Baby Gear

- a bouncy seat; we had the kind they bounce themselves, Ethan loved it - even more essential if you don't have a rocking car seat from a travel system;
- a baby bath; i know they say you can wash a newborn in the sink but taps can get in the way!
- some kind of dangly toy thing above their moses basket/crib/cot - the kind that clips on is good can also be used for pram;
-  a playmat with dangly toys (we had thw innie the pooh one but there are dozens to choose from)
- i agree about the sky subscription or freeview!
- a vinyl changing mat that you can plonk down in any room to change their nappy, especially if you only have one bathroom, cause there will come a time when dada and baba explode at the same time; ( )
- if you are going to bottle feed, one of those little insulated bottle bags for days out - keeps the milk fresh for 4 hours;
- for mum: 2 weeks worth of disposable knickers & maternity pads;
- a good no-nonsense practical guide on how to care for your baby; we have Louis Borgnicht's Baby Manual, it's funny and very practical.


don't bother:

Bottle steriliser - I have always used a big plastic bowl from the £1 shop;
A changing bag - I have never had one - I am a bag snob! - I just keep a big beach bag under the pram with all his changing stuff in it.

Next time (IF!) I would get a bumbo and a sturdy kind of baby sling/carrier - the one we had was really expensive and only really safe for indoors.

unless you've got thin walls.  we have and never needed a monitor. 

Or a small living space.
For us if we are in the living room we couldn't hear the baby at the back of the house, also if we were in our garden, we weren't restricted to the house as we carried the monitor around on our belt. IMO an absolute must for us. Definately depends on your living arrangements though. Small place don't bother.

Sterilizer - For my pump I used a veggie steamer, does the same job.

No when we were in our little flat in London we had no need for a baby monitor but when we moved to our last place it was essential as the house was on 3 floors and Ethan's room was at the top.  Now we are in a two up two down we just keep the monitor in the kitchen which is the furthest point away from his room but really we probably don't need one here.  It doesn't even work in our bedroom because it is too close, we just get a load of feedback!  So it really depends on your house.  You can get them very cheaply on Ebay.

I was so lucky, my friend loaned me hers, her son was a preemie and it had one of those mats that they lie on and if they stop breathing an alarm goes off. Neat but we never used that part of it. It was a Johnsons brand and worked really well, with no feedback to speak of. I gave it back to her when we didn't need it anymore and she sold it on ebay and got around 50 quid for it, she paid around a 100 and it served 3 babies really well.

I havent read all these posts but what I couldnt live without was my baby swing! What a wonderful thing! I have always used them with the boys. Even as newborns I would wrap them up and lay them back in their swing and they would doze all day. It's the best way for moms to get little catnaps after their babies are born. 

There goes my idea of the sleek one I got free from my sisters friend   I'll try it at least for a while, it shouldn't go to waste.

I have a Skip Hop one, hardly used.  B/c the design sux and it hardly fits anything in it. 

I'd be interested in the Land's End one, tho, especially if it makes a good carry all.

I had a diaperbag from Landsend, which I absolutely LOVED.  I think it's similar to this one.  We used it all the time, it was roomy, tough, and my husband didn't feel goofy carrying it.  We used it for years after she was a baby, it's brilliant as a carryon and a hold absolutely everything for family trips-we even used the bottle holders to carry bottles of water.     I'm going to go look for it now.  I'd forgotten how much I loved this bag.

I only see this in the US website, only $19.50, bargin!

I only see this in the US website, only $19.50, bargin!

I know!  I think I paid like 30 quid for mine.  But I did love it.  I think it's the same size, the other one looks too big. 

What I couldn't live without:

Bouncy seat
Receiving blankets (my sister sent them to me, couldn't find them here)
Muslin squares - made out of really fine muslin, still use them for runny noses and stuff
Grobags, just love them, no fear of over heating your new bundle of joy
Sling/baby bjorn
Baby monitor for first baby, hardly used it for poor Jonah, but soothed first time mom nerves!
Something to cut nails with, the suckers grow fast and sharp!
Cordless phone
Breast pump for storing milk, or just when you are overflowing and think you may burst!
Bath seat, it will save your back
Good diaper bag