New Baby Buys: Save, Spend or Splurge?

I thought about writing this post last year, a guide to what baby gear you should spend money on and which you should just get a cheap version of (or skip altogether). But I was aware that I was only a couple of months into motherhood and likely didn’t know shit just yet. Now however, I’m out of the new baby fog and can look back with a bit of experience and tell you that if I were to do it all again, exactly how I would spend my money on the masses of baby products marketed to new mums. Because there’s a lot.

A little disclaimer that this is just my opinion and I know different things work for different mums. But this was my experience, lads. Oh and there are a few affiliate links in this one, just FYI.

New Baby Buys: Save, Spend or Splurge?

Pram: Splurge

Let’s start with the most expensive baby product I own, our pram. Our Bugaboo Bee5 is a bit of a splurge (read my full review over here) but I honestly think as a first time mum that I needed a sturdy and easy-to-use pram. If you can find a cheaper one you like, that’s great, but I’m really happy that our pram has lasted the battering it’s taken in the last year. My mum has a cheap pram for when she looks after Indi and it’s fine, so it’s not essential that you have an expensive pram. But I just felt like my girl was safe in my Bugaboo Bee5 during that vulnerable, anxiety-riddled first few months.

And y’know, I’ve said Splurge because it’s a big purchase but in the grand scheme of the pram world, it’s not actually that pricey.

Bedside Crib: Spend

Babies are only in the bedside cot for the first 6 months of their lives, so it seems like the kind of thing you should save your money on. But in those first 6 months, most mums, myself included, are terrified of cot death / SIDS. So I feel like it’s ok to spend a bit more if you feel like it’s safer for your child. Also, the main 3 brands are around the same price-ish – the Chicco Next2Me, the Snuzpod and the Tutti Bambini CoZee (the one I bought and loved). But there are a few cheaper options on Amazon like the BabyLo, or older models of the Next2Me if you’d rather save pennies for mat leave.

Cot: Save (Mattress: Spend)

Weird that I’ve said Spend for the thing they sleep in for 6 months but Save for the thing they sleep in for 18 months to 2 years, huh?

The thing is, by this point the fear of SIDS has subsided a little and actually there are just really good deals for “the big cot”. And they are pretty much all the same thing. I haven’t yet seen a pricey cot that offers anything extra, other than thicker wood, y’know? We bought the moKee Mini Cot, which is perfect and even came in my favourite colour! And it’s a total bargain compared to cots you see in John Lewis or Mamas and Papas.

For the mattress I spent a bit more and went for the Little Green Sheep Twist Natural cot mattress (60×120 to fit the moKee mini cot). It’s breathable and hypoallergenic and has two different mattress types in one. One side is firm for babies under 1 (as per SIDS guidelines) and the other side is softer for toddlers, so it lasts a long time. Oh and remember to get a waterproof mattress protector too, lads.

This isn’t for new babies but I think it’s worth saying that I swear by this memory foam pillow once your bubs is over 1. It was integral in getting my girl to sleep through!

Car Seat: Spend

Car seats are fucking expensive. You can’t really get around it. And to be honest, when you’re expecting your first baby, you want to make sure your little one is safe, so I think it’s an area you shouldn’t scrimp on.

After chatting to the staff in Mamas and Papas when I was pregnant I went for the Maxi-Cosi Rock car seat (it was lightweight so easy to carry but a known brand that made me feel like it would be safe) and the Maxi-Cost 2wayfix base (it was a bit more expensive than the basic base but meant it was compatible with the next car seat up when Indi got a bit older). The 2wayfix has actually been discontinued now and replaced with the Maxi-Cosi FamilyFix3 but it does the same job.

In retrospect, I think I probably would’ve gone with the cheaper base and got a toddler car seat that comes with it’s own base instead. They’re a lot cheaper and I feel less stressed about getting a “known brand” now that Indi is a bit older. Shoulda woulda coulda.

