There are many lists of essential items for your newborn. We have tried to edit these to the bare essentials to help save you time and money!!

Pushchair – this needs to be suitable from birth so your newborn can lie flat(ish). Travel systems, including car seats, are very popular as you are able to attach a car seat to the pushchair chassis or seat. Always check your buggy out in a shop even if you want to buy it online. Familiarise yourself with how to put the buggy up and down and attach the car seat, etc and double check the weight – remember you will have to lug this in and out of your car! Check out the Wallaboo Car Seat covers - an easy to clean solution for when you’re little one gets into finger food on the move!

Cot – You don’t necessarily need a crib or moses basket. Newborns are perfectly safe sleeping in a proper cot from day one. Try and look ahead and invest in a cot bed – your little baby is going to be a big toddler one day! Most cot beds accommodate children up to the age of 5 years.

Bedding – ideally you want three sets of cot sheets, one on the bed, one in the wash and a spare. Use Grobag Swaddles and Grobag sleeping bags. These come in different togs for different temperatures and come in some great designs.

Gro Egg Room Thermometer – this isn’t necessarily an essential but helps when you are suffering from sleep deprivation to know whether to use a 1 tog Grobag or a 2.5 tog Grobag. The Gro-egg thermometer glows blue when the room is too cold, amber when it is correct and red when it is too hot.

Monitor – Standard audio models mean that you can hear your baby from another room – handy for when you are trying to catch up on some sleep too! Some versions show images or monitor breathing.

Changing Bag – From the moment your little one is born you will always have lots of “stuff” to lug around. Keep a changing bag stocked up with nappies, nappy sacks, wipes, a change of clothes, bottles, dummies, etc to help you get out of the door faster. Keep a travel changing mat handy too. Check out Bababing’s great range with the Bababing Day Tripper Satchel, the Bababing Tote Changing Bag and the Bababing Roll Out Travel Mats. Wallaboo Changing Bags offer some fab colours!

Carrier or Sling – An initial convenient alternative to a buggy. Baby carriers are not only comforting for your baby but also allow you to have two hands free – great if you have a toddler or are having a little retail therapy!  Great designs include the Wallaboo Sling, (in colours to match your Wallaboo Changing Bag) the Wilkinet Baby Carrier and the Hippychick Hipseat for older babies.

Nappies - Check out Tots Bots Cloth Nappies as a cheaper, more environmental alternative to disposables. On average you should change your newborn babies nappy up to 6 times a day. This will cost you approximately £8-10 per week on disposable nappies – over £500 a year, more as your baby gets older and the nappies get bigger. Tots Bots Birth to Potty cloth nappies are £275.00 for a set which should last you for as long as your baby is in nappies, giving your quite a big saving both in your pocket and on your conscience!

Bottles and Steraliser/steralising fluid – It is important to keep a bottle or two handy in the early days for times when you/your baby may be struggling to breast feed. Even if you are breast feeding you may wish to use a dummy which will need to be steralised initially.

It goes without saying that the easiest thing to give your newborn is lots of love, cuddles and kisses!

Happy Parenting!