Which Products to choose?

Shelley's "2 cents" on baby products out there...

When buying a Cot

Whilst cot-hunting, a few things we looked out for were... the distance between the slats (to make sure a little head couldn't get stuck), a firm mattress that fitted snuggly into the cot, and whether the cot could become a bed! If you are given a second hand mattress, air it outside for a day or two. It's probably best not to put the cot near a window or directly under air conditioning. Also, avoid placing excess bedding and toys in the cot, to prevent suffocation. Pillows are not necessary for a baby. We were advised against using a cot bumper but decided to use one anyway, and just made sure it didn't prevent the flow of air within the cot. Here is a pic of our baby's cot, with bumper included :)

Is a Changing Table Necessary?

Well for me, I couldn't live without mine. It had EVERYTHING my little one needed for a nappy change, or for dressing after a nice, warm bath. When choosing a changing table, we checked for sturdiness (making sure it wouldn't topple over!) and that there was enough counter space for a changing mat, all his toiletries and a small lamp. We placed shelves on the wall and had a storage box on the table which was ideal for storing everything I needed so I didn't have to leave my baby at anytime! (By the way, IKEA does great changing mats with blow-up sides and comfortable, spongy bases (as seen in the pic)
Items you may want to have close by:
cotton wool balls, small bowl for warm water, ear buds, moisturizer, bum cream, powder, diapers, grooming kit, Vaseline, any medicines you may use, lavender oil etc.

What about Accessories?

Sleep Positioner: I'm sure you're heard "Babies mustn't
sleep on their tummy" and "Babies mustn't sleep on their back" By the time our son arrived, we were very confused as to which 'position' he should sleep in. However, as a newbie he was forever coughing up fluid (apparently the water he swallowed coming through the birth canal). We were worried he would choke in his sleep, and decided laying him on his side would probably be best (this is where the Sleep Positioner came in handy). We also elevated his Moses basket. This worked wonders and gave us peace of mind when we went to sleep at night!

Bedding: It totally depends on the climate and which season you're in. But 100% cotton blankets are always a winner. Some blankets have a silky, satin trim or are soft & fluffy. Your baby will develop a preference for the types of textures he/she likes. Our baby hated being swaddled and liked loose blankets which he could move around in. However, he started kicking his blankets off in the middle of his sleep so we decided to use a baby sleeping bag. Such a great invention!

Stuffed Animal Soother: As far as I know, the idea is for baby to be soothed by an object (such as a soft & cuddly toy) which is independent from mommy or daddy and brings them great security when you are not with them. My son has a little bunny which he has his naps & night time sleep with. It also is part of his "Sleep routine". When bunny comes out, he knows it's sleep time!

Itzbeen Timer: We used ours for the first 2 weeks, from the day our son was born. It really helped us keep track of feedings, nappy changes etc. whilst we were trying to establish a routine. It has some pretty nifty features such as a light, a reminder as to which 'side' to feed from next etc.

Mobile: Great Invention! At first our baby hardly noticed it, but as soon as he was a few weeks old it was a wonderful distraction at nappy changing time, and dressing time! These can be hung above the changing table & above the cot. Black & White prints are ideal for the early phase of baby's life.

Baby Monitor: Our son slept in a Moses Basket in our room for the first 5 nights, then I decided we ALL needed to get some sleep and if we kept hearing every little sound he made, we never would! So out he went and into the living room (felt a little closer to us than in his nursery). This worked for us, and also meant we didn't need a baby monitor as we could still hear him when he woke up. Eventually, we moved him into his nursery a few weeks later. We tried using the monitor but felt we would soon go insane if we responded to EVERY little noise, squeak and cough! So out went the monitor and that was the end of that!

Moses Basket: One of those optional extras that not everyone uses,
but looks utterly adorable with a tiny sleeping baby in it! We were given a lovely Moses Basket from Mothercare (Mamas & Papas do great ones too). As a new born, our son seemed lost in his big cot, and as if he knew how big it was, he just wouldn't sleep easily in it. So, for the first 2 or 3 months he slept in the Moses basket, which was very easy to move around the house. It's light as a feather and can be perched on a stand. This was such a blessing to us and we highly recommend it for the first few weeks or months.

Portable Travel Cot: (Also called a Play Pen) Ideal for traveling and nights away from home. During the day it can be used as a secure play area or for a nap. They come in various sizes and their uses are endless!

