Our little baby is 8 weeks old now :-) I can't believe how quick the weeks are flying by. Today I want to tell you all about the best baby items we've been using over the last eight weeks. If you or a friend are expecting a baby, I hope this might form a practical shopping list for you!
Nursing/feeding
Glider/nursing chair
I love my glider. It sits patiently in the corner of the nursery, waiting for the baby and I to sit comfortably at any given moment! The rocking motion is wonderful for getting your baby off to sleep too. I got this glider on sale in Smyths for €100.
Radio, clock and nursery lamp
Beside the glider we have a bedside table with a radio, clock and nursery lamp. The radio and clock I already had in the house but the lamp was specially bought for the nursery. It cost all of about €3 in IKEA and it really is perfect for the nursery - all encased and not too bright. The radio is great company during feeds and the clock is all-important for timing those feeds.
Water bottle
If you are breastfeeding, my recommendation is to get a large water bottle and carry it around with you all the time. You are always thirsty and will drink litre after litre!
Nursing bras
The ones with the front clips! Absolutely genius and something you cannot live without if you are nursing. I got these ones on Amazon.
Bibs and burp cloths (and lots of them!)
Before I had a baby I never knew the importance of having lots and lots of bibs! Now, I know... I have a little box beside the glider just for bibs, burping cloths and muslin squares. You will go through a good few every day!
Multi-Mam Compresses
Ah, how these things saved me in those first few weeks of nursing!!! An absolutely brilliant product. These are all-natural nipple compresses and will be your best friends during the early days/weeks of breastfeeding. Make them last longer by cutting them in half (they are pricey) and keep them in the fridge for extra coolness. You can thank me later!
Changing nappies
Chest of drawers and changing mat
Our 'changing station' is a simple chest of drawers with a changing mat on top. The height is perfect for changing your baby's nappy without straining your back and the drawers are perfect for storing all of baby's clothes and changing accessories.
Huggies 'Pure' wipes
We've tried a lot of wipes (Water Wipes, Johnson's, Pampers, etc) and our favourites are the Huggies 'Pure' wipes. They are gentle enough to use from day one, they are nice and wet but not freezing cold and they are nice and big!
Face cloths
This is a strange one. We've learnt along the last eight weeks that during the nappy-changing process, your baby will have a wet bum after you've cleaned them all up with your chosen wipes. And, with boys anyway, you can't leave them to 'air dry' for very long as they do like to pee everywhere when their nappy's off! But you can't put a wet bum into a nappy (nappy rash will find you) so we bought a pack of four ordinary face cloths and these are now 'bum cloths' for drying his bum during changing. And they work wonderfully! My top baby tip :-)
Top and tail basin
This is great for giving your baby a quick clean in the morning if you are not doing a bath until the evening. It's also great for the first week or two when you are still nervous about bathing baby! It's essentially just a plastic basin with two compartments - water for 'topping' and water for 'tailing'! I like to use the Tesco Baby Cotton Wool Squares when topping and tailing.
Bepanthen Nappy Cream
For the aformentioned dreaded nappy rash. Works like a dream to quickly get rid of any redness - a great product.
Nappy bin
You know why.
Laundry basket
Just for baby's clothes. I got mine for all of €2.49 in Home Store and More.
Play time
A playmat
My mom and dad bought our baby a lovely padded fabric playmat while I was pregnant. It has turned out to be one of our baby's favourite things - he loves to lie on it and kick his legs and it's great for 'tummy time' too.
A bouncy chair
Another gift - this one from my husband's mom - a bouncy seat is great for baby to sit in after a feed when you want to have a bit of a chat together or when you want to sit your baby safely while you are nearby.
Bath time
Baby bath with a bath support
All you really need for bath time is a baby bath, baby soap and a wash cloth, but when my husband's mom bought us a baby bath support it really helped me enjoy bath time more! It allows your baby to gently recline in the baby bath while you wash him - much less slipping and sliding and much less stress for mom! The baby bath we have is from Smyths and the bath support is from Mothercare.
