UPDATED
So is this is slightly over due, however I am still really passionate about the products I chose for when I had my baby. There are literally so many choices when you are becoming a mum and it can really seem overwhelming and sometimes confusing as to which products are the best or which ones you really need, and indeed, which are a waste of money.
I did alot of research whilst I was pregnant to find the exact things I wanted that were going to be the best choice for baby and also make my life as a new parent as easy as possible. So here is a list of some of my must have baby products.
1. The RedCastle Cocoonababy
I cannot express how much I loved this mattress, it is a little pricey for what seems to be something you only use for a short time but in my opinion is more than worth it. The Cocoonababy is a sleep nest that helps to prevent reflux, flat head syndrome and the startle reflex. This was certainly the case for me and Karmen! She slept amazingly in it from day 1 until and until she was around 5 months old and was too big for the Cocoonababy. It is portable so is perfect for having downstairs with you during the day and they can be carried upstairs in it for bedtime, you can use it alone in the cot or in a Moses basket if you choose, or even if you want to co sleep this is ideal as the baby is safe and raised from the bed. I could not of been without this!
It is available from John Lewis and Harrods for £129.99 and you can purchase a range of sheets for around £21.99.
2. Stokke Xplory pushchair
Specifically I have the Stokke Xplory v3 in purple, there is now a v4 available there are only minor differences. This is not the pushchair I originally bought I had decided on a Quinny Mood as I wanted a 3 wheel buggy, this is what we used from birth although I do now wish I had bought the Stokke from the beginning, however I now have both which is handy as they are better for different things.
The Quinny has larger wheels and being a 3 wheeler is more suitable for all terrain and/or running.
The Stokke I absolutely love, Karmen sits so high up it makes it great for communicating and for them to look around and see much more. Also if you are going to be around traffic it is nice knowing they are not level with the exhaust fumes. It feels a dream to push and doubles as a high chair in restaurants. I love using this and I think I will probably miss it more than Karmen will when she no longer needs it! Again it is slightly higher in price then some other pushchairs / travel systems, but it really will last you for years and I promise you will love pushing it! The Stokke is available from majority of the baby stores, prices vary.
I also have a few accessories for the stokke which I think are must haves, of course the cup holder which doubles as a phone / bits and bobs holder, small buggy clips that actually Velcro on the handle so you don't scratch the handle when opening them I found them on ebay for around £5.00 and the sheepskin hand muff and fur hood trim for winter which is so cosy and in my opinion looks beautiful!
3. Prince Lionheart Slumber Bear
Another sleep life saver, the Slumber Bear has a sound box which is motion and sound activated so when baby stirs it plays an actual recording of inside the womb, this may sound strange but it soothed her back to sleep almost instantly every single time. The sound box is removable and spent most of the time attached the cot and would do its job time and time again. This combined with the Cocoonababy made sleep times such a dream (excuse the pun) and if I were to ever do it all again there is no way I would be without these two items. Prince Lionheart Premium Slumber Bear is available for £34.99 from Mothercare.
4. Water Wipes
These wipes are pure and natural and so can be used straight from birth, I found is so much easier then soaking cotton wool in water and also they don't leave residue on the skin like cotton wool can. Water Wipes are priced at £2.49 from boots although if you buy in bulk I believe you can find them cheaper on amazon.
After these I went on to Huggies Pure but after running out one day I could only get the Tesco Loves Baby Ultra Soft Wipes and they are much nicer than the Huggies, these are now the only wipes I use. They are £1 per pack but of course they are often on special offer.
5. Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Steriliser and Nappy bin
I went for Tommee Tippee on these essentials as they have a brilliant brand reputation, the steriliser is more then big enough for sterilising a lot of bottles in one go (time saver!) and the nappy bin is so convenient for locking the nappies away without fussing with fiddle thin bags!
Prices vary but I got the steriliser and all my bottles on offer for £60.00 and the nappy bin for £12.50 both from Kiddicare.
