What to buy

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It's easy to go overboard buying things when you are excited about your precious gift on the way.

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We stuck to buying practical things and consciously did not overspend.  We made a list of the essentials which included a cot, stroller, clothes, car seat, baby bath.

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Some hints:

We purchased a convertible cot. It came with drawers, change table and converts into a bed.  The mattress and bedding was purchased separately. Not buying a bassinet turned out to be a sound decision.  We expected our child would grow out of it quickly (dad is 6ft 2).  

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With a stroller, I personally preferred one that's simple to use and easy to maneuver and dismantle.  Nothing would frustrate me more than fighting to get a pram into the boot after a visit to the shops!

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We did not want to know the sex of our baby before hand so most of the clothes was a neutral colour.  We ensured we had enough vests, bibs, nappies, socks, bath towel, face towel and blankets. With outfits we bought bigger sizes again because we were expecting a tall baby.  

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Another essential purchase was a steriliser, breast pump and milk bottles.  I decided to breastfeed but also wanted to express milk so dad and other family members could feed baby too.

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Don't forget the toiletries (wet wipes, shampoo, soap, nail clippers, hair brush etc), panadol and a thermometer.

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Next...Preparation for birth

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