Nursery essentials every new parent simply MUST HAVE
| 23rd September 2021
Nursery essentials every new parent simply MUST HAVE: As a first-time expectant Mum, and officially at the halfway point of pregnancy, the last few months have been full of baby preparations and research.
Whilst we are so excited for the arrival of our little girl, the baby fashion & shopping aspects (and costs) have felt rather overwhelming lately.
So, to save our lovely VIVA readers the excruciating hours of research, not to mention the frustration and confusion of knowing what to buy, and how things work and even why you need them, I’ve constructed an easy guide, based on a combination of my own experiences as well as experts’ opinions.
The first hurdle to overcome was the timing aspect, when exactly should you start buying baby stuff?
An app that really helped me with any pregnancy or baby related questions was the Peanut app. It’s free to download and I managed to find a group for parents with February due dates, which is when our bundle of joy will be arriving.
Truth be told, there is no right or wrong answer to this question. Everyone is different and the most important thing is to do it at your own pace. My advice would be to weigh up what works best for you. Financially speaking, it might be that you prefer to buy things month by month or do it all in one fail swoop. Some people like to wait until the third trimester, others once they reach the second, and some start from the moment they get their positive pregnancy test. It’s whatever works the best for you.
Nursery essentials every new parent simply MUST HAVE
As it stands, I am 20 weeks pregnant and our nursery is pretty much done, minus some soft furnishings. We managed to bag a cot, changing table drawer set and wardrobe from a Mamas & Papas sale. I have to say I am really impressed by the quality of the furniture, and it was super easy to put together.
Now, I must start this guide with a product that I cannot recommend enough, this is one that all of my close friends have become equally obsessed with, and that is the iRobot Roomba Vacuum. Now, you may be raising an eyebrow as a vacuum cleaner doesn’t scream baby shop, but please hear me out!
Throughout my pregnancy (particularly in my first trimester) keeping up with household chores has been a struggle. There have been days, sometimes weeks where I have barely been able to get out of bed with morning sickness and general fatigue. Growing a human is not easy, and neither is a newborn baby!
I have developed a special bond with my ‘Roomba’, whom I have aptly named Jarvis (an Iron Man/Avengers reference for those in the know). He cleans the house at the tap of a button, and he even empties himself when he’s full. He takes himself to bed once he’s done and quite frankly, he has been an absolute god send, and a strange source of entertainment.
So yes, my first tried and tested recommendation for any new parent, is Jarvis the iRobot Roomba Vacuum.
Sleepy time
Whilst I am so excited to meet my little baby girl, I have to admit I am dreading the lack of sleep that inevitably comes with having a newborn.
Whilst we have agreed in our household that I will take the daytime feeds and my partner will cover the night feeds (he can cope fine on 3-6 hours sleep, whereas I cannot function on any less than 6) sleep can be a big factor in any new parents’ life.
Ewan the dream sheep, priced at £29.99 has been a life saver for many parents. With an in-built night light and white noise sound machine this magical machine has had great success comforting thousands of babies. Ewan also has a new “sheeping bag” for babies which is super soft and snuggly and comes in at £21 in a 1.0 tog and a 2.5 tog.
It’s natural that all new parents, particularly first-time parents, spend a lot of time worrying about baby when they are asleep. Are they in the right position? Are they still breathing? These are all perfectly normal anxieties. To help with these anxieties and to help keep baby safe, the Cubo AI baby monitor has you (and me) covered. This baby monitor is one of the best on the market. With an array of awards and positive reviews, not to mention one of the best sellers on Amazon, with the Cubo Ai has a number of features such as sleep safety alerts, sleep analytics and not to mention one of the best quality night cameras around. The Cubo Ai comes in at £189 and links directly to your mobile phone over Wifi.
One important hospital bag essential is a baby blanket to keep baby warm and cosy once they enter the world for the first time. The Hippychick Cellular Blanket is made from 100% organic cotton, hand-picked and crafted in India, the open weave cell construction of the cellular blanket traps air which helps keep your baby warm in winter and cool in the summer. Available for £15.95.
Another great baby sleeping bag option is the organic cotton baby sleep bag from Bloomsbury Mill. At £13.99 this 2.5 tog sleeping bag is a perfect option for all seasons and ideal for room temperatures of 16-20 degrees. It has been specially designed with 100% organic cotton muslin to aid breathability whilst baby sleeps.
Feeding time
Whether you have decided to bottle feed, or breastfeed, there are a range of products you may find useful to help you on your way in the first few months.
If your preference is to breastfeed, you may want to think about investing in a good breast pump. The Mya Joy double electric breast pump comes in at £134.99 and it is a hospital grade pump, which makes it a high performing model and perfect to use from the moment the baby is born.
Did you know that it takes 2-3 days for your milk supply to come in? Pumping can be a great way to help kickstart your supply.
Breastfeeding is not easy, and requires a lot of organisation and planning, especially if like me you plan to do a mixture of both breast and pump. The truth is, if you plan to go out for the day, you’ll most likely need to pump at some point during the day.
It is also worth noting that milk supply is a delicate balance, what you extract one day, has a knock-on effect on your supply the next.
