Pregnancy is one of the most exciting times in a woman’s (and her man’s!) life…nesting, planning, hoping and……shopping! There are millions of products on the market geared towards making pregnancy easier/more bearable/chic and even more products for the amazing post-pregnancy stage – life!

It’s a minefield, how the heck does a new mum-to-be wade through the gadgets, gear and gizmos on the market today and separate the wheat from the chaff? How to steer clear of the one hit wonders which will languish in the back of a cupboard after minimal use?

I’ve pulled my fave buys together and between my own bitter experience and fellow savvy mummy friends’ recommendations, have whittled down to 10 must-have buys which made our lives easier long term. Once you have that baby, an easy life is the only goal!

First off, baby wipes should have a blog post all of their own! Why does no-one ever tell you about the miraculous multitude of uses wipes before you have the baby? Buy them in bulk people, and stockpile!

And so to the other essentials…..

1. Cuddledry Baby Apron Bath towel

Cuddle dry is an award-winning product I first discovered at the Baby Show when my eldest (now 9!) was tiny. It really is genius. You know that moment when you take your slippery little sucker out of the bath, simultaneously holding a towel and trying not to drop them? Well, this lets you get hands free as the towel is in fact around your neck, apron stylie, so you grab your little fish, scoop them up in your apron, pop the hood on baby’s head – et voila – a cosy safe baby and a less-stressed mum. Result!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2. Slumbersac Travel Wrap

When you need to transport a perfectly peaceful baby from A to B, the last thing  you need is to have to wrap them up and disturb their zzzz’s. My motto always was ‘never wake a sleeping child’ – it takes enough effort to get them settled, why rock the cradle?

Slumbersac wraps are suitable for use in the cot, car seat or buggy. So when nap time in their cot turns into school run o’clock, stress not, fellow mothers, you’ve got this! Simply pick your cosy one up and plop in the buggy or car seat as they are.

What else is sweet is that you can have them embroidered too if buying for a baby shower or new baby gift. Cute!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3. Tommee Tippee Cold Water Steriliser

The clue is in the name here ladies! No faff with this one, they offer busy mums (usually with a few other kids  in tow) portability and essentially, it’s BPA and chemical free. That God-awful time consuming phase, made just that bit easier. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Mamas & Papas Octopus Baby Playmat & Gym 

My funky physio friend Nic’s top tip – a baby gym is amazing for early stage development and I think this one is great with it’s vibrant colours and soft space.

Their really quite informative blurb: (which I don’t usually quote but this is pretty cool) :

‘Includes nine fun interactive features that can help progress your baby’s development skills by encouraging key senses such as sight, touch and sound with the use of squeakers, fun textures and crinkly areas. The hanging toys are textured and will encourage your baby to reach and grab, helping interaction and hand to eye co-ordination. Discovering fun noises will stimulate hearing and promote cause and effect learning, while the baby safe mirror helps to develop self awareness The Octopus’s padded head helps to promote tummy time which can help strengthen arm, neck, and back muscles. This mat will encourage your baby’s key senses such as sight, touch, and sound. Includes hidden noises, textures, and crinkly areas, plus four removable toys which have rattles and squeakers to entertain your baby.’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5. Summer Infant Superseat – currently on sale in Argos, FYI!

Babies grow in the blink of an eye and before you can say ‘Annabel Karmel’ you’ll be weaning them! So whether you are blending up a broccoli banquet or going cold turkey and carrot sticks with baby-led weaning, will be thanking the lord for a safe and fun distraction for your little one in the shape of this gem from Summer Infant.

Your child can experience ergonomic, sit-up play while you busy yourself prepping their culinary delights. Anything that buys you a few precious minutes with a hungry baby on the go is a winner!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6. Kub Haywood Glider Nursing Chair & Footstool

I had one of these (not this brand but I found this one at a great price for you from reliable old John Lewis!) This was a unanimous choice from my tester team!

It saw me through nine years, two kids and more nocturnal nursing than I care to remember! I sold it recently at a car boot sale so it continues to serve the maternal community well. I can’t recommend these highly enough actually. Pricey yes, but the mileage you get from one of these babies is actually priceless! Long exhausting nights made that bit more bearable by a comfy seat and a chance to put your feet up. It’s the small things that will see you through ladies!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. Grobag Sleeping Bag

Pre-children I was baffled by these contraptions and wondered why anyone would bother.  Motherhood dawned and I just got it! Too many worried moments checking on and adjusting my baby, is he too hot or too cold? Cant give him a blanket for fear of suffocation but I need to keep him warm….

Grobags (this is one brand name but there are so many others. I just trusted Grobag as they are recommended by the Lullaby Trust. They come with temperature charts and full guidelines for use.

I also found that the boys knew they were part of the bedtime and nap routine and loved their sleeping bags when I’d get them out for relaxing time.

Available in soooo many funky designs to suit your nursery decor, this one was championed by my gorgeous friends Kirsty & Clare as their favourite must-buy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8. Sock Ons 

You will swear by these by about day 3 of motherhood, I promise you! The minute you start putting socks on your baby, without these you are on the fast track to Mothercare, replenishing the lost sock stock. My fab Welsh warbler Lindsey swears by these!

Say goodbye to leaving a breadcrumb-like trail of teeny socks in your wake and clamp those cottons to their feet. Nuff said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

9. Play & Go Bag

Maybe this one is not so much essential as gratuitous for my inner OCD!

I used to feel like it was Groundhog Day as I put toys out in the early days of the gruelling 5am rises for early play, trying to keep Dominic hushed while Hubby & Harry were fast asleep. Only to then pack D’s shizzle away at nap time to stop us all falling over it. Later, rotate and repeat…aaargh! This cracking mat lets you gleefully scoop and close, ready for later. No mess, no fuss. Love it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10. Travel Car Seat Trolley

Inspired inventions!

Car seats are the enemy of mothers but a best friend to your biceps. However, struggling with an overstuffed changing bag, spare coats, lunch bags, pe kits, siblings and all the other stuff mums weigh themselves down with plus a heavy car seat with a bouncing baby in is no-one’s idea of fun.

Cue these glorified old lady trolley carcasses and suddenly the sun comes out! Mums with dodgy backs (that’s 98% of us then!) and mums of twins will particularly me for this tip!

They ARE primarily an American phenomenon but I think it’s worth buying and waiting the extra delivery time from Amazon.com or Toys’r’Us.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So those are my top 10 mummy must-haves and throw in with that the essentials like nipple pads, Tena Lady (yup ladies, the leakage is real), Infacol, Calpol, dummies, and you are pretty much sorted ladies! You can shop most of my suggestions straight from here… 

Keep Calm and Carry On Linking Sunday

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