Feeding gear without the guesswork

Bottles: trial two or three before buying a set

The government's Pregnancy, Birth and Baby bottle-feeding guidance notes that bottles sold in Australia have to meet safety and manufacturing requirements, and that different babies may simply prefer particular styles. So buy two or three bottles of one brand, see how the first weeks go, and only then commit to a full set. Start with a slow-flow teat and feed responsively, holding your baby upright, letting them draw the teat into their mouth themselves, pausing for breaks, and never forcing a bottle to be finished.

Sterilising is a 12-month commitment

Feeding equipment needs sterilising after every use until your baby is 12 months old, per Pregnancy, Birth and Baby's sterilising guidance, so this is a daily chore worth making easy. The guidance covers three methods: boiling everything for five minutes with the lid on, which works but is slow for daily use; steam sterilisers, electric or microwave, which it notes are popular because they work quickly and cost little to run; and chemical solutions, which need a fresh batch every day. That is why a steam steriliser sits on the checklist: sterilising happens every day for a year, and the quick method is the one that keeps happening. One habit to keep from the same guidance: sterilised gear that has sat unused for more than 24 hours needs sterilising again before it touches milk.

The high chair: no mandatory standard, so the checks are yours

Unlike cots and car seats, there is no mandatory standard for high chairs in Australia, which makes Product Safety Australia's high chairs guide your buying checklist. Falls are the most common high chair injury, so the guide's priorities are stability and restraint: a sturdy frame with a wide base, locks that cannot collapse a folding model, lockable wheels, and a five-point harness, which the guide calls the safest; a three-point harness is workable only when the waist and crotch straps are firmly fastened. In use, buckle the harness every time, set the chair away from windows, stoves, appliances and blind cords, and always supervise your child while they are in it.

The registry timing trick still applies: solids start around six months but gifts arrive before the birth, so the high chair belongs on the list now, and its price makes it a natural group gift. Guests unsure what feeding gear costs can check our guide on how much to give at a baby shower. Bibs are the anti-decision at the other end: cheap, constantly in the wash, impossible to over-own; ask for eight or more. Once feeding is covered, the nursery checklist handles the sleep side of the setup.