You can pick up for a fraction of the cost at resale shops onsies and newborn clothing - 4 yaers of age. Newborn-1 year clothing usually is in pristine condition. I cannot recommend this method any higher. It has literally enabled me to stay at home with my kids because of the money saved on clothing, toys and books.
I personally could have done without the 900 outfits that every magazine and parenting book says you need to survive. By the second child you realize what you need and don’t need. At home our kids run amok for the first years in sweats. We would put on better things for runs to the store and nicer outfits for family gatherings. but sweats are cheap and if they get ruined by juice stains you don’t feel so bad.
You won’t need shoes until they walk, and even then you won’t need them unless it is outside. Barefeet are best. Besides, its a pain to put shoes on those fat little feet. Those cutesy hats are also something children hate wearing. Sunglasses for baby are also never on for more than ten seconds.
Socks will be the bane of your existance until they move out. They don’t want to wear them when they are infants and you can’t find matching ones when they are older.
If you live in a colder area, the car seat covers are a godsend so that you do not have to put your baby in a coat/snowsuit then in the carseat. It keeps them toasty warm.
My kids lived in their swing and bouncy seats. Our playpen was only used outside. The jumping springer seats that attach to doorways was vastly amusing to us. YMMV
You will eventually need sippy cups. Try to buy the ones that do not need the rubber stoppy thingie to keep the fluids from leaking out. Those things are a pain and the maker ( playskool, I think) is phasing them out. Get the ones that have no contraption like that. By one year you baby can probably handle a sippy cup for day drinking and a bottle at bedtime.
Mylicon Drops is a godsend.
Usually the hospitals have freebie gift bags to hand out to new moms. It is usually something like a Peter Rabbit design insulated bag loaded with samples of formula and coupons for formula. It is entirely an advertising gimmick, which is completely ok, and sometimes there are the nasal aspirators in there and baby nail clippers. ASK THE NURSING STAFF more than likely they will give you some.
Ask a few moms out there what medication they give for their babies for colds. Buy a few things so as when a cold hits your little one, you have something on hand to try rather than running to the doctor or store at some ungodly hour to get soemthing.
One cold releif remedy that we use, the Pediatrican poo pooed it, but it worked very successfully) are those vapor patches. They are a pain to get off of their skin (the reason the doctor poo poohed it) but we just kept on putting the patches on the last one, and eventually after a bath or two it would come off.)
You don’t need to buy the expensive Lamaze teethy rings that interconnect for said child to chew on and connect their toys too. You can buy shower rings at the store and hang them off the crib, stroller, high chair, playpen for them to fool around with. That way when they get lost, it’s a dollar or so, not seven or eight.
Depending on how large your eating area, you may be able to forego a high chair. There are sassy seats that clip on the edge of a table that are great from 4m - toddler. The younger the age you can prop them up with a towel.
That is a bout all I can think of right now. I have to take Master Ujest to a birthday party in a half hour and I still haven’t showered or wrapped the present.
Do you know what you are having or do you want to be surprised? When is your due date? How you feeling?
