Best baby buys

It’s pretty daunting entering the world of parenthood; you stand at the gates ready to leave your independence, social life and unbroken sleep behind you and you hold your credit card in your hand and say to the nearest parent: “Right, what do I need?”

The problem is, you are never going to get a universal answer. One parent’s best baby buy can be another parents biggest purchase fail. The problem is, baby products are only successful if they suit you, your baby and your lifestyle. The best thing to do is do a bit of research. You can do this online, looking at product reviews, reading parenting blogs and recommendations from parenting magazines.

However, the best way to find out what products are good is to hang out with somebody who already has kids and get a “hands on” account of what works and what doesn’t.

There are some things that are given though; a new born baby doesn’t come without nappies, wipes or cotton wool right? Most people have got that worked out early on. And somewhere to sleep? Yes they definitely need something to sleep in and somewhere to sleep? But what else do you need?

What are the bare essentials? Think about what a baby really needs; sleep, transport, food and play.  And for the first 6 months the only food you need to worry about is milk, giving you plenty of time to think about the other three areas…

Transport
OK, your baby is going to need some way to get around? As much as they love being in your arms, those arms do get tired. Most people opt for a buggy, but as this is likely to be your most expensive purchase you need to choose a buggy that will work for you.

City folk need a small and compact city stroller, where those with rural roots need something sturdier which will glide over all surfaces. You also need to think about your car boot space, living space and the shopping basket and baby's comfort.

But don’t worry most retailers will let you take a stroller for a test drive first so you can try all its mod cons before you purchase.
But you don’t have to get a set of wheels, if you are a city dweller, or more of an “attachment” parent you may consider a baby sling. They are a lot cheaper, take up a lot less room and because the motion is familiar to what the baby felt in the womb, it usually is the baby’s preferred choice of transport.

Play
Babies love to bounce! Before they can move around themselves, you need to do it for them… Unless you buy a bouncer! So you can either go “old skool” or “new skool”. Old skool is the old fashioned bouncer that hangs on a door frame. Maybe, once, you sat in one yourself. They are relatively cheap, easy to ensemble and don’t take up much room.

The only downside is they may scratch the paintwork on your door frame and they are a little tricky when it comes to getting baby in and out. Which can sometimes get the baby too stressed.

The other option is an all singing, all dancing bouncing station. These cost a lot more money, but they do have all the extras: toys, lights, music, feeding trays and mobiles.

Getting the baby in and out is a lot easier too. The drawbacks are they cost, as they can cost a lot more than the traditional door bouncer and they take up a lot more room in the house when not being used.

Sleep
Whether the baby sleeps with you, in a cot in your room or in their own room, they do need somewhere to be put down at night. Cots can be expensive, especially considering how reluctant your baby can be to sleep in them.

There are so many out there too! There are Moses baskets, baby hammock, cot beds, cot extensions, and travel cots! And the hard truth is that you won’t know what works best for you and your baby until they are here.

However, a lot of parents now use baby sleeping bags as they help keep your baby warm during the night because they can't kick off the covers.

So, I would think small to start with and get the bigger cot later. Moses baskets are good for moving baby around the house without disturbing them, cribs are good for rocking and being able to see your baby while they sleep and if you like the idea of sleeping with baby why not think about a bed extension, that means your baby sleeps in a cot that is an extension of your bed! I know, they really have thought of it all...

And don't forget, as well as buying new there's always good friends, friends who have baby products that their children have grown out of and are free to a good home.

So are you a first time parent or have you got some parenting experience behind you? Either way please share your best buys! Which baby products would you recommend to other parents?