Baby Bath: Save

I bought the Schnuggle baby bath and it was perfect. No complaints, relatively cheap and you feel happy that the baby can’t slip.

All I would say is that when Indi started to outgrow this bath, I bought this Dreambaby baby bath from Amazon to use in the actual bath. But it wasn’t really necessary. I used it for a few weeks before realising that I could just put her in the bath as long as I had a non-slip mat and kept my eyes on her at all times.

Bath Thermometer: Skip

For thousands of years we’ve been washing our babies without the need for a bath thermometer. You just need common sense. Pop your elbow in and see if it feels too hot to you. If not, you’re good to go. Skip the bath thermometer all together.

Bath Products: Skip

There are some key things I remember from my antenatal classes, and one of them is that babies don’t actually need bath products. They have super sensitive skin so just need to be washed in warm water. When they get a bit older you can start introducing products if you want to. When my little girl was about 3/4 months I started using Aveeno Baby products because they were really gentle and smelled lovely. But for a new baby, don’t worry about getting any in. You literally just need a flannel or sponge and you’re done.

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Room Thermometer: Save

You know what I just said about bath thermometers? The same should really apply to room thermometers. But the thing is, SIDS. New parents are all terrified of the room being too hot (a red flag) so a way to put your mind at rest is to have a room thermometer. A basic one will do but I got the typical Gro Egg Thermometer. It has a light that turns blue, yellow or red depending on the temp so is a quick way to check the temp is alright by popping your head in the door.

Night Light: Save

I didn’t actually think about getting a night light pre-baby. But after our first night at home, I made a swift Amazon Prime order. I didn’t feel comfortable having the light off at night at first. I wanted to be able to see my baby. So I bought the Gro Light attachment that you can add on to your existing lamp for a dim light. I also bought a cheap night light (got this cute chick one) to put near the changing table for middle-of-the-night poop emergencies. It did the trick and was super affordable.

Baby Clothes: Save

If you’re about to have your first baby, I know you won’t listen to this advice, because I didn’t listen to it either. But it’s not worth spending lots of money on baby clothes. They grow out of them quicker than you could possibly imagine.

I thought I was being really conservative with how many baby clothes I bought. I bought a few sleepsuit and bodysuit packs and got a few cute outfits at my baby shower. But my daughter was in Newborn size for 2 weeks. Most things she only wore once. It’s just such a waste!!

I would say, buy something cute for taking a photo in – maybe to put on thank you cards to people that sent you gifts, or to post on Insta as a birth announcement thingy. But other than that, buy as cheap as possible. Get some basics from Tu at Sainsbury’s or F&F at Tesco and see if your friends have any baby clothes they saved from their children. And don’t even bother buying shoes or socks for the first few months. (They’re only gonna wear sleepsuits with the feet after all.)

Muslins: Save

I don’t know why, but I got a few ~nice~ packs of muslins when I was pregnant with my kid. Y’know muslins in different colours and patterns, or ones that were organic or nice and soft. But mate, YOU LITERALLY USE THEM TO CLEAR UP SICK. Get the cheapest ones possible, lads. Trust me.

Blankets/Sleeping Bags: Spend

When you’re expecting your first baby, figuring out what they should sleep in can be tricky. But the thing is, it’s kind of up to what works for the baby. I bought swaddles and my girl hated to be swaddled. She also didn’t like sleeping bags until she was a couple months old, so at first she had a cellular blanket. You can get one of those pretty cheap, I think I got mine for a fiver in Tesco.

But sleeping bags can be expensive. I got mine from the Gro Company, this newborn one at first and this one when she got bigger. I also love Aden & Anais for their 1 tog muslin sleeping bags in the summer, you can’t beat them. They’re a bit pricier but they last a few months so feel worth it.

Nappies & Wipes: Save

It’s around the eighth month of pregnancy that you suddenly realise you have no idea about nappies or wipes and hastily google WHAT ARE THE BEST BRAND OF NAPPIES at 3am, when your extremely squashed bladder has woken you up for the third time that night. But honestly? It doesn’t really matter. If anything I’d say go for the cheapest ones because you’re going to be buying a lot of them. You can always see how your baby gets on with them and change them if needed.

