40 best baby essentials and postpartum buys, tried and tested by parents

Suitable from newborn to five months (or 10kg), this bedside crib has taken the top spot because it really does help ease any discomfort of movement when grabbing your little one for night feeds. It makes leaning and hunching minimal and movement far less strenuous on your sore body post-birth because the bassinet can easily move to sit right on top of the bed and swivel up to 360 degrees to find the most comfortable angle for you.

You feel so reassured by the safe, close proximity you can achieve with this bassinet for co-sleeping. We were pleasantly surprised that the base’s 3.8cm-high legs squeezed neatly under our storage bed, despite the drawers. We also found that this bedside crib took up far less space than others we tested, thanks to its adjustable height and single-leg stand.

We were grateful for the transparent mesh walls, which were breathable for baby and reassuring on warmer nights for optimum airflow. The crib also comes with a waterproof mattress to save buying one, and the fitted sheet is machine-washable.

The soothing centre was a surprise bonus feature we didn’t even know was included, helpfully saving money on purchasing any additional sleep aids, as calming sounds, vibrating motions and a nightlight is already included.

Read more reviews in our round-up of the best bedside cribs.

We loved using this tummy time pillow with our newborn every day, even from as early as a couple of days old.

As your baby’s wake windows increase, so does their time spent strengthening their neck muscles and becoming inquisitive with their hands. The toys attached to this pillow target all of the senses, with soft and hard textures, scrunchy sounds, a mirror and a fish to bite on.

For less than £15, you have yourself a bargain, compared with lots of other tummy time toys.

We had nappies coming out of our ears, thanks to our baby shower gender prediction game of bringing nappies for a girl and baby wipes for a boy. We were very lucky to test a variety of brands, from Kit & Kin to Little Angels, Mamia, Fred & Flo and Pampers. During the newborn stage, we experienced some extreme explosions and flapped about with all of our options to find our favourites.

This option sees organic cotton nappies that are fully biodegradable – what’s not to like? Even the maple leaf print is super cute. Most importantly, the high-rise nappies have been a miracle in fighting poonamis and saving as many babygrows as possible from messy blowouts up the back.

While the material is kinder to the planet, which is obviously a bonus, we particularly love how kind the organic cotton-rich pants are on our little tester’s sensitive, eczsma-prone skin. We have continued using these nappies through to size five, and discovered a helpful trick of sizing up for the final pre-bedtime change, to keep our little ones resting comfortably throughout the night. We couldn’t be more grateful for the absorbancy of these nappies, preventing leakage even during those unplanned longer stretches between changes.

This innovative breast pump was a godsend for hands-free expressing. Finding the time to express milk, let alone having a spare hand to do it, can be particularly tricky on days when your little one only wants to be held all day.

The wearable collection cups, which helpfully sit inside your bra, and electric pump, which fits into a (largish) pocket, makes juggling cuddles and expressing easy. We were also grateful for how comfortable it was to continue expressing on one breast, while nursing on the other.

We were so relieved to have already purchased this pump pre-pregnancy because we ended up testing it as soon as our milk came in, to relieve engorgement, using it as early as day three of our postpartum journey.

While we used this pump mainly at home (in 15-minute daily sessions) to slowly start building up a freezer supply, we recommend opting for this pump if you’re planning to express on-the-go, particularly when you return to work. It can be discreet under clothes and, despite the awkward-looking shape, the cups can stand sturdily upright and pour easily into bags without spillage.

We loved using Medela’s storage bags (£5.99 for 25, Medela.co.uk) because they’re 100 per cent leak-proof when transporting during mini breaks or for storing in the freezer.

If you love to travel and are often on the go, we highly recommend this super-lightweight and compact pushchair for easy getaways and transportation in the car.

Compared with other pushchairs we’ve tested, we found Nuna offered a great option, because the smaller wheels made for much less dirt in the boot of the car and allowed us more space for toys, shopping and other essentials during days out.

You can recline the chair to four different positions, facing both ways, to suit your little one through the years, from birth until they weigh 22kg. After a few practice runs, we were delighted when we finally figured out we could fold it up with just one hand in a matter of seconds.

We were surprised by how much we loved using a pushchair for our newborn, as, previously, we’ve always tested carrycots for this age. For babies who love to see what’s around them and be cooed at, this pushchair is ideal, as you can easily give them a tickle and catch their attention.

No matter what kind of birth you have, midwives are forever reminding you to eat a nutritional diet when you return home, to help your recovery. However, looking after a newborn makes remembering to eat healthily difficult, let alone finding the time to shop and cook fresh meals. That’s why we loved these meal kits, as you can arrange regular deliveries from your due date onwards, to guarantee you’ll always enjoy at least one nutritional meal a day.

