newborn BARE ESSENTIALS list
Having a first baby on the way can really make it feel like you have holes in your pockets as far as money is concerned. We are surrounded by advertisements saying you need the latest gadget or endless supply of baby grows. This is my minimalist list of what we found to be the bare essentials (plus some additional purchases we found especially helpful).
BABY CHANGE AND BATHROOM SUPPLIES
Stock up on some nappies, wipes, and nappy bags.
We use biodegradable disposables from ‘Kit and Kin’ and set up a subscription on repeat, so we never have to worry about running out. We’d highly recommend them as we haven’t experienced nappy rash, and rarely have leakages with these compared with other brands we have used. The amount you start with really depends on how many weeks worth you would like to stockpile, but as a guide - a newborn can require up to 10 nappies a day although this reduces as they increase in age. In terms of wipes we love ‘Water Wipes’, and although they aren’t yet biodegradable the company are working toward a goal of achieving that aim by the close of 2020.
A portable change mat.
We use the wipeable vegan leather ‘Gathre’ micro mat to change Marlow in the house - they come in a range of beautiful designs and colours. For out and about we use the ‘Siamois’ print ‘Konges Slojd’ changing mat and get plenty of compliments. They are stocked here. I’d recommend having a station set up in the home for baby change and keep a separate portable mat and supply in the change bag you take outdoors - that way you’ll never leave the house forgetting the essentials.
I also recommend the ‘Earth Mama Organic Diaper Balm’ because it smells delicious and is completely organic. There are a number of stockists in the UK. Alternatively ‘Sudocrem’ is a great alternative. On the topic of oils and creams, having some simple coconut oil to hand is perfect for baby massage.
A baby bath aid.
I adore the ‘Puj Infant Bath Tub’ - but it is pricey and difficult to get your hands on in the UK. It was a lifesaver allowing me to stand and wash Marlow in the sink when I was recovering from my episiotomy (I felt far too uncomfortable to sit on our floor beside the bath). However, we also borrowed an ‘Angelcare baby bath support’. If you are willing to get into the tub with your baby, you can get away without purchasing a bath support at all - and Marlow preferred this and it is how Ryan tends to bath her.
A hooded bath towel.
We use the ‘Pehr’ hooded towel, and hang it on a nail on the back of the bathroom door to dry so it is always handy for bath-time!
Sponges and bath toys.
These are definitely not a necessity, but we use our ‘Oli and Carol’ teethers as bath toys. They are eco-friendly rubber toys moulded without holes to prevent water entering and facilitating the growth of bacteria. We also use the ‘Meraki’ natural sea sponge which you can purchase from ‘The Little Wooden Peg’ - a beautiful independent store.
for the nursery
A moses basket or crib for beside the bed.
For the first six months it is recommended the baby sleeps in your room to reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). We borrowed a ‘Chicco Next to Me’ which attaches to the side of our bed and replaced the mattress for £40 (if you use a second hand bed for your baby you should always purchase a new mattress as again this reduces the risk of SIDS). I have my eye on the ‘Hugg co-sleeper’ by ‘Bababou’ for the next baby.
A crib or cot-bed for once they hit the six month mark.
We found many of the cribs and cots to be overpriced and I really loved the ‘Sniglar’ cot bed from ‘Ikea’ which was only £60, and a further £22 for the ‘Pelleplutt’ mattress. I like that Marlow is able to see through all sides of the cot, it is lightweight, and has three adjustable heights for use as your baby learns to stand and starts to climb out! We opted for a cot bed so it would last up to four years (by removing one of the sides).
Bedding.
All of our organic bedding for the cot came from ‘NaturalMat’. You’ll need a mattress protector, and a couple of fitted sheets. They come in a range of sizes. If you use a ‘Next to Me’ for the first six months - they stock their own sheets to fit (see here).
A rocking chair.
I re-painted the original rocking chair that my mother used to nurse myself, my brother and sister when we were babes, and I LOVE doing the same with Marlow. We have it situated in our nursery’s bay window so we can both watch the world pass by while we rock together.
Some sort of place to store clothing and bits and bobs - a wardrobe or dresser.
We didn’t purchase anything new here, but re-purposed an old chest of drawers we already owned. Baby things take up an incomprehensible amount of storage - I like to make sure everything has a home in order to keep the house uncluttered.
A baby monitor.
We didn’t use this until a couple of months in as we weren’t apart from Marlow in the early weeks and she would sleep on us or in the rocker downstairs, but once we started putting her down to bed in the evenings we were grateful for the ‘Lollipop’ baby camera. (You can purchase it from here). It has a camera and noise notification feature which links up to your phones, so both myself and Ryan can check in on her while she sleeps. You can zoom in to check they are still breathing (a common parental worry!) and it also plays white noise or classical music with a timer setting.
out and about
Car seat and isofix base.
Having a car seat is a legal requirement, and we opted for a ‘Cybex Atom M iSize’. If you are trying to save money, the isofix base isn't essential but is designed to allow you to easily clip the seat in without having to fiddle around with a seat belt buckle. It's important to note that the base does not make the car seat safer, it simply reduces the risk of human error with use (as when fitted correctly it will display green indicator lights).
A baby bag.
I found a backpack to be the most handy as it allows you to be hands free. It doesn't need to be an expensive baby bag, a backpack with separate compartments will do just fine and you'll find it is often cheaper. If you choose something gender neutral, both yourself and your partner can use it without having to frequently swap items between bags each time you are on baby duty.
Pram.
There are a multitude of brands and styles on the market, depending on what you are looking for. It's a very personal choice, so I can only recommend you do your research for what you need and buy within your price range. Many retailers offer an interest free credit policy prior to picking up your products, making big purchases such as the pram more affordable. We bought a 'Bugaboo Chameleon’ from ‘Mamas and Papas’ and paid off our bill over the course of the pregnancy. It has a carrycot for use initially with the baby, which can be converted into a stroller seat once they reach six months old. It comes with the rain cover and there is the option to purchase adaptors so you can clip in your car seat, although we never used this feature as it is advised not to keep babies in car seats for prolonged periods of time.
If you purchase from Mamas and Papas and attend their ‘parent to be’ events or book a ‘personal shop’ you will be eligible for discounts, receive free gifts, and you aren't obliged to purchase anything.
A sling.
Again this is down to personal preference. I use both a ‘WildBird’ ring sling and a ‘Solly Baby’ wrap style sling, but you can also purchase more heavy duty slings such as those sold by baby Bjorn and Ergo baby). Marlow is six months old as I write this and I have popped her in some form of sling every day since Ryan finished his paternity leave.
A baby blanket.
You’ll want at least one good quality baby blanket to throw in your pram, over the baby as they sleep in the rocker or simply to wrap around them as you carry them outdoors. We had multiple, but love the ‘Clementine reversible quilt’, which is heavy-duty and perfect for the bassinet of the pram, and our heirloom sprinkle knit blanket we bought from ‘Millk’.
IN THE WARDROBE
This is a section you can go completely mad on (which I did) but I’ll list here the bare essentials and some of my favourite stores to purchase from. We like to support small, independent stores where possible, as I prefer to pay more for high quality, gender neutral pieces that can be passed down for years rather than cheaper alternatives which might not last.
You’ll need around 2-3 short-sleeved and 2-3 long-sleeved bodysuits to use as a base layer. I bought most of our basics from ‘Nature Baby’ as their items are all made from ethically sourced organic cotton. I particularly love their pointelle range. The ‘Henley pyjama set’, and ‘Pointelle Kimono Stretch and Grow’ were some of the first items we popped Marlow in when she was newborn. You can’t get sweeter than a fresh baby in white pointelle cotton.
Some more of my favourite independent stores for bodysuits include: ‘Mini + Meep’, ‘Tenth & Pine’ (you can get 10% off with the code ‘NATAM66’), ‘The Wild Ones’, ‘Raising Tito’ and ‘Itty Bitty Bean Co’ to name a few.
You’ll need around 4-5 baby sleep suits.
We loved the quality of the sleep suits from ‘Organic Zoo’, and ‘Harrbo’ (use ‘Marlow10’ for 10% off). You’ll find sleep suits are great for both daytime and nighttime; one of our favourites was the ‘Konjes Sloejd’ ‘Newborn Lemon Onesie’.
I recommend stocking up on a few pairs of pants from ‘Claude and co’, ‘Zara’ or ‘H&M’. Alternatively you can’t beat a baby in bloomers. I recommend ‘KissChaseyDesigns’, ‘Monsieur mini’ and ‘Quincey Mae’; you can pair the bloomers with tights and they can be worn in winter as well.
Depending on the season in which your baby is born you may need some warm pieces such as an outdoor pram suit (we got a delightful bear suit from ‘Andostores’), a few jumpers (again I’d recommend ‘Zara’, ‘H&M’ and ‘Jamie Kay’ and of course headwear. Anyone that knows me is aware we have a million bonnets, most of which came from ‘Briar Baby’ or ‘Joyfully Stitiched’.
