WHETHER you’re a first-time parent or onto your third or fourth child, there’s no denying those early days with a newborn are hard work.
And with seemingly endless new products on the market, it’s a minefield to know which items you really need – and which you can live without.
Breast pumps, pushchairs, baby bouncers and toys can all help make your life a little easier – but there’s almost too many options to choose from.
So we’ve done the hard work and whittled down the ultimate list of ‘hero’ products which will see you through pregnancy, the early days – and beyond.
PREGNANCY
As you progress in pregnancy, it will become abundantly clear why so many celebs and influencers show off their ‘pregnancy pillows’ online. Sleep suddenly becomes very uncomfortable as your bump grows and a pillow is a necessity to get through the nights.
Cushy Puff pillows look fab and are loved by parenting influencers, while a BBhugme pillow, £159, is also worth the money as it will see you through nine months of pregnancy – and then serve you for night feeds for at least the first six to 12 months of your baby’s life.
ON THE MOVE
Once baby comes along, you’ll only want the best for your little one. But there’s really no need for half the products on the market.
One item you’ll be thankful for though is a decent pram and the Joolz Aer² is up there with the best of the best. It’s easy, lightweight, will last years and can be folded so small it will fit in a plane cabin for easy travels.
For a bundle, Ickle Bubba’s Stomp Luxe is suitable from birth to 22kg and the 12-piece set costs from £499 – not bad at all considering it includes a car seat, pushchair, carrycot and all the accessories. Make sure you get your hands on a Rockit baby rocker too – they can be picked up new or second-hand so you can park up at a cafe and enjoy a hot coffee in peace.
For something a bit different, you could try the Doona Liki trike – £199 and suitable for 10-36months – which flips from ‘parent push mode’ into ‘trike and bike’ modes to give little ones a feeling of independence as they grow.
At home, a Totter & Tumble mat, from £90, is a worthy investment. With its squishy base, it’s perfect for laying your baby on – plus it looks stylish. It will also grow with them – it’s just as useful for sitting and playing on at five-years-old as it is for a newborn. For a cheaper alternative try Infantino’s Foldable Soft Foam Playmat, £34.99 on Amazon.
NEWBORN DAYS
The days are long, but the years are short – so the saying goes. To make those days a little easier, there’s a few items that will help give you a minuscule slice of freedom.
A decent baby carrier will allow you some hands-free time – carriers come down to personal preference but you can’t go wrong with a BabyBjörn Harmony 3D Mesh, FlyBaby 3D Knit or Osprey Poco Carrier. Meanwhile Infantino’s offerings are great value – the Flip Advanced 4-in-1 Luxe is just £39.99, while the new Honey Blossom, £59.99, can carry from newborn through to 18.1kg.
Similarly, a baby ‘seat’ like Mamas & Papas Bug 3-in-1, £65, or the classic BabyBjörn Bouncer will let you put your little one down safely while you potter around. Another option is a DockATot lounger – and it looks chic with limited edition prints and colours to choose from.
For feeding, Medela is a brand leader for a reason and its new Freestyle Mini is lightweight and easy-to-use. It’s so small it can fit into a pocket – making it perfect for on-the-go.
When it comes to changing bags – take a look at Tiba & Marl, Finnson or Raf & Grace for style – life will be a lot easier if you routinely keep them topped up with nappies (supermarket own or Pura), baby wipes (Waterwipes, Mo & Marine or Boots’ own brand are super gentle) and muslins (Princess Kate is said to have loved aden + anais).
You also can’t go wrong having a teether on hand – try Jollein silicone keychain – and a sound machine for those newborns who need white noise. Sweet Dreamers’ Luna Dream Machine, £23.99, easily attaches to the pram.
For a one-stop shop to prepare for a newborn – Baby Elegance, a family-run nursery brand, offers over 600 products from the Mash High Chair to the affordable Starlight cot – and nursing pillows from just £17.
SLEEP SLEEP SLEEP
Sleeping can be so divisive with little ones – either you’re fed up of hearing others’ boasting about ‘sleeping through the night’ while you’re a zombie or you’re quietly revelling in long stretches and hoping it’ll last.
Whatever your situation, there’s a few key items you’ll come to rely on. First up is a decent baby monitor – the Hubble GoBaby, £80 from Argos, has 5.0″ Smart 2K QHD video, built-in night vision and even sends you alerts when the baby rolls over.
The Chillax Candle DM568 5″ monitor is applauded by parents for being easy to use, delivers ultra-clear video, automatic night vision and allows you to disable WiFi when you want offline monitoring.
For ultra high-tech, the Nanit is one of the smartest monitors you can get – and even returns incredibly in-depth personalised sleep analytics for your little one.
To help unwind with the bedtime routine, Lumie’s Disney Willow range of lamps are beautiful and come with science-backed, sleep-optimised calming features, while a Rockit Rising Star nightlight will help toddlers learn about bedtime with its ‘traffic light’ sleep system.
For sleepwear, Ergopouch has a huge range of tried & tested swaddle suits (said to be loved by Molly Mae), sleeping bags and blackout blinds, while Sleeping Stars offers super cosy organic cotton baby sleeping bags and toddler sleep suits with built-in fold-over feet and anti-slip soles.
For those who like to cuddle up with a teddy – try a Ewan the Dream Sheep Snuggly or Baa Baa Blankie.
PLAY
Toys, toys and more toys. You can quickly accumulate toys galore – but there’s a few items that are worth investing in or sticking on a Christmas list. Magnatiles are a sound investment and can keep little ones entertained for hours. Choose the larger size for at home, or the handy travel sets for on-the-move.
Similarly, a Yoto player (and matching accessories) is great for solo winding down time, screen-free entertaining or handy for a long car journey. With collections ranging from The Gruffalo and Paw Patrol to K-Pop Demon Hunters, there’s something for all ages meaning it will literally last years.
Fresh ‘n Rebel headphones are also a great buy – the Code Junior On-Ear Headphones are perfect for on-the-go.
In the garden, set up an activity like a Hape water play table and sit back while your little one entertains themselves. For smaller toys, hit up your local charity shop – cheap, cheerful and you can re-donate when your child has outgrown them.
For under 6 months, a comfy playmat and Jollein baby gym is all you need.
ACCESSORIES
There’s nothing more exciting than decking out your nursery and some pretty items will help ease the night feed dreads. Avery Row has a gorgeous changing basket with cotton liners, while the baby changing accessories bundle has an anti-roll changing mat (a necessity), nappy caddy and even a wetwipes cover.
Every parent should have a Cuddledry towel, to make bathtimes a million times easier while a Shnuggle bath is ideal for those early newborn days.
Looking after mum
It’s also worth investing in decent vitamins and switching to safe skincare while pregnant, breastfeeding or postpartum.
Family-owned brand Green People is organic, cruelty-free and vegan while SKN TO SKN is specifically formulated and GP-approved.
Solgar Magnesium Glycinate Capsules are gentle and help support muscle relaxation and ease leg cramps to promote better sleep, while BodyBio Pregnancy Essentials is a supplement bundle designed to support maternal health, fetal development and postpartum recovery at a cellular level.
Sisterly’s The Booster is a daily sachet featuring an expertly formulated prenatal blend of 23 essential nutrients. For little ones, Wellbaby Multi-vitamin Drops are perfect for kids aged four to 24months.