Top sites for baby equipment deals Best sites for baby equipment

Other baby equipment worth considering

There's a dizzying array of items out there aimed at parents with new babies. The smallest person in your home seems to need the most stuff. But which things you need, and which products will serve you best in the early years, is a matter of opinion. 

After the essentials (think eating, sleeping and on the go) what you actually need is up to you. Other parents and parents forums can help with this – see our guide to some of the best parents' forums - and you can also find out what parents told us they though were the top 10 most and least useful baby products in our guide to baby equipment you need.

Make feeding time easier with a Best Buy highchair

Highchairs

A highchair certainly comes under the heading of an essential piece of kit. Our highchair reviews, based on rigorous testing, suggests several worthy Best Buys suitable for any baby. Our selections score highly on safety, ease of use and cleaning, and proved a hit with parents and children alike. 

Which highchair you choose will ultimately depend on where your priorities lie - whether you’re looking for something easy to clean and manoeuvre or something that's packed with features.

Baby monitors

Many parents also opt for a baby monitor. Baby monitors consist of two units — a transmitter that picks up sound from your baby's room and a receiver that you keep near you. Visit our baby monitor reviews for some user-friendly Best Buys with great sound quality and no interference.

Baby slings and carriers

With a baby sling or baby carrier, you'll have both hands free. Without having to manage a pram or pushchair, you may find it easier to do the shopping, negotiate public transport and load up the car. If you have a toddler as well as a baby, you can go out with the baby sling and the buggy, avoiding – or at least postponing – the need to buy a double pushchair. Find out more about slings and baby carriers and if they are for you in our guide to choosing a baby sling or baby carrier.

Mattresses

Another essential is a mattress for your cot. To help you unravel the mysteries around PVC-coverings, soft versus firm, the right thickness and the relevant safety requirements, visit our guide to choosing a cot which has a section about buying a mattress. Most places that sell cots also sell mattresses.

Travel cots

And on the subject of sleeping, a travel cot is another item you may consider, although not everyone will need one. Travel cots are portable cots that you can fold up and put in a bag to take away with you. You only really need a travel cot if you’ll be making regular overnight trips to cot-free homes. If this sounds like something useful, find out more in our guide on how to buy a travel cot.

Best sites for deals on other baby equipment

We've listed sites where we found good deals or extras on an array of baby products to kit out your home for the arrival of a little one. If you buy online you actually have more rights than you do when shopping on the high street, as you can cancel your order up to seven days after you receive your goods, without having to give a reason. We cover your rights when buying online in another section of this guide.

We chose the sites listed here on the basis of price and the range offered - we haven't carried out customer satisfaction surveys on them. We list sites that tend to offer good deals, but to ensure you are paying the cheapest price, it's always wise to compare prices before buying.

Argos

Argos offers a large nursery range with major brand names represented, all at value-for-money prices. You can also take advantage of end-of-catalogue sales when the new catalogue is due. You can can order items online for pick-up in your local store, otherwise delivery charges apply.

Particularly good for: Picking up items locally to save delivery costs; end-of-catalogue sales

Babies R Us

Babies R Us is a specialist baby department of the Toys R Us chain. Its Mother and Baby club  is free to join and you'll receive mailings of useful product information and helpful hints and tips, as well as money-off coupons. Delivery is free for orders over £50.

Babies R Us isn't the only shop to offer a loyalty scheme. We've highlighted some of the best loyalty schemes, and what they offer, in another section of this guide.

Particularly good for: Wide range of baby products and brands stocked; Mother and Baby club

A good baby monitor will help give you peace of mind

John Lewis

John Lewis has a good reputation for up-market nursery products and accessories. You can order online and online buying guides are available. It offers free standard delivery for orders over £30.

Particularly good for: Up-market nursery products; standard delivery is free for orders over £30

Kays

Kays offers a good selection of nursery products with interest-free flexible payment options. Standard delivery is free; a £4.95 charge applies if you want to specify the delivery date.

Particularly good for: Flexible payment options; standard delivery is free

Kiddicare

Kiddicare stocks a wide range of well-known brands of nursery items, is consistently competitively priced and offers many discounts. A price match promise means it will beat cheaper prices elsewhere. Delivery is free for orders over £29.99.

Particularly good for: Stocks a wide range of baby products; consistently competitively priced

Littlewoods

Littlewoods has a reasonable range of nursery items and offers flexible payment options. Standard delivery is free, but you'll pay £4.95 if you want to specify the delivery date and time.

Particularly good for: Flexible payment options; standard delivery is free

Mamas & Papas

Mamas & Papas is a major nursery goods manufacturer. It offers an extensive range of own-label products and stocks a wide variety of products and other brands. Delivery charges apply. 

Particularly good for: Extensive range of both own-label products and those from other brands

Mothercare

Mothercare is the largest and best-known nursery chain and offers a wide range of baby products. Delivery charges apply unless you order more than £50 worth of goods.

Particularly good for: Wide range of baby products