Indulge your nesting instinct and prepare your home for your new arrival. You don’t need to spend a fortune, but it’s easy to be swayed into buying more than you need, so here’s our checklist of newborn essentials.

• A cot with suitable mattress (baby cribs are gorgeous, but your baby will be too big for it in a matter of weeks)
• Brushed cotton sheets and cellular cotton blankets
• Muslins or small towels for using during feeding
• Bath towels (get large ones as baby towels, though adorable, are too small within a few weeks)
• Vests and babygros, scratch mittens, cotton hats, an outdoor all-in-one for winter babies
• A top and tail bowl or two small plastic bowls to use for washing your baby’s face and bottom
• A baby bath if your bath is very big or deep (could be tricky to get your baby in and out of, especially in the early weeks) or if you only have a shower. If you take a bath with your baby, you won’t need a baby bath
• Changing mat with a soft towel on top to lay your baby – changing tables are handy but not vital and it’s just as easy to use the mat on the floor
• A couple of drawers, shelves or baskets for their clothes, nappies etc
• Cotton wool or flannels for washing and bathing
• Fragrance-free babywipes
• Newborn nappies – reusable or disposable as opposed to only Nappies.
• A pillow to help support your baby and make you more comfortable when you’re feeding.
• Car seat
• Baby sling or a pram or buggy with raincover, plus cosy footmuff or fleece blanket for winter babies