u/Big_Sundae_7563

Hi everyone! 👋
I’m expecting my first baby in the first week of September and I’m starting to wonder whether I actually have everything I need.

I’ve already collected quite a few bits from the Emma’s Diary packs, Boots Baby Club freebies, and other welcome/gift packs, so I do have some essentials already.

I’d really appreciate some advice from experienced parents!
\- How many newborn/0–1 month onesies or bodysuits did you actually use?
\- How many sleepsuits, hats, mittens, socks, etc. would you recommend buying before baby arrives?
\- What size and brand of bottles would you suggest for a newborn? How many bottles did you start with?
\- Did you buy formula before birth just in case, or wait until after the baby was born?
\- Roughly how many newborn nappies should I have stocked up before delivery?
\- Are there any baby essentials that people often forget but end up using loads?

I’d also love to know about essentials for **me**—things that were genuinely useful for your hospital bag, postpartum recovery, or those first few weeks at home. Any practical buys that made life easier?

I’m wondering if I should be panicking and doing a big shopping trip, or if it’s normal to just buy more once the baby arrives if needed!
Any tips, recommendations, or “I wish I’d known this before” advice would be hugely appreciated. Thank you! ❤️

Hi! I’m a first-time mum due in the first week of September and was wondering if there are any fellow Indian mums-to-be due in August or September living in Leeds or Wakefield. It would be lovely to connect, share the journey, and maybe even meet up if anyone’s interested! 😊

Hi everyone! 👋
I’m expecting my first baby in the first week of September and I’m starting to wonder whether I actually have everything I need.

I’ve already collected quite a few bits from the Emma’s Diary packs, Boots Baby Club freebies, and other welcome/gift packs, so I do have some essentials already.

I’d really appreciate some advice from experienced parents!
- How many newborn/0–1 month onesies or bodysuits did you actually use?
- How many sleepsuits, hats, mittens, socks, etc. would you recommend buying before baby arrives?
- What size and brand of bottles would you suggest for a newborn? How many bottles did you start with?
- Did you buy formula before birth just in case, or wait until after the baby was born?
- Roughly how many newborn nappies should I have stocked up before delivery?
- Are there any baby essentials that people often forget but end up using loads?

I’d also love to know about essentials for me—things that were genuinely useful for your hospital bag, postpartum recovery, or those first few weeks at home. Any practical buys that made life easier?

I’m wondering if I should be panicking and doing a big shopping trip, or if it’s normal to just buy more once the baby arrives if needed!
Any tips, recommendations, or “I wish I’d known this before” advice would be hugely appreciated. Thank you! ❤️

Hello, I’m halfway through my 7th month and have started looking for good maternity bras. I was a 36C before pregnancy (though I have no idea what size I am now, as I’m using extension hooks to make my old bras fit!).

I’m looking for comfortable, non-wired maternity bras that aren’t too expensive.

I’ve heard H&M is good, but I’d love some other recommendations too, either online or in-store.

Thanks in advance! xx

Hi everyone,
I’m considering buying a baby stroller and carrycot second-hand from Facebook Marketplace to save some money. My main concern is making sure everything is properly cleaned and disinfected before using it for a newborn.

For those of you who have bought baby gear used, how did you clean and sanitize it? What products did you use, and are there any baby-safe disinfectants you would recommend?

Are there any parts that shouldn’t be disinfected with certain cleaners? And is there anything you’d avoid buying used altogether?
I’d appreciate any tips, cleaning routines, or lessons learned from your experience. Thanks!

First-time parent here and trying to decide on a bottle steriliser before the baby arrives.

I’m a bit stuck on these questions:

1. UV steriliser vs steam steriliser
For those who have used both, which did you prefer and why?
From what I’ve read:
Steam seems to be the traditional option, generally cheaper, and recommended by most brands.
UV seems more convenient (no water, no descaling) and can also act as a storage cabinet.
If you were starting from scratch, would you go with a UV steriliser or a steam-based one? I don’t really have a strong preference either way and am fairly clueless about the pros and cons of each.

