Preparing for a newborn baby

How do you prepare for the birth of a baby? I have a theory about books: we read different baby manuals until we find one that fits our preconceptions and then use the book to justify our parenting style. The only concern could be that books can instill us with fear and protocol at the expense of instinct and listening to our babies' individual needs. The good news is that, somewhere out there, you will find a book that you think is written for you, whether it is about strict routine or attachment parenting.

A few pieces of essential reading are, for Mums, how to detect the fatal childbed fever and, for Babies, and how to minimise the risk of cot death.

Next come the lists of 'necessary' equipment, bells, whistles and gizmos that help us with parenting. I remember going through a list and naively checking off all the bits and pieces as I bought them thinking that this was preparation for motherhood. Hold on... the list is the same if you are giving birth in the summer or the winter, whether you live in the city and have no car or if you live in the country and need to drive to the local shops. If nothing else, the best advice I would give is that you can stage what you buy over many months, until you know what you really need. What good is a stair gate for an immobile babe in arms - it will only be useful when your baby starts to move around, and essential when you have a toddler and stairs. I don't want to discourage, just empower. Have fun, enjoy. Being a Mum is GREAT!

What were our most useful buys?
A selection of basic organic cotton vests and babygrows . You are rarely given the basics , but you may receive a wardrobe full of cute outfits from friends and family, either new or from those with older kids keen for a clear out.

Muslins. Essential kit for a variety of purposes! If you are using them to swaddle your baby, you can buy extra large ones that are said to be fantastic. While on the subject, swaddling can be a great way to make a newborn feel secure; either you can use a muslin or you can buy purpose designed swaddling robes (Grobag, for example, sell one).

Crib. Do you want to go straight for a cot, or can you delay that purchase while you use a crib in the early months? Either way, a new mattress is strongly recommended as this leaflet from FSID (Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths) details. Our family have shared a crib so all we did was buy a new mattress and waited for a few more pay packets before buying a cot. Even Mothercare sell a cardboard eco-crib for under £30 which seems to be well reviewed. Friends seem to be split as to whether a Moses basket is useful or not, but we all agree that the two-cotton cellular blanket can be a waste of money if you either have a summer baby or go straight to sleeping bags.

Bathroom goodies? I never used a baby bath or bath mitt and many of the toiletries stood idle for months. Baby powder? Er, no. Initially babies need just a wipedown with water, and a bowl is more than adequate. Don't be fooled by that purpose-designed top-and-tail basin or shampoo for a bald newborn. Get your nappy rash cream and that should do you, initially.

How about bottles and breastpads. Well, obviously if you're planning to breastfeed, you don't need to shell out for a major sterilisation unit! There seems to be a war being waged between the two camps: lactivists (great name, huh? It is the term coined for promoters of breastfeeding) being blamed for putting pressure on vulnerable new Mums, versus the scary power of the multinational formula manufacturers. Breastfeeding IS best for Mum and child - but it can be a struggle and it's down to the individual to decide if it is too much. For some, making a decision to give up breastfeeding has helped them form a more rewarding relationship with their babies, which is ultimately what it is all about. I was fortunate that my daughter latched on immediately and saved me the hassle of ever having to sterilise a bottle without even thinking of the health and financial implications. It is worth mentioning that La Leche league is one of many organisations that can offer support enabling Mums to breastfeed with confidence. I am delighted to have a breastfeeding scarf on the site that is quickly gaining a reputation amongst celebs and mortals alike for being indispensable for offering 'support, discretion and style'. At under £20 it is within reach of most people's budgets and is cheaper than many breastfeeding cushions.

Toys? Books ? Okay, not essential for the first weeks, but they are always fun to buy and if you can get your babe into the habit of snuggling into Mum with a book, it is setting the pattern for a rewarding life ahead. Remember, black-and-white shapes are the starting blocks for vision and communication and you could then build up to Austen and Quantum Physics in your own time. The one thing that I would recommend is a good mobile. If Sarita worked herself into a real pickle, our musical mobile could soothe her, much to our surprise. Some kids love those little bouncing cradles, which range in price from about £12 to the serious all-singing all-dancing, rocking, soothing tea-making versions (well, maybe they don't make tea).

How about chairs? Wait until they are a little older before even thinking about high chairs. Our generation of Mums rushed out to buy Bumbos and some loved them, but I'm glad we borrowed one from the toy library to establish that it was not to Sarita's liking. Pushchairs require much more investigation! What is your lifestyle? I know many Mums who bitterly regret the pushchairs and travel systems that they've bought. If you won't need a car seat and have not had a Caesarean section, you may prefer to buy a really good sling (we sell Funky Slings and Sling Easy) while you make up your mind about what you want long term. There are so many decisions: forward facing/rear facing, three wheel or off road, compact verses robust. As this is probably the single most expensive bit of kit, do as much research as you can. Please remember that second-hand car seats are not recommended and you should ensure that the seat is right for your car, so get it properly fitted.

Nappy bags? I struggled over this one. A small towel and a well loved bag should be all you need. As I never found the ideal bag, I am delighted to have found what I think could be the ultimate bag for the site - you have to watch the video before you can really see the genius of the idea.

We used a combination of eco nappies (such as Moltox) and washables. It is not for everybody, but it saved us lots of money and ultimately helped encourage potty training. There is such a huge range of nappies available and we tried a few, coming back to TotsBots in the end as convenient and comfortable; Twinkle on the Web seems to have a VAST selection as well as a Nappy Finder to help you choose. On an 'eco' note you may like Cheeky Wipes , a really well-thought-out alternative to disposable wet wipes. I don't want to preach as I know that you are intelligent enough to work out what will work for you! Besides, the irony of our choice to use washable nappies made me laugh when on the beach in Spain while visiting the in-laws; I turned to DH and said proudly that the money we had saved by using washable nappies had paid for the trip... I am not sure how my carbon footprint fared, though, if we were to work out nappies versus our flights there.

There are so many things that you can buy, but remember Freecycle and eBay as affordable alternatives. There is very little that is essential, apart from love. But, yes, having a child is also a great way to have serious retail therapy and be assured that, as it is not for you personally, you can feel virtuous in the process. If you are having a baby shower or want to give hints that have the subtlety of a sledge hammer, you can always make a wish list - the fun bit that we have added at MOIxx is that if any of your friends and/or family are also registered on our site, you can check out each other's lists Facebook style.

Chocolate and biscuits... somebody remember to pamper the Mum! You are wonderful and have just given birth to an amazing new child. I hope that you are doing fantastically and blossoming in your new role. We have some great gift sets for babies that have something for Mum too!