Lucy Atkins - First-Time Parent: The honest guide to coping brilliantly and staying sane in your babys first year

The stuff you need, and the stuff you dont

Clearly nothing can really prepare you for parenthood, but most of us dont need any encouragement when let loose in the baby section of a department store. There are plenty of fabulous accessories and gizmos for you to spend your money on. But actually, babies have extremely basic requirements. They need somewhere to sleep, some sort of transport for outings, some clothes and nappies and things to wipe their bottoms with. And milk. And you.

As far as clothes are concerned, keep it simple. Buy soft, stretchy, cotton clothes as you want dressing to be as quick and painless as possible. Babygros that have poppers (or a zip) from neck to crotch and down the legs are easiest. Buttons and poppers that go up the back are a pain in the neck and any little adult type clothesjeans, button-up shirts, jackets and the likeare just silly for little babies: they are uncomfortable (imagine if you had to sleep in them), not stretchy enough to allow free movement, and are soon outgrown.

THE MINIMUM YOULL NEED TO GET YOUR BABY THROUGH THE FIRST MONTH OR SO IS:

• Six cotton vests (long or short sleeved depending on season)
• Six to ten cotton Babygros
• Six pairs of socks (stretchy towelling ones tend to stay on betterbooties are generally pointless as they fall off teeny feet)
• Two to three cardigans (easier than jumpers)
• A couple of cotton hats
• A warm, all-in-one, padded suit for outings if you have a winter baby

For the first few weeks, your baby will practically live in Babygros.

Borrow stuff if you can, or buy second-hand: babies grow out of things in seconds. Try the NCTs nearly new sales, eBay, your local newspaper, charity shops, jumble sales and school ftes. Accept all offers of hand-me-downs from friends with bigger kids.

Aside from clothes, there are a few other essentials that you should try to buy before the baby arrives:

• At least four packs of newborn nappies (if you are using disposables). Take a pack to the hospital. Youll change a newborns nappy about sixty times a week at the start.
• Three large rolls of cotton wool for wiping bottoms and washing generally
• A pack of (unperfumed) baby wipes for outingsits hard to do the cotton-wool-and-water bottom-wiping thing in, say, a park
• A car seat suitable from birth ()
• A buggy ()
• A crib or Moses basket with a mattress thats British Safety Standard certified. Most babies dont go in a bigger cot until theyre three to five months old.
• Three or four cot sheets and a Grobag baby sleeping bag appropriate for the season and your babys size, or three to four cellular blankets. Never use duvets or quilts with babies under one because they can overheat. Most experienced parents will tell you that buying a Grobag was the best thing they ever did. It stops your baby kicking off the covers and waking (you!) up because hes cold.
• About ten muslin squares (get them in packs from Mothercare or Boots) for wiping up baby sick, protecting your clothes from dribble, lying the baby on in a park or making an impromptu sun hator, indeed, an I surrender flag.

Strap your baby on to your chest in a sling (left)its liberating for you (two free hands!) and deeply comforting for him.

This is stuff you dont have to get, but if you do it could make your life a hell of a lot easier:

• A baby monitorthis way you can hear your baby wherever you are in the house or garden. Basic models are fine.
• A bouncy sling-type chair to sit him safely in when he is awake
• A baby-carrying slinggood for fussy or colicky babies, or for just getting around when hes small enough to be easily portable. My Baby Bjrn sling lasted through three babies and is now being used by a friend.
• A fleece or soft, thick rug to lie your baby on when hes awake and needs to kick around a bit
• A wipe-down nappy-changing mat (or you can just use an old towel)
• A nappy bag (discuss whether you both really want the one with pink teddy logos) with travel changing mat. It doesnt have to be a specific nappy bagyou can use any bag at all, as long as it is big enough to fit: