Number two is due in less than five weeks, and I’ve yet to wash a baby grow. Three months before number one’s arrival I was hand-painting gold leaf stars on the nursery walls, bleaching down his Stokke crib, steam cleaning carpets and topping up the overdraft to buy a Bugaboo. It’s not that I’m not excited about the new arrival, it’s just that with five years parenting now under my belt, I realize how cracked I was back then and just how brainwashing the “new baby” marketing machine is. It’s hard not to buy into the ideology, as they make it look so darn fluffy and cute, but most new parents will confess they spent a fortune on baby products and paraphernalia they used but twice and then ended up scrimping on the hardworking essentials.Get organised with the basics at the beginning and then buy, borrow or barter the rest, as and when the baby requires it. And don’t set foot in a baby store if you’re tired, hungry, in pain or without having done some online research first, as you are too vulnerable a target, especially when they play the “this one is twice the price, but it’s safer” card.

To begin with, all you need is a crib, a Moses basket or a co-sleeper – don’t splurge on any of these as they’ll only be in use for a few months. A good buggy system, which at first may seem ludicrously expensive, is, as you’ll discover, worth the investment. Try to take a few out for a test-drive around the shopping centre with a member of staff, or play around with friends’ buggies first if possible before committing to your babymobile. I ended up selling my Bugaboo as the handlebars were too low for my giant husband to push it very far. We then purchased an Uppa Baby, a brilliant piece of baby engineering with a giant shopping basket on the base, that carted all but the kitchen sink around in it every day for two years. While it’s nice to have a fully coordinated elephant-themed nursery, you’d be better off investing the money in your bedroom – new paint, nice sheets, soft throws, etc, as in reality that’s where you and your baby will spend most of your time – there and on the couch.

For this purpose, a prawn-shaped feeding cushion is worthwhile, as it helps position the baby comfortably whether you are breast or bottle feeding and cossets them safely on the bed or couch when they’re napping.blackout curtains wirral Changing tables divide opinion: some parents deem them useless and find a thick plastic changing mat more mobile and handy. bay window curtain pole dunelm millOthers, myself included, wouldn’t be without – in fact, I plan to go to IKEA and buy a second one to put in the utility room downstairs to avoid endless, and often treacherous, nappy changing trips up and down the stairs. divine curtains marbellaWhen the time comes to invest in a cot (circa six months) choose a solid, well-built one that grows and adapts with the baby and can turn into a toddler bed. ikea curtains ingert

Opt for one with an adjustable base that can be highered or lowered when the baby gets big enough to hop out of the cot or when a parent’s back can’t take the bending any longer. We have a third-hand Mammas & Pappas cot bed, which with a few new mattresses has seen five cousins through 13 years of sleeps and will hopefully see number two peacefully through the next few years too.sears umbra curtains I went through three slippery, stupidly designed baby baths and tubs before happening upon the Tippietoes mini bath which was the best €21 spent in the early months. the tortilla curtain analysis essayIt has a moulded body support, allowing the baby to lie back, fully supported, without you needing to hold him. fujikawa curtains

I would fill mine up with water and place the tub and baby on the shower tray,while I washed and it bought me at least 20 hands-free, cry-free minutes every day in the bathroom. Arguably the most critical baby item, when sleep becomes your most treasured commodity, is blackout blinds. IKEA do a great range starting from €13, in a rainbow of colours, which you can just cut to any window size with a sharp knife or handsaw. Or you can get blackout lining sewn into curtains already in situ in your local alteration shop. Other than the above, everything else is an optional add-on and should you need a bottle steriliser in a hurry; you can have one delivered to your door the next day from the likes of Tesco and Mothercare. And while it’s natural to want everything box-fresh for a newborn, you’ll be amazed by all the bargains you can get on Done Deal, Adverts and local neighbourhood Facebook groups selling never-used baby gyms, slings, and monitors for a snip of the retail price ( all new parents get carried away at some point buying toys, clothes, and equipment destined for speedy redundancy).

Did I mention I bought my six-month-old an electrical Audi S5 Cabriolet Car the size of a horse for his first Christmas? Now for sale on Done Deal for €15! What do I really need for my nursery? When you’re converting the little room into your baby’s nursery, you want to get it right, without wasting money on unnecessary extras. Do I really need a changing unit?“A changing unit is an essential piece of furniture for a nursery,” says Kathryn Saggers, interior designer and property stylist for TV’s House Doctor. “They’re the perfect height for changing your baby without straining your back, and it’s a fantastic space and storage saver.” Andrea Maflin, interior designer and author of Children’s Rooms, agrees: “When your baby’s really young, it’s nice to have the flexibility to change him wherever you are in the house, so a moveable changing mat will do. But, as you settle into a routine, you’ll find it easier to have your changing area in one zone with all your equipment easily accessible.”“

We bought a merchant chest so it held all of Ethan’s clothes, toiletries, nappies and wipes. The top of the chest had a changing mat, and since he’s now out of nappies, it has his ornaments and things he’s made at nursery on it,” said Sarah Briggs, 31, from Essex, mum to Ethan, 3, and 23 weeks pregnant.Try thisEast Coast Colby dresser, £189, Tesco Direct Cot or cot bed?“If you have the space I always recommend a cot bed over a cot,” advises Andrea. “A cot bed will last until your little one gets to about 4 or 5, while a cot is only suitable to 2 or 3, then you’ll have to buy a separate bed.” If you only have room for a cot don’t spend too much, but do look for certain features. A height-adjustable base and drop sides make it easier to get your growing baby in and out. A teething rail will help to soothe sore gums. And don’t forget casters, so you can have the cot in your room for your little one’s early days, as recommended by experts, before he heads to the nursery.