Changing Table: Spend

Technically you could skip the changing table altogether and opt for a changing mat you just put on the bed when you need to change them. And if you’re low on space that’s not the end of the world.

But after having a baby I was so achey and I couldn’t fathom having to bend over to change her that many times a day. So I’m glad we did get a changing table in the end. We didn’t spend crazy money on the extortionate ones you see in the baby shops though. We got this one from IKEA for £50 and it was perfect (it’s since gone up to £60 but there’s also a £25 one available). And once she’s out of nappies, you can just take the top bit off and its a little bookshelf. Winner.

Nursery Furniture: Skip

Let’s elaborate on the nursery furniture thing. Because I think this is an area that a lot of new parents get conned into spending lots of money on.

So you’re a few months pregnant and start wandering Mamas and Papas on a Sunday afternoon, in awe at the beautiful nurseries. Then you see the price. Is that how much nursery furniture costs?

IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE THAT EXPENSIVE.

Those beautifully ornate furniture sets that cost a bomb aren’t totally necessary. I’ve already told you about the changing table and cot that are both great quality at really good price points. And the rest of the nursery furniture is just… normal furniture! We used an old chest of drawers that used to be in our bedroom and an old wardrobe my mum had and we were done. Plus it’s a normal-sized wardrobe so my little girl won’t grow out of it when her clothes don’t fit in the baby-clothes-sized sections.

Don’t get conned into thinking you need the perfectly coordinated oak furniture in the showrooms. Before long, your kid will be asking for Paw Patrol wallpaper and any hope of having a chic room will be abandoned.

Nursery Decor: Save

So. Here’s how you make the nursery look lovely. You just jazz up your basic furiture with cute nursery touches. I mean, I didn’t go mad, because like I said, kids have their own minds eventually. This is short-term. But I added a few nice things to make it cute.

I wanted one of those amazing banners with colourful letters on them, but hey, they’re actually quite pricey. So I just made my own using felt and a glue gun from HobbyCraft. I added some cute bunting from Flying Tiger that cost me a couple of quid and put some colourful frames up with photos of our family. I’ll do a proper Nursery Tour soon, but the point of this is that you can totally do it all on a budget.

Sling/Baby Carrier: Spend

I knew straight away that I wanted a sling/baby carrier. I wanted to be able to travel with my baby and have adventures with her. I mean, the reality of that was that it actually takes quite a long time to mentally recover from becoming a mum, so adventures took longer than anticipated to get off the ground. But still, I had always been keen on baby-wearing.

I started off with this Lifft fabric sling, which I would totally recommend when your baby is small. Even if you’re not planning on going anywhere, it’s a way to get your baby to sleep whilst you get stuff done.

Then when she was a little bigger and wanted to face outwards, I got a budget baby carrier from Infantino on Amazon. This worked well enough for a little while, but when I wanted to go on holiday with Indi, I ended up borrowing a friends’ Ergobaby 360 for the trip. And it had so much more support. Indi was 10 months old at his point, so a lot bigger. The Infantino one is good enough so you definitely don’t have to shell out lots of money. But the Ergobaby 360 definitely has more support and therefore more longevity if you know you want to baby-wear for a longer period.

Perfect Prep Machine: Splurge

If you’re bottle feeding, you WILL NOT REGRET buying a Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep Machine. It sounds like an absolute con, you can just make bottles the old-fashioned way without shelling out for a machine to do it for you, right? RIGHT? Well yeah of course you can, but newborn life is hard enough without having to pre-empt a bottle feed half an hour in advance in order to boil the kettle and let it cool to the right temp (yeah that’s how you’re advised to make bottles these days and it’s an absolute joke.) But with the prep machine you just rock up and press the button and it delivers the perfect temp water to make your bottles with.

Yes of course it’s a luxury and if you can’t afford it, it’s not the end of the world. But it just made an extremely tricky part of my life that much easier.

