I got a bit freaked out and overwhelmed the other day so wrote a list:
For baby:
Pushchair
Carrycot
Car seat
Isofix base
Sling / wrap - Moby, TotsBots Papoozle, We Made Me Baba Sling, Baby K'Tan Breeze Baby Carrier, Hug a Bub Wrap?
Cot - matress, sheets
Wardrobe
Cot for our bedroom - matress, sheets
Mosses basket and stand - matress, sheets
Rocking chair
Breast pump
Bottles
Steriliser
Monitors
Dummys
Blankets
Bibs
Mittens
Bath
Changing mat
Changing bag
Muslins
Clothes - vests, sleepsuits, sun hat
Nappies
Toilteries - bath cream, shampoo, nappie cream etc
For me:
Nipple cream
Breast pads
Nursing bras
Nursing tops
Labour shirt dress
Sanitary pads
Comfortable clothes to wear home from hopital
We've decided on the travel system we are getting so that feels like a big decision made xx
Um, I would strongly urge you NOT to waste your money on a Baba sling.
They are awful. Honestly.
There are much nicer slings out there that are comfier and safer too.
From your list, I'd go for a Moby or Hug a Bub (I think K Tan are similar too?)
I have an organic Moby which I plan to use when this one is newborn, and around the house as I'm less bothered about it getting pet fur on it or a cat clicking it. I will be using my wovens when we go out though.
If you like the look of the Baba Sling, look for a wrap conversion Ring Sling instead, as they are comfier and a much better fit
Re the rest of your list, by carrycot do you mean like the first stage car seat or like the lie flat ones that you get with big prams?
TBH I found it easy enough to lift my baby out of the car seat and into the sling (or pram).
I did have a pram that came with a lie-flat carrycot, but I barely used either (the pram or carrycot). If you are getting a moses basket you may not need a carrycot, or if you have a carrycot you may not need a moses basket as well... basically in my experience you probably don't need both. Especially as most babies outgrow them within a couple of months.
Personally I wouldn't worry about bottles, dummies, steriliser or mittens before the birth.
If you're going to breastfeed, dummies are best avoided in the early days, and after that they are optional anyway, you can always buy some a few weeks in if you really need to, but they may not be needed at all. If you can get through the first few weeks without you may decide not to bother with them (so don't waste money on them lol). Same goes for bottles.
If you need to express you can sterilise anything (pump etc) in a large pan of boiling water for 10 minutes. And breastmilk is best given from a spoon or syringe or feeding cup (your midwife can give you the feeding cups or tell you about them) They can also be boiled to sterilise.
Not saying don't get those items, but they are things that can wait til after the baby is born rather than potentially wasting your money.
Mittens also... in my experience they never stay on (lol). Also, babies like to see their hands, and fist sucking is a hunger cue too. Also, it's going to be summer and (hopefully) warm (I hope!) so the baby probably won't be happy to have mittens on.
Also toiletries, again, don't go too mad with creams and baby bath etc as plain water is really all they need in the first few weeks, and anything more can dry out their skin and make it sore.
Also, nipple cream, your Midwife will most likely have LOADS of Lansinoh sachets which she will give you free if you ask (honestly, before the birth, ask her if she has any nipple cream sample sachets you can have, midwives have loads they get them free). You can use it on the baby's bottom too if they get nappy rash.
Most people who buy nipple cream find they only use a small amount and the rest is wasted, and it's expensive (think Lansinoh is around £10 a tube). So again, ask your midwife for freebies before you resort to spending loads yourself.
Oh and if you do get sore nipples, expressed breastmilk on them and leaving your bra & top off works much better (imo). Breastfeeding supporters are divided on this, some swear by moist healing (nipple creams), others swear by dry healing & airing off... I'm strongly in the latter camp lol.
Glad you mentioned bibs! I am constantly forgetting about that! And then someone mentions them and I remember I definitely need some bibs lol.
I need nursing bras too, but your breasts grow the most in the last few weeks and will increase a lot more once your milk comes in at around day 3 or 4, so it's best to wait til the last few weeks to buy just one or two nursing bras (and get ones with a bit of room left in them) then buy more about a week after the baby is born so you can get a good fit.
Hope that helps a bit. Feel free to ignore me on what not to buy, I don't mean to preach, it's just that a lot of stuff on "essential" items lists are not that essential and end up being a massive waste of money so it's often best to wait (unless you want to spend the money, in which case ignore me lol)
xx
