Top 10 Baby Buys

So you’re expecting a little bundle of joy soon. You put together a shopping list with all the things you need to get but there is so much to choose from! How do you choose?! What works? What doesnt? What’s worth the money and what isn’t? Ive tried and tested quite a few things over the past few years and with that experience in mind I thought id share with you my top 10 must buys for any mum…! Everyone will have a different view on what the most useful thing to them was and so these are just my personal opinion (not a professional recommendation!) but hopefully it will help as you work your way through the minefield of baby paraphernalia!

Caboo baby carrier

My little one had reflux and this little number became a daily fashion accessory pretty much from the start. There are obviously a wide variety to choose from but a friend lent me this and I never looked back. The soft stretchy material kept my baby snug and comfortable and close to me in and out the house for months. And – most importantly – upright! This meant I could get on with what I needed to do (critical if you have another child too) and keep him safe, sound and happy.

The Sleepyhead

This wont be the first time you’ll have heard of the sleepyhead im sure but I am certainly a supporter so it had to feature in my top 10. Having spent some time in the special care baby unit my youngest was used to the feeling of a little nest they used to create for him with towels. This mimicked that nest and aided a more secure nights sleep. It also meant that wherever we went we were able to take it and have somewhere comfortable and safe for him to sleep. A definite must buy in my opinion…!

Zip up sleepsuits

Now this isn’t just any old sleepsuit so read on before you dismiss this as some strange favourite outfit thing. Zips – oh yes, zips I tell you. Now why sleepsuits are made with poppers is beyond me? I mean seriously – who wants to spend 15 minutes every change time trying to match the 7th popper down to the 9th popper but not realise it until they’ve got the bottom? Why, why… somebody please tell me why??! If you’ve not tried babygrows with zips then you’ve not lived!! Get out there and order yourself one straight away – you wont turn back…!

Beaba up & down rocker

Unfortunately this little beauty is not so readily available any more – although it can be bought here – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beaba-Bouncing-912111-positions-children/dp/B002DJB9GA. So whats special about this? This is a rocker that can be placed at ground level, raised a little bit higher – or better still – at highchair height. Any C-Section mums out there I can hear you squeal now…YES!!! Yes – you can rock your baby without bending down, rock them at the table whilst eating dinner (all securly strapped in of course), and if you want to you can even move the recliner so they are seated fully upright and use it as a high chair as they start to get into their first tastes. PURE GENIUS

Babybjorn highchair

Now lets talk highchairs.
Wow – who’d have thought there’s be so many options out there! All i can say is get one you can wipe clean that has limited nooks and crannies for the food to get crushed into. And this one is just that. Yes its expensive but my God is it worth it to save the hassel of cleaning dried encrusted food out of fabric straps or the little stitch detail on “wipe clean” fabric covers. And whats great is that the legs on this fold in so that its actually easily transportable if you need to. Get down to your nearest baby shop and investigate!!

Troll bedside crib

I liked the idea of a co-cleeping crib – particularly as I’d had a c-section but I then soon realised that it was pretty hard leveraging myself out of bed with a fairly large crib attached next to it! So I searched high and low for something that allowed me to be near my little one and at a height of my choosing but that I could also easily manouver to and from the bed.

If Im honest, there was no perfect solution, but for me this crib came pretty close. I thought the drop side would be critical and actually it wasnt really used (for safety more than anything). It had adjustable legs so i was able to position it in a way that worked best for me to reach my baby, but it was the fact that it was on wheels that was the big plus… it was also big enough to last longer than a moses basket so relatively good money spent. C-section or not – seriously consider this one for ease of use.

Aden & Anais muslin sleeping bag

So we’re experiencing it right now – the heat – right? Not every day I know. But wow – when hot & humid strikes in England – it really strikes! So what do you put your baby in. You need to keep them cool right? When you are not with them to monitor them overnight you need to know they won’t overheat. Ok, so you strip them to their nappy – but what if they get a bit chilly? They may not sleep so well without the feeling of something over them…. Blankets may come off…hmmm…..

Aden & Anais to the rescue. Cue the muslin sleeping bag. Another genius idea – wish i’d thought of it myself 🙂 It states it 0.5 tog like some of the others on the market but honestly id put money on it being lighter weight. It’s like the lightest weight muslin you’d use to wipe your darlings puke but prettier and styled into a gorgeous sleepbag. What’s not to love?!

Babybjorn travel cot

Its going to start to look like I work for Babybjorn soon but I promise, i dont! But… this travel cot really is awesome. Its possibly not the biggest (but its not small) so if longevity is your agenda then this may not quite hit no.1 on your list but if ease of use and transportability is important then look no further. This is so lightweight and easy to use that it actually sits on top of a single ikea wardrobe in my baby’s room and i can just whip it down and set it up in less that 30 seconds if its needed. And there have been times during severe sickness bouts (when the waterproof mattress protector has proved itself to be as waterproof as a sieve) when we’ve needed to get it out and have it set up quickly as a new bed for our little one to sleep in. Definitely sits in my best buy group…

Lascal retractable stair gate

This Lascal stair gate is awesome if you want something discreet when not in use, something that doesnt leave a fun bar to trip over, or an annoying swinging gate still there! It unravels from its tube (which is fixed to the wall) when you pull it (there is a special safety button to press too) and locks into place at the other side. It’s a flexible mesh type material and for that reason I wouldn’t actually use it at the top of the stairs (as I am a bit of a OCD safety freak), but bottom of the stairs and in between rooms this is the most fantastically discreet piece of kit. Well worth looking at if you dont want to stub your toe/trip over a million times a day/and want a room that marginally resembles the stylish, serene adult environment you once had!

Baby Jogger City Mini

Everyone has their favourite buggy but after 2 kids and trying pretty much everything on the market this is by far and away mine. For me its the way i can be holding my baby and just pull the handle in the centre and the whole thing collapses in one go and then gets chucked into the boot (and lays pretty flat in there). Yes there are lighter ones (but this is by no means heavy), and yes there are now smaller ones. BUT this is soooo practical. Its lay flat so brilliant for naps and the other great feature is the ginormous hood that helps block out the light and create its own little pod for your baby. The basket underneath is a good size and the brake position is practical and well thought through. Its brilliant on rough terrain if you like a bit of walking and has solid tyres so no need to worry about punctures. But the one handed fold is just the best!

I missed one! Couldn’t forget the photos….

Obviously one of the things missing from my list is memories. Memories of your pregnancy journey and memories of your brand new baby with their brand new teeny fingers and toes. Some would say that one of the most important purchases they made was in fact the photos of these times – the memories. Such unique times to capture and treasure. If you are interested in a maternity or newborn photoshoot then please dont hesitate to get in touch. People often book me months ahead but I always try to fit people in at shorter notice so do give me a call. 🙂

I hope that list provided some food for thought! Id love to hear from you if anyone has any top buys that they feel need to be shared!