It’s been almost nine years since the birth of my first child and to date the best piece of advice I’ve been given on parenting is “you know what’s best for your child”. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with the opinions of others in the newborn stage so finding your own way and doing what you feel is best for you, your baby and your family is all that matters. And while it can feel lonely and scary to block out the noise, thankfully there are now lots of useful products out there to help you along your way. Here are ten of mine that have really helped in the newborn to six months stage… Doona car seat Picture this – a mother, six weeks postpartum and still very tender or, as I felt after the birth of my second child, “like all my internal organs are going to fall out”. What you really need is anything that helps lighten the load. Cue Doona, which has been such a Godsend with my most recent 8lb baby. No more lifting the car seat onto the pram base repeatedly when I just want to pop into a friend’s house from the car. No more lugging the entire travel system into the boot just to go to the supermarket for a few bits. A car seat with wheels – why did we not think of this sooner?! The latest in the range is the Doona i (£399) with improved head and neck protection among other beneficial features. Since using Doona, I keep seeing them everywhere and that’s because when a product is this good, word spreads fast! Ewan Dream Sheep If you’d have told me in my 20s that by 40 I’d have had enough Ewan Dream Sheep (from £29.99) to start my own flock, I wouldn’t have believed you. There’s something about this sheep that just works and almost a decade on it’s got even better. Welcome changes I’ve noted are that within the sound options is a combined shushing and heartbeat which I believe really tricks newborns into thinking they are still in the womb and therefore mellows them right out. I also love that the sheep’s innards (i.e. the battery powered bits) can all be removed (this wasn’t the case back in 2015) so you can actually wash the sheep and go again. No need to buy a flock anymore! One will do the job nicely. Misty the Cloud The makers of my beloved Ewan (see above) have branched out and launched Misty the Cloud (£29.99) – a nursery thermometer, sleep inducing light show, sleep trainer, and aesthetically pleasing little squishy cloud. Great for night feeds, it seems to send my baby into a peaceful slumber when he stares at it. I also love that it has a thermometer that doesn’t frighten me. If you’ve ever had a GroEgg you’ll know the sight of a red sad face induces panic into even the calmest of parents. Misty simply tells you the temperature without any judgement! Cuddledry hands free bath towel Every baby I’ve had has loved bath time but detested getting out. This Cuddledry handsfree bath towel (£34.99) minimises those enraged screams. Simply bundle them up to your body in less time than it takes for your newborn to scream “why am I naked and cold and where is the milk?” Snoozeshade You learn a lot as a new parent, and the dangers of covering the pram with a wrap, blanket, or plastic cover in a bid to shade or cover the baby is one of the most important. Covering a pram or pushchair in this way can reduce airflow and dramatically increase the temperature. This is where Snoozeshade (£24) comes in. Designed for the purpose of shading and protecting baby from the sun, I wouldn’t be without one of these now. SnoozeShade Original (for newborn-6/9 months) blocks 99% of UV and is compatible with any single-width pram or travel system with a hood including the aforementioned much-loved Doona car seat! HotTea Mama I was sceptical of this range because I didn’t think tea could do much other than taste nice. It was when I tried the HotTea Mama Night Owl tea (£6) that my opinion changed literally overnight. We all know that sleep is limited when you have a newborn so you want to ensure the little sleep you do have is quality. This caffeine free, herbal tea sent me into the deepest of sleeps right when I needed it most. HotTea Mama makes a range of teas to support better periods, pregnancy, motherhood and menopause and are a staple in my cupboard now. Korbell Nappy Bin I’ve tried a few nappy bins and been moderately happy with what they do i.e. save you from having to take every mustard coloured poo explosion out to the wheelie bin, but this one takes it up a notch with the handsfree slimline design and massive storage capacity. I still can’t believe how many nappies the Korbell nappy bin (£55) can hold without any escaping foul odours whatsoever. Crane 4-in-1 Humidifier with Sound Machine Stuffy, snotty noses, asthma, eczema and allergies have been the bane of my life since having kids – we’re just that type of family unfortunately. Yet I’d never considered a humidifier before. The Crane humidifier (£74.95) is a 4 in 1 so great value for money. As well as clean, moist air, you also get a choice of white noise, colourful lighting and an aroma tray for lovely smells if you wish. I’ve found it to be so useful for when my baby is congested but it also helps prevent my 5 year old’s recurrent nose bleeds caused by dry air. Yoto Player This one is for those of us who have older kids as well as a newborn. Yoto (£89.99) was something I gifted to my older boys (aged 5 and 8) because a) I knew they would enjoy it and b) it would help rid me of mum guilt! Yoto is a really funky looking screen-free audio player. Kids can control it themselves and play stories, music and also Yoto Daily – a mini podcast for kids brought to you by the people at uk.yotoplay.com . So when you’re struggling to read bedtime stories with a newborn strapped to you, it’s great to have Yoto there to help. My kids listen to it now as part of their evening routine and it’s really lovely to see. And finally, a decent coffee machine because… you’ll need it! Happy parents equals happy baby so why not treat yourself to a useful and necessary purchase? For us, a decent coffee machine helps us through the morning after an awful night. We got the Beem espresso machine that’s been a great dupe for the coveted Sage coffee machine and looks the part in the kitchen too. To date, it’s out of stock everywhere but the good news is you can currently pick up the De’Longhi EC260.CR Stilosa Espresso Coffee Machine – a great brand with rave reviews at the bargain price of just £107 from Argos.
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