You have probably seen loads of baby items which might look nice, but do you really need them and will you actually use them?  Remember that you don’t need to buy everything at once.  Items such as highchairs and full-size cots can be bought later on.

• Nappies – disposable or reusable.
• Clothes – a few full outfits should be enough to start with. Babies grow quickly so think about how much wear they will get out of an item.
• Vests, bibs and babygrows or sleepsuits with feet and poppers at the crotch.
• Pram or pushchair
• Car safety seat
• Crib or cot and bedding (but not pillows for safety reasons)
• Bottles, teats, formula and sterilising equipment.
• Changing mat, baby wipes, cotton wool, nappy cream and talcum powder.
• Hooded baby towel and baby bath, although you can use the normal bath.

Budget baby

• You’ll get more newborn sized clothes as gifts than you need. Return them to the store and swap them for a bigger size.
• Buy second-hand baby clothes and equipment. Try your local papers, the internet, charity shops and car boot sales. Always make sure equipment is stable and safe.
• Take up offers from friends or family members who have recently had babies
• Use old bed sheets and cut them down to size. A cot sheet is half the size of a single bed sheet and a pram sheet is quarter the size.