Honest Advice From Real Mums About What’s Worth Buying — And What Isn’t

If you’re anything like I was during pregnancy, you’ve probably spent hours scrolling Amazon, Mumsnet and parenting forums searching for baby essentials and wondering what you actually need before your baby arrives.

With so many “must-have” baby products being advertised, preparing for a newborn can quickly become overwhelming — and expensive.

As a first-time mum, I hadn’t spent much time around babies and had absolutely no idea which baby products were genuinely useful and which would end up gathering dust in a cupboard somewhere.

So I asked lots of real mums which newborn essentials they loved, which baby buys they regretted, and what they genuinely couldn’t have survived without.

The answers were incredibly honest — and so helpful.

So if you’re trying to work out what to buy for a baby, which pregnancy essentials are worth the money, and which baby products you can probably skip, hopefully this guide will help make things feel a little simpler.

Newborn Sleep Essentials: Moses Basket or Next to Me Crib?

One of the biggest baby purchases people stress about is where their newborn will sleep.

A lot of parents automatically buy a Moses basket — myself included.

In fact, I had two.

One for upstairs and one for downstairs.

Neither got used.

My daughter absolutely hated them and refused to sleep in either, which caused no end of anxiety as brand-new parents who felt like we were somehow already getting things wrong.

In desperation, we bought a Next to Me crib after hearing so many parents rave about them — and honestly, it was a complete game changer for us.

A Next to Me crib attaches safely beside your bed, allowing your baby to sleep close to you while still having their own sleep space.

For many exhausted new parents, that easier access during night feeds can make a huge difference.

Of course, every baby is different, but this was one of the most recommended newborn sleep essentials from the mums I spoke to.

Best Pregnancy Pillows for Sleep

Pregnancy pillows came up again and again when I asked mums about pregnancy essentials worth buying.

The horseshoe pillow. Half size available

As your bump grows, getting comfortable in bed can become surprisingly difficult.

Many women said their pregnancy pillow became something they genuinely couldn’t sleep without.

One mum even admitted she cried when hers finally had to go in the bin after two pregnancies!

I personally bought one of the giant U-shaped pregnancy pillows to avoid disturbing my husband every time I turned over in bed.

Unfortunately for him, the pillow itself took up about 80% of the bed!

Worth it though.

Pregnancy pillows can help:

Support your bump
Reduce hip and back discomfort
Encourage side sleeping
Improve sleep quality during pregnancy

For many women, they’re absolutely worth the investment. I loved mine.

Are Exercise Balls Worth It During Pregnancy?

Another surprisingly popular pregnancy essential was the humble exercise ball.

Many mums found them incredibly helpful during late pregnancy, especially for:

Pelvic discomfort
SPD (pelvic pain)
Improving posture
Staying upright comfortably

One mum told me it was the only thing that soothed her baby after birth too.

There’s something about the gentle bouncing, hip circles and rocking motion that babies seem to love.

Exercise balls can also encourage better positioning during late pregnancy by helping avoid slouching on sofas or bucket seats for long periods.

Baby Clothes You Probably Don’t Need

This might upset the adorable newborn outfit industry slightly…

…but many mums said they massively overbought newborn clothes.

Tiny jeans, miniature dresses, cute little shirts — all gorgeous in theory.

In reality?

Most babies spend the first few months living in sleepsuits.

And honestly, when you’re dealing with constant nappy changes, frequent feeds and the occasional explosive poonami, practicality suddenly becomes very attractive.

Sleepsuits with built-in scratch mittens were especially popular because they’re warm, comfortable and easy.

Another parenting revelation for me was discovering that envelope necklines on baby grows are designed to stretch downwards over the baby’s body rather than always going over their head.

A truly life-changing discovery during messy nappy situations!

Breastfeeding Clothes and Maternity Clothes Worth Buying

Many mums regretted spending lots of money on maternity clothes they could only wear for a few months.

Nursing-friendly clothes with feeding access were often considered much better value because they can continue being useful after birth too.

That said, several mums admitted they found specialist nursing tops more awkward than expected.

Personally, I often found a stretchy vest top layered under normal clothes easier and more practical. Or normal tops such as wrap tops you can just pull to the side or zip tops which are not maternity.

Comfortable nursing bras, however, were something many mums highly recommended investing in.

Is an Expensive Pram Worth It?

Prams are one of those purchases where many parents feel pressure to spend a fortune.

We initially bought a second-hand pram to save money… until my husband developed severe “pram envy” seeing shiny travel systems everywhere we went.

Eventually, we compromised and bought an ex-display travel system during a Black Friday sale for less than half price.

Many parents recommended:

Shopping second hand
Looking for ex-display models
Checking Facebook Marketplace
Waiting for sales

Because babies outgrow things incredibly quickly.

Clearance ex display prams are cheaper if you can get them

Baby Slings vs Pushchairs

Interestingly, several mums said they barely used their pushchair at all because they preferred baby slings.

Babywearing can make life much easier, especially if your baby enjoys contact naps or dislikes being put down.

Many parents recommended trying slings through a sling library before buying one, as what feels comfortable varies hugely from person to person.

Popular recommendations included:

Ergobaby 360
Baby Niko slings

One important tip was making sure the sling works comfortably for both parents if possible.

Postpartum Essentials Nobody Talks About

Some of the most useful newborn essentials weren’t actually for the baby at all.

They were for the parents.

Things mums highly recommended included:

Easily accessible snacks
Giant water bottles
Bottles with straws
Lip balm
A carabiner hook to hang off the pram for bits and bobs like lightweight bags that won’t fit in the pram - just make sure it doesn’t tip the pram if the contents are too heavy.
Soft button up PJs
Nipple cream
White noise machine but honestly - rain sounds on my Iphone worked best and that was free!
Muslin cloths in every room

My biggest win was a Snugglebundl - a brilliant way to pick up a sleeping baby without waking them. It featured on Dragon’s Den too.

Baby Bath Essentials for Newborns

Many parents are surprised to discover that newborn babies don’t actually need bathing very often initially. They don’t really get dirty.

A simple “top and tail” wash is usually perfectly sufficient during the early weeks.

Overbathing can sometimes dry delicate newborn skin.

Several mums recommended small baby bath supports that sit inside your regular bath rather than buying bulky baby baths.

Honest Advice for New Parents

Perhaps the most valuable advice came from mums reminding new parents to trust themselves a little more.

One mum beautifully said:

“Do what you think is best. Don’t let anyone scare you into thinking there’s only one right way to do things.”

Remember, you are the best parent for your child.

Pregnancy & Newborn essentials real mums swear by