Babies may be small, but they come with a lot of stuff! As you put together your baby wish list, the costs can quickly add up. We're here to break down the must-have newborn essentials and point out the baby gear you can skip - saving you money along the way.
Large baby gear recommendations
From prams, to the cot, to the car seat, these are your largest and most likely the most expensive items on your list. They’re also some of the most important items when it comes to the safety of your baby, so if you’re on a budget, expect to focus the majority of your spend here.
The essentials:
Moses basket, bassinet or cot: depending on your preference, the safest place for a newborn to sleep is in their own bed. This should be completely clear with a firm, flat, waterproof mattress. If you live in a flat, a smaller, more compact bassinet that you can wheel from room-to-room is a great idea, such as this SnuzPod Studio Bedside Crib. If you’re lucky on space and can fit a full size cot into your bedroom, then we’d recommend a cot that will convert from a newborn bed to a toddler bed - You’ll get more for your money. You can also get cot top changers such as these ones from Tutti Bambini. Moses baskets are a great idea for people who have chosen to get baby a cot for the bedroom upstairs, as it allows you to have another safe sleep space downstairs - moses baskets are not expensive and you can get them for around £80. Had a c-section or planning to exclusively breastfeed? Then a bedside crib might be your best option - these allow you to fold down the side so you can almost slide baby out of their bed and into yours, without having to lean and bend over repeatedly.
Pram with changing bag: with so many prams to choose from, it can seem really daunting. Choose based on your lifestyle and budget. Live in a city? A more compact pram such as the Babyzen YoYo might make it easier to navigate narrow streets and public transport. Live in the countryside and love your nature walks? Then an all-terrain pushchair might be more suitable for you - check out Made For Mums top 10 all-terrain prams here. When it comes to choosing a changing bag, make sure it fits under the pram you’ve chosen - you can also opt for a backpack style if you plan to use both a pram and a baby carrier.
Car seat: understanding what car seat you need can feel very overwhelming. We suggest reading through this NHS guide on car seat safety first. There are many retailers who will also offer support and guidance on choosing the right car seat for your model of car and the weight/ height of your baby, including offering car fitting demonstrations; John Lewis and Halfords offer this service with an in-store expert who is trained to offer correct advice. Second-hand car seats are not recommended.
Baby bouncer/ rocker: once baby starts to be a bit more alert and is awake for longer periods of time, you can start to put them into a baby bouncer/ rocker up until the age of 6 months, or when they can sit up unaccompanied. Brand Chad Valley offers some affordable options. Just be mindful that if they fall asleep, their designated safe sleeping space ie. their cot or bassinet is the best place for them to nap, not their bouncer.
Playmats and play gyms: you will need a flat, comfortable surface where baby can practice their tummy time each day, ideally this should be kept clean and only used for baby. You don’t need to buy a super expensive or flashy play-gym, even a simple playmat will do the trick. Baby prefers to look at your face than dangling toys anyway.
What to save on:
Sling and/or baby carrier: these are not absolutely necessary but great for those who need their hands-free a bit more. Check out local baby sling libraries where you can hire baby slings for a small charge. For baby’s safety, do make sure you’re aware of safety advice when it comes to using slings and carriers.
Changing table: these can be very expensive and aren’t always a total necessity - if you are getting a changing table, opt for one that has drawers with it and converts to a chest of drawers, such as this one.
Baby clothes and outfits
Now we have the boring bits out the way, we can move onto the cute stuff - baby clothes. Although you can be tempted to buy endless adorable onesies and baby accessories, a lot of these things are just not needed and likely won’t get used. You can check out the NHS guide to dressing your newborn here. Let’s walk through the essentials:
The essentials:
Sleepsuits: for the first 3 months, baby will most likely be asleep more than they’re awake. So a set of 7 sleepsuits (depending on how often you do your laundry) will be enough to cover you. Pro tip: supermarket baby clothing is affordable and usually made of cotton.
Bodysuits: you’ll need about 7 of these too. Buy the right sleeve length based on the season your baby will be born in. If they’re a summer baby, opt for short sleeves. If they’re a winter baby, opt for long sleeves. Pro tip: buy your bodysuits and sleepsuits in a similar colour palette to avoid multiple wash loads.
Baby accessories hat & socks: for summer babies, you’ll need a wide-brim sun hat to protect them from the sun, and for winter babies, you’ll need a soft winter hat to keep them warm. You’ll also need socks to keep their feet warm, but in the summer months, you can let them explore barefoot. Buy in bulk as these items tend to get lost.
