Here are a few must-have items for new borns. I've included budget and splurge options below but all of these are really useful and I couldn't have done without them in the first few months.
Next to me cot
This is a must have - it is recommended that you keep baby in the same room as you for the first 6 months and being able to have them so close is a godsend. We bottle fed but this meant I was still able to just roll over and sort out a dummy or check if she was ok. Make life easy for yourselves when you are already sleep deprived and get a next to me cot. The one pictured is the Maxi-Cosi which is great. The CostWay and Chicco are also good options.
White noise machine.
I love our Hatch Machine. We used it with our first born and he still uses it every night. As soon as I found out I was pregnant again, it was the top of my list of things to buy again so our daughter could also have one. They provide light and white noise - I find some white noise machines really hard to listen to but the white noise on the Hatch is softer and doesn't grate on me. You can programme the touch ring at the top - I have two programs for my son and three for our newborn which makes the night feeds so easy.
As they get older you can also use it as a light system to tell them when it is time to get up. We couldn't be without it. We have the original Hatch but there is also a 2nd Generation one.
Mam bottles
If you choose to bottle feed then I would highly recommend Mam bottles. We started on different ones but our baby didn't get on with them - he loved Mam bottles though! I like that they are easy to clean and you can sterilize them in the microwave. This starter pack is great to have in and then you can also buy them in packs of three.
Both my babies have been velcro babies at the start - I don't know any baby that actually likes being put down in the first few months. This wrap lets you go hands free and my two fall asleep in it instantly. I can wear it for hours (and I have a bad back!). They come in a range of different colours - we have two so we can wash one and not go a day without them in it! There are plenty of YouTube tutorials on how to wear them - it took me a couple of tries and then became second nature.
If you are finally able to put the baby down for a bit then a bouncer does help. You can go high tech with one that moves for you and plays music etc or you can go simple with one that you bounce with you foot. We have a simple one that the baby really likes and it great for a quick 20 mins when you need to empty the dishwasher!
Of course you can splurge on a more high tech one that might keep your baby asleep longer. If you've got the money then they are well worth it but not essential!
Floor time and tummy time is important for your developing baby. I wanted a mat that wasn't too bad to look at but also provided enough stimulation for the baby, This mat was a perfect combination and I've now used it for both kids.
This one is also a lovely option if you were looking for something a little cheaper!
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