Creating an Atmosphere for Sleep

Baby Sense & Sleep Sense have such BRILLIANT ideas for creating an atmosphere for sleep. We did a fair amount of research and then adjusted to create our own routine. A softly lit room, curtains with blockout, AC fans switched on, soft clothing, warm bedding and lavender oil drops on the sheets created the right atmosphere for our son to fall asleep. Take the time to discover the atmosphere your baby best falls asleep in. (Oh, and I mustn't forget his pacifier) We had quite a few different brands, but it seems that NUK paci's are his favourite!

When buying a Stroller & Car Seat

There are soooooo many makes out there... where does one start?!?! My hubby and I did a lot of research and looked around at quite a few stores before we made our decision. We knew what we wanted in a stoller, it had to be... sturdy and secure, long lasting, have big tyres for strolling over various terrain, be compact when not in use, fit into the boot of my car, compatible with a carry-cot and the Maxi-Cosi car seat, age-appropriate (NewBorn-Toddler) and it had to look good! So we decided on the Quinny Buzz. The best part for me, was that the various accessories (Car seat & Dreami Cot) all clipped on and off the stroller with the touch of a button! The Quinny Buzz was exactly what we wanted!

Choosing a Baby Bag

Choices, choices!!! Well, the size & type of the bag all depends on what you want to carry in the bag. Are you a minimalist? Or do you take everything but the kitchen sink? For me, I am a minimalist and decided to use a large hand bag that could carry both mine, and the babies 'stuff' all together. Fortunately I was breast feeding and didn't need to carry bottles and formula etc. However, once our baby started eating solids, there was a need for carrying jars of food, bowls, weaning spoons, sippy cups etc. and a proper baby bag was required! A friend of mine had just bought a Lou Harvey Baby Bag and I fell inlove! Problem solved! Items you may wish to carry for your NewBorn:
Changing Mat, Diapers, Wipes, Tissues, Bum Cream, 2x Changes of Clothes, Bib, Burp Cloth, Blanket, Hat, Pacifier, Toy & Breast Pads for yourself if needed!

Bath Time Products

Some prefer a basin, some the kitchen sink, and others an infant bath tub. We used our infant bath tub (on a table in the living room) for the first 2 months. This meant we didn't have to bend over, and everything we needing for bath time was in close reach! We also used a top 'n tail bowl for cleaning the eyes with sterile water & cotton wool bowls. Once our son had outgrown the infant bath tub, we lay him on his back in shallow water, in the big bath. He loved it! He'd splash and kick and shuffle around, always with a big smile on his face! Bath toys are great fun too! Although there are many bath seats available, we never saw the need and I'm glad we didn't purchase one!

For the first 4 weeks, we bathed our baby in warm water with a dash of almond oil, and used a mild, hypo-allergenic shampoo. (We believe baby soaps aren't necessary for the first month). After the bath we applied a fragrance-free baby aqueous cream all over our baby's skin.

Instead of using wipes (which are often full of chemicals) we use warm water & cotton wool to clean baby's bum. We only use wipes when we're not at home.
Wherever possible try to use natural, organic, hypoallergenic products on baby’s skin!

My Favourite Baby Toiletries

Shampoo:
Mustela Foam Shampoo for Newborns (helps with cradle cap)
Himalaya Herbals Gentle Baby Shampoo
Elzabeth Anne's Special Baby Shampoo

Body Wash:
Mustela Stelatopia Cleansing Cream
Himalaya Herbals Gentle Baby Bath
Elizabeth Anne's Moisturizing Babywash & Shampoo

Creams:
Mustela Hydra Bebe Facial Cream
Mustela Stelatopia Emollient Cream (For dry skin with atopic tendency)
Elizabeth Anne's Baby Aqueous Cream

Bum Creams:
Elizabeth Anne's Baby Nappy Rash Cream
Sudocream Antiseptic Healing Cream (For really bad nappy rashes)

Other Favourites:
Elizabeth Anne's lavender & tea tree cornstarch powder
The Body Shop - Divine Calm Lavender Oil
Elizabeth Anne's Creamy Petroleum Jelly (like a vaseline)
Almond Oil (For the bath)
Vitamin E Oil (For cradle cap)
Dettol Instant Hand Sanitizer

Feeding Time Products

Breast Pump: Not all moms use it, but a lot of them do! Whether it's for expressing whilst at work or traveling, to give release to engorged breasts, or for making baby's first cereal... there comes a time when having a breast pump is pretty handy. Although one could probably express by hand or with a manual pump, there's nothing quite like the efficiency of using an electronic breast pump! When it came to choosing which brand to buy... I was advised by my lactation consultant to get the Medela Swing, it's their smallest, lightest & cheapest single electronic pump. (There are, of course, the fabulous double electronic pumps which cost an arm & a leg though). The Medela Swing is easy to clean, quick to pump with and has some great accessories (milk storage bags & bottles etc).

