Now that Baby Bob is six weeks old I thought I’d give you a run down of the products I’ve been relying on the most. There’s so many items targeted at new parents that it’s sometimes hard to work out which are essential items for your new baby from what are just nice to haves.
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Essential items for your new baby
Baby wipes and nappies
Buy as many baby wipes as you want, this is something your newborn doesn’t grow out of and you’ll be pulling out of your bag even when they reach toddler age. I’m using WaterWipes Chemical Free Baby Wipes
Muslin squares
Now this is a life saver of a product! I’ve used my muslin squares for everything you can think of. Here are just a few examples of ways I’ve used muslin squares for the baby.
- A burp cloth
- Makeshift baby wipe (wet with water) when I’d left mine in the car
- Makeshift nappy, again, when I’d left mine in the car…see a pattern forming?
- To line the baby’s bassinet
- As a swaddle blanket
- As a clean surface when using public changing tables
Vests and sleepsuits
It doesn’t get simpler or more essential than this. It’s tempting to get carried away in the clothes isles when you’re expecting your new baby. My advice is to stay away from the gimmicky costumes and cute outfits. They are costly and your baby outgrows them so fast, in some cases, in a matter of weeks. Stick to buying the basics. You’ll need a couple multipacks worth of vests and sleepsuits. That’s it. Yes the bumble bee costume looks cute as pie but it’s not an essential. Plus, you’ll probably find friends and family will inundate you with beautiful outfits either at your baby shower or once they come to visit you and your newborn baby later on.
Breast pump
Breastfeeding is great and it’s something I readily recommend you trying if you can. It’s a brilliant opportunity to bond but it also means you are the sole person responsible for feeding. Whether it’s to give yourself a break and share the night feeds, allow you to have a day off or because you are returning to work, you might find that expressing your breast milk becomes a necessity. You can of course express by hand, but it’s time consuming.
I’ve been using a tandem Milk Genie breast pump from Pumpables. It has a three hour wireless charge or can be plugged into the mains. It has a let down function and built in memory so it can automatically remember your setting preferences for the next session. The Milk Genie Pumpables breast pump comes with three sides of shield, so you can find a size that’s comfortable for your breasts.
Baby monitor
As much as you may find yourself spending the first few days (or weeks!) just staring at your baby and not wanting to put her down, eventually you may leave her in her cot to sleep. You’ll want to keep an eye on her so a baby monitor is a must. I’ve got a gorgeous Summer Infant Sure Sight Video Baby Monitor
Check out the Summer Infant website, there’s quite a few different digital video monitors to choose from.
Baby sling
I use a sling more than the car seat or pram. It’s so comforting for the baby to be up close. It’s hands free travel so I’m free to push a shopping trolley or tidy up around the house with the baby safe and contented against my chest. Personally, I love the long, stretchy fabric slings. I’m a large lady and these can be tied to fit snugly yet comfortably. If I’ve got my daughter in a sling, she’ll sleep for much longer than she would in her buggy, which is a benefit if we’re going to be out for a long time.
Nice to haves for your new baby
Bedside crib
I love my Snüzpod bedside crib. I obsessed over it for months and knew it was my ‘Land Rover’ – the product I really wanted but could probably live without. Like, it’s my aspirational product but a regular Volkswagon Golf would suffice right? I love that the Snüzpod is so functional, being able to take the place of a moses basket and also serve as a beautifully crafted bedside crib.
The reason I put it as a nice to have rather than an essential is because you could have a cot or cotbed instead and never have a need for a bedside crib. These last until your baby is around 5 or 6 months old, meaning you will still need to have a cot or cotbed anyway.
Bottle timers
I love my milk monster baby bottle timer. It allows me to have a visual aid to remind me how long my baby’s bottle is good for. Regardless of if you express breastmilk or use formula, the milk is only good for a limited time. The Milk Monster has a custimisable timer and a backlit screen. It also has a glow in the dark element, though admittedly, I haven’t had to use that particular feature yet!
I hope you enjoyed my list of essentials (and some really nice to have!) items for your new baby. If you think that I’ve missed any off, then do let me know.
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