Being a first time mum myself to my daughter Erin, I know it can be overwhelming when deciding what you need and what you don’t! Here are a mixture of key products I never thought of buying prior to having Erin but on reflection these are must have essentials for any new parent.
When travelling in the car with your little one after of course buying your car seat, the two essential items I found helped with longer journeys were a view mirror and sunshades. By only having to look up, the mirror gave me the reassurance Erin was secure and the sunshades took away any sun rays that could wake her up. After all, we all know that it’s better to have a calm and tranquil car journey than a noisy unsettled one. As well as the obvious pushchair, a baby carrier is also a good idea and is a god send for colicky babies.
Pram toys such as activity books or toy bars with multi use were ideal when Erin needed more to keep her occupied whilst being pushed around or in a carrycot. When the toys are securely attached to the bar you have peace of mind that your child is entertained and that their brain is active. It also gives you more time to shop and have a coffee etc!
With regards to baby health the nappy waste bins are a must. They don’t only contain the waste securely but you can also buy scented liners to mask any stronger smells. They aren’t very big so after a day will need to be changed but are very practical and small enough for any nursery space. Keeping in line with the baby health theme, a nasal decongester is ideal as believe it or not it is quite difficult to ask a newborn to blow their nose! This item was certainly not something I would not have thought about on my shopping list prior to Erin’s arrival.
Other items such as a thermometer, nail clippers and baby kits are also great essentials for first time mums. Baby monitors either audio or visual are a must and I would say added features of a nightlight and spotlight show were ideal for Erin. It made her calm and was soothing to fall asleep to at both nap time and bedtime. If you like to travel like we do, a travel cot is essential but always remember to buy a separate mattress – this is a life saver! It gives a real home from home feel for baby and that means a great night sleep even if you are all in one room.
Another essential is a safety gate. As soon as your little one starts crawling you will have the added security that home is a safe place and can let them safely explore everything around them. In addition to the feeding essentials, a feeding pillow is also great for first time mums as nobody likes achy arms!
The final items are a play gym, rocker and bath seat. Play gyms or rockers are ideal for when they are newborn as they are unable to move. It is also great for when you want a moment to yourself to drink that well overdue tea or coffee. A bath seat is great as this way both mum and dad can play with baby. It’s an interactive way for baby to become relaxed in water as they feel they are in control and have some freedom with their feet and hands but at the same time are secure. However, there is always one important thing to remember- NEVER leave a child unattended in water.