2. Which steriliser would you choose?
I’m currently considering:
Momcozy 8-in-1 Steriliser & Dryer
Philips Avent Premium SCF293/01
Tommee Tippee Ultra UV 3-in-1 Steriliser, Dryer & Storage
If you’ve owned any of these, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Are there any other models you’d recommend instead?

3. Buying second-hand
Would you consider buying a used steriliser?
My thinking is that a steriliser isn’t something that actually touches milk, so buying used could save quite a bit of money. On the other hand, I’m wondering if:
UV bulbs degrade over time
Steam units can become unreliable due to limescale
There are hygiene concerns I’m overlooking

Would love to hear what you bought, whether you’d buy it again, and whether you’d go steam or UV if starting from scratch.

Thanks!

I’m currently in my 7th month of pregnancy and would love some suggestions from other moms and parents.

What are some simple things I can do to connect with my baby in the womb and support their development? I’ve heard about reading to the baby, Garbh Sanskar, mandala art, music, drawing, and other activities, but I’m not sure what’s actually helpful or enjoyable.

I’m not much of a book reader, so I’d prefer something easy and simple that I can do consistently. Are there any specific books, stories, activities, creative hobbies, or daily practices that helped you feel more connected with your baby during pregnancy?

Also, are there any free online resources, apps, podcasts, or YouTube channels/videos that you found useful during pregnancy for bonding with your baby? I’d love recommendations for anything that’s easy to follow and doesn’t require a lot of time.

I’m looking for practical and realistic ideas rather than anything too time-consuming or overwhelming.

Would love to hear your experiences and recommendations. Thank you! 😊

Hi all,

We’re currently researching travel systems and pushchairs for our first baby and would love to hear some real-life experiences from other parents.

Our budget is around £300, so we’re mainly looking at more affordable options, including some brands we’ve seen on Amazon. There seem to be so many choices that it’s difficult to know which ones are actually worth considering.

If you’ve bought a travel system or pushchair in this price range, what did you go for? How has it held up in day-to-day use? Is there anything you wish you’d known before buying?

We’re looking for something practical, reliable, and easy to use, but we’d appreciate any advice or recommendations—especially if there are brands or models you think offer particularly good value.

Thanks very much for any suggestions!

Hi everyone,

I’m a first-time mum in the UK, currently 25 weeks pregnant, and I’ve started looking into baby essentials like a pram, car seat, cot, and breastfeeding pump — both online and in-store.

A lot of friends have advised me not to overspend since babies outgrow things so quickly, especially within the first 1–2 years. So I’m hoping to find good, reliable budget-friendly options.

Would love recommendations from your personal experience for:

• Newborn prams/travel systems
• Infant car seats
• Baby cots/cribs
• Breastfeeding pumps (electric)

Ideally looking to stay within a budget of around £200–£300 per item (or less if possible!).

Also open to suggestions on:
• Best places to buy in the UK (online or offline)
• Brands that offer good value for money
• Things worth buying new vs second-hand

Thanks in advance :)

Hi everyone,

I’m a first-time mum in the UK, currently 25 weeks pregnant, and I’ve started looking into baby essentials like a pram, car seat, cot, and breastfeeding pump — both online and in-store.

A lot of friends have advised me not to overspend since babies outgrow things so quickly, especially within the first 1–2 years. So I’m hoping to find good, reliable budget-friendly options.

Would love recommendations from your personal experience for:

• Newborn prams/travel systems
• Infant car seats
• Baby cots/cribs
• Breastfeeding pumps (electric)

Ideally looking to stay within a budget of around £200–£300 per item (or less if possible!).

Also open to suggestions on:
• Best places to buy in the UK (online or offline)
• Brands that offer good value for money
• Things worth buying new vs second-hand

Thanks in advance :)