Anonymous wrote:Here's what I recommend (and will use for baby #2)!

Hardware:
1. A great, lightweight stroller, easy to fold, with snap-in for car seat. LIGHTWEIGHT is key. You still have to grocery shop after all...
2. A car seat that (a) has a base that is attached to your car, while the car seat snaps out for placement in the stroller (see above)
3. Stand-up changing table/bureau with easy access to wipes and diapers (check out the plastic wipe/diaper stackers that sit next to the changing pad)
4. Baby bathtub that fits your space and needs. We live in a small townhouse, so we opted for a storable foldable one that didn't take up much space.
5. Baby monitor with good range, preferrably two receivers (okay, won't use this for #2, but for #1 I was always obsessed with knowing if she was okay )
6. Safe, wonderful crib of good quality that might be used again for #2 and/or be transformed into toddler bed (we did not co-sleep, and our master was too small for a bassinet)
7. Baby furniture (e.g., wardrobe) that your child can grow into as a toddler
8. Rocker or glider. I spent a TON of time in mine. 1 am, 4 am, and now that DC#1 is 2.5, we still use it for story time. I'm replacing the small one with have for a bigger one so DC#1 can sit next to me while I hold upcoming DC#2 in my arms.
9. For working mums committed to breastfeeding, a great pump. The Medela pump-in-style my sisters bought me was used for over a year... and will be again with #2.
10. Adjustable feeding chair with snap-tray (that has NO "cupholders" or other crevasses) for age 4-6 months onward. I preferred one that strapped onto the chair and could adjust in a semi-recline for babies and grows with toddler (DD age 2.5 still uses hers).
11. Babyproofing stuff: at least something for the electrical outlets!
12. Eventually, a stairs gate

Clothing:
1. Onesies with easy snaps or zippers at crotch (be as stylish as you wish!)
2. Eventually at age 4-6 months, little cloth bibs. Then graduate to bigger waterresistant bibs with the "food tray" to catch food.
3. Some sort of on-body baby-toting device for quick, easy outings if you don't constantly want to be folding and unfolding the stroller
4. Some burping cloths--I recommend cloth diapers for this. Handy for draping over the changing pad, too, so you're not always having to wash the pad fitted sheet!

Toys:
1. Baby play-gym for when he/she gets to be about two/three + months old
2. Hangable baby-safe mirror for the crib -- once babies discover themselves, nothing pleases them more than you!
3. Pull-down music box for the crib -- a nice cue for the baby to sleep
4. Soft safe plushies for chewing and squeezing at age 3 months and up
5. Activity boxes with things to spin, pull, ring, etc for age 6 months and up
6. Safe toys for shaking, pulling, exploring (I like Haba brand)
7. For you: lullaby CDs for you to brush up!

For travelling:
1. A few lightweight knitted blankets for throwing over your baby while breastfeeding in public (and tucking baby into stroller). Those breastfeeding capes never worked for me...
2. For newborns, one of those co-sleeper mini-matresses that you place between you and your partner for baby to sleep safely.
3. Backpack for baby stuff -- easier to handle when active as compared with over-the-shoulder diaper bags (which I actually do recommend as a gym bag for adults: so many handy pockets!)

Seasonal:
1. Bunting for stroller on cold days
2. Plastic cover for stroller to protect from rain
3. Maybe, a very lightweight portable crib, if you anticipate taking your baby to family dinner parties, travelling, etc... though at hotels we just used the cribs they provided. Schlepping one more thing around sucked.

May or may not work for your baby:
1. Bouncy seat (my child was not thrilled)
2. Batt opp swing (child napped in here for first 6 months at least)
3. Vibrating seat (my child's review: "eh")
4. Activity chairs for age 6mo + . We didn't have enough room for this, but my daughter clearly was delighted when she visited homes that did. Don't know what the longevity of interest is, tho.

For me, worthless:
1. Baby towels and baby washloths - those things pile up! Just use the regular towels in your home if you'll be pinched for space.
2. Wipe-warmer (wha-at?)
3. Microwave sterilizers for bottles. Ugh. Just use dishwasher!

Later, when your child gets older:
1. A zillion of the same socks -- when one goes missing, no worries: just take any one of the others in your drawer!