How to use a sling safely
TICKS is the five-point check the NHS and RoSPA give for slings. RoSPA says fabric can block a baby's airway within a minute or two, so check it every time.
3 November 2026
What to sort at 0–3 months
The list is short. A safe place to sleep, a car seat if you drive, and something to wear covers most of it, and plenty of the rest can wait.
Now
A clear, flat place to sleep
A cot or Moses basket in your room, with a firm flat mattress and nothing else in it. The Lullaby Trust says to keep this up for at least the first six months.
A rear-facing car seat
Needed for the drive home if you go by car. Buy this one new. The Lullaby Trust and the NHS both advise against a second-hand seat.
Nappies and a few clothes
Expect around seven changes a day at first, going by Environment Agency surveys. Babies grow out of newborn sizes fast, so a small pack is plenty.
Soon
A pushchair that lies flat
Or a carrycot. Check that the maker says it lies flat from birth. A good one can last for years.
A sling, if you'd like one
Handy for walks and carrying. Check the fit against the TICKS list each time.
Can wait
A monitor
Your baby sleeps in your room for now, so you may not need one yet.
Nests and bumpers
Skip these for good. The Lullaby Trust advises against them.
A highchair
Not until solids, at around 6 months.
This is general information from public sources, not medical advice. For anything about your child's health or development, speak to your doctor or health visitor.
Reading for 0–3 months
Safer sleep basics
On the back, on a firm flat mattress, in a clear cot, in your room for at least the first 6 months. That is the NHS and Lullaby Trust advice for every sleep.
3 November 2026
Why we skip nests and bumpers
Pods and nests have no British Safety Standard as a sleeping place, the Lullaby Trust says, and the NHS wants them out of the cot. Here's what the sources say about each.
3 November 2026
How many nappies, and what they cost
Environment Agency surveys found about 7 changes a day in the first 6 months. That works out at around 2,300 nappies in year one.
3 November 2026
How to fit an infant car seat
RoSPA says one of the commonest mistakes is a seat held loosely by the belt. Follow your seat's manual, use the right guides, and press your weight in as you tighten.
3 November 2026
First infant formula: what the NHS says
The NHS says first infant formula is the only formula a baby needs in their first year, unless a midwife, health visitor or GP suggests otherwise.
3 November 2026