Not only are the meals full of protein, fibre and vitamins to aid your healing, they also look – and taste – like they’ve come straight from a high-quality restaurant’s kitchen, to give you the treats you deserve. The hunger and craving for homecooked, wholesome food goes off the scales after a hospital stay, so, we were grateful for the large portions and easy step-by-step instructions.

We appreciated the abundance of flavourful options for veggies and vegans, too, which even impressed our meat-eating testers. Our absolute favourite dish was the delicious crispy cauliflower satay with vegetable rice. It’s full of sweet and sticky Asian flavours, which we could honestly enjoy eating night after night.

We tested this bath tub with a newborn for their first-ever splash, as well as with our three-month and six-month-olds. Every bathtime went swimmingly, thanks to the tub’s spacious size for generous bubbles and room for kicking.

We were grateful for the tub’s anti-slip legs, meaning we could use it in our family bath tub, shower or anywhere in the house, as it’s deep enough to hold the perfect amount of water for washing.

With energy bills sky rocketing, it’s also a helpful purchase to avoid running too much water. It’s super easy to clean between bath times and we were impressed by its air-drying speed.

We wore this band for a few hours every day (well, as often as we could remember) from week two of our postpartum recovery. After just a month of testing, we couldn’t believe we had our waist back. Aside from the growing bump, our waist size was one of the most obvious changes to spot as early as week 10 of pregnancy, so we were grateful to have it back so soon.

The Velcro straps make wearing the belt so easy around your waist and hips, as you can tighten it to your preference of comfort. Not only did the belt fit subtly under dresses and T-shirts, it also helped to create a slimmer silhouette for boosting confidence on those first public outings post pregnancy.

Compared with other popular car seats on the market, we love this Nuna option because it’s just as safe and secure but without the bulky, complex base fixings. You simply slot the ISOFIX connectors on to secure the seat in any vehicle.

We found this seat ideal for swapping between family cars and travelling abroad for taxi transfers. What’s even better is how lightweight the seat is (just 3.3kg), making lifting your growing little one to and from the car much gentler on your back. This car seat lasts until your child weighs 13kg.

Read more reviews in our round-up of the best car seats.

We instantly adored this Moses basket, thanks to its gorgeous look and how much it complemented any room of the house. From experience, we know that stylish products often end up being the least practical, but we were particularly delighted that our little tester enjoyed regular daytime naps in this beautiful setup, saving us trekking them upstairs to settle them down.

The quilted mattress is a lot more luxurious than other levels of padding we’ve tested, and we were grateful it could be machine washed at 30C. The basket is so lightweight to transport around the house, you can set up nap time in any room with ease.

It’s no surprise this luxurious nest is an award-winning baby product, as it was a total game changer for our early months of caring for our newborn. Our little tester enjoyed lounging on the DockATot looking at sensory cards during tummy time, and being pampered with massages and towel cuddles after bathtime.

While we loved this product for playtime, placing it under a play gym, nothing compares with the hands-free benefits it gave us to safely put baby down while we showered or sipped our coffee. Yes, this genius invention does allow a mum to drink a hot drink while watching and playing with baby.

We thought the brand’s description of “mimicking the womb” was too good to be true, but we were instantly proved wrong when our one-week and two-month-old testers settled just as calmly during their wake windows as they did in our arms.

Note: The deluxe+ dock is not for sleep – if your baby does fall asleep in it, move them to a crib or a bassinet.

We like to use Aveeno’s calming comfort bath and wash as step one or our bedtime routine, before gently massaging this natural oatmeal and sweet lavender scented lotion all over our baby before their pyjamas. It also provides an extra sense of calm for a colic tummy massage anytime of the day when we can tell our little one has some extra gas.

Not only does our little tester wake up with the most silky skin every morning, they also smell just as divine as when they went to bed – we’ve even receieved complements about how lovely our baby smells. We felt safe testing this product on eczema-prone skin, as we had already been recommended to use Aveeno by our local pharmacy. The pH-balanced lotion didn’t disappoint – it soothed dry patches within a few days.

This playful gadget is both adorable and essential for bathtime. With just a gentle shake, the seal turns itself on to read the room or water temperature. It also helpfully displays the words “cold” and “hot” when it detects a temperature drop below 32C or a spike above 39C, with a red light to make the alert even clearer.

We loved using the tech-savvy seal in both the nursery and the bath for a quick and clear temperature reading. We were grateful for its embedded battery-saving mode, too.