Pramsuit: when you’re taking baby out and about, you’ll need a pramsuit to keep them warm - again, depending on the season your baby will be born in, you can buy an extra cuddly one or a more lightweight one. For summer babies, a blanket might be enough on hot days.
Cardigan: cardigans are much easier to take on and off a newborn, and are a great option for adding an extra layer if baby is born in the winter months.
What to save on:
Cute outfits: not really necessary, but who can resist a cute outfit. If you’re on a budget, 2-3 outfits would be enough that you can rotate for occasions when you’re out the house with baby, or meeting family and friends.
Baby shoes: are completely useless as baby won’t be walking until they’re over 12 months. Save your money, you’ll soon be spending plenty of money on shoes.
Sleeping essentials
When it comes to sleep essentials, safety is key. We would always recommend following The Lullaby Trust and NHS when it comes to recommendations on sleep products and guidance on safe sleep practice.
The essentials:
Firm, flat, waterproof mattress: a clear and flat cot is best for baby’s safety. You can also buy waterproof mattress covers. This should never be second-hand.
Fitted cotton cot sheets: baby’s bed sheets should be lightweight, fitted and ideally cotton.
Sleep bag or swaddle muslin: If choosing to use a sleep bag, you can choose the tog based on the season your baby will be born, as well as their size. For summer babies, 0.5-1 tog will likely be enough, whereas babies born in winter might need a 2.5 tog sleeping bag. When it comes to swaddling, you can use a large muslin cloth or thin cot sheet. Check out The Lullaby Trust’s safety guide on swaddling here. It is recommended to stop swaddling when baby can roll over.
What to save on:
Room thermometer: the optimum temperature for the room baby is sleeping in is 16-20 degrees. A room thermometer can help you track this, but is not absolutely necessary.
Baby monitor: when baby is under 6 months they should be sleeping in the same room as you, so this is not really a necessary item when they’re newborn. As they get older you may wish to invest in a second-hand baby monitor.
Sleeping nest or pods: these are not recommended by experts as they can increase risk of SIDS.
Check out The Lullaby Trust’s guide on How To Choose Baby Sleeping Products here.
Bath time and changing essentials
Newborn babies require a lot of nappy changes, sometimes up to 12 a day when they’re really little. So being well equipped with the right nappy changing essentials is key.
The essentials:
Nappies: you’ll need lots of these in the early days, expect that you’ll need around 10-12 nappies per day. We recommend buying in bulk quantities from Amazon or wait until your preferred brand is on offer at your supermarket and buy in bulk.
Baby changing mat: you’ll be using this everyday all day, so we recommend getting one that can easily be wiped clean. You can also use a towel instead and change this regularly.
Nappy rash cream: there are many to choose from, and definitely worth having handy for if and when baby gets a little bit of nappy rash.
Nappy sacks: for pooey nappies, scented nappy sacks can hold off bad smells. You can also get biodegradable nappy sacks.
Cotton wool/ baby wipes: for the first few weeks it is recommended to use cotton wool and warm water instead of baby wipes. If using baby wipes, opt for ones that are free from fragrance and alcohol.
Baby bath: you can find a baby bath for under £20 on Argos. Don’t waste your money on a flashy baby bath, baby will grow out of it in no time.
Towel: you’ll need a couple of towels for bath time. Some babies also prefer to be wrapped in a towel or muslin during their bath.
Nail scissors: you’ll be surprised how long their nails will grow - get ones with curved ends designed for using on baby nails. Pro tip: if baby wiggles or cries when you try to cut their nails, you can trim them while they nap.
What to save on:
Nappy bin: these are not a necessity, and you can throw pooey nappies into the outside bin.
Bath thermometer: again, not totally needed. To check baby's bath water is the perfect temperature without a thermometer, simply dip your elbow into the water and it should feel the same as your body temp.
Nappy caddy: a great way to keep all your nappy changing items together in one place. But you can easily use any other storage basket you have at home also.
Bath seat: these are not recommended by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents due to the risk of baby drowning.
Welcoming a baby is an exciting milestone, and shopping for their essentials can make it feel even more real! However, figuring out what to buy and what to skip can be overwhelming, especially when it starts to add up. We hope this guide has made the process a little easier for you.
