Preparing for a Baby

Start with a safe place to sleep, suitable clothing, nappies, feeding and washing essentials, and safe arrangements for any journeys. The NHS shopping list below is a practical starting point; quantities and accessories depend on your family and circumstances.

Sleep

A cot, crib, carrycot or Moses basket with a firm, flat mattress that fits snugly, leaving no gaps; a waterproof mattress cover; at least four fitted sheets; and two baby sleeping bags (see gifts for new parents for how they should fit), or sheets with a cellular blanket used as the NHS describes. No duvets, pillows or padded bumpers.

Clothes

At least six sleepsuits, four to six vests with poppers, two cardigans in wool or cotton, scratch mittens, socks or booties, and a hat for going out, with a snowsuit if the weather is cold. The NHS advises removing hats and extra layers once indoors or in a warm vehicle.

Nappies and changing

A few packs of newborn nappies, disposable or reusable; cotton wool or gentle, unscented, alcohol-free wipes; a changing mat or towel; and a barrier cream.

Feeding

For breastfeeding, nursing bras, breast pads and muslin squares, with nipple cream or a breast pump if needed. For formula feeding, bottles with teats and caps, sterilising equipment, bottle and teat brushes, formula and muslin squares.

Bathing and travel

A baby bath, or a washing-up bowl, and towels. For travel, a rear-facing infant car seat, a pushchair or pram in which your baby can lie flat, a blanket or shawl and a bag for nappies and essentials.

New or second-hand?

Check the condition, instructions and recalls before using second-hand equipment. The NHS shopping list recommends a new cot mattress and car seat.

At SUOMMO

Every SUOMMO creation begins with a form imagined around the arrival of a child. La Perla, Dodo, BELA and Moveo each give that welcome a different expression, shaped through the judgement and patience of the hands that make them. Those who would also like a dedicated changing table can explore Nexus and Bianca.

Each crib and bassinet comes with a mattress developed by SUOMMO for its exact form, and all our furniture is delivered fully assembled. Prepare the sleep space according to the product instructions and current safer-sleep guidance.

Our Concierge can guide you from a single creation to a complete nursery.

Plan a suitable sleep space, a place for nappy changes and storage for daily essentials. A separate changing table or a new chest of drawers is optional; the choice depends on your home and how you will use it.

A safe place to sleep

The NHS advises a separate cot or Moses basket in the same room as you for every sleep, day and night, for at least the first six months. The mattress should be firm, flat and fit snugly, leaving no gaps, and the NHS recommends buying the cot mattress new. The NCT suggests keeping the sleep space away from radiators, heaters and sunny windows, and avoiding blind cords in the baby's room. What to look for in the cot itself, market by market, is covered in the answer on choosing a crib.

Somewhere to change

The NHS describes a changing mat or towel on the floor, and adds that if you use a changing table you should stay with your baby at all times. Product Safety Australia also advises keeping a hand on your baby, having everything ready within arm's reach and choosing a changing surface with raised edges. The choice between a separate changing table and a changing top on a chest of drawers is covered in the next answer.

Storage that stays put

Whatever its size, a chest of drawers should be stable. Child-safety organisations in the UK, Ireland and Australia advise securing chests of drawers to the wall, keeping heavy items in the lower drawers and not letting children climb on drawers. In the United States, clothing storage units within the scope of 16 CFR 1261 and manufactured after 1 September 2023 must meet ASTM F2057-23, including its stability requirements. Check the anchoring instructions and any drawer interlocks. Soft-closing runners control closing movement and should be assessed separately.

At SUOMMO

A SUOMMO room is composed around a new life. The sculptural presence of the crib, the hand-worked textiles and the forms of Bianca or Nexus give the first rituals of care a shared artistic language.

We select soft-closing runners from Germany and Italy for a smooth, controlled closing movement. Like all our furniture, Nexus and Bianca are delivered fully assembled; follow the instructions for positioning and preparing each creation for use. Our Concierge can help you plan the room as a whole.

Alongside the baby's essentials, first-time parents need recovery time, practical help and reliable people to turn to. Plan support for yourselves as well as equipment for the baby; the baby's essentials are covered in the answer on what a newborn really needs.

People to turn to

In the UK, the NHS describes the midwife and health visitor as there to help, guide and support parents through the first weeks and months, and suggests registering the baby with a GP early. Before the birth, identify the professionals and local services you can contact, how to access them and where to seek help outside normal hours.