Try thisHemingway II Cot-bed, £229, Funky Kids Furniture Is a blackout blind essential?“Young babies are really sensitive to light, so a blackout blind is invaluable,” says Andrea. “There are lots of reasonably priced blinds on the market, so you don’t have to pay the earth for a couple of extra hours shut-eye in the morning.” Going for curtains over the top of a blind will also give the room a warmer feeling than you’ll get with a blind alone. And watch out for cords hanging down if you have toddlers – they’re a big cause of accidents.“We got through the winter without them but as soon as the mornings got lighter, Christian’s wake-up time got earlier and earlier. Desperate for a night’s sleep that didn’t end at 5am, we invested in some blackout curtain liners, which are great because they attach inside your existing curtains so they don’t ruin the look of your nursery,” said Kate Baty, 29, from Cheshire, mum to Christian, 10 months. Carpet or wooden floors?“

Carpets on your nursery floor are softer on the knees when your little one starts to crawl, and will be cosy on your feet when you’re up during the night feeding,” says Andrea. “If you’re worried about stains, there are fantastic anti-stain carpets on the market that are very affordable. Abingdon Stainfree carpets are a good tip for money-conscious mums with messy little ones, as they have a 10-year stain resist warranty on household stains.” If you only have wooden floors, add rugs for colour and warmth, but remember to add rug grippers to stop slippage.Try thisBarnslig Rund rug, £10.20, in green or pink, Ikea How much storage will I need?“Little people have so many clothes, but most won’t need hanging up, so shelves are ideal,” says Andrea. Fix up some mdf shelves into existing wardrobes or alcoves in the nursery to avoid having to splash out on anything new. And try some cheap baskets to keep under your cot – great for tidying away blankets, towels and toys.Try thisLarge storage tubs, £9.99 each, in pink or blue, Mothercare

Are neutral colours a safer bet?It’s all too easy to go mad on a specific theme, but probably not money-savvy in the long run. “In the current economic climate, choosing more neutral colours means the room design will last longer, so you’ll be spending less on decorating over the years,” explains Kathryn. “If you do choose more neutral colours, you can have fun with accessorising, which is easier to adapt as your child gets older, compared to redecorating the whole room.” Wall stickers are a brilliant way to temporarily decorate your nursery – great for when your baby reaches toddler age and becomes faddy with his interests. Fun to See have great branded ranges of stickers for tots.“We painted the nursery magnolia and then bought wall stickers that can be put on walls or mirrors. Most importantly they come off without leaving any sticky marks, so we’ve been able to change the look of the room loads of times, at not much cost, and without having to pick up a paintbrush,” said Briony Ross, 26, from South Lanarkshire, mum to Jacob, 5 months.

Try thisButterfly wall stickers, £24, Lula Sapphire.Dimmer switches are a must for keeping the light down when you’re creeping in for checks, especially if you have two tots in one room. Or at story-time for an older child while a younger sibling sleeps. They also stop you from being dazzled by bright light during night feeds. Another must-have buy is a nightlight that can be left on overnight, invaluable for checks with no hassle of waking your baby. What paint should we be using?“Go for eco paint when decorating your nursery. You’ll be thankful if you’re pregnant and painting as the smell from standard paint is incredibly strong,” says Andrea. Your baby’s sense of smell is also heightened when he’s very young, so you’ll both be glad of some lighter-on-the-nose fumes. Try thisEarthborn paints, from £21 4 easy ways to accessorise for less1. “A mirror is an essential as it reflects light and makes a tiny nursery look a lot bigger. It’ll also reflect any colours in the room and babies love watching their reflection,” says Kathryn.2.

Don’t be afraid to have fun using fabrics to customise cushions, changing tops and surfaces. Offcuts of material are really cheap and can jazz up a space super-simply. Sewing virgins don’t even need a needle and thread, thanks to cool glues and fusibles that bond fabrics simply by ironing, such as Bondaweb. Visit www.cottonpatch.co.uk for fabric ideas.3. Andrea advises going for a high shelf well out of reach of little hands, to be filled with cute toys to dress the room.4. “Also, depending on how crafty you are, making personalised art for the wall can help give the nursery a real family touch,” says Andrea. Karin Joyce, 38, from Cambridgeshire, mum to Ella Louise, 13 months, agrees. “As we have family dotted all over the world, I had each close family member take a 6in x 6in canvas square and paint a picture for Ella’s nursery. Everyone painted something of their choice and we hung them on the wall next to the crib.” 'Fatherhood broke me down': Justin Timberlake gets VERY honest about being a dad