Big baby bath towels
To dry baby off after his lovely bath! They're also handy to place on the changing mat for extra reassurance against little boys who like to have their nappy's off ;-)
Sleeping
Angelcare Baby Monitor
This was a gift from my husband's brother and his wife. Oh how we love this monitor. It has a sensor pad that you place underneath your baby's crib mattress - it monitors their movement and gently 'ticks' away during the night, letting you know your baby is breathing. If there is no movement for fifteen seconds, an alarm will sound. It's also a 'voice' or sound monitor for when you're not in the room. Great for peace of mind!
Ewan the Dream Sheep
This little sheep is absolutely fantastic. Really. Such a wonderful product and an AMAZING baby gift. My mom and dad bought this for our little guy. It hangs on his crib and sends him off to sleep every night, without fail. There are a number of different settings but all of them incorporate heartbeat and womb 'white noise' and our little man loves it. Very soothing and calming.
Avent Soothers
Our little guy gets a lot of comfort from his soother! And they're great for settling him to sleep or when you're out and about in the supermarket, etc.
Cotton cellular blankets
An absolute essential. Go for the 100% cotton ones - they will keep your baby cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Everything else
The Baby Book by Rachel Waddilove
Sensible, practical baby advice that has been like having my own private maternity nurse in the house. Great to turn to for absolutely ANYTHING baby-related. It's in there.
Braun No Touch Digital Thermometer
A little bit pricey but totally worth it. Takes your baby's temperature accurately and very quickly without even touching your baby's forehead. Technology at it's best.
That's it! I better stop typing before this list becomes too unwieldy! I hope you find this post helpful :-) These are my favourite baby items so far.
Nursing/feeding
Glider/nursing chair
I love my glider. It sits patiently in the corner of the nursery, waiting for the baby and I to sit comfortably at any given moment! The rocking motion is wonderful for getting your baby off to sleep too. I got this glider on sale in Smyths for €100.
Radio, clock and nursery lamp
Beside the glider we have a bedside table with a radio, clock and nursery lamp. The radio and clock I already had in the house but the lamp was specially bought for the nursery. It cost all of about €3 in IKEA and it really is perfect for the nursery - all encased and not too bright. The radio is great company during feeds and the clock is all-important for timing those feeds.
Water bottle
If you are breastfeeding, my recommendation is to get a large water bottle and carry it around with you all the time. You are always thirsty and will drink litre after litre!
Nursing bras
The ones with the front clips! Absolutely genius and something you cannot live without if you are nursing. I got these ones on Amazon.
Bibs and burp cloths (and lots of them!)
Before I had a baby I never knew the importance of having lots and lots of bibs! Now, I know... I have a little box beside the glider just for bibs, burping cloths and muslin squares. You will go through a good few every day!
Multi-Mam Compresses
Ah, how these things saved me in those first few weeks of nursing!!! An absolutely brilliant product. These are all-natural nipple compresses and will be your best friends during the early days/weeks of breastfeeding. Make them last longer by cutting them in half (they are pricey) and keep them in the fridge for extra coolness. You can thank me later!
Changing nappies
Chest of drawers and changing mat
Our 'changing station' is a simple chest of drawers with a changing mat on top. The height is perfect for changing your baby's nappy without straining your back and the drawers are perfect for storing all of baby's clothes and changing accessories.
Huggies 'Pure' wipes
We've tried a lot of wipes (Water Wipes, Johnson's, Pampers, etc) and our favourites are the Huggies 'Pure' wipes. They are gentle enough to use from day one, they are nice and wet but not freezing cold and they are nice and big!
Face cloths
This is a strange one. We've learnt along the last eight weeks that during the nappy-changing process, your baby will have a wet bum after you've cleaned them all up with your chosen wipes. And, with boys anyway, you can't leave them to 'air dry' for very long as they do like to pee everywhere when their nappy's off! But you can't put a wet bum into a nappy (nappy rash will find you) so we bought a pack of four ordinary face cloