What you buy will depend on your budget and personal circumstances.

You may want to borrow some items or buy them secondhand. If you do, make sure they’re safe. You should always buy some items new, such as car seats and cot mattresses.

Some basic items you’ll need for your baby are shown below.

Nappy changing

• Changing mat.
• Disposable nappies or washable cloth nappies. You can find more information in our pregnancy care planner about choosing nappies.
• Cotton wool. Always choose white.
• Baby lotion or wipes.
• Baby barrier cream, to help prevent nappy rash.

Bathing

• Baby bath or any large clean bowl, as long as it’s not metal.
• Two soft towels. Keep them just for your baby’s use.
• Unperfumed soap, although it’s fine to wash your baby using just water.

Sleeping

• For the first few months, a crib, carry cot or Moses basket, with a new mattress.
• Cot and new mattress that fits the cot snugly. Our pregnancy care planner has more information about cot safety.
• At least four sheets to cover the mattress.
• Light blankets for warmth.

Feeding

• If you’re going to breastfeed: front-opening nursing bras with adjustable straps and breast pads. You may also find bottles for expressing milk, sterilising equipment and a bottle brush useful.
• If you’re going to bottle feed (formula feed): six bottles with teats and caps, sterilising equipment, bottle brush and infant formula milk.
• Muslin cloths.

Clothes

• Six stretch suits (babygrows) for both day and night, or four stretch suits and two nighties for the night. Use socks or bootees with the nighties if it’s cold.
• Two wool or cotton cardigans that are light (not heavy).
• Four vests.
• A shawl or blanket to wrap your baby in.
• Wool or cotton hat, mittens and socks or bootees, for going out if the weather is cold.
• A sun hat for going out if the weather is hot, or the sun is bright.

Getting out and about

• Baby carrier (sling) or, for older babies, a backpack.
• Pushchair, pram and pram harness, or carrycot on wheels.
• Shopping trays that fit under the pushchair or pram.
• Raincover and parasol.
• A bag to carry all the nappy-changing equipment when you go out.
• Rear-facing infant car seat. Don’t buy one second-hand, as it may have been damaged from general wear and tear.

Also useful

Other items you may find useful include:

• Baby monitor.
• Blunt-edged scissors or baby nail clippers.
• Room thermometer.
• Thermometer for checking baby’s body temperature.
• Low comfortable chair for night feeds, preferably one that’s easy to get out of and gives you good back support.
• A rocking chair can be useful for helping to get a newborn off to sleep.
• A chest of drawers for your baby’s clothes.

Source:

NHS Choices

Published Date 2010-10-15

Last Review Date 2009-11-23