My New Baby Must Haves

Hello and Happy New Year! I hope you had a lovely festive season and are now ready to start 2013 with a bang. I have a few friends expecting at the moment, and for all you soon to be mummies or new mummies out there,  here are my top buys that I couldn't live without and a few things that I would avoid. I have used links from John Lewis as I know the deliver across the UK and Worldwide and have given me very good service and advice. Mamas and Papas and Kiddiecare. But you can get these products from other stores too. I hope you find it helpful.

Sleepyhead Deluxe Bed Guard

http://www.johnlewis.com/231482924/Product.aspx

http://www.sleepyheadwebshop.com/en/products/sleepyhead/sleepyhead-deluxe-pristine-white.html

This is a sleep pillow, and for me was an alternative to a moses basket. You can place it in the cot, on the sofa and know your little one wont roll out. The best thing about this is that its like an instant soother, my little girl settled in this within minutes. It clame to "reinvent" the womb. Whatever it does, she has had amazing nights and daytime naps in it. And from 8 weeks has slept through the night. This is an award winning design ,and once you use it you will really see why. If you read the reviews on the John Lewis website you can see many shared experiences. It is expensive, but when you are having a good nights sleep you will be grateful. 

Bugaboo Cameleon 3

http://www.bugaboo.com/400

http://www.johnlewis.com/351796/Product.aspx

Expensive but wicked pram action! Really smooth and very comfortable, light steering and if you enjoy walking it’s a good one. It comes in lots of different cloths so you can customise depending on what suits you. If you really want to splash out, there are designer covers too.  But this pram has thought of everything, and the biggest bonus for me is the tyres are anti-burst. My friend has just had a burst tyre, and couldn't go out for a while until it had been repaired. This pram also comes in a smaller city version called Bee and a double pram called the Donkey. You can get this in John Lewis UK and now selected Mamas and Papas stores.

Troll Bedside Crib

http://www.johnlewis.com/231463971/Product.aspx?s_kwcid=ppc_pla&tmad=c&tmcampid=73&pup_ptid=%7Badwords_producttargetid%7D&pup_kw=%7Bkeyword%7D&pup_c=%7Badtype%7D

As well as the main cot in the nursery,  this is a small cot that fits next to your bed. The side drops down making access to baby easy. It's a safe way of co-sleeping, which helps  bonding, sleeping, and when you are feeding it's great to just be able to pick your baby and put them back so easily. It's also wonderful when you wake up in the morning to see their little face next to you. I much prefer this to a Moses basket on the floor, or Moses basket on a stand, as I found the stands not to be as stable. 

DreamGenii Maternity and Nursing Pillow

http://www.dreamgenii.com/

http://www.johnlewis.com/230519017/Product.aspx

Looks funny, but when you hit 5 months you will be in love with this. It supports your bump and makes sleeping comfortable again. You can use a pillow between your legs, but you don’t get the bump support that by 7-8 months you are really desperate for. I didn't use it for feeding as it didn't suit me, but my friend did when her little one was 1/2 months old while she got used to feeding.  

Magic Startgaze Playmat

http://www.mamasandpapas.com/product-magic-stargaze-playmat-stripe/759482710/type-i/

I love this, I call this her dance mat. the lights and music make this so much fun for her and me. You can also plug in your Ipod, and I also hang some of the smaller Lamaze toys from it. As your baby grows it deconstructs so it will last a while. It's a more expensive mat but its one your baby will actually use, as you buy so many toys they are not interested in, rather buy a few good ones.  

Baby Bjorn or a Wrap Carrier.

http://www.kari-me.com/

http://www.babybjorn.co.uk/

http://www.johnlewis.com/231099136/Product.aspx

These are great especially if you dont want to take your pram with you. It's a practical way of carrying baby whilst doing your food shopping, so you dont have to put your baby in those seats that are oftern very dirty and for the Dads who don't like to push a pram around. The baby Bjorn has a good reputation is very secure and comfortable to wear. My husband prefers this to using wraps as its easy to slip on and off. There are diffrent ranges, so I would advise going into the store to feel what's most comfortable for you. My latest discovery had been the Kari me wrap. I was given one with no idea how to use. Once shown I have fallen inlove with it. I find it increadbly confortable across my back. My little one likes the closeness of it, and its great carrier to do things around the house with. I like this as her legs don't just hang as with other carriers but are in a "frog" position so she is getting that bit more hip support. It's well worth learning how to use. 

Baby Bath

http://www.mamasandpapas.com/product-acqua-two-stage-ergo-bath-pearl-white/4538472/type-i/

http://www.mamasandpapas.com/product-acqua-bath-support-pearl-whitesoft-lime/4552499/type-i/

This bath is really secure for baby to lay in. It has bottom and arm supports to prevent them from slipping, and has enough room for them to really have a splash in. I didn't feel comfortable putting her in a big bath yet, so for me this was a great solution until I feel she is ready. 

If you feel you what to but baby in the bath and have the space to, then some kind of support is essential, as you and baby will enjoy bath time a lot more. My friend uses this in her bath.

Of course these do provide support but never ever leave your baby alone in the bath 

Video baby Monitor

http://www.kiddicare.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/productdisplay0_10751_-1_135541_10001 

This is amazing! Babies cry, move and fuss in their sleep. When they are small you as a parent can jump at every move and sometimes it just disturbs them. With this you can see if they are really awake and need you, or if they are settling themselves or talking in their sleep. It’s also reassuring you can check what they are doing without entering the room. I got this on advice to a friend,  who said this was invaluable, and still uses it for her 2 year old. Now she is potty training she can see in the night if she needs to go. My little one is a brilliant sleeper and I think this has helped 

Other Products I couldnt live without

• Lavender Oil from Boots – I mixed 6 drops of lavender with a glass of milk and put it in the bath about 1 weeks after birth and healed in about 3 days! So soothing.
• Sudocrem – No sore bottoms here! I use quite a bit to make a barrier and have done so since birth
• Muslim squares – Seriously you need about 20. Mothercare do good offers on these and are oftern 3 for 2 
• A nice blanket.
• Brest Pump (because nothing is sexier!!!!!)
• A good nappy bag.
• Car seat, They wont let you take baby home without one. We have the maxicosi pebble. This also fits into the bugaboo pram! Genius
• A mirror to put in the back of car, so you can see babies face in the rear view mirror. Its also entertains them at about 2/3 months.

Things to avoid

• Buying too many parenting books. I read the Gina Ford book, and that made motherhood sound horrible. For me its not realistic and she has never had children. Being a midwife and able to leave the children at the "front door" for me is not the same, plus the emotional attachment is not there either. I'm sure it works for some but It was too regimented for me 
• Spending too much on clothes. You will probably get loads for gifts and there is only so much they can wear before they grow out of them.
• Too many Little shoes, they never stay on!