Top tip: Get the older model as it’s half the price of the newer one and does the same thing just without a fancy digital display.

Playmat/Baby Gym: Save

A playmat is one of the things I didn’t actually think about buying until I had my little girl. But when they’re a couple months old they need to have tummy time and start rolling around. You can do this on a blanket of course, but the dangly toys on a playmat/gym does capture their attention. And it’s a great shout for when you need to pop to the loo. Just remember that as soon as they’re crawling, they’re over it. So instead of getting the beautiful SkipHop one, go for the Mothercare basic variety. Or this £20 one from Amazon.

Sleepyhead/Nest: Splurge

Ok, this is another splurge that I was not intending on making. Especially because since 2018, you are no longer advised to use baby nests under the age of 1. But I did a lot of research and made the call to get a Sleepyhead Deluxe nest for my little girl to sleep in. I barely slept the first couple of nights she used one, worrying I was making a mistake, but it turned out to be a really good idea for us as a family. And she was sleeping through the night by 6 weeks old. DON’T HATE ME.

Obviously this goes against the official advice so please do your research and make your own call on this. I decided that I felt comfortable going for Sleepyhead as they are the leading brand, with breathable fabric and a great reputation, but there are cheaper versions available online.

Bouncer: Save

Do you need an expensive Mama Roo to rock your baby to sleep? No. A lot of babies don’t even like them. And chances are you’re going to want to snuggle your little bundle of joy to sleep anyway. And when you do want to put them down so you can jump in the shower, a cheap bouncer does just as good a job. I got mine for £30 in the Mamas and Papas sale (it was this Capella one but it often gets reduced to half price) and it was exactly what we needed. It’s worth saying that when they’re newborn they don’t really fit in them yet, so you could always wait until your bubs is here to buy one.

Walker/Jumperoo: Spend

I’ve deliberated on this one for a while, because a walker or jumperoo both seem like total luxury items. But the thing is, during that 6-12 months period, all you care about is your child’s development. Whay are they not walking? All my friends’ babies are walking?! And so you buy a walker lol.

And with the jumperoo, you’ll use a friend’s one and see how much they love it and end up buying one too.

But neither of these items are cheap. I would just advise that you remember that your baby will literally only be using these for a few months, so it’s worth going cheap. Try the middle section of Aldi for some good deals or check Amazon for Red Kite branded items.

Video Monitor: Save

You may be fooled into thinking you need to spend a small fortune on a video monitor. One with all the fancy mod cons and a super clear screen. But here’s the thing, you won’t use any of those fancy features. You just need to be able to see and hear your baby in their room.

You won’t use the lullaby feature or speak back to them, because when they cry, you go to them to soothe them back to sleep. It doesn’t matter that it has a built-in thermometer because they are infamously inaccurate. I repeat, you literally just need to see and hear them. We got an affordable one off of eBay and it was fine (it’s this one here). Was the screen quality amazing? Not really. But I just don’t think it’s an area you need to invest in. Save the pennies for the pram.

Highchair: Save

You need a highchair. Definitely. But there’s a reason so many of us buy the £9 IKEA one (£12 with the tray). Not just because it’s affordable, but because it’s fully plastic so can easily be wiped down after weaning messes. It also comes apart easily so you can chuck it in the boot if you get invited round to someone’s house for dinner or want to go away for the weekend.

I know the expensive ones are tempting, but no matter what they tell you about it being an investment and turning into a chair for them as they grow older, they’re not necessary. They’ll just sit in normal chairs before long. (My little girl was using a booster seat at the table by 15 months.)

Also, to make sure it doesn’t take up space in your house, I would wait to buy your highchair until your baby is ready to be weaned. You won’t use it until then.

Ok, that’s all I can think of right now. But to be honest just looking at that list, WOW. Babies are expensive, huh? If I’ve missed anything do let me know. And I hope that was helpful for any new mamas or mamas-to-be out there!

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