10 of the best budget baby buys
Think cutting costs means losing out on quality or putting up with poor performance? Think again, with our pick of the top 10 budget-wise buys for your new baby.
Make your money stretch further
Having a baby can be expensive. From nursery gear to feeding equipment, it’s easy for the pounds to rack up on essentials. But there’s plenty of baby kit on the market that won’t blow your budget – and yes, lots of it actually works as well as or even better than its high-end competitors. Many well-known, reputable brands have budget-priced items, and a value price tag shouldn’t see you sacrificing quality, reliability or performance.
To help you keep your bank balance intact, we’ve hunted down 10 of the best finance-friendly baby goods. From a £149 travel system and a car seat for under £35, to a classic wooden cot, quality feeding kit and buggies, click through to see our pick…
And finally, don't miss our guide to buying secondhand for your baby.
Graco Mirage+ travel system, £149
The Graco Mirage+ travel system is an uncomplicated package. It combines a light and easy to manoeuvre pushchair with the well-padded Graco Junior Baby car seat, which simply slots onto the frame. With the car seat attached, the Graco Mirage+ is rear (parent) facing. As a pushchair, it’s forward facing, with three recline positions, large footrest and large canopy with window. Folding and unfolding the buggy is also incredibly easy.
See how well the Graco Mirage+ travel system scored in our product review.
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Mamas & Papas Nipi lightweight buggy, £70
At just 6kg and suitable from birth, the Mamas & Papas Nipi is a compact lightweight buggy. Despite being so trim in the weight department, it’s still sturdy. It’s easy to push and manoeuvre, and is super simple to fold and carry. It also gets full marks for looks!
See how well the Mamas & Papas Nipi lightweight buggy scored in our product review.
Graco Mojo buggy, £89.99
Affordable and effortless to push, the Graco Mojo is a good value buggy that can be used from birth. It features a one-handed umbrella fold mechanism, a carry handle and weighs in at a relatively light 8kg. Reclining the seat for a snoozy baby or tot is simple, as is getting it upright again. And the extras – the raincover and apron – really do their job.
See how well the Graco Mojo buggy scored in our product review.
Petite Star Zia 3-wheeler buggy, £125
Light and compact the Petite Star Zia has a fab price tag compared to most of its 3-wheeler friends. It comes with a raincover, canopy and shopping basket. It can be folded one-handed down to a mere 75cm x 36cm x 35cm! Because the seat can be fully reclined, you can use it from birth. It’s also stylish to look at and manoeuvrable.
See how well the Petite Star Zia 3-wheeler buggy scored in our product review.
Baby Start Multi Recline Seat, £34.99
Suitable from birth to around 4 years, the Baby Start Multi Recline Seat - available from Argos, Asda and other independent retailers - starts life as a rear facing car seat for the first nine months of your baby’s life. Once your baby’s old enough and weighs enough, it becomes a forward facing option. As the name gives away, it features multiple recline positions, so you can ensure your baby’s comfy when he naps. Safety wise, it has been adapted to comply with the existing child car seat safety standard (R44.04).
See how well the Baby Start (Argos) Multi Recline Seat scored in our product review.
Mothercare Takeley Cot, £99.99
If you’re after a traditional-looking wood cot but don’t want to spend over £100, check out Mothercare’s Takeley Cot. It features three adjustable base heights and a drop side. While sturdy enough to handle a blossoming toddler, it’s still light enough to be moved around when required. A simple, timeless cot that could survive more than one child.
See how well the Mothercare Takeley Cot scored in our product review.
Sainsbury’s little ones newborn nappies, £1.85 for 24-pack
Ideal for your newborn’s first three months of life, Sainsbury’s little ones newborn disposable nappies combine a super low price with quality performance. Absorbent and robust, these nappies wick wetness away and fit well. Our reviewer found these disposables coped with all the newborn poo and wee her little son could send their way!
See how well Sainsbury’s little ones newborn nappies scored in our product review.
Boots Wide Neck Feeding Bottles, £5.99 for two 150ml bottles
Boots Wide Neck Feeding Bottles are BPA-free and feature a built-in value to help reduce colic. They have extra soft silicone teats and are available in two sizes -150ml or 260ml (£6.49 for two). These bottles represent good value, ease of use and quality.
See how well the Boots Wide Neck Feeding Bottles scored in our product review.
Mothercare microwave steriliser pod, £19.99
This modern-looking steriliser is one of the best value microwave steam sterilisers available. Easy to use and able to hold six bottles, the Mothercare microwave steriliser pod can sterilise your feeding kit in as little as 2 minutes. Its space-age dome lid with handle can be locked on, which is a neat feature that makes moving it about easy.
See how well the Mothercare microwave steriliser pod scored in our product review.
Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump, £24.96
Medela is a well-known and respected name and has a number of high scoring breast pumps to its name. The Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump received full marks from our reviewer, and not just because of its pocket-friendly price. Most importantly, it works. Easy, efficient and effective, it’s gentle on tender breasts and quiet to use. It features 2-Phase Expression technology, to mimic how your baby breastfeeds, which can lead to expressing more milk in less time. You can also turn it into an electric pump buy purchasing a conversion kit.
See how well the Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump scored in our product review.
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