Help at home

Meals, washing, shopping and a few hours of rest are often more useful than another purchase. Some customs of help around a birth appear in the answer on gifts for first-time parents.

Looking after yourselves

The NHS distinguishes the short-lived ‘baby blues’, which usually settle within two weeks after birth, from postnatal depression. Seek help from a health professional if low mood persists, worsens or makes it hard to cope. You do not have to wait two weeks to ask for help. Fathers and partners can also experience depression after a birth.

At SUOMMO

Our experience as parents has taught us to understand not only what a baby needs, but also the anticipation with which a family prepares to welcome a new life. That anticipation finds expression in forms shaped by hand and textiles made in the SUOMMO Atelier, conceived to become part of the family's story.

Our furniture arrives fully assembled, with instructions for positioning and preparing it for use. Our Concierge coordinates the order and delivery with you.

Start with what the first days require: a safe place to sleep, a car seat if the baby will travel by car, feeding supplies for the way you plan to feed, and the basics for changing and dressing. Most other purchases can wait until you know how your family lives with a baby.

Before the birth

• A sleep space for your room: a cot or Moses basket with a firm, flat mattress that fits snugly. The NHS recommends buying the cot mattress new.
• A car seat, if your newborn will travel by car: prepare an approved rear-facing seat suitable for their size and your vehicle. Practise fitting it before the birth, following the seat and vehicle instructions. Check local requirements. Never place a rear-facing seat in front of an active frontal airbag.
• Feeding supplies that match your plan; the NHS list distinguishes what is needed for breastfeeding and for formula feeding.
• Changing basics: nappies, cotton wool or gentle wipes, barrier cream and a changing mat or towel.
• A first set of clothes (see the answer on how many clothes) and bedding for the sleep space (see the answer on what a newborn really needs).

What can wait

A changing table, a chest of drawers or a nursing chair are choices rather than necessities (see the answer on changing tables). If you plan to order furniture, check lead times early, since made-to-order pieces can take weeks or months.

At SUOMMO

The arrival of a SUOMMO creation begins with the time given to its making. Our Concierge brings that time into the family's preparations, considering the chosen work, any personalisation and the journey to its home.

If the nursery is among the first things you prepare, plan its timing with our Concierge. When in stock, La Perla Crib and Dodo Bassinet are delivered within 12 to 18 business days, and Moveo Mini Crib within 8 to 12; limited editions such as Dodo Sakura are made to order over approximately six months.

Confirm availability, personalisation and delivery to your destination with our Concierge before planning around a date. Our nursery furniture is delivered fully assembled, door to door, with instructions for positioning and preparing it for use.

Spending varies widely. A reliable combined average for a baby's first wardrobe and nursery is hard to establish. MoneyHelper's UK price references, checked on 10 November 2026, include £70–£800 for a new cot and around £125 for a Moses basket. They do not measure families' total spending on clothing and the room.

How to plan

Separate the budget into clothing, the sleep space, changing and storage, and count gifts and second-hand items as you go. Start from what the first weeks really require (see the answer on what to buy first), decide which pieces you want to keep for years and which only need to last a few months, and leave room for what you will only know you need once the baby arrives. How many clothes to buy is covered in the answer on how many clothes.

At SUOMMO

At SUOMMO, the preparation of a nursery begins with the works a family wishes to live with and one day preserve. Form, craft and personal meaning guide the commission; the quotation gives that choice its precise scope.

Published prices checked on 11 November 2026 include Bianca at €8,000, Moveo Mini Crib at €16,000, Dodo Bassinet in White Edition at €22,000 and La Perla Crib in White Edition at €48,000. These are individual creations. Our Concierge can confirm the quotation for your chosen specification and destination; bespoke nurseries are planned as private commissions.

Avoid unnecessary padding and positioning products in your baby's sleep space. Keep it clear and follow the safer-sleep guidance applicable where you live; the UK recommendations below explain what to leave out. UK safety organisations describe a clear cot: a firm, flat mattress, a fitted sheet and either a well-fitting sleeping bag or a blanket tucked in securely.

For sleep

RoSPA advises against sleep positioners, sleep pods and nests with padded sides, cot bumpers, baby pillows, cuddle cushions, duvets and hooded sleeping bags. The National Child Mortality Database adds a general rule: avoid add-ons unless they are specifically recommended, and never add an extra mattress to a travel cot. If you choose a sleeping bag, RoSPA suggests one that meets BS EN 16781.

Other things to avoid

• A cot mattress with an unknown history or one that fails the checks for reuse. The NHS recommends buying a new cot mattress; if you are considering reusing one, see the checks in the answer on choosing a mattress.
• Teething necklaces or bracelets, and any jewellery worn by the baby (see the answer on babies and jewellery).
• Large quantities in one newborn size before you know the fit and how many changes your baby needs. Plan spares around how often you can wash and dry clothes; see the answer on how many clothes.

At SUOMMO

SUOMMO's creations are made to endure across generations, so a family can choose fewer creations and keep them. Our nursery furniture arrives fully assembled with its instructions, and our Concierge can explain how to prepare each creation for use.

Start by checking what needs to be ordered and how long it will take. Aim to prepare the essentials before the expected birth, allowing for an earlier arrival. The sequence below is a planning guide, not a medical deadline; adapt it to your family's circumstances and any advice from your maternity team.

A practical sequence

• Early on: think about the room and the larger items of furniture, and check lead times for anything made to order.
• Before the baby arrives: have the sleep space, a car seat if the baby will travel by car, changing basics, feeding supplies and a first set of clothes ready (see the answer on what to buy first).
• After the birth: add what you find you need once you know your baby and your routine.

Timing and tradition

If your family prefers gifts or preparations to wait until after the birth, discuss whether choosing or reserving in advance and arranging a later delivery would suit that custom.

At SUOMMO

The arrival of a SUOMMO creation begins with the time given to its making. Our Concierge brings that time into the family's preparations, considering the chosen work, any personalisation and the journey to its home.

Begin planning with our Concierge early. Published in-stock lead times include 8–12 business days for Moveo Mini Crib and 12–18 for La Perla Crib and Dodo Bassinet in White Edition. Dodo Sakura is made to order over approximately six months. Confirm availability, personalisation and delivery to your destination before finalising your plans.

Have the sleep space and daily essentials ready before the expected birth, allowing for an earlier arrival. A separate nursery can be completed in stages. The NHS advises a separate cot or Moses basket in the same room as you for every sleep, day and night, for at least the first six months.

A simple plan

• Months ahead: plan the room and order anything made to order or with long lead times.
• Weeks ahead: furniture delivered and prepared according to its instructions; textiles washed according to their labels; changing supplies in place.
• Before the baby arrives: the sleep space ready in your room, with a firm, flat mattress.

For more detail, see the answer on when to start buying and the answer on designing the nursery.

At SUOMMO

The arrival of a SUOMMO creation begins with the time given to its making. Our Concierge brings that time into the family's preparations, considering the chosen work, any personalisation and the journey to its home. Made-to-order creations such as Dodo Sakura need planning well in advance; see also the answer on when to start buying. Our nursery furniture is delivered fully assembled, door to door.

Families may choose when to buy according to their beliefs and circumstances. A practical plan can respect that choice while having the essentials ready when the baby needs them, especially a safe place to sleep and, if you will travel by car, a car seat.

Ways to respect both

• Choose and reserve in advance and agree a later delivery; if you do, confirm the lead time and have a suitable sleep space available from the first night.
• Ask a relative or friend to set up the essentials once the baby is born.
• Keep a minimal set of essentials ready but out of sight until it is needed.

What to have ready is covered in the answer on what to buy first.

It is not too early if you start with planning rather than buying everything at once. Checking lead times early is useful, especially for anything made to order; the essentials should be ready before the expected birth, allowing for an earlier arrival. See the answer on when to start buying and the answer on buying before the birth.

The safety standards a pram should meet depend on the market. In the United States, carriages and strollers must meet the federal standard in 16 CFR 1227, which incorporates ASTM F833-21 and covers hazards such as entrapment, pinching, stability, restraints and brakes; other legal requirements, such as limits on lead, also apply to the product. In the UK, prams and pushchairs are assessed against BS EN 1888-1:2018+A1:2022 (part 2 has a different scope; check which applies to the model). Suitability for strolling does not make every seat suitable for sleep. Ask which standard the model meets for your market, check recalls and register the product where possible.

