Expecting a baby, whether it’s your first, or you’re adding to your growing family, is an incredibly special time. But there’s no escaping the myriad of emotions and lengthy to-do list that can come with getting prepared.
As we all continue to face the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, the expense of preparing for a new arrival, from furniture to clothes, to navigating maternity leave and then future childcare costs, can be one of the main causes of overwhelm. Graco knows this all too well, as last year it launched its Family Matters campaign to support parents with the impact of the cost-of-living crisis. To inform the campaign, Graco undertook research with mums to find out how they are and how it could better support us all. And, spoiler alert, none of us are alone with how we’re feeling.
How mums are feeling
90% of mums told Graco they worry more about money once they are expecting or have a newborn and over half (51%) describe their feelings as anxious, and worried. The top financial concerns are household bills (81%), affording childcare (61%) and returning to work after maternity leave (49%).
Two thirds (63%) of mums asked revealed that finances are affecting their mental health, with just under half (46%) admitting it is affecting the relationship with their partner.
To deal with this pressure, many mums have made changes to their lifestyle. Over half, (59%) are buying second-hand clothes and second-hand baby items (54%), cutting spend on days out (57%) and not taking holidays (50%).
Sadly, 17% of the mothers have returned to work from maternity leave earlier than planned, almost two thirds (61%) have reduced their food bill, 8% have applied for social housing, 6% have sold their car and 4% have had to move house. In life-changing consequences, almost two in 10 (17%) have cancelled plans to extend their family.
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Top tips to prioritise the essentials
As parents or parents-to-be we’re often inundated with ‘must-have’ products that we need to purchase for our little ones. Whether it's adverts from brands, content on social media or advice from friends and family, everyone seems to have an opinion on the safest / comfiest / most convenient / best-looking crib/ car seat/ pushchair, the list goes on and on! Not only can this feel incredibly overwhelming, it can seem unaffordable. The reality is that when you break it down babies don’t need all that much and they certainly don’t need it to cost the earth. The important thing to do is prioritise the essentials.
Cutting through the noise and deciding what you need most as a family can feel hard though, so based on its years of baby product expertise and close connections to families, here’s Graco’s top tips to help you prioritise what you need most and come in on budget.
- Make a list and revisit it –write down everything you think you need to get through each day and then go through it again at a later date. This will give you a chance to be more critical and remove anything you don’t think you’ll use.
- Consider your lifestyle as a family –there’s no definitive list of products that comes with having a baby, it will need to be tailored to meet your individual needs. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you need it all, such as every product function, as this might not be something your family will ever use.
- Shop around – to get the best value for money, widen your net when it comes to sourcing the essentials. Alongside traditional retailers and brands, check out pre-loved selling sites, ask around friends and family for unused items and don’t forget about products you might have stored away from when you had your older children.
- Prioritise multi-use products –if a product can serve more than one function, it represents better value for money and it can be a great space saver at home.
The products you need for less
At the heart of the Graco brand is a promise to deliver product quality at incredible value for money and that’s why parents all over trust the brand time and time again for baby essentials. So, we’ve pulled together a pick of the standout products from Graco that every parent needs that prioritise safety, multi-purpose use, quality and style at a budget friendly price.
Near2MeDLX travel system bundle
The award-winning Graco Near2Me DLX four-piece travel system bundle contains all the baby travel essentials you need, while giving you the safety, comfort, and convenience you demand for your little one. This game-changing bundle contains the much-loved Near2Me DLX pushchair, Near2Me DLX carrycot, the SnugLite i-Size R129 infant car seat, and SnugTurn i-Size R129 rotating car seat base – and all for the unbeatable price of just £500.

The Near2Me DLX pushchair is perfect from birth up to 22kg (around four years approximately). The pushchair frame has three Slide2Me™ height adjustments which are loved by parents. With a simple click and slide, you can bring baby up closer, for extra connection wherever the day takes you. For parent comfort, the pushchair’s telescopic handle easily extends and retracts to match the height of whoever is pushing.

The SnugLite i-Size R129 infant car seat and rotating SnugTurn i-Size R129 base are the perfect addition to this travel bundle, making it simple and easy to get a child in and out of the vehicle. Importantly, both meet i-Size and R129 standards. This means they have undergone more side impact testing, ensuring little passengers stay rearward facing longer and gives parents the peace of mind that their precious cargo is safe.
Sweet2Sleep bedside crib
Graco’s bedside crib with a dropdown side provides the perfect co-sleeping solution to make those early night times with baby easier. This award-winning crib is packed full of features to keep baby safe and in reach for feeds and cuddles all night. The mesh sides keep baby well-ventilated and easily visible, while the side can be lowered quickly with just one hand to bring baby in closer.

To help relieve reflux symptoms, the head of the crib can be adjusted upward with a 4-position tilt, when the dropside is raised. And, with 11 height adjustments, and safety strap to secure the crib to the bed, it’s simple to position baby perfectly next to you.
The Sweet2Sleep is suitable from birth to approx. 6 months (max. 9kg). It comes in the stylish neutral Oatmeal colourway to match any bedroom aesthetic, for the incredible price of just £80.
We’re all in it together
Whatever stage of preparing for baby you’re at, or if your new arrival is currently tucked up in your arms, remember you’re not alone if the list of what you need feels like a lot and finances feel challenging.
If you're affected by the cost-of-living crisis, follow Graco on Instagram to make sure you don’t miss out on vital information around maternity benefits, and other guidance which will help you with your new arrival. You can also head over to The Graco Village, a place where new parents can feel seen and understood. It’s a hub of support and expert advice from parenting experts on money concerns, mental health advice and more.
If you’re trying to conceive (TTC), you probably know that there are certain foods and nutrients that become especially important once you’re pregnant. But nutrition plays a vital role even when trying to conceive, much like laying a strong foundation before constructing a house.
Certain nutrients create that foundation by supporting egg and sperm health (yes, nutrition matters for both partners), hormone balance and creating a hospitable environment for a fertilized egg to implant. In fact, studies show that certain nutrients can help increase fertility and improve success rates for both natural conception and fertility treatments.
In other words, nutrition is a key player in the TTC journey, but getting the right nutrients in the right quantities can be tricky. That’s where supplements come in. Just as you’d take a multivitamin to fill in nutritional gaps for optimal health, fertility supplements can give you that extra nutrient boost.
Choosing supplements for your fertility journey
When choosing a supplement to support your fertility journey, look for science-backed, high-quality ingredients. Our editors are careful to select and partner with brands that use ingredients that have been clinically studied to support fertility. Eu Natural® (pronounced you) covers all those bases and more. We love knowing that Eu Natural® products contain zero artificial additives, binders, or fillers and are lab-tested to ensure purity and potency.

When choosing a supplement to support your fertility journey, look for science-backed, high-quality ingredients. Our editors are careful to select and partner with brands that use ingredients that have been clinically studied to support fertility. Eu Natural® (pronounced you) covers all those bases and more. We love knowing that Eu Natural® products contain zero artificial additives, binders, or fillers and are lab-tested to ensure purity and potency.