Everybody tells you about the essential things that you absolutely must buy for your new baby. But the things that people think are essential can vary, and you can end up buying things that you never really use. Some parents can have some useful tips about what they found useful and what they didn’t end up needing, but you can still end up with recommendations for things that you don’t need. One of the hardest things to manage is all the smaller accessories that go along with essentials like prams and car seats. So which ones are you most likely to use?
Travel Accessories
Some items for carrying your baby around are definitely essential, although what you use is up to you. Some parents opt for baby-wearing, while others prefer a pram. A car seat is vital if you drive, but you probably won’t have much need for one if you don’t. When you’re buying a pram or pushchair, there are a couple of useful accessories. A rain cover and a baby parasol will set you up for any weather. A cosy blanket or footmuff is useful for winter too. And a changing bag is definitely a must, whether you have a pushchair, sling, or anything else.
Feeding Accessories
Eating is one of the few activities your newborn baby will be doing. And as they get older, everything continues to revolve around eating. There are plenty of accessories you could buy and not ever use. A bottle warmer sounds nice but could prove to be too much of a hassle. What’s more important is that you have enough bottles and accessories to match, including different sizes and types of nipples. Muslins or cloths for burping and wiping up messes are essential, while a breast pump might not be so urgent.
Changing and Clothing Accessories
Another activity that’s going to consume your time once your baby arrives is changing nappies. It’s not pleasant, but it has to be done, and having the right accessories can make it a little easier. There’s no need for a changing table. A changing mat is one of the most useful things you can have because you can take it anywhere. As for clothes, there are various accessories that could be useful, but they’ll mostly be for keeping your baby warm in winter or keeping the sun off them in summer. Things like winter mittens and a winter hat or a hat for summer will definitely come in handy.
Bathing and Grooming Accessories
A baby bath can be handy, although plenty of parents still opt for using the sink when they’re young (or any clean tub of the right size). As your baby gets a bit bigger, a bath seat can be handy but isn’t necessarily essential if you’re there to hold your baby. Some bath toys can be fun for older babies and infants and some baby towels will come in handy, but you don’t need a tiny dressing gown.
Pick up only the most important accessories when shopping for a baby. If you need anything else, you can always get it later.