A hooded towel is a must-buy for drying your baby after bathtime and you can’t go wrong with the luxurious, high-quality fabric of M&S’s range.

We adore the sweet teddy bear ears on the hood of this towel (also available in panda and duck designs) for extra cuteness when drying your little one.

The towel is lovely and lightweight, with soft cotton that’s gentle on baby’s skin. We were grateful that the towel also has a good amount of stretch, for easy wrapping.

This super simple yet effective rocker is a favourite buy for hands-free parenting. You can safely strap your little one (from birth to six months old) in the bouncer anytime your arms need a rest from all the cuddles, or if you want to keep a close eye on them while you do a spot of cleaning.

We were grateful for the newborn insert, which allowed even our 6lb mini tester to feel secure. Plus, the hanging toy attachment is genius to keep baby distracted for longer.

We never leave the house without this trusty best friend of a bag, thanks to its many fabulous qualities and generous sizing for bottles, changing essentials, fresh outfits and snacks for a hungry, sleep-deprived mum.

For such a hefty price tag, we were relieved we ended up using this bag daily (with or without baby). It is easy to attach to a pram with a pair of stroller clips (£18, Finnson.co.uk). We also love its waterproof fabric lining and exterior, which is ideal for rainy days, as well as trips to the swimming pool when you start lessons with your little one.

The two internal insulated bottle holders help keep milk at an ideal temperature during days out. It also comes with a matching quilted changing mat that has a discreet pocket to hold a few nappies and a small tube of Sudocream inside, so you can always be reassured you have those essentials on hand.

If your baby hates being swaddled with their arms restricted, we highly recommend the SnuzPouch, giving them the freedom they want.

We particularly appreciated this sleeping bag for easier night-time nappy changes mid-snooze, as the handy pouch zip saves having to completely undress baby.

The 2.5 tog is suitable for all seasons, but the soft padding makes for an especially comfy duvet-feel to keep baby cosy during winter. It’s soft and lightweight for all-night comfort.

This three-in-one steriliser is such a great addition to our kitchen, keeping baby bottles safe and ready to use. We liked to use this unit daily after cleans for drying and sterilising our breast pump parts, bottles and pacifiers. It takes just 10 minutes to sterilise and 30 minutes to dry and sterilise.

There’s so much space in the machine to fit plenty of bottles and extra bits, which means you can also keep items neatly stored away, thanks to the storage setting, which continues to keep everything sterile. The shelves are optional, letting you rearrange items to fit.

We appreciated its modern look (available in black and white), as it complements any kitchen without standing out, unlike some of the garish baby equipment on the market.

This wonderful starter set – at a very affordable price – is ideal for baby’s first bottles, as our newborn tester instantly took to the breast-like teet and fed well. We were especially grateful that the anti-colic bottles have been designed specifically to prevent any air bubbles getting into your little one’s tummy.

The cleaning brush is a fantastic addition, as we used this daily to clean the bottles before sterilising, and it means bottle parts can be kept separate from the everyday dish-washing load.

While a wooden play gym doesn’t seem like the most exciting of toys, you’ll be surprised by how entertaining it is for your little one.

The best thing about this gym is how portable it is. We liked using this during our little tester’s wake windows to encourage them to enjoy playing in a variety of rooms and on different bases, from placing overhead on play mats or above their DockATot, encouraging kicking or reaching out from their bouncer.

The neutral colours and sweet crochet toys are easily detachable to develop baby’s fine motor skills, and helpfully complement any nursery or play area.

A popular buy, this play gym is out of stock at the moment, but sign up to be notified as soon as it’s available.

This sweet, windproof and waterproof pramsuit has been a go-to for overcast days, as it adds a cosy layer of protection for little ones. We appreciate the optional hand and feet mittens (in sizes up to nine months) to keep baby snug, as well as offering them some freedom when needed.

We also loved putting baby in this for wearing inside a carrier, as it adds some extra padded comfort and keeps them cosy on breezy days without being too chunky, fluffy or restrictive.

Proving very popular with newborns, only sizes from nine months onwards are available at the moment, but keep checking in for when smaller sizes come back in stock.

It wasn’t until our meeting with a health visitor on day five that we were advised to take vitamin D daily post-birth, so, we were glad we had already been taking these multivitamins from day one.

The key ingredients are B6, B12, Biotin, vitamin C, vitamin D3, folic acid and iron, all of which helpfully fight fatigue and contribute to red blood cell production, hair health and balance hormones.

While we can’t prove these tablets are responsible for it, we have managed to avoid the awful fatigue new mums often face, despite having only a couple of hours sleep a night and zero daytime naps.