6.Phillips video baby monitor
I don't think I could of managed without a video monitor, it is great to be able to see exactly how they are sleeping, if the covers have fallen off or if there is an arm or leg stuck inbetween a cot bar! I still love this monitor now as it is hilarious to see what she gets up to in her cot when she thinks no one is watching, the talk feature is also great and I love seeing her face wondering where my voice is coming from!
7. Fisher Price Discover N Grow Jumperoo
10. Galt Playnest
This item was not something I originally had on my baby products list but after it was gifted to me y a family friend it very quickly became one of the best items for Karmen. It is basically a giant inflatable ring with a fabric cover and base with fun things for baby to look and touch on the sides and she spent so much time in there with a variety of toys that I would line up around the edge and it would give her endless amusement pulling each toy into the ring with her. It is great knowing that they are safe in the ring, cannot fall out or bash there head on any sharp edges and it is also great for when the start to want to explore a bit more you can prop them up on the ring on their tummies nicely for a different view of the pictures round the side. This should probably be higher then 10 on my list as I used it everyday without fail and even took it away to a mini break to a caravan where we used it inside and outside for a picnic and some sneaky sunbathing!
This play nest is priced around £19.99 however I have since found out there is a version with an overhead gym attached for about double the price, If only i known this from the beginning!
So is this is slightly over due, however I am still really passionate about the products I chose for when I had my baby. There are literally so many choices when you are becoming a mum and it can really seem overwhelming and sometimes confusing as to which products are the best or which ones you really need, and indeed, which are a waste of money.
I did alot of research whilst I was pregnant to find the exact things I wanted that were going to be the best choice for baby and also make my life as a new parent as easy as possible. So here is a list of some of my must have baby products.
1. The RedCastle Cocoonababy
I cannot express how much I loved this mattress, it is a little pricey for what seems to be something you only use for a short time but in my opinion is more than worth it. The Cocoonababy is a sleep nest that helps to prevent reflux, flat head syndrome and the startle reflex. This was certainly the case for me and Karmen! She slept amazingly in it from day 1 until and until she was around 5 months old and was too big for the Cocoonababy. It is portable so is perfect for having downstairs with you during the day and they can be carried upstairs in it for bedtime, you can use it alone in the cot or in a Moses basket if you choose, or even if you want to co sleep this is ideal as the baby is safe and raised from the bed. I could not of been without this!
It is available from John Lewis and Harrods for £129.99 and you can purchase a range of sheets for around £21.99.
Specifically I have the Stokke Xplory v3 in purple, there is now a v4 available there are only minor differences. This is not the pushchair I originally bought I had decided on a Quinny Mood as I wanted a 3 wheel buggy, this is what we used from birth although I do now wish I had bought the Stokke from the beginning, however I now have both which is handy as they are better for different things.
The Quinny has larger wheels and being a 3 wheeler is more suitable for all terrain and/or running.
The Stokke I absolutely love, Karmen sits so high up it makes it great for communicating and for them to look around and see much more. Also if you are going to be around traffic it is nice knowing they are not level with the exhaust fumes. It feels a dream to push and doubles as a high chair in restaurants. I love using this and I think I will probably miss it more than Karmen will when she no longer needs it! Again it is slightly higher in price then some other pushchairs / travel systems, but it really will last you for years and I promise you will love pushing it! The Stokke is available from majority of the baby stores, prices vary.
I also have a few accessories for the stokke which I think are must haves, of course the cup holder which doubles as a phone / bits and bobs holder, small buggy clips that actually Velcro on the handle so you don't scratch the handle when opening them I found them on ebay for around £5.00 and the sheepskin hand muff and fur hood trim for winter which is so cosy and in my opinion looks beautiful!
Another sleep life saver, the Slumber Bear has a sound box which is motion and sound activated so when baby stirs it plays an actual recording of inside the womb, this may sound strange but it soothed her back to sleep almost instantly every single time. The sound box is removable and spent most of the time attached the cot and would do its job time and time again. This combined with the Cocoonababy made sleep times such a dream (excuse the pun) and if I were to ever do it all again there is no way I would be without these two items. Prince Lionheart Premium Slumber Bear is available for £34.99 from Mothercare.
