Think about which equipment will suit your lifestyle before you buy.

Things to consider:

• If you live in the countryside and enjoy rugged walks, you’ll need a pram/pushchair with large wheels and good suspension to cope with country lanes and tracks
• A roomy pram is useful if you have a well protected garden where your baby can have daytime sleeps in the sunshine
• If you live in a block of flats or use the car or public transport a great deal, you’ll need a pushchair that folds quickly and easily into a compact, manageable shape
• If you plan to walk to the shops most days, choose a pram or pushchair with room to take shopping safely, but which also fits through doorways
• If you visit your parents’ or friends’ houses frequently, a travel cot or even a second cot that can be left there, is useful
• If you are returning to work and want to express milk regularly, you may want to invest in a good hand pump or battery pump. Some women, however, prefer to hand-express milk if they only need small amounts

For more information on how to choose baby products, click here.