These are ten things we bought for our babies and which have made our lives so much easier! I would definitely recommend all of these:1. Nature's Nest (Amby Baby) Hammock (http://www.ambyhammock.co.uk/). In stead of a crib or moses basket we use this for the first 6 months at least. It doesn't need a lot of space, baby is lovely and cosy in it so you don't necessarily need to swaddle, it prevents a flat head and baby can't wriggle to the bottom because of its shape, it is easy to rock and the natural movements send baby to sleep. It is also really easy to pack up and take away on holiday. We have taken ours on the plane to Holland!
2. Sleepy Wrap (http://www.sleepywrap.com/). This is a baby sling which is easy on your back and shoulders. Unlike a lot of other slings the baby can be carried in it from birth and for an unlimited time. Great if your baby is colicy as being upright a lot helps. Great for doing housework and holding the baby at the same time. You can even breastfeed the wee one discreetly while walking about! I've done it :-)
3. Bandana Bibs (http://www.bandana-bibs.co.uk/). If you don't want to spoil your baby's lovely outfit with a bib, this is the answer! Loads of different colours and designs and very trendy, they look more like scarfs than bibs. Have had lots of positive comments from people when my wee one has been wearing one.
4. Pop-in dream-dri real nappies (birth to potty) by close parent. Must be the quickest drying nappies ever, easy to put on and easy to wash. No complaints! I love not having to spend loads of money on disposable nappies. They're so expensive!
5. Portable pocket highchair or also called a chair harness. It folds up into a tiny bag which I always carry with me. It has come in handy loads of times when I have been to places where there was no highchair available. We got ours cheap on ebay.
6. A Playpen! Everyone in Holland uses one (at least... those with children :-) We got a beautiful wooden one from a company in Austria via the internet as in Britian you don't seem to be able to buy ones which are height adjustable. You need this so that when the baby is small you don't have to bend right over to get her out. I used ours to keep our toddler safe when I was busy with the baby or to keep the baby safe from the toddler :-). Ours is on wheels as well which is ideal, I move it near the table when we're at dinner or near the sofa when I'm relaxing.
7. Widgey Breastfeeding Pillow. We got ours from John Lewis. Makes breastfeeding a lot easier especially if you want to have both hands free! Using one of these means you can feed and eat your dinner with knife and fork at the same time, use the laptop or even knit! I have knitted a wee hat for my baby while feeding! Also the widgey can be used to support baby when she is learning to sit.
8. Tummy Tub! Takes all the hassle out of bathing your newborn! It's just like a see-through bucket specially designed for babies (although it's an awful lot more expensive than a bucket, price is a bit of a rip-off). Baby can sit in it with water up to its shoulders so she stays nice and warm and you only have to support her chin so she doesn't swallow any water. Love it! As far as I know you can only get them in John Lewis or on the internet. (Dutch invention by the way :-)
9. These books: 'What To Expect When You're Expecting' and 'What To Expect The First Year'. First one great for pregnancy, second one has lots of info about baby's development month by month, weaning etc. Also your questions answered about different childhood illnesses and symptoms, how to deal with nappy rash and much more. I have frequently consulted these books and found them really helpful to have in the house.
10. The Unbelievabowl. It has a stand with suction pad which attaches to the highchair table in the same way as a sat nav does to your windscreen. The bowl can be clicked on to it and however determined your toddler, it cannot be moved! Very handy.
.....And what *NOT* to get:
1. Oven Door Guard. The one that you attach with suction pads. Worse buy ever! We thought we needed one so the toddler wouldn't burn his wee fingers on the outside of the oven. The oven guard is nothing but a sheet of thick plastic with 4 suction pads attached. I tried for hours to get it stuck to the oven, I read on the internet exactly how to do it, but I utterly failed to get all 4 pads attached to the oven. I managed three at most. And then of course the toddler comes and decides to investigate this interesting looking thing, prises his wee fingers behind it and manages to wreck it (one suction pad totally came off) Waste of 20 quid!
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