Boppy: AKA The ultimate breast feeding pillow. I had to wait a few weeks to get mine, and when I finally did, it made breast feeding SO much easier for me!
There are quite a few variations on the market. Try them out and see what works for you.

Sterilizer: I have both the Avent Microwave Sterilizer and the Avent IQ24. To be honest, I've never once used the microwave one. The IQ24 is so quick and easy to use, plus it's large enough to sterilize breast pump equipment, teething toys, pacifiers, bottles, sippy cups etc. It also has the ability to keep everything in it sterile for up to 24hours! As there are NO micro waves passing through, the teats and paci's haven't been damaged at all. Infact, they still appear to be brand new. The Avent IQ24 speaks for itself. That said, I haven't tested any of the other brands.

Bottles: One bit of advice which I have learnt from other moms... don't go out and buy an entire range until you've tested the bottle, and the teat size on your baby. Baby's can be pretty picky when it comes to how they want their food served (be it milk in a bottle or food on a spoon). A few popular bottle brands are: Avent, Tommee Tippee, Dr. Browns, and NUK

Weaning Spoons: Who would have thought baby's can have a preference to the type of 'spoon' they eat their cereal off??? This one stumped me! I first tried Annabel Karmal & NUBY weaning spoons, but thankfully I found... MAM and Tommee Tippee weaning spoons! Amazing how cutlery effects their appetite!

Bibs: Depending on whether you have a drooler or not, these could
become your new best friend! I have to take at least 4 bibs WHENEVER I leave the house. Our son dribbles like there's no tomorrow. I found the fabric bibs pretty useless unless they were lined with plastic. Our paediatrician told me that keeping the drool off baby's chin, neck & chest helps prevent nasty rashes and even eczema. Since they can become wet & soggy quite quickly, we always have a stash close by! When it comes to feeding time, we LOVE Tommee Tippee's food catcher bibs! They are big enough to catch all the spills leaving baby's cute outfit underneath sparkly clean! Plus, these plastic bibs are nice & easy to clean! Just wipe & rinse!

Mesh Feeder: A great way to introduce fresh fruits & vegetables without the choking factor! The tiny mesh allows baby to 'munch' on the food and suck out all the juices without any bits coming through.

Bumbo Baby Seat: This little chair has so many uses! From out and about at the beach, to sitting at the table having a meal. It's light weight, easy to carry and very easy to clean. It has no straps or fasteners so my little one feels very comfortable in it. We use the bumbo seat every day to feed our little one his solids. I prefer it to the high chair and will continue to do so until he outgrows it. Such an ideal gift!

Play Time

There are various toys on the market and I'm sure you'll have your own opinions about them. But here are my favourites and why...

Vibrating Bouncy Chair: There isn't a whole lot for newborn babies to do or play with, but this little chair enabled him to be in a semi-reclined position and allowed him to look around the room (rather than just the ceiling). He was always happy in his bouncy chair.

Play Mat/Activity Mat: My little one thoroughly enjoyed lying on his mat and looking up at the interesting toys hanging above him. It's easy to carry and take with to a friend's house, the park etc.

Boppy Pillow: Yes, it has another great use... when my son was learning how to sit on his own, I would place the boppy behind him and it gave him the support he needed, and also acted as a barrier which protected him from falling over!

Rubber Interlocking Floor Mat: Great for creating a specific play area and is warmer for baby than being on the cold floor. The spongy mat is a much softer landing from a fall too!

All baby toys from the Early Learning Center:They have such a wide variety of musical, teething, textured and sensory stimulating toys. They also have fantastic posters for the wall or fridge (farm animals, colours, numbers, alphabet etc.) Colourful, textured books are another favourite!

Blow-up Pool: Something I learned from a Baby Class I attended... full a blow-up pool with various ingredients and allow your child to explore different textures with his fingers and feet. It's excellent for sensory stimulation and is a great way to bond with your little one. Be mindful to stay with your baby at all times and watch that no ingredients go into his little mouth!

Some ideas for ingredients: sago balls, pop corn, pasta shells, flour or dried beans. If you feel more adventurous you could try cooked spaghetti, jelly, bubbles... the ideas are endless!!!

However, at the end of the day, it's all about bonding with your precious gift, and making the most of your time together in fun and creative ways.