I have been reflecting on when the kiddies were babies a lot lately. A combination of them seemingly as tall as me and lots of people I know are having or have recently had babies. It has got me reminiscing. I always wondered what advice would be beneficial to a new Mum, that I would have benefited from myself 12 years ago. So, here’s my top 5 must have list for your baby.
It’s OK to bottle feed!
I remember spending weeks in physical pain and mental pain when Noah was a baby. Trying to get him to feed, trying to do it right and he just didn’t get it. We didn’t work together. I kept beating myself up about it and I remember the midwife telling me that it was OK not to breast feed. That bottle feeding was OK and not to be upset about it. Find the right formula was quite an investigation; I knew I wanted quality formula like Holle formula. It does pay to have a look around; find out what your new Mummy friends are using.
Basic essential baby clothes
Because your baby will grow out of their clothes sooner or later, be sure not to overdo it and buy too many pieces. Cover the essentials, especially everyday wear, special occasions, and weather-friendly ones. Babies are more sensitive to extreme temperatures. Be sure to have warm overalls, bonnets, and thick socks for babies for cold days, along with breathable shirts, sleeveless tops, and comfy shorts for warm days.
Maternity pillow
This was invaluable for me; I used it every day and every night. I used this kind of maternity pillow for the day time, when feeding the babies – it created a nice, cosy, environment. I would then use it to sleep at night as my hips and tummy were quite painful after birth. (I suffered with sore hips during pregnancy). It is really a nice to have on a list for your baby (and you), but I absolutely loved it.
Plenty of muslins
Nobody prepped me for the copious amounts of muslin clothes I would go through each day, I would recommend stocking up on these so that you do not have to do a lot of washing each day to keep on top of it. Have a selection too; cheaper ones for when you are home, fancy muslins for when you go out! They are perfect for cleaning up baby milk or cleaning around your baby’s mouth after feeds. I used them on the changing mats too as it was sometimes cold on the mat, it offered a warmer surface for the little ones to lie on. But that obviously comes with some risk! If they go to the toilet on the mat!
Paperwhite Kindle
This would have been an absolute dream to have when the kids were babies. The times when you need to settle them off to sleep, even up until the point Isla was 3, I was having to sit with her whilst she fell asleep. A Paperwhite Kindle has a soft backlight meaning you can read in the dark and it isn’t a harsh light for you or baby. They are safe from water splash too; I read mine in the bath and so perfect for when you have small toddlers around too. Being able to do something, like read a book, when I was feeding in the night would have been ideal.
Get a reusable mug
Now this might sound like a silly idea; however, hear me out. I do not think I had a hot coffee or tea when the babies were young, in fact I think that only changed recently! If I had of had a reusable mug that I could make my hot drink in, that would have been perfect. Whenever those moments occur and you need to put your drink down, it would stay warm! Trust me, you will get used to being interrupted. But it is a nice interruption. I would take the mug of tea up to bed with me too for the night feeds, having a warm drink in the early hours would have been perfect.
I would love to know what you think of my list for your baby in the comments below or if you can add something you found useful when your children were newborn/babies. Don’t forget to check out my other posts that will be helpful to new mothers too.
