3 Baby Essentials We’re Still Using Nearly Three Years Later

Somewhere along the way, without anyone asking my permission, my baby became a toddler.

The bottles disappeared. The tiny sleepsuits went into boxes. The toys got bigger, noisier and considerably more dangerous to bare feet. We are now firmly in toddler territory.

And looking around the house, it has made me think about all the things we bought when Lily was a baby.

Because before your first child arrives, you’re led to believe you need everything. Gadgets, organisers, warmers, special bins and devices that apparently require their own Wi-Fi connection.

Nearly three years later, though, the things we’ve genuinely valued are surprisingly simple.

Please note - this post contains Amazon affiliate links. If you buy through one of these links, I may earn a small commission (if they’re feeling nice) at no extra cost to you. Everything mentioned here is something we’ve genuinely used for nearly three years. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

1. A simple baby monitor

Our baby monitor has probably been one of the best things we bought.

From the first night Lily moved into her own room, it gave us peace of mind. During naps, we could get on with things downstairs without creeping up every ten minutes to check she was still there.

It does three things we actually need: we can see her, hear her and check the temperature of her room.

That’s it.

No app. No subscription. No 160 different statistics telling me how many degrees she rotated at 2:37am.

And this thing has been tested.

Vtech Baby Monitor VM3262 2.8@ Pan & Tilt Video Monitor

It has been dropped more times than I can remember and the screen is currently being held together with tape. Yet somehow it carries on.

Nearly three years in: still working. That’ll do me.

[affiliate link: See the baby monitor we use]

2. The changing table

Our changing table came as part of an IKEA furniture set we found second-hand on Facebook Marketplace.

Possibly one of our least glamorous purchases. Also one of the best.

When you’re changing nappies several times a day, having your child at the right height makes an enormous difference. Particularly when you're an older dad whose knees and back already make noises they shouldn't.

I've watched friends changing babies on beds and floors and seen what it does to their backs.

No thanks.

Ours also has plenty of storage underneath for nappies, wipes and everything else that mysteriously accumulates when you have a baby.

You don't necessarily need an expensive changing table either. Second-hand served us brilliantly.

3. The baby changing backpack

Finally, the changing bag.

Ours was a gift when Lily was born and we have never replaced it.

As a baby it carried nappies, wipes and spare clothes. As a toddler it now carries nappies, wipes, spare clothes, books, toys, snacks and approximately seventeen things nobody remembers packing.

It has loads of pockets, plenty of zips and came with a portable changing mat.

Best of all, it's a backpack. Mum can wear it. Dad can wear it. Nobody has to carry what looks like an oversized handbag around the zoo.

[affiliate link: See our changing backpack]

What did we actually need?

Looking back, that's probably the biggest lesson. Babies need plenty, but perhaps not quite as much as we're encouraged to believe.

Buy things that solve an actual problem. Buy second-hand where it makes sense. And don't assume more features means something will be more useful. Sometimes the best bit of baby kit is the battered monitor being held together with tape.

Three years later, it's still doing its job.

A bit like me, really.