You’ll need around 6 pairs of socks (we didn't end up using scratch mittens although we bought some). ‘Mamas and Papas’ do ‘boxes of socks’ in a variety of beautiful matching colour tones, and we used our ‘Josiah and Co’ booties every day and have kept them as a keepsake for our daughter.
Muslins!
You will LOVE muslin clothes - they have multiple uses; from wiping up vomit, to spillages, as swaddles and blankets. I’d recommend having about three to keep in separate rooms of the house. We were gifted a sensory set from ‘Etta Loves’, and the quality was beautiful. This brand is particularly good as the muslins are designed in high contrast black and white patterns to stimulate babies under four months old, supporting their cognitive and visual development. Another great brand offering tonnes of options and sizes are ‘Aden and Anais’.
as your baby grows
Babies don’t require toys in the early days and they gain the greatest stimulation from watching you (their parents); however there are a number of things you can buy as they get a little older.
You can’t go wrong with books - even from birth your child will watch you read and listen to you as their little sponge brains are working hard to soak up all that magical goodness you are telling them. These are some of our favourites:
‘Giraffes Can’t Dance’ by Giles Andreae
‘The Day the Crayons Quit’ by Drew Daywalt
‘This is Not My Hat’ by Jon Klassen
‘What’s at the Top?’ by Marc Martin
A variety of toys.
Rattles go down well - we love the friendly fruit rattles by ‘Pebble Child’, and we have a very chewed hedgehog from ‘Sebra’. You can also get a wide selection of wooden toys from ‘Scandiborn’ and ‘Kidly’ for a range of ages.
We didn’t purchase one - but for our next baby I will buy a wooden play gym.
Once they hit the 6 month mark you have the all clear to start weaning onto solids. For this you’ll need a few things:
A high chair.
We forked out on a ‘Stokke’ ‘Tripp Trapp’ chair - and so far we love it! It is designed to grow with your child as it has an adjustable seat and footplate, and comes in a variety of colours. A true chair for life. Although we purchased it at six months, it can be adapted with the addition of a ‘newborn set’, so Marlow’s future siblings can also join us at the dinner table.
Bibs.
Nowadays you can get all kinds of bibs - we love the ‘Mushie’ silicone bibs which are wipeable and catch the food before it hits the floor in a little scoop at the bottom of the bib (widely available). We also bought fabric bibs from ‘Pehr’ and more wipeable bibs from ‘Gathre’.
Baby friendly cutlery, plates and bowls.
We purchased the ‘Cink’ bamboo plates, bowls and spoons (stocked here).
THE ADDITIONAL NON-ESSENTIALS
While not essential by any means, we have used our ‘Snuggle Me’ organic baby lounger every single day for the past six months, and find it really comforts Marlow. It acts like a nest to hug and support the baby, and can be used for supervised sleep and tummy time.
We also LOVE our ‘Charlie Crane Paris’ ‘Levo Baby Rocker’. We got so many compliments on this and it was the only place Marlow would sleep for naps in the early months so it was well worth the price tag. The cover can be completely removed, flung in the washing machine and comes out good as new.
Swaddles. Newborn babies often love to be swaddled; it replicates that tight environment they experienced in the womb and prevents them disturbing themselves awake with jerky newborn arm and leg movements while they sleep. We invested in a couple from Solly Baby.
It’s unlikely you will need this immediately, but if you want to be extra prepared - you could also invest in a child friendly thermometer and calpol. When your baby has their first set of injections (at 8 weeks) they will require doses of calpol throughout the day to prevent them developing a temperature from the meningitis B shot. We purchased the ‘Braun Thermoscan 7 Thermometer’, which is widely available and offers the option to input your childs age. It is placed in the ear and displays a traffic light colour helping with interpretation of the reading (e.g. red indicates a high fever).
If you are planning on breastfeeding, don’t purchase bottles or pumps until your baby has arrived (as you may not end up using them or needing them). We stocked up on ‘Baby Quoddle’ glass baby bottles during the pregnancy, but have barely used them. We opted for glass as I feel pretty strongly about the toxic properties of plastic and try to avoid our food and drink coming into contact with plastic where possible.
Treat yourself to some keepsake items to pass down to your little one. ‘Birth Flower Baby’ sell pretty bodysuits featuring each month’s associated flower which you can personalise with their name and month of birth.
A pregnancy journal is by no means a necessity but it sure is sweet to look back on and document that time. The same goes for a baby book - and I highly recommend both the ‘Write to Me’ journals (widely stocked) and ‘Blossom and Pear’.