Newborn Essentials

When you're pregnant, everyone and their sister offers advice to you. Baby shops have lists of things you must buy, and the pressure to be ready, and have everything is quite tough these days.

Here is a list of what I had, what I bought as we went along (after StarGirl was here), and what I didn't really use or buy. Everyone is different, but this is my list. Baby things are expensive, and prices vary so much from shop to shop to online. You don't need everything, especially if you live in a smaller space. Don't buy lots of clothes as you dont know what season it will be once clothes eventually fit, same goes for nappies, you don't know what size you'll need.

What I had before baby came:
carseat
bath
changing mat
towels
changing bag
a pack of nappies
some wipes
couple packs of babygrows in 0-3+
couple packs of bodysuits in 0-3+
a bouncer chair
play mat/gym
large crib
a snowsuit
a few blankets
a couple of crib sheets
specialist baby bottles
soft baby hairbrush
nail clippers
good sized conventional lidded bin that holds a normal size bin bag
large v shaped pregnancy/feeding pillow
her comforter (MrTed)
cold water steriliser and tablets

Bought as we went along:
pram
clothes (StarGirl was born tiny so needed premature sized clothes)
Mamas and papas snug seat/bumbo
next size carseat
cot bed and mattress (and fitted sheets/pillow/blankets)
baby thermometer
video room monitor
nursery decor
toys
Ewan dream sheep
formula powder holders for day bag
feeding/weaning equipment (plates, blender, cutlery, cups etc)
smaller pram
teething bits and pieces (rings/gel)
calpol
bath toys/flannels
highchair
travel and outdoor toys

What I didn't really use / or things I didnt buy:
bottle warmer
pram accessories
muslins
bibs
any form of dummy
microwave steriliser
baby shoes
baby hats
cot mobile
"proper clothes"
silly hairbands
door jumper bouncer or jumperoo
sit in walker
moses basket
bath thermometer
room thermometer
baby pillows
baby box with bad for new skin soaps and shampoo, lotions and potions
sling
nail scissors
nappy holder
wipes warmer
odd little travel dummy steriliser
nappy bins that cost the earth and hold about 1 nappy.