While you’re shopping on Amazon, make sure to use the baby wishlist promotion to claim a free gift and baby product discount.

This carrier was a game changer for ticking off day-to-day tasks around the house while enjoying cuddles. It was especially helpful on those needy days where baby only wanted to be in our arms. Rather than being jailed to the sofa, we could get some washing and cleaning done around the house, stress-free.

We loved this carrier for walks to the shop or through the forest. Unlike many other carriers, this wrap literally slips over your head and you tighten baby in with just two straps. We were grateful that there are no confusing clips here, there and everywhere to try and get our head around.

You can use this carrier with your little one from birth until 11.8kg, making it a great investment. Another strong perk of this carrier is it’s machine washable.

Read more reviews in our round-up of the best baby carriers.

You wouldn’t believe it but our living room would honestly be carnage without this simple item. Thanks to this gorgeous nappy caddy, we can have some form of organisation and quick access to nappies, baby wipes, creams, bibs, muslins, hand gel and spare outfits every day.

We keep this stylish caddy downstairs (we have the riverbank design in the nursery upstairs) for faster daytime nappy changes and conveniently grabbing items during trips out.

This coat is genius, especially if your little one prefers a carrier to a pram, as it means you can still carry your baby on the wettest of days out. The stylish, waterproof parka not only keeps mum cosy, it also keeps baby extra snug and protected from the rain, with their own little hood.

We loved the length of the coat and spacious open (and zipper) pockets to keep your keys, phone and muslin cloths at hand.

We were grateful that the kangaroo panel can easily be added or removed with zips, for when wearing the coat on solo trips, too.

Thanks to BabyBjorn’s winter cover, colder months and rainy days don’t mean you have to restrict your little one from carrier cuddles when out and about. On top of your lovely body heat, your little one can experience extra warmth from the cosy thermal insulated cover. We loved using the cover with our baby facing either in or out, as the hood is helpfully reversible.

We were grateful that the fabric is ultra lightweight to avoid feeling heavy on top of our baby’s winter layers, and were so relieved that it could also be machine washed at 40C, without damaging the Thermore fabric.

When out on walks, we had lots of parents stop us to say they wish they had known about this water and wind-repellent saviour when their children were babies.

While you can use this cover with many other carriers, our favourite BabyBjorn carriers for a perfect fit underneath are the harmony (£208.90, Amazon.co.uk) and the mini (£104.90, Babybjorn.co.uk).

A nursing pillow is easily one of those items you forget to add to your baby shower wishlist but, trust us, it’s worth investing in one. It’s also a great purchase during pregnancy, to support your lower back or use as a neck rest during those more uncomfortable days.

We enjoyed using this la maman supportive wedge for all feeds at home when rocking away on our nursing chairs. Unlike most bulky nursing pillows, this boho-style design offers the perfect-sized curve to support little one during a cradle feed, or simply as an arm support when rocking your baby to sleep. Even our visitors loved using this cushion as an arm rest to help them cuddle baby for even longer.

Available in many gorgeous prints and colours, it will make a stylish addition to your nursery.

We love this triple pack of multi-tasking muslin squares for their practical and playful nature. We use them daily to wipe dribble, as well as encourage baby’s cognitive and visual development.

The bold black and white sensory patterns in zebra, starfish and dalmation prints, cleverly designed by an orthoptist, work perfectly to engage your little one, from birth to four months old.

We adore BellaMoon’s range of nursing essentials, especially this cover, which folds up so neatly to pack into a changing bag for on-the-go feeds. Available in six beautiful colourways and designs, it’s a must-have for style-conscious mamas who are after a bit of privacy while feeding their little one out in public.

We like the oversized shape to allow plenty of room for you and your baby to get comfortable. It feels just as breathable as a muslin blanket, and is far less restrictive than trying to cover yourself in scarves or blankets.

We love this simple toy to attach to the hood of a pram’s carrycot, car seat or pushchair to stimulate baby’s senses on the go. It’s also ideal for clipping onto the Storke bouncer for independent entertainment at home.

The cute, soft and hard textures, which make enticing crackly sounds, are perfect for entertaining inquisitive babies when out and about, or to capture their attention for photographs.

This bargain buy also doubles up as a teething toy for when your little one gets a bit older, thanks to the teething ring.

We love, love, love this quilted playmat, which is large enough to accommodate multiple babes during play dates. With plenty of soft, open space, it allows your little one to have a large base on which to attempt key milestones, such as rolling and crawling.