Investing in a compact and light weight single pump like the Medela Solo Single Electric Breast Pump (£159.99) is a perfect travel sized solution. With a rechargeable in-built battery, it can do up to six pumping sessions on a full charge.
For those who prefer formula, the Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep Day & Night, Baby Bottle Maker Machine comes in at £109 and makes the perfect bottle in two minutes! An absolute lifesaver for any new parent.
There are many options when it comes to the different types of baby bottles on the market and it’s hard to know which bottle brand baby will prefer. The advice I have been given from multiple sources is to buy a few bottles from a couple of different brands and wait until baby comes and chooses their preference for themselves.
So far I have collected a few MAM anti-colic bottles which I’ve seen a lot of positive reviews for, as well as a few Tommee Tippee. Dr Browns have an anti-colic newborn set for £49.99 which includes a microwave steriliser and a range of accessories.
Changing and bathing
Dirty nappies and poo explosions are going to be part of daily life for me soon. It feels as though… scratch that, I KNOW that my life is going to drastically change. From going to restaurant reviews and glam events to changing nappies, breastfeeding and keeping a tiny human alive. It seems like a lot to get my head around, and thankfully I have found some products out there to help me deal with the messier part of child rearing.
The Joone Perfect Nappy Subscription for £49.99 per month has the most adorable nappy prints. Each month you can expect to receive 3 packs of nappies along with 3 packs of wipes delivered straight to your door. These eco-friendly disposable nappies are great value for money and take the stress out of nappy planning.
For an absolute must for any nursery, the Angelcare Nappy Disposal System (£24.99) is ideal. Nappy bins are a convenient and hygienic way to dispose of dirty nappies. The Angelcare nappy disposable system is simple-to-use and locks in bad smells for a happier, more fragrant home.
It’s definitely worth keeping a hand sanitiser close by, especially if you have to change baby on the move. I love the Babington Co moisturising hand sanitiser (£18), its plant based and smells incredible.
When it comes to bath-time I have come across these amazingly soft Ramer sponges available to buy from £2.99, they are even machine washable!
Speaking of machine washable, I have to mention Nimble Babies New Parent Set which includes a range of baby cleaning essentials for bottle washing, surface cleaning and laundry. This brand uses only plant-based ingredients and is available to buy for £30.
Play time and gifting
Babies are constantly exploring their surroundings and playtime is vital to their early development. Lovevery is a great brand that I have discovered. They create stage-based play essentials that specifically help your child’s developing brain. They have created special play kits, for all stages of babies development for newborn to toddler and beyond.
Lovevery have even created a play gym available for £140 which has been designed by child development experts. The award-winning play gym includes five sensory zones to help your baby through everything from tummy time to teething. Crafted with natural materials, and sustainably sourced, FSC-certified wood, The Play Gym will help you connect with your baby as they discover their new world.
If you are looking for a toy to keep baby occupied, the GUND Flappy the Elephant (£22.99) is simply adorable. Flappy makes the perfect gift and comes to life when his feet are pressed. Baby will be captivated by Flappy as he plays peek-a-boo, moving his ears over his eyes.
If you are looking for a great practical gift to help the new parents to be, The Baby Kingdom Luxury Gift Set is the perfect present for a baby shower or to celebrate the arrival of a new baby! The bespoke Baby Kingdom box comes with six products to aid with bath time and is designed with a simplistic finish to allow new parents to re-use as a baby keepsake box for all those new-born treasures and memories!
For a retro gift, I found this classic Miffy soft toy (£13.99) is super soft and suitable from birth.
Post birth and recovery
It’s not just baby that needs care. Birth is a traumatic event for our bodies to go through, and its only recently that labour has really started to occur to me. Whilst I feel strangely at peace with labour. I am actually looking forward to it if anything. I have started planning my birth, I am hoping to have the baby at home, and I have already reserved a birthing pool.
Every mother is different, I have friends and family members who screw their faces up when I tell them I want to have a home birth, and I have equally had friends and family that fully support my decision. What I have learnt in pregnancy is that most people you come into contact with will have an opinion. I have also learnt that their opinions are often irrelevant, and that overall, it is my birth and my baby.
Although I feel positive about labour, my anxiety comes from the post birth and recovery. I am worried about the discomfort and managing the aches and pains along with looking after a newborn.
There are definitely post birth essentials that every mother needs to have prepared, which are equally as important as the nappies and bottles. Maternity pads for example, there is no escaping. ModiBodi have come up with their own reusable maternity briefs with in-built protection and a special V-shaped design to accommodate both bump and post baby belly. These are available to buy for £25.50.
Lansinoh have created a warm and cold post birth relief pad for £13.99 which relieves pain and discomfort after childbirth. I have already got mine!
The Natural Birthing Company are also a very popular brand amongst new mums. They have even created a birthing essentials kit which you can buy for £20 and includes a cooling spray, relaxing massage oil, perineal relief spray and a pillow spray to help you drift off to sleep after an exhausting labour.
The Natural Birthing Company have also created a range of oils for breastfeeding mums including an oil for engorged breasts, low milk supply and most importantly sore nipples. This set is available for £15.99.
If you’d like to see more on my pregnancy and parenthood journey, feel free to follow me on Instagram @jesswardauthor.