I always buy early! That said, I buy tins of formula and bags of nappies too. One or the other with every shop. At least have one bag of nappies before baby arrives. My babies enjoyed arriving just before payday - and many hospitals have had to stop providing nappies and ladywear.

Definitely buy all the furniture you will need immediately before hand - even if you have to buy gender neutral. Even with the baby bonus, you have to be prepared. You never got a magical credit card delivered with the baby to pay for things straight away. You don't want to be sat in the ward wondering how you and bub are going to get home because you cant afford the car seat and centrelink are telling you that it takes 28 days.