The best thing about this mat, unlike many others, is it can be machine washed at 30C. We’re particularly grateful for this, not only because of the inevitable mess that comes with a little one, but also because our pets also love the mat, so we need to keep it clean more regularly.

Thanks to the modern, stylish prints available, the mat doubles up as a picnic blanket for summer days out, and you can easily roll it up in your handbag.

There always seems to be that one couple who are getting married in the early months of your post-birth recovery, meaning it will be the first time to get your new mum tum all dressed up for a special event.

As daunting as it might be to get out of your baggy clothes, it will honestly feel half as scary if you’re wearing these miracle knickers. You’ll also be surprised by the styles of dresses and trousers you’ll suddenly feel more confident about wearing, thanks to this high-waist, slimming and seamless game changer.

After looking like zombies for a couple of months, we were over the moon to receive so many complements when testing the underwear at weddings and the races, under formal dresses.

Say hello to your new best friends: Bravado’s nursing bras, which feel luxurious enough to wear 24 hours a day.

Our favourite designs are the original (£29, Bravadodesigns.co.uk) and plunge (£38, Bravadodesigns.co.uk) because of their seamless, supportive fit and ridiculously soft jersey or silk fabric.

The simple clips make nursing stress-free, as you don’t have to struggle trying to take off clothes to pull your bra down in a hurry. Both mum and baby can be happy in a couple of seconds when feeding on the go.

Make sure to stock up on these nursing bras early, as they’re so comfortable throughout pregnancy trimesters for your growing boobs. We were grateful for the inclusive sizing and variety of colours, though we doubled up on the basic black, white and nudes, as they were so subtle under different outfits.

If you’re a first-time mum and reading this before giving birth, don’t make the mistake we did of testing nursing pads days after our milk came in, as you can actually start leaking as early as the third trimester of pregnancy. For us, day two postpartum was when we desperately needed protection to stop the milky waterfalls dripping everywhere.

MAM’s disposable 30-pack of breastpads are absorbent enough to wear for days out. We were grateful for how discreet they looked and how comfortable they were to wear inside our bra all day. You can easily fit a few in your handbag for changing when needed, too.

We adore these knitted jumpers, co-created by The Lovely Little Knit Co and Finn and Green, made even more gorgeous with personalisation of your child’s name. The generous sizing makes for a cute oversized look in your baby’s early photoshoots and fits snuggly as they grow.

The neutral colours of this jumper pair perfectly with bright or dark-coloured leggings, joggers, skirts or as a layer over dresses. Our little tester wore this for their christening with cream knitted leggings, for maximum cuteness.

A huge bonus is that this knitwear can be machine washed without disrupting its perfect chunky and stretchy design. Plus, our little tester was still wearing (and looking super cute) in the 0-six month size well into eight months.

Our favourite play room addition is this statement playmat, which looks like a stylish boho rug (to complement any room of the house). We love this because our home is covered in cold, hard, wooden flooring, so, we needed a portable play zone that was comfortable for our little ones to practise their tummy time safely.

While the foam base is ideal for baby’s first crawls and steps, it also doubles up as a giant puzzle to keep them entertained and their brains active when they’re older.

Thanks to the simple six-piece setup, it can be stored away in a toy box, moved around the house, or easily taken to the grandparents’ or on staycations, for a soft play area wherever you are.

We avoided bathing our newborn until around two weeks old, to keep their delicate skin fresh and let their umbilical cord scar heal. We started to introduce products with gentle ingredients from one month onwards, to pamper our baby’s soft skin.

We felt confident using My Expert Midwife’s body wash, as it’s sensitive on our little tester’s skin, with no harsh chemicals or perfume included. The body wash foams up with just a small drop, making for a fun and bubbly bathtime.

A pram rain cover is such an easy-to-forget item among all of the babygrows, nursery furniture and travel essentials on your shopping list pre-baby. However, with British weather rarely on your side, no matter the season, your little one will be grateful for a rain cover to protect them during long strolls in the fresh air.

We love how easy it is to fold up and keep neatly tucked away in the under-pram storage space, until it’s needed to cover a carrycot, car seat or pushchair.

The recent rainy weather has seen this cover go out of stock, so keep checking for when it comes back in.

This genius buy from Little Coo is a new baby must-buy for so many reasons. On top of all the nappies, spare clothes and travel systems you have to take with you when you’re just nipping out for a coffee, it’s no surprise how easy it is to forget some sensory entertainment for your little one.

This iPhone case offers three-in-one benefits for you and your baby. Not only is it a stylish and protective iPhone case, it also encourages visual stimulation, with its high contrast black and white design, helpfully encouraging baby’s eyes to focus right at the camera for photoshoots, too.