what to buy in each trimester — spread the cost, skip the hype
you don't need to buy everything at once — and most baby gear has a much shorter useful life than you'd expect. here's a calm, trimester-by-trimester guide to what to actually buy, and when.
by Sophie Nguyen · last updated 4 May 2026
general info, not medical advice
for product safety questions or your specific pregnancy, talk to your GP, midwife or visit accc.gov.au/recalls.
trimester 1 (0–12 weeks)
buy nothing baby-related yet. focus on you. the only worthwhile spend is a quality pregnancy multivitamin and any maternity-friendly clothes (or partner clothes that fit) for the bloating phase.
- pregnancy multivitamin (folate + iodine, ideally pre-conception too)
- a cheap pregnancy book or app you trust — get one source of truth, not five
- comfortable bras (you'll size up; don't buy maternity bras yet)
wait on the big stuff
prams and cots dated 18 months ago are already last-gen. wait until trimester 2/3 to buy big-ticket items so you get the current safety standard and warranty starts post-birth.
trimester 2 (13–26 weeks)
this is the planning trimester. you've usually had the 12-week scan, you can tell people, and you have energy back. start researching, not buying.
- research a pram that suits your real lifestyle (city walker? car-heavy? bushwalks? newborn-only or convertible?)
- research a cot that meets AS/NZS 2172:2013 + the 2024 Infant Sleep Products Safety Standard (in force 19 Jan 2026) — every cot in major AU retailers does, but second-hand needs checking
- choose between capsule (0–6 mo) and convertible car seat (0–4 yr or 0–8 yr)
- set up a registry if you're having a shower — focus on consumables (nappies, wipes, sleep bags) and useful basics, not novelty items
- maternity clothes — buy 2–3 staples, not a wardrobe
trimester 3 (27–40 weeks)
this is the buying trimester. 28–32 weeks is the sweet spot — you have time to assemble, wash, test, and return anything wrong. don't leave it to 38 weeks.
- cot + new firm mattress that fits snug — gap between mattress and cot frame must be ≤20mm (AS/NZS 2172 limit)
- fitted cot sheets ×3, sleeping bags in the right TOG ×2 (1.0 TOG for warm rooms, 2.5 TOG for cool)
- pram + car seat (install + test it)
- change mat + change-table or chest of drawers + topper
- newborn clothing 0000 ×6, 000 ×6 (don't go bigger — they grow into 00000 for ~4 weeks if at all)
- bath setup — bath support, towels, soft cloths
- feeding kit (bottles + steriliser if formula-feeding or pumping; nipple cream + nursing pads if breastfeeding)
- first-aid + thermometer + bub-friendly nail clippers
- nappies — newborn ×1 box + size 1 ×1 box (don't stockpile newborn — most babies are out by week 4–6)
the month before — the hospital bag
by 36 weeks have your hospital bag packed. our hospital bag checklist is a free download.
things you almost certainly don't need
a wipe warmer, a bottle warmer, a baby food maker, a designer nappy bag, a top-of-the-line baby monitor (a basic one is fine), a stand-alone change table (a topper on a chest of drawers does the same job for $0).
frequently asked
what's a realistic baby budget for AU?
year one comes in around $5,000–$15,000 depending on whether you breastfeed or formula-feed, and how much new gear you buy. the cost-of-a-child forecast does this in detail and includes CCS + FTB offsets.
should I buy a pram before the car seat?
buy them together if you can — many prams have a compatible capsule that clicks into the chassis, which makes the first 6 months much easier. travel-system bundles can save 10–20%.
is second-hand safe?
cots are risky — only buy second-hand if you can confirm the cot meets AS/NZS 2172:2013 and the new 2024 Infant Sleep Products Safety Standard (most pre-2014 cots don't). prams and clothing are fine. car seats only if you know the full history, it's under 10 years old, and has never been in a crash.