The cost of a baby's first year varies widely, and a single average figure can mislead. Separate equipment and everyday purchases from childcare, healthcare charges where relevant, and any change in household income during parental leave, and build a budget using prices for your location. MoneyHelper's £1,645 example (checked on 10 November 2026) is a basic first-year product-cost calculation, not a complete family budget or a measure of what families actually spend. Allow for what you will only know you need once the baby arrives (see the answer on what other parents spend).

Separate what you need to pay before the birth from ongoing spending after it. List the sleep space, initial clothing and nappies, feeding equipment you expect to need, and transport where relevant. Deduct what you already have or will receive, check that it is suitable, and use local quotations for the remaining purchases. Keep the first-year budget separate (see the answer on the first-year cost) and leave room for what you will only know you need once the baby arrives; the timing is covered in the answer on when to start buying.

Use this as a flexible checklist, moving tasks earlier whenever needed. It is not a medical timetable or a reason to postpone essentials until a particular month; the essentials should be ready before the baby needs them, even if the birth comes early, and any made-to-order item follows its confirmed lead time.

1. Month 1: Discuss your family's priorities and the space available.
2. Month 2: Check long lead times before considering any bespoke commission.
3. Month 3: Review what you already have or may receive, checking suitability and condition.
4. Month 4: Measure the room and delivery access before choosing furniture.
5. Month 5: Plan the sleep space, changing essentials and practical storage.
6. Month 6: Confirm orders and transport arrangements, including a suitable car seat if needed.
7. Month 7: Check that essential arrangements can be ready for an earlier arrival.
8. Month 8: Prepare initial clothing and bedding following their care instructions.
9. Month 9: Review the preparations already made and keep essentials accessible.

See the answer on when to start buying, what to buy first and getting the nursery ready.

Many things can be inherited or bought second-hand if they are complete, clean, in good condition, have not been recalled and, where the item needs them, come with their instructions: clothes, textiles that can be washed, storage furniture that can be anchored. Some items need more care. The Lullaby Trust recommends a new cot mattress for each baby where possible, with checks if one is reused. RoSPA advises against buying a second-hand car seat. If you need to reuse one from family or friends, you must know its history and check its condition, original instructions, replacement limits and suitability for your child and car. A cot needs its own checks (see the answer on second-hand and antique cots).

At SUOMMO

When a SUOMMO creation passes within a family, its story acquires another beginning. Our Concierge can consider its condition and the care or restoration it may need before any return to use, preserving the attention through which the work first took form; see our FAQs.

A first-time father should know that he is a parent from the first day, not a helper. Practical care such as changing, bathing, settling and dressing the baby is learned by doing, and sharing it from the start builds confidence. Ask your midwife or another qualified health professional to show you practical care you are unsure about, and seek support for your own wellbeing as well as the mother's recovery. Learn the safe-sleep basics and ask for help when you need it; the NHS lists support for new parents, and its guidance on postnatal depression notes that fathers and partners can be affected too. See the answer on what first-time parents should know.

A few things matter more than any purchase: how to keep the baby safe when sleeping (on the back, in a clear cot in your room), how to feed and recognise when the baby is hungry or unwell, and where to get help. Before the birth, find out who to contact locally, by day or night, if you are worried about your baby's health. Newborns need little equipment at first; the rest can follow. Expect broken sleep and accept help, and share the care with those who can support you. See the answer on what first-time parents need and what a newborn needs.

Whether an expensive pram is worth it depends on what the price buys you. A higher price may pay for materials, handling, folding, textiles, design or service. It does not establish better safety: any claim of an additional safety benefit needs evidence for the particular feature and model. Try it before buying: fold it, lift it into the car, push it on the surfaces you will use and check that the model is intended for newborns and lets them lie flat. See the answer on when to buy the pram.

There is no required week for buying the pram. Begin while you still have time to compare models, try them and allow for delivery, changes or an earlier arrival. The second trimester can be a practical time to start, rather than a medical deadline. For a newborn, check that the baby can lie flat, and if you will travel by car, that you also have a suitable car seat from the first journey home. See the answer on whether expensive prams are worth it.

Many first-time parents find antenatal classes useful: they cover labour and birth, feeding and caring for a newborn, and are a way to meet other parents. They are offered by health services and other organisations; ask your midwife what is available. See the answer on what first-time parents should know.