A helpful list of products that I have found most helpful in these first few years and especially during those newborn weeks. When I was pregnant with Poppy I found myself roaming the aisles of my local baby store overwhelmed and unsure about what exactly we needed. My husband and I often found ourselves saying "do we really need that!?". It is amazing how much stuff these tiny humans require! So to make it easier I have broken this list down into categories - Products linked in image so all you have to do is click. :)
Sleep
The number one challenge you will face as a parent is sleep...and get used to it because it will become an on and off again challenge as your child grows! These items are very personal and you need to carefully consider a few things before investing in them. Don't feel like you need to have all of this chosen straight away. There is nothing wrong with waiting a bit, getting into a routine to see if these are something you would find useful. Also, it is very possible that what you would like your baby to use just isn't what works for them. No point in investing in a fancy bassinet that costs thousands of dollars only for your child to not even sleep in it!
Here is what we have found to be most helpful with our two girls:
- DockATot
You may be wondering what this thing is and do I really need it!? Well its been a daily for us. Those first few months are pretty sleepy and a lot of times newborns like to be held. The DockATot gives you the flexibility to put your child down comfortably while you get the things done....
like this blog post! :) Be sure to still supervise your child sleeping in one of these and follow appropriate safety recommendations.
- Swaddles; Muslins, SleepSack Swaddle, Love to Dream Swaddle
One of those personal choices that your baby will ultimately choose for themselves. Muslins are essential for so many everyday uses; pram cover, breastfeeding, light blanket, burb cloth, or bib - if you forget one! My favourite are the beautiful ones from Fox & Fallow! You might discover that your child does not like being swaddled. Hattie was a huge fan of a snug swaddle so we found the Halo SwaddleSack really great for her. Poppy however, was not a swaddler! She broke free every time. We did not know what to do until a friend bought us a Love to Dream as a baby gift. They referred to it as a game changer and they were right! Poppy used one up until she went into her big girl bed.
- Moses Basket
I spoke a lot about my choice between a basinet and moses basket on Instagram and asked for followers opinion about what they recommended. Mostly everyone steered me away from a moses basket! But like I said before, this is entirely a personal list and for our needs a moses basket was the best choice. Here is the link to view this post and more on this:
- Bibs Dummies
I really wanted Poppy to take a dummy. When I was a baby I sucked my thumb and it ended with very expensive and extensive dental work. We tried three different dummies before someone recommended Bibs and they worked! We offered Hattie a Bibs dummy in the hospital and she took to them straight away. They have a huge range of colours and styles including glow in the dark ones!
Feeding
For both girls I formula feed and it is what worked best for us. Therefore, these products are mostly targeted for bottle feeding. Even if you're breast feeding you will want to look into bottles and pumping though so these products would still be helpful.
- Bottle warmer and steriliser
I have seen a warmer on a list of things someone wished they never bought. For us it is used for almost every bottle. If you freeze breast milk than this one is also great for warming that up as well.
- Bottle brushes and Bottle dry rack
This seems like a super small thing to appreciate but a bottle brush makes this daily task so much easier!
Bath and Body
This will likely be a part of your nightly sleep routine so you want to ensure you get products that will last longer and work for your family.
- SkipHop Bathtub and Rinser
These two products were ones that I was so thankful we bought! The tub makes it so easy to bath a baby especially when they aren't sitting up yet and the rinser ensures you don't get water or soap all over their face. We still use the rinser for Poppy so it is great for toddlers as well!
- Snotty Boss Aspirator
There is nothing worse than your baby being sick! It is heart breaking and especially the first time. When a baby gets congested they can't clear it themselves so it makes for rough sleeps for everyone. This amazing invention makes it so easy and quick to help relieve nasal congestion. Serious life saver!
- Skincare
You want to be sure to use a baby skincare product that is gentle enough to use from birth. Poppy got a really bad case of baby acne and being a first time mum I freaked out not knowing what it was! In my anxious googling I discovered a blog post about Mustela and it's effective use on baby acne. It was like an overnight cure! We've used mostly all their products since. The cleansing water is great for the nights you're skipping a bath or shower or cleaning up after a messy meal. A couple other great brands we have been introduced to is Lovekins and Kind Coconuts - bonus that this was created by a very lovely Brisbane pharmacist! :)
Play
- Bouncer
Hattie loves to be carried so she isn't as much a fan of this as Poppy was but we still use it everyday. I would recommend investing in a good one because if your baby likes it then these can be a life saver on a needy baby day!
- Tikiri bath and teether
A rattle, teether and bath toy! These are popular for everyone in this house. :)
Out and About
Becoming a new mum can bring on a lot of anxiety. As hard as it is, it really is important to try to get out even if it is just for a little walk. Those first few trips in the car aren't exactly fun - getting the hand of the capsule, packing up the pram. It felt like it took me ages to get everything into the car but I promise it does get easier! These are a couple things I don't leave the house without.
- Wipes holder
- Pram fan (this is a thing and is important for those hot summer days! Prams get really hot especially with a cover over them.)
- Dummy holder
- Oi Oi backpack (check out my baby bag blog post for more on this or see what is in my nappy bag here - https://www.instagram.com/p/CaGgY12jLLe/ )
- Pram Caddy
Well there it is - A full comprehensive list of the products I use everyday and got us through those demanding newborn weeks for both of our girls.
Keep in mind that this list is from my personal experience. When I was pregnant with Poppy I read and watched countless blogs and vlogs about this topic. What I discovered was that every list was different. Some\of my favourite items here would even likely appear on a "wish I never bought" list! But I have come to realise and even more so after becoming a "mummy blogger" that raising a child is an incredibly personal experience. What you find works for you and your child may not apply to another.
The first few months can be the most demanding. If you are a first time mum it can feel very overwhelming and everyone has their advice to give you. My advice... ;) is to listen to it all politely but find what best works for you and your family because at the end of the day that is all that matters!
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