SHOPPING FOR BABY: Top Items to Buy

Ndidi Adekunle

Shopping for a new baby can be a very intense event. The list of items to buy can be endless, depending on who is being consulted for advice; your mother or mother in law, another experienced young mum, the internet, you name it. In Africa for instance, you’re bound to experience a rush of advice about what is or isn’t important to buy. It can be very confusing and overwhelming, especially for one whose budget is tight.

Don’t want to buy anything that’s not going to be useful or will be thrown in the trash earlier than you expected? Apart from baby clothes, nappies and bathing essentials, here are top 11 most useful items for babies (in no particular order) you should get:

1. A Sterilizing Unit

2. A play pen

3. Bouncing cradles and Rocking chair

4. A set of Avent feeding bottles

5. An electric breast pump (or battery operated)

6. A baby gym/play mat

7. A cot

8. A car seat

9. A high chair

10. A baby bath with a stand

11. A strong baby carrier

What baby items did you find most useful within your baby’s first 12 months?