When you are expecting a baby, particularly if it is your first, a question which often goes through your mind, what do I need for a new baby? If you have no experience of looking after a baby, it can be quite daunting and also very expensive. It can be also quite difficult to decide when you should buy things, before or after the birth. You don’t want to spend a lot of money on things you may never use.

There are a number of ways you can research the question, what do I need for a new baby, you can ask friends and family that have had babies. You can also research online; you can often find a list of essential baby equipment along with lists of things to take to hospital. The other option is to go to baby stores and look around at what they are selling. Your midwife and antenatal group quite often have advice along with leaflets and literature that they sometimes give out.

When you are thinking, what do I need for a new baby, the answer is that there is not hard and fast rule. There are lots of choices which people make based on their lifestyle, budget and style preferences. Obviously there are essentials like nappies and clothes, but again there are many choices within these areas about the types, for example, nappies can be cloth washable nappies or disposable.

There are many other products which are not essential, but may be helpful, such as a baby carrier. Or a triangular nursing pillow, to help you if you are breast feeding and maybe a breast pump. These are products that you may not want to buy straight away, but they are something to consider when you have had the baby. It is still worth researching theses products, because if you know a bit about them, you will suddenly realise when it is going to be useful. It is always a good idea to do the research before you have the baby, because you probably won’t have the time or energy after you have given birth.

Close friends and family also have the dilemma what do I need for a new baby as a gift, should it be a practical gift or just something nice that they would want to buy. You may like suggest something that they could buy for the baby, or they might have some good suggestions about things you would like or need. You are bound to get some things you don’t like or need, but hopefully you will get a fairly good selection of gifts.

When considering the question, what do I need for a new baby, the best advice generally comes from people who have used products, and you can ask people you know. But it also a good idea to look to parenting forums for reviews, you actually sign up and ask people which brand is best or if they have a suggestion of a product. These are normally very accurate and helpful and you can sometime get discount codes or tips on where to get the product you want cheaper.