My top 10 best baby buys
There are so many lists you can find on the net with recommendations on what to buy for your baby. I didn't buy a lot in advance with my first child, we went with the flow and learnt and bought when we needed something. In the first few months, you hardly need anything, especially if you are breastfeeding. Ok, there are a few essentials you need; a place to sleep for the baby, a place to change diapers, a stroller or a carrier. A car seat is handy and some cloths. We are lucky to live in a warm climate, so we don't need much clothes except for a lot of onesies. Learning from the first, we also did a few things different with my 2nd girl. I realise every family and every child are different, so read and see what is out there and try what works for you. Here are my suggestions:
Bath tub stand
The bath tub itself isn't anything special, but the stand is great. In our first house we didn't have a bath and a small sink so we would put the bath tub on the stand in our shower. We could easily fill it by using the shower hose and also empty it again in the shower. And as you don't have to bend over to wash your baby, it is good for your back too.
The bath tub itself isn't anything special, but the stand is great. In our first house we didn't have a bath and a small sink so we would put the bath tub on the stand in our shower. We could easily fill it by using the shower hose and also empty it again in the shower. And as you don't have to bend over to wash your baby, it is good for your back too.
Bib
When you start to feed your baby solid food, buy a plastic bib that you can re-use again. Mine is a Roll n Go bib from Tommy Tippee. It is soft, flexible and you can roll it up. I have tried different ones before I bought this one, but they all woudn't last. I only have one bib and have been using it for years, great quality for money.
When you start to feed your baby solid food, buy a plastic bib that you can re-use again. Mine is a Roll n Go bib from Tommy Tippee. It is soft, flexible and you can roll it up. I have tried different ones before I bought this one, but they all woudn't last. I only have one bib and have been using it for years, great quality for money.
Buggy board
This buggy board can be attached to your stroller so your oldest child can stand on it while your youngest sits in the stroller. This saves you from buying a double stroller. My oldest daughter is old enough to walk on her own but we still decided it would be handy to by the buggy board as she is a bit of a wanderer, takes her time and goes left when I want to go right. There are a few different types of buggy boards in the market but the Lascal buggy board maxi was the only one that would fit on my stroller (and pretty much all other stollers).
This buggy board can be attached to your stroller so your oldest child can stand on it while your youngest sits in the stroller. This saves you from buying a double stroller. My oldest daughter is old enough to walk on her own but we still decided it would be handy to by the buggy board as she is a bit of a wanderer, takes her time and goes left when I want to go right. There are a few different types of buggy boards in the market but the Lascal buggy board maxi was the only one that would fit on my stroller (and pretty much all other stollers).
Dummy clip
I am not going to add to the discussion if you need to give your child a dummy or not, that is up to each parent. But if you give them one, make sure you also buy a dummy clip. That way you won't loose your child's dummy and when the babies are older they can also grab it and settle themselves.
They come in all different sizes and materials, you could even make one with some ribbon or beads.
I am not going to add to the discussion if you need to give your child a dummy or not, that is up to each parent. But if you give them one, make sure you also buy a dummy clip. That way you won't loose your child's dummy and when the babies are older they can also grab it and settle themselves.
They come in all different sizes and materials, you could even make one with some ribbon or beads.
Ice cub tray
You might think an ice cub tray? Yes, an ice cube tray. I use it a lot, not for ice cubes but I fill it with baby food. After having boiled and mashed my fruit and veggies, I put it in the ice cube tray and store it in the freezer. Around 5-6 months you can start to give your baby little bits of solid food. You can prepare different trays in advance and when it is feeding time you just have to pop a few cubes out of the freezer and warm it up. Start with one cube and slowly give your baby more.
You might think an ice cub tray? Yes, an ice cube tray. I use it a lot, not for ice cubes but I fill it with baby food. After having boiled and mashed my fruit and veggies, I put it in the ice cube tray and store it in the freezer. Around 5-6 months you can start to give your baby little bits of solid food. You can prepare different trays in advance and when it is feeding time you just have to pop a few cubes out of the freezer and warm it up. Start with one cube and slowly give your baby more.