4. Water Wipes
These wipes are pure and natural and so can be used straight from birth, I found is so much easier then soaking cotton wool in water and also they don't leave residue on the skin like cotton wool can. Water Wipes are priced at £2.49 from boots although if you buy in bulk I believe you can find them cheaper on amazon.
After these I went on to Huggies Pure but after running out one day I could only get the Tesco Loves Baby Ultra Soft Wipes and they are much nicer than the Huggies, these are now the only wipes I use. They are £1 per pack but of course they are often on special offer.
5. Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Steriliser and Nappy bin
I went for Tommee Tippee on these essentials as they have a brilliant brand reputation, the steriliser is more then big enough for sterilising a lot of bottles in one go (time saver!) and the nappy bin is so convenient for locking the nappies away without fussing with fiddle thin bags!
Prices vary but I got the steriliser and all my bottles on offer for £60.00 and the nappy bin for £12.50 both from Kiddicare.
6.Phillips video baby monitor
I don't think I could of managed without a video monitor, it is great to be able to see exactly how they are sleeping, if the covers have fallen off or if there is an arm or leg stuck inbetween a cot bar! I still love this monitor now as it is hilarious to see what she gets up to in her cot when she thinks no one is watching, the talk feature is also great and I love seeing her face wondering where my voice is coming from!
7. Fisher Price Discover N Grow Jumperoo
This is so much fun from around 3-4 months onwards, basically once they can support their own head. It is height adjustable and Karmen was so happy in here bouncing around and exploring all of the toys activities attached. It's the perfect place to put them in whilst you get the chance to do any chores or even just as a hands free break! Prices vary from £74.99 to £109.99
8. Baby shapes Black and White mobile and baby shapes books
The high contrast black and white kept Karmen entertained from newborn and she loved looking at the patterns and shapes and later on the faces. You get 4 books and you progress through them as baby gets older it is so lovely to see their facial expression change as they see different shapes and its a great introduction to books. Even now she loves to look through a book of any kind. I would highly recommend these! Baby Shapes Black and White mobile and books are available from socialbaby.com for £12.49
9. Prince Lionheart Bebepod
The bebepod is basically the Prince Lionheart brand version of a bumbo seat. There are a few options on the market including the Mamas and Papas Baby Snug, I decided to go with this the Prince Lionheart one mainly because it is the only baby seat that has straps underneath and at the back to securely attached it to any chair! This eliminated the need for a highchair until much later than usual and Karmen was able to sit at the table with us from a very young age in the Bebepod.
I opted to purchase the tray as well which comes with a removable toy and 2 removable tray inserts which is great for keeping it clean. I used the bebepod so much and it was definitely an essential item as Karmen liked to sit upright from a young age. The bebepod is priced around £29.99 and the tray is an additional £12.99 Some of the colours you can purchase both as a package, but because I wanted a pink seat I had to buy them separately from Amazon, If you are doing this be sure to buy a bebop flex so that it is adaptable with the tray.
This item was not something I originally had on my baby products list but after it was gifted to me y a family friend it very quickly became one of the best items for Karmen. It is basically a giant inflatable ring with a fabric cover and base with fun things for baby to look and touch on the sides and she spent so much time in there with a variety of toys that I would line up around the edge and it would give her endless amusement pulling each toy into the ring with her. It is great knowing that they are safe in the ring, cannot fall out or bash there head on any sharp edges and it is also great for when the start to want to explore a bit more you can prop them up on the ring on their tummies nicely for a different view of the pictures round the side. This should probably be higher then 10 on my list as I used it everyday without fail and even took it away to a mini break to a caravan where we used it inside and outside for a picnic and some sneaky sunbathing!
This play nest is priced around £19.99 however I have since found out there is a version with an overhead gym attached for about double the price, If only i known this from the beginning!
So there we have my top ten baby items. I could probably compile a new list with updated products for 1 year olds however I will save that for another day.
Hopefully this will help a mum to be or a new mum with some of the decisions you have to make and could even be a great gift list! Don't be afraid to ask any questions about these products I love to elaborate on my experiences with them!
Love Kim xxx
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