Avoid buying too many newborn nappies as your baby will outgrow them very quickly.

You may prefer to buy the cheaper disposable breast pads - deluxe pads are often quite bulky and visible through clothing.

Expensive changing mats are not necessary. It would be more cost effective to buy two inexpensive plastic, easy wipe mats (Mothercare have a range for £7) - then you can have one in the nursery and one downstairs.

Leading nappy brands such as Huggies and Pampers are by far the cheapest in wholesalers such as Costco (approx. £17.99 for 210 nappies) but they generally don’t sell newborn nappies. However, in the early days when you are changing your baby’s nappy more frequently, the supermarket own brands are fine to try and are much cheaper.

Having a specific nappy bin/sanitizer is not essential as they can be quite expensive and take up valuable space. Having a small bin in the nursery is fine, as long as you only use it for wet nappies (put inside a nappy sack). It is best to put soiled nappies straight into your main bin.

Baby baths are great, but do be aware that most babies will outgrow them by the time they are around 8 weeks. If you can safely bend over your family bath then you may decide to forego a baby bath altogether. If you are unsure about placing your newborn straight into the family bath, you can buy baby bath slings / chairs that are designed to fit into the bath and are good value for money.

Baby carriers/slings are ideal if you want to keep your hands free and are a great way for dad to feel involved. However, by the time your baby is 3-4 months old they will be getting rather heavy and you will probably find it uncomfortable to use them for prolonged periods of time. They can also be quite cumbersome to get on and off and it’s harder for baby to sleep when you are out and about compared to a buggy.

If you are bottle feeding, it is wise to invest in the normal (9oz) bottles as opposed to the smaller ‘4oz’ bottles, as you will find that these are only appropriate for the first couple of weeks.

Changing tables/units can be great for those first few weeks when you are changing your baby more frequently, however they can be expensive and take up valuable space. A changing mat on the nursery floor or placed in the middle of your bed (to avoid any accidents) can be just as effective.

Pregnancy pillows are great to support your bump in the last couple of months, however a normal pillow can be just as comfortable.

There are a variety of electric bottle warmers on the market however probably the most effective way to warm a bottle is using a good old fashioned jug of hot water. If you don’t want to go downstairs in the middle of the night you could always plug the kettle in upstairs.

Think carefully before buying a carrycot / flat pram – most buggies can be placed in a flat and upright position, making them suitable from birth. The 3 in 1 systems can be good value for money, especially those that allow you to place the car seat directly onto the chassis.

You may not want to waste your money on a waterproof mattress protector as the chances of your waters breaking in bed are fairly slim. However if you are worried, then you can use Pampers disposable changing mats or even a towel just in case!

Bear in mind that there are a lot of expensive baby gyms on the market and you will probably find that by the time your baby is 3-4 months she will have outgrown it.

Baby starter packs for clothing, feeding etc may look like a good investment, however you invariably find that you won’t use everything in them and it can often work out cheaper to buy things separately.

Borrow as many things as you can from friends, however if you are borrowing a cot, moses basket or crib then you must buy a new mattress for use with your baby.

You will probably be tempted to buy loads of outfits for your newborn. Before splashing out, it is worth bearing in mind that in those first few weeks your newborn will pretty much live in sleepsuits as sleeping will be their favourite activity! Also, you will no doubt receive an abundance of adorable outfits from friends and family.

Specific baby changing bags can be quite expensive and cumbersome! If you already have a favourite bag that can fit in all of baby’s things, then use this instead!

It is not necessary to buy a cot divider – just place baby feet to end.

Baby monitors – the most expensive is not necessarily the best. The more expensive models come with movement sensors, temperature sensors etc so you will need to decide if these added extras are worth the money.

Scratch mitts sound great in theory but rarely stay on for longer than 10 seconds!

Supermarkets and chemists such as Boots are always running special offers on baby products such as wipes, so keep your eyes peeled.

Microwave sterilisers usually work out 50% cheaper than electric versions, however they can only hold 4 bottles as opposed to the 6 of its electric rival.