Step 7 of 8
The big shop
There are a few things you really need before baby arrives, and an awful lot you don’t. A couple of things need to be new, for safety, but the rest doesn’t. Going to get it all is also a day out with mum, and one of the first things you’ll do together as parents.
Two things to buy new
Everything else on your list can be second-hand or new, up to you.
The car seat
You need one for any car journey, even a lift in someone else’s car. A used seat might have been in a crash and you would never know from looking at it, so buy this one new and get the shop to show you how to fit it.
The mattress
The crib, cot or moses basket can be second-hand. The mattress itself should be new, firm and flat, and fit with no gaps down the sides.
The NHS has the full list of what to buy for a newborn.
Where to find the rest second-hand
Babies grow out of things long before they wear them out, so a lot of what you need is out there barely used. Vinted and Facebook Marketplace are the easiest places to start, and NCT run nearly new sales around the country. It’s worth finding your local parent WhatsApp group too, kit gets passed on cheap or free and you get to know local parents before baby arrives.
What you actually need
The NHS list, filtered to your feeding choice. There’s no need to get it all at once if you don’t want to.
What can wait
Plenty of things get bought before baby arrives and hardly used. You can always get these later if you find you want them.
A baby bath
The sink or a washing-up bowl does the same job for months.
Piles of newborn clothes
People will buy you plenty, and they are only newborn size for a few weeks.
A changing table
A mat on the floor works, and there is nowhere to roll off.
Most gadgets
Bottle warmers, wipe warmers, nappy bins. See if you miss them first.