What are your must have baby items?

A baby item checklist for a new mum

I'm often asked which things are essentials to buy from friends and family, especially those who are expecting children. Whilst sorting out baby items in an attempt to sort out my house to get it on the market to sell (I need a bigger house for these boys to destroy!) I thought I'd make a list of essential items for new mums and those that aren't essential at all!

When we had Noah, I had an afternoon in Mothercare where it became a little like Supermarket sweep and I bought so many items (some unnecessarily!) Much to my husband's annoyance, some of these items were never used!

Firstly, essential items:

Car seat. Second time round, we bought a Maxi Cosi pebble car seat. Some said it was a bit pricier than others (once you've bought the base too) however, it's perfect and hands down, is the best infant car seat. The head hugger is a perfect fit and adjustable straps are ideal. Baby is always comfortable, safe and happy and the built in hood is a welcome feature to shield from the elements. It's also compatible with a travel system, although we've never used in this way. Friends who use it as part of a travel system seem to really like it too!

Baby slings have been my saviour. Being a mum of a baby and toddler, I often need to be 'hands free' to deal with toddler tantrums and when he decides to sprint like Linford Christie off in the opposite direction! When Isaac was born, we used a Close Caboo and he loved it. Easy to use (you put it on a bit like a t shirt and adjust!) and it was perfect for bonding and snuggles when he was unsettled in the early days. When he was a little older, we changed to a Connecta sling and we love ours and use it almost daily. Perfect and easy to use (with pretty patterns too!) ours has an African animal print, called Zoology! We love it! We're waiting on a Solarweave one for forthcoming holidays, as it has built in UV protection. Both Close Caboos and Connectas are priced at around £60. 

A breast pump. Breast pumps are not made equally! After expressing for Noah for 14 months, I've built up a huge repertoire of breast pumps and breastfeeding paraphernalia. The best one on the market is Medela's Freestyle double electric. It comes with accessories and a bag for storage and is invaluable. Priced at around £300, it's the high end of the price ladder, but there's no comparison to this and the others if tried out. It's in a league of its own!

For little babies, clothing from Next, Debenhams and M&S with built in mits are a necessity. I don't know if it's just my boys, but I ended up with a random assortment of odd mits as they tended to lose them at every opportunity!

Muslin cloths were my go to item with a reflux baby! I've bought so many of them, but my favourites are from M&S and Asda. Both reasonably priced and essential! Either plain or a funky pattern, they're fab and so absorbent!

Gro bags from Gro Company are amazing! Warm, snuggly and safe, with the added feature that you can undo from the bottom for a fuss free nappy change (even in the dark!) I bought a few of these and they wash well too. I think I paid between £20-30 for ours. Worth their weight in gold! 

Lansinoh nipple cream. A wonder product with so many uses. Perfect for sore nipples in the early days and great as a lip balm, for dry skin and as a nappy cream too. Priced at around £10 for a 40ml tube, it's my go to product!

When you're a tired mum and feeling tired from all of your duties as a mum, products to save time such as dry shampoo are a godsend! Batiste dry shampoo is my staple product, ideal for a quick freshen up. I usually buy when it's on offer and stock up!

Estée Lauder double wear foundation is amazing! Even when my skin is looking dull and tired, it conceals what lies beneath. At around £30, a little goes a long way and in the summer, I mix with moisturiser for a lighter look.

Things that I didn't need;

A baby bath! Completely unnecessary, I used a bath seat and inserted that into our big bath. First time round, I used it around 3 times, then it just took up loft space!

When pregnant with Noah, I bought a multitude of baby shoes. Spent a fortune on cute shoes, high tops etc and we'd be lucky if they'd stay on his feet! Little ones don't need shoes at all, buy some funky socks instead! 

Baby mits (see above!) we never managed to keep them on, so use the built in ones in baby gros. 

Cot bumpers. Not only can these be dangerous (as a suffocation hazard) they're just not necessary. I spent a fortune on a matching Winnie the Pooh set (including a bumper, curtains, nappy stacker, blanket, quilt etc) I'll not say how much I spent, otherwise I fear I may be divorced now! 

I wasted a lot of money in those early days of buying products I didn't find useful. What's your favourite and essential item and what did you find unnecessary? 

 

Is he a good baby?

Is he a good baby?

I'm often asked if Isaac is a good baby. What do they mean by the phrase 'a good baby'? Yes, he lets me know when he's tired, when he's hungry, in pain or needs a comforting hug. He's happy, content and has developed a good bond with me, his daddy and big brother; he knows that he's loved.

However, every time this question is asked, this leads to the elusive conversation of 'does he sleep through the night?' In short, no! He wakes regularly to be fed, for comfort and sometimes he's awake early and goes to bed a little later. When did this become a judgement of how good you are as a parent? Aren't there other aspects in the judging criteria of strangers and often, family members? It doesn't appear so!

People are very quick to judge and make many assumptions: thus coming to the conclusion that 'good babies' are those that sleep through the night, and 'bad babies' are those that don't. Babies (and children!) will sleep through when they're developmentally ready. Our toddler doesn't 'sleep through', nor do me or my husband. We once slept for a straight 12 hours on a pre children holiday and that was notably astounding for us. We often reminisce about the days where we'd sleep more soundly!

As we are already the proud owner of an excitable toddler- one who's historically been a little sleep shy and has always had an early wake up time (much to my husband's displeasure!)- we knew what we were getting ourselves in for second time round. We were already exhausted anyway, so when planning to extend our family from one to two children, we thought that we may as well increase our family and keep going on minimal sleep. Insane, possibly? We're hoping to reap the benefits when they're teens and catch up on sleep then.

When we brought Isaac home, for the first week he fed pretty much hourly, 24/7! But then would feed every 1-2 hours during the day and on an evening, would do 5-8 hour stretches. Wow, how I miss those days! The 4 month sleep regression took its toll and Isaac has had a varying sleep/feeding pattern and the recent introduction of solids at 6 months has resulted in a little more wakefulness. In time, I believe he will sleep through, but when he's ready, not when he's manipulated (by imposed methods such as Controlled Crying!)

The ISIS online website gives a good insight into normal sleep development. Interestingly, ISIS States that:

'By the time babies are 3 months old some (but not all) begin to start settling (sleeping through a night-time feed for a stretch of up to 5 hours). By the time they are 5 months old half of them may have started to sleep for an eight-hour stretch on some nights. Generally, though, babies do not sleep all night-every night until they are close to a year old. One study investigating infant sleep duration found that 27% of babies had not regularly slept from 10pm to 6am by the age of 1 year. 13% of babies had not regularly slept through for 5 hours or more by the age of 1 year.' (ISIS website; https://www.isisonline.org.uk/how_babies_sleep/normal_sleep_development/)

Last night was a 'good' night, with only 3 night feeds between 7.30-5.30. However, tonight could be hourly wake ups and whimpering at 5.30am for a hug. That's fine, I'll continue to meet his needs, after all, that's what a 'good mum' does for her 'good baby' (whatever that actually is...)

So when you see me and comment that I look 'tired/exhausted/about to keel over/need some pampering/look like I need a decent night of sleep' do me a favour, make me a coffee and get the cake and biscuits out; I'm doing what I know is best for my boys, after all, I am the expert in them!

Tiffany Rose Review

Tiffany Rose Alicia Nursing dress

Trying to find comfortable and pretty clothes to breastfeed in is a challenge! Something that's beautiful, well cut and flattering, I thought almost impossible! After searching the high street and finding a few maxi dresses or jersey wrap dresses, I found that these were mainly general day wear and I couldn't find anything suitable for an occasion. I had 2 weddings to attend and a family photoshoot planned. I was becoming a little anxious. After speaking to a fellow blogger (Monkeyfootedmummy) I was introduced to Tiffany Rose.

A UK based company, everything on their website is either suitable for maternity, nursing or both.

I sent a quick email to enquire about their range of nursing dresses and received the best customer service. Prompt, responsive, helpful emails regarding the cut and fit of their dresses, colours, fit and length. Being petite, I often find it to be a challenge shopping online for dresses, but their size guide made it really simple and recommendations were made by Tiffany Rose staff. After browsing their range, I opted for a simple, beautifully cut Eclipse blue Alicia Nursing Dress. Their customer service is the best I've ever received from an online company (and I shop a lot online!)

The Alicia dress is well cut and compliments the frame and figure of a new mum. It includes a panel for nursing. The dress is comfortable to wear and has a beautiful 'swish' effect when you walk. The fabric hangs well and I received lots of compliments on the dress.

http://www.tiffanyrose.com/maternity/clothing/ALINDE/Alicia-Nursing-Dress-Eclipse-Blue.html

Priced at £99, the dress is on the higher end of the budget for new mums, but it's a perfect dress for many occasions and can be accessorised differently each time to create new looks; it's a fab investment piece! It also comes in a beautiful red colour.

There are plans for further nursing dresses in the range and I'll be keen to try those out too! I'd love to see some pretty florals for spring and perhaps some Jersey type dresses for day wear in pretty styles. It's been such a challenge finding a suitable dress, but I'm so glad that I was introduced to Tiffany Rose! 

Bling, a band and an overjoyed auntie!

After months of secret planning, alongside my mam and Gary. Auntie Cathy's party was taking shape; that morning we dressed the room in purple so that it was fit for a queen! Pretty table centres in tall vases, rose petals, banners, sweetie jars with favours, a bit of bling here and there! No less for my favourite auntie! It follows my motto of, "If you're going to do something, overdo it!"

Keeping it a secret had been a challenge, she's like Miss Marple and wants to know the ins and outs of everything! However we pulled it off and I've no idea how. Gary must be glad that he's no longer got to be so secretive! 

Seeing her walk into the room and the look of shock and overwhelming joy was incredible. I mean, she's only been celebrating for the last month with weekends away, meals and nights out, but she didn't anticipate this at all. She'd even commented that she was glad all of the celebrations were over...

The entertainment for the evening was provided by The Waiters. A fab band, gaining stature and a reputation for good music. Young and energetic, with a good repertoire of songs, they were guaranteed to have the crowd up dancing. With songs spanning over the decades, they were a hit with everyone in the room and with being fresh from the Metro Radio Live gig; there was a lovely buzz around the room about them. Although they're due to hit the big time, they seem very grounded and down to earth. A fab night had by all!

Should I breastfeed my baby in public?

This week, our media in the UK has been dominated by a story of a breastfeeding mum who was asked to use a napkin in order to feed in a discrete manner in Claridge's. From the images I've seen, this mum was more discrete whilst not using a cover. 

I feed my child in public, anywhere and everywhere; public transport, restaurants, baby groups, the homes of friends and family, the list is endless. My baby is a frequent feeder and at 5 months, this is his only sustenance. He is thriving on my milk and I'll continue to feed him when he needs it. I never cover my child, I tried in the early days, but he'd fuss, pull it off and refuse to feed. I will not be dictated to about the manner or the places that I should feed.

When I first had Isaac, I was incredibly self conscious and used to seek out very quiet places to feed. However, with a toddler in tow, this was somewhat problematic. I tried out a few feeding rooms, but these were often situated alongside changing units and were smelly and unhygienic! Now, I tend to find a comfy seat or a cafe to feed. 

Today, I've viewed an article in The Sun Newspaper. The article discussed the mum feeding in Claridge's and made references to this incident, suggesting that breastfeeding is like urinating, that you should do it in private. NO! Mums are more than capable of feeding in a discrete manner, therefore they can feed whenever, wherever! Breastfeeding is NOT like urinating. Breastfeeding is simply the act of sustaining your child with breastmilk, whereas urinating is removing a toxic substance from the body.