Light high chair
I absolutely love my Bloom high chair and wouldn't give it away. But it is a bit heavy and not easy to move around the house. With the 2nd one coming we decided to buy a simple, cheap extra high chair. We bought one at IKEA and I am really glad we did. I move it around the house all the time, especially to the kitchen for when I am cooking or doing the dishes.
I absolutely love my Bloom high chair and wouldn't give it away. But it is a bit heavy and not easy to move around the house. With the 2nd one coming we decided to buy a simple, cheap extra high chair. We bought one at IKEA and I am really glad we did. I move it around the house all the time, especially to the kitchen for when I am cooking or doing the dishes.
Micro wave bottle steriliser
With my first daughter I sterilised my bottles with a boiling pan, nothing wrong with it. Only that with my baby brain I occasionally forgot that I had a pan on the stove, which I then found again an hour later all black and with no water in it. So after doing that again with my second baby, I started to look for alternatives and decided on a bottle steriliser that you can put in the microwave. I am so happy with it, and should have bought it way earlier. You put your bottles in the steriliser, fill it with water, and put it in the microwave for 4 minutes. I have one from BEABA.
With my first daughter I sterilised my bottles with a boiling pan, nothing wrong with it. Only that with my baby brain I occasionally forgot that I had a pan on the stove, which I then found again an hour later all black and with no water in it. So after doing that again with my second baby, I started to look for alternatives and decided on a bottle steriliser that you can put in the microwave. I am so happy with it, and should have bought it way earlier. You put your bottles in the steriliser, fill it with water, and put it in the microwave for 4 minutes. I have one from BEABA.
Play pen
We didn't have a play pen with my first. But when my friend had one for sale when I was pregnant with my 2nd, I bought it as I thought it might be handy. And it is! This is the one place where my youngest is safe. The best thing about it is that my oldest daughter can't get in and can't touch the baby when she is in the play pen. So this is the place that I put her in when I need to go to the toilet or take a shower. Maybe not a must have with a first baby as you can buy a few rubber mats for your baby to play on, but more so when you have 2 or more kids.
We didn't have a play pen with my first. But when my friend had one for sale when I was pregnant with my 2nd, I bought it as I thought it might be handy. And it is! This is the one place where my youngest is safe. The best thing about it is that my oldest daughter can't get in and can't touch the baby when she is in the play pen. So this is the place that I put her in when I need to go to the toilet or take a shower. Maybe not a must have with a first baby as you can buy a few rubber mats for your baby to play on, but more so when you have 2 or more kids.
Swaddle blanket
Both my girls loved to be swaddled the first few months of their lives. We used swaddle wraps for it. We prefered a big blanket which was not too strechted, otherwise they would be able to move themselves out of it.
Both my girls loved to be swaddled the first few months of their lives. We used swaddle wraps for it. We prefered a big blanket which was not too strechted, otherwise they would be able to move themselves out of it.
Travel potty
This is not really a baby product, but it is one of my favourite items I bought for my girls. When potty training a toddler, these come in very handy. When you are potty training and your child tells you they need to go, they probably need to go now! If you are on the road or can't find a toilet quick enough, you can just unfold your potty, put a special bag in it, as off they go. The side handles can also be folded open, so you will have a small toilet seat to put on a normal toilet. This is great if you are in a place when the toilets are dirty.
This is not really a baby product, but it is one of my favourite items I bought for my girls. When potty training a toddler, these come in very handy. When you are potty training and your child tells you they need to go, they probably need to go now! If you are on the road or can't find a toilet quick enough, you can just unfold your potty, put a special bag in it, as off they go. The side handles can also be folded open, so you will have a small toilet seat to put on a normal toilet. This is great if you are in a place when the toilets are dirty.