The 12 most important things you need when preparing for your baby

1. Quality sleep

When you're pregnant, one of the most important things you need is quality sleep. Pregnancy can be incredibly draining and getting a good night's rest is more difficult than some may think. Making sure you have a good mattress and investing in a pregnancy pillow will do wonders for getting comfortable!

2. Vitamins

Taking vitamins when you're pregnant is recommended so that expectant mothers can cover any gaps in their existing diet. Prenatal vitamins cover a lot of the essentials including folic acid, iron, iodine and calcium.

3. Maternity wear

Whether you're a first-time mum or back for another round, maternity wear is something you'll definitely need. Most women don't need maternity wear until their second trimester so you do have time to get it sorted. You can try sites like THE ICONIC or even Marks & Spencer which have dedicated sections for maternity wear. Or just use our guide to find the online stores you can shop for trendy and fashionable maternity wear online.

4. Car seat

One of the most important objects you need when preparing for your baby is a car seat. Legally, you cannot take your bundle of joy home without proof that you have a car seat.

Plus, of course you want your newborn to be as safe as can be! Our best car seat guide has everything you need to know.

5. Hospital bag

Being organised is the best thing you can do for yourself when preparing for a baby and getting your hospital baby bag together in advance will be a big help – trust us.

6. Baby clothes

You can't bring your bub home with nothing to wear! Buying baby clothes can be a little tricky but when assessing sizes for baby clothes it's always safer to go bigger. A 000 is normally the standard size for a newborn up to three months and is probably the best bet when shopping for baby clothes. These days you can order all your baby clothes online in the one go. It's a good option for busy parents or parents-to-be who may not be able to find the time to go to the shops. Try sites like THE ICONIC or Marks & Spencer – both stores have dedicated sections for baby.

7. Waterproof bed pad

Not for the baby, but for mum! Your water is actually most likely to break while you're in bed. If you followed the first step of getting your sleeping quarters fit for a queen then you probably won't want to ruin your mattress topper and other bed accessories. When your water breaks, cleaning will be the last thing on your mind, so a bed pad can prevent liquid from seeping into your mattress and causing damage.

8. Nursery furniture

You can't bring your baby home without having your nursery locked and loaded. Planning a nursery should be super fun and an exciting part of your pregnancy. Luckily for you, we've gathered the best nursery themes too!

It's also a good idea to get planning this well in advance as furniture can take a while to be delivered.

9. Nursing bra

Putting nursing pads in a regular bra and moving it up all the time when you feed your baby is pretty tough and time-consuming. Therefore, it's a good idea for mums to invest in a nursing bra or two.

It's recommended that you don't wear a bra with underwire for three months after giving birth anyway and a nursing bra does make life a little more comfortable as you can rest and sleep in it.

10. Breast pump

Trust us when we say a breast pump can really come in handy if you're nursing. If you're not able to nurse your baby or they sleep the whole way through the night, you'll need something to relieve yourself as not nursing can be quite painful.

You can shop a range of breast pumps from retailers like Chemist Warehouse, Target Australia, Catch.com.au and eBay.

11. Camera

You don't want to take your baby's first pictures and videos with your phone. These are going to be cherished memories and they deserve high quality. Therefore, investing in a good quality camera is completely worth it and it's not like you won't get use out of it. Just make sure the batteries are charged!

12. Baby book

Buying a baby book is such a fun part of being pregnant and having a baby. Plus, some baby books actually have a section for mummy and daddy to fill out before their bundle of joy comes along. Make sure to buy a book that contains what you want, such as handprint and footprint sections, or an area for newspaper clippings from bub's birth date.

You can find a range of baby books from retailers like eBay, Etsy or Booktopia.