I now suggest that whoever penned this absolute nonsense at The Sun should take their lunch, set up in the loo and enjoy! In the meantime, I'll continue to feed my baby discretely regardless of where I am!

Prima Baby Awards 2015

At one month after Isaac's operation, he was healing well (despite a few episodes of bleeding from his cleft side nostril due to Row, Row, Row your boat related incidents with his big brother!) 

We were invited down to London for the day to visit the Prima Baby office and judge at the prestigious Prima Baby Awards. I was excited and did lots of research on the categories we'd been allocated for our day of judging! 

Excitedly, with a skinny latte in hand and Isaac in my Connecta sling, I travelled from Newcastle down to Kings Cross on the 7.04 direct Flying Scotsman service. Isaac slept and fed most of the journey. It was trouble free and I was able to continue to glance over my product notes and relax. It's an odd feeling not having a toddler in tow, I continually looked around frantically looking for Little Mr Energetic; anticipating a chat about diggers and trucks! I've got to admit, the silence was bliss! (Sorry to my husband being left with aforementioned toddler...)

When we arrived at Kings Cross, we were greeted by one of the writers, Alison and travelled over to the office by car. Arriving at the office was quite overwhelming. I'd spoken to Alex, the deputy editor on phone a few times and it felt like I was meeting a friend. The other judges had arrived and began to look through and discuss the products.

We met the other judges, several known names in the baby world and a few readers of the magazine who'd applied and been selected. Such a lovely bunch! The day passed by with a vast array of baby paraphernalia to be put to the test (unfortunately I'll not be revealing any spoilers, but I assure you, there were so many wonderful products put through their paces!) I'm hoping to do some review writing on my blog about some of these lovely products after Christmas. 

After a long day of reviewing. I was invited to choose some products to take home! Wow, so many beautiful things to choose from! With a couple of additional bags to carry, I was set for my return journey home and informed that some additional products for judging would be sent out to me in order to give further feedback on! I love a freebie! 

A delayed train and a tired baby weren't a good combination for the journey home! Isaac eventually relaxed and cluster fed for the majority of the journey home, with a few breaks to nap. 

We had an amazing day and it was an honour to be there! I now have a wish list of products that I NEED! A big thanks to Prima Baby and Pregnancy Magazine for inviting me along!

Connecta Baby Carrier

I'd been seeking out a new sling and researching thoroughly. After using a stretchy Close Caboo from birth, I wanted a more structured carrier which had buckles to support my growing boy. After searching online, I came across Connecta, they appeared to have a good standing in the world of Baby-wearing and with their vast waiting lists, they're very popular!

I'd fallen in love with the print of Zoology after seeing some local mums carrying their babies. I'm fairly new to babywearing, but I know a pretty print when I see one! We love African animals in our house, you could say that we're obsessed (we honeymooned in Kenya and are keen visitors to zoos in the UK!)

The print is beautiful and bright. As soon as it arrived, I couldn't resist testing it out. After reading the simple instructions, I chose a basic front carry. Isaac was snug and settled and I'm sure it had magic sleepy dust packaged with it, as he fell asleep almost instantly! Even my toddler, Noah had to have a turn. Although it's baby sized (toddler ones are available too) he's still petite and fit perfectly. I've not attempted a back carry yet, but will be trying this out in the future. It would be a good investment and a fantastic gift for new parents.

Whilst wearing the Connecta, I'm able to do jobs around the house, tend to both boys and multitask. It makes life so much easier.

The carrier is well made, with fantastic and accurate stitching and is quick and easy to put on. I think I'll be investing in some different designs too. I've also been researching the Solarweave; a fantastic carrier for sunshine holidays, as it has UV protection and is lightweight.

Connecta integras are priced from £62 and available from www.connectababycarrier.com/product-category/connecta-integra/in-stock/