down and later when they are sitting up. 

4. CHANGE UP YOUR WASHING AND GROOMING ESSENTIALS

The most important thing when washing and bathing your baby is to make sure the products you use are as simple and free from nasties as possible.

However, this doesn’t necessarily mean you have to buy everything, especially for a baby. If you don’t already, consider swapping your everyday shower gel, face wash, shampoo for gentle, organic, chemical-free products that everyone in the household can use. 

5. BORROW RATHER THAN BUY

There are some nice-to-haves like a moses basket, that your baby will be in for a matter of weeks. Ask a friend for one to borrow or have as a hand-me-down, then pass on the favour when you’re done with it. 

I really hope this list of baby essentials have helped you put together a baby shopping list that means you are ready for the arrival of your newborn baby with plenty of energy to spare for making the most of the first few days, weeks and months with your precious new baby.

QUICK CHECK LIST OF BABY THINGS TO BUY BEFORE BIRTH

Here is an at-a-glance list of all the baby things to buy before birth in case you simply want to start getting your head around all the things you need to buy. I’ve popped it into a printable, so if you keep scrolling down you can grab a copy of to download and print.

DOWNLOAD PRINTABLE PDF VERSION OF THE LIST OF BABY THINGS FOR FIRST TIME MUMS TO BUY

MORE USEFUL BABY AND NEW MUM CONTENT

I’ve got a growing list of new mom and baby posts, so take a look and see if there is anything else I can help you with. 

PIN TO SAVE:

MORE BABY & NEW MUM POSTS

• ALL THE NEW MOM AND BABY POSTS IN ONE PLACE
• FIRST TRIMESTER PREGNANCY TIPS
• 5 FIRST TRIMESTER PREGNANCY MUST-HAVES
• WHAT TO PUT IN A MORNING SICKNESS SURVIVAL KIT
• 30 NATURAL REMEDIES FOR MORNING SICKNESS
• WHAT TO PUT IN A FIRST TRIMESTER CARE PACKAGE
• HOSPITAL BAG ESSENTIALS CHECKLIST: AKA THE THINGS YOU ACTUALLY NEED FOR YOU AND YOUR NEWBORN BABY
• FREE HOSPITAL BAG CHECKLIST PDF PRINTABLE
• STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO WRITING A BIRTH PLAN
• COPING WITH POLYHYDRAMNIOS
• THE ULTIMATE BABY REGISTRY CHECKLIST AND BEST REGISTRIES GUIDE
• IS IT RUDE TO PUT EXPENSIVE ITEMS ON BABY REGISTRY?
• WHAT DO YOU NEED AFTER GIVING BIRTH?
• NEWBORN BABY ESSENTIALS CHECKLIST LIST. PLUS FREE PRINTABLE CHECKLIST
• BUILDING TOYS FOR BABIES
• BEST BEDSIDE CO-SLEEPER CRIBS AND BASSINETS 2020
• ESSENTIAL BABY TOYS FOR BABY’S FIRST YEAR
• BABY SLEEP TIPS
• BREASTFEEDING TIPS
• SIMPLE TIPS TO INCREASE BREASTMILK SUPPLY
• TOP TIPS – CRADLE CAP
• INTRODUCING SOLIDS WITH BABY LED WEANING
• HOW TO RELIEVE BABY REFLUX
• TOP TIPS TO REDUCE COLIC

Pin to save for later: