What to buy for a baby in France
23 things worth having before the birth, each with what it costs in France new and second-hand. Buying everything new comes to roughly €2,434; buying used wherever used is sensible comes to roughly €1,459, about 40% less. 13 of the 23 are fine second-hand and 8 are worth buying new. Checked 21 September 2026.
General information, not financial advice; prices are estimates.
- Things on the list
- 23
- Everything new
- about €2,434
- Used where sensible
- about €1,459 — 40% less
- Fine second-hand
- 13 of 23
- Last checked
- 21 September 2026
Nobody pays Paperbump for anything on this page. The links are ordinary searches, so you can see what a thing actually costs today. If that ever changes, this line changes with it.
The short version
Buy new: cot mattress (matelas bébé), bottles and teats (biberons), baby car seat (siège auto), nappies (couches), thermometer (thermomètre), socket covers and cupboard catches, maternity and nursing bras (soutiens-gorge d'allaitement), and post-birth supplies for you. Most of the rest is fine used, and that is where the €975 sits. Each thing below says which, and why.
Sleeping
- Cot (lit à barreaux) — new €100–€400, used €35–€150
- Second-hand is fine
A solid cot frame outlasts several babies, so a used one costs a fraction of new and loses you nothing. The mattress is the part to buy new. French lits évolutifs convert to a toddler bed and cost more, which is worth it only if you want that later.
- All bars present and firm, nothing cracked or splintered.
- A new mattress should sit in it with no gap at the sides.
Paperbump's own estimate from typical prices at Amazon.fr, leboncoin, and Vinted, checked 21 September 2026. Not a quote, and not taken from one page.
- Cot mattress (matelas bébé) — new €40–€140
- Buy new
Buy this one new. A mattress that has been slept on holds moisture and loses its firmness, and firmness is exactly the part that matters for safe sleep. French prices run from around €40 for a basic foam one to €140 and beyond for a well-reviewed model.
- It must fit the cot with no gap at the edges.
- Firm, not soft: the baby should not sink into it.
- No zips, loose stitching or small parts that can be picked off.
Price from idealo.fr, checked 21 September 2026.
Look at Amazon.fr
- Next-to-bed crib (berceau or lit cododo) — new €70–€260, used €25–€95
- Second-hand is fine
In use for a few months at most before the baby outgrows it. That makes it one to buy used and spend the difference on something that lasts.
- Take the frame used, but put a new mattress in it.
- Check the fixings are all there before you agree a price.
Paperbump's own estimate from typical prices at Amazon.fr, leboncoin, and Vinted, checked 21 September 2026. Not a quote, and not taken from one page.
- Baby sleeping bags (gigoteuses) — new €25–€90, used €10–€35
- Second-hand is fine
Outgrown quickly and washed constantly. Check the zips and that the neck is not stretched.
Paperbump's own estimate from typical prices at Amazon.fr, leboncoin, and Vinted, checked 21 September 2026. Not a quote, and not taken from one page.
- Baby monitor (babyphone) — new €40–€160, used €20–€65
- Second-hand is fine
Nothing about a used monitor makes it less safe. Test the range and make sure the charger is included.
Paperbump's own estimate from typical prices at Amazon.fr, leboncoin, and Vinted, checked 21 September 2026. Not a quote, and not taken from one page.
Feeding
- Bottles and teats (biberons) — new €25–€75
- Buy new
Bottles can be reused within a family, but teats perish and scratch, and scratches hold bacteria. Buy teats new whatever you do about bottles.
Paperbump's own estimate from typical prices at Amazon.fr, leboncoin, and Vinted, checked 21 September 2026. Not a quote, and not taken from one page.
Look at Amazon.fr
- Breast pump (tire-lait) — new €30–€280, used €25–€95
- Either works
In France a tire-lait can be hired from a pharmacy, and with a prescription the Assurance Maladie covers it — which is usually cheaper than buying for the early weeks. If you take a used one, only a closed-system pump, and replace every part that touches milk.
Paperbump's own estimate from typical prices at Amazon.fr, leboncoin, and Vinted, checked 21 September 2026. Not a quote, and not taken from one page.
- Steriliser (stérilisateur) — new €25–€90, used €10–€35
- Second-hand is fine
A box that makes steam. Second-hand is fine; check the element is not furred up with limescale.
Paperbump's own estimate from typical prices at Amazon.fr, leboncoin, and Vinted, checked 21 September 2026. Not a quote, and not taken from one page.
- Muslins and bibs (langes et bavoirs) — new €15–€45, used €5–€18
- Second-hand is fine
You will want more than you think. Second-hand, and buy in bulk.
Paperbump's own estimate from typical prices at Amazon.fr, leboncoin, and Vinted, checked 21 September 2026. Not a quote, and not taken from one page.
- High chair (chaise haute) — new €30–€220, used €12–€75
- Second-hand is fine
Not needed until solids start at around six months, so there is no rush. Check the harness is intact and that it still has all its fixings.
Paperbump's own estimate from typical prices at Amazon.fr, leboncoin, and Vinted, checked 21 September 2026. Not a quote, and not taken from one page.
Getting around
- Baby car seat (siège auto) — new €90–€400
- Buy new
The one thing to buy new: a used seat's history is something you would have to take on trust. Fit it in your car once before the birth rather than on the day — they are fiddly, and a maternity car park is the wrong place to learn.
- Only consider a used one if you know for certain it has never been in a crash — a seat that has been in one can look untouched and no longer protect.
- Look for the approval mark: R129 (i-Size) or the older ECE R44/04.
- Check the shell and the foam for cracks, and the straps for wear.
- Walk away if parts or the manual are missing.
Paperbump's own estimate from typical prices at Amazon.fr, leboncoin, and Vinted, checked 21 September 2026. Not a quote, and not taken from one page.
Look at Amazon.fr
- Pram or pushchair (poussette) — new €170–€700, used €60–€300
- Second-hand is fine
The biggest single line on the list and the one where used saves most. French prices run from about €170 for an entry-level pushchair to around €675 for a full trio — frame, carrycot and car seat together. A trio is heavier and bulkier as well as dearer, so try one before committing.
- Push it, fold it and lift it before you buy — that is the whole test.
- Check the brakes and that the wheels do not wobble.
- Make sure the rain cover is there; they are oddly expensive to replace.
Paperbump's own estimate from typical prices at Amazon.fr, leboncoin, and Vinted, checked 21 September 2026. Not a quote, and not taken from one page.
- Sling or baby carrier (porte-bébé) — new €40–€170, used €20–€85
- Second-hand is fine
Worth trying on before you buy, with something the weight of a baby in it. Fabric wears but does not become unsafe.
- The baby's knees should sit higher than their bottom.
- Check the buckles and stitching at the load-bearing points.
Paperbump's own estimate from typical prices at Amazon.fr, leboncoin, and Vinted, checked 21 September 2026. Not a quote, and not taken from one page.
Clothes
- First-size clothes (taille naissance et 1 mois) — new €60–€190, used €20–€65
- Second-hand is fine
Worn for weeks and grown out of. Almost the definition of something to buy used, and French second-hand sites are full of unworn bundles.
Paperbump's own estimate from typical prices at Amazon.fr, leboncoin, and Vinted, checked 21 September 2026. Not a quote, and not taken from one page.
- Pramsuit or outdoor layer (combinaison pilote) — new €30–€90, used €10–€35
- Second-hand is fine
Depends entirely on the season the baby arrives in. Used, and only if the timing calls for one.
Paperbump's own estimate from typical prices at Amazon.fr, leboncoin, and Vinted, checked 21 September 2026. Not a quote, and not taken from one page.
Nappies and care
- Nappies (couches) — new €50–€130
- Buy new
Whether disposable or washable, start with a small amount: newborns change size fast and not every brand suits every baby. Expect roughly €40 to €100 a month once you are going. Washable nappies are worth a look second-hand, and strip-wash them before use.
Paperbump's own estimate from typical prices at Amazon.fr, leboncoin, and Vinted, checked 21 September 2026. Not a quote, and not taken from one page.
Look at Amazon.fr
- Baby bath or bath support (baignoire bébé) — new €15–€60, used €5–€25
- Second-hand is fine
Used for months, then never again. Second-hand, or skip it: a kitchen sink and a towel works for the first weeks.
Paperbump's own estimate from typical prices at Amazon.fr, leboncoin, and Vinted, checked 21 September 2026. Not a quote, and not taken from one page.
- Changing mat (matelas à langer) — new €15–€55, used €5–€20
- Either works
Cheap new and easy to clean, so either works. If buying used, check the surface is not split — splits are impossible to clean properly.
Paperbump's own estimate from typical prices at Amazon.fr, leboncoin, and Vinted, checked 21 September 2026. Not a quote, and not taken from one page.
- Thermometer (thermomètre) — new €10–€45
- Buy new
Buy new. An accurate reading is the whole point of owning one, and you cannot check the calibration of a used one.
Paperbump's own estimate from typical prices at Amazon.fr, leboncoin, and Vinted, checked 21 September 2026. Not a quote, and not taken from one page.
Look at Amazon.fr
Home safety
- Stair gates (barrières de sécurité) — new €25–€95, used €10–€40
- Second-hand is fine
Not needed until the baby is mobile, so there is no hurry. Second-hand is fine as long as the fittings are all there.
Paperbump's own estimate from typical prices at Amazon.fr, leboncoin, and Vinted, checked 21 September 2026. Not a quote, and not taken from one page.
- Socket covers and cupboard catches — new €5–€18
- Buy new
Cheap enough new that used is not worth the trouble. Again, not needed until the baby is mobile.
Paperbump's own estimate from typical prices at Amazon.fr, leboncoin, and Vinted, checked 21 September 2026. Not a quote, and not taken from one page.
Look at Amazon.fr
For you
- Maternity and nursing bras (soutiens-gorge d'allaitement) — new €35–€120
- Buy new
New, and fitted late in pregnancy rather than early, because your size will change again after the birth.
Paperbump's own estimate from typical prices at Amazon.fr, leboncoin, and Vinted, checked 21 September 2026. Not a quote, and not taken from one page.
Look at Amazon.fr
- Post-birth supplies for you — new €25–€65
- Buy new
Maternity pads, comfortable knickers, nipple cream. Unglamorous, all new, and worth having in the house before the birth rather than sending someone out for them afterwards. In France the maternity unit gives you a list of what to pack.
Paperbump's own estimate from typical prices at Amazon.fr, leboncoin, and Vinted, checked 21 September 2026. Not a quote, and not taken from one page.
Look at Amazon.fr
Where these figures come from
Paperbump's own estimate of what each thing costs in France, not a quote and not a price anyone is offering you. Each range is pitched at a well-reviewed mainstream version — not the cheapest on the shelf and not the top of the market — and was set in September 2026 from prices listed by the main baby retailers in France as they appeared in search results. Nobody paid to be on this list, and no shop page was opened to set a figure, so treat every range as an order of magnitude rather than a price tag. Your own figure always wins, and the moment you type one it replaces ours in the chart.
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