MrDragName has moved past the screening test anxiety (our results were all clear/low risk probability) and now wants to spend this weekend making a list of things we need for JuniorDragName. MrDragName loves a list and I hate it.So far we (I) have bought: a giant giraffe, a giant llama, one normal sized teddy, a teddy rattle, one crocheted jacket, one little set of baby gro/top/bottoms/hat from Primark and a vintage wooden stackable toy which is more for decoration in the room till Junior is big enough to have it. So, we’re not very organised!
MrDragName is not really a second hand kind of guy whereas I’m all about second hand (except the mattresses for the various types of baby bed and also it seems it’s best not to buy a second hand car seat? So not one of them either). I’m wary this whole endeavour will be like when we adopted our cat and we bought 5 different cat beds and she hated all of them, except the cat beds were no more than a tenner each and these bedside cribs and travel systems and whatever are A LOT more.
Where can I get a no nonsense place to read about what we should get and the pros and con a of different brands etc? I don’t want any influencers shilling me stuff. I’d like to keep unnecessary buying to a minimum (unless it’s giant cuddly toys, obvs…). MotherDragName has hung onto my moses basket and I feel like that would be handy to keep downstairs for a downstairs nap, I’ll just change the mattress. Everything else is up for consideration!
book a free nursery appointment at mamas and papas or John Lewis - particularly for the travel system. You can try them all out and the assistants will even test the car seats/prams in your car to ensure it fits etc. and they will ask what you are most likely to be doing - urban or rural walks/on and off public transport etc and advise on what they think would work best.
Second hand is fine for most other things with exception of new mattresses in bassinets and cribs. Some people think a next-to-me style cribs are a waste but personally for me it’s a godsend to settle baby through the night without having to get up (and I think she does settle better with me or her dad in sight and reach of her so I would recommend).
The drawback of course is that they only really last until 6 months so it may be an expense you want to do without. I think there are one or two that transform into full blown cots but I’m not sure.
Things like slings/carriers you may want to look into a sling library first of all as 1) baby may not want to be in one and 2) different carriers work for different shapes.
I’m not sure if you are planning to formula feed or breast, but if formula feeding the best advice I got was to only buy a couple of bottles as babies can be fussy with different tests - for example if you start with MAM bottles and baby is fine with those just add to your collection after they are here. A formula prep machine was extremely helpful to us as no waiting for boiling water to cool etc particularly overnight, but these are IFFY under NHS guidelines, so that may not be a route you want to go down. A Nuby rapid cool is a MUST for bottles as it cools formula from boiling to room temperature in a couple of minutes.
As far as sterilising goes we just use a Milton bucket with tablets instead of splashing out on a steam or UV one but again I think things like that are just a personal preference.
Baby K got gifted SO MANY newborn and 0-3 clothes and my advice is if you think you may get a lot of gifts just get the basics for your baby. They spend a lot of time in a vest and sleep suit also as cute as the fussy little outfits can be
she’s also bursting out of 0-3 clothes at just under 12 weeks without wearing a lot of what people got her so it is difficult but I’ve really reigned in my clothes shopping for the next few sizes up as she really doesn’t need it.
vinted is great for packs of baby stuff 2nd hand and cheap and the supermarket clothes are as good as any other.
As for reading - I’ve found Reddit to be a wonderful source of information bizarrely for example googling “is snuzpod worth it Reddit” and there will usually be a thread of opinions and at least you can be sure it’s real people being 100% honest. The new baby thread here is also a great help for recommendations too.
there will always be something you don’t have and really it’s trial and error - have the basics there and you can add to it once you see what you need and baby would like. The beauty of Amazon next day delivery has got me out of many binds in the last 12 weeks
got my 12 week scan in a couple of weeks so trying to relax until then but it’s hard!
no doubt over the heritage here… 
however it might be worth having a look in Smyths/mamas and papas for what sort of thing you'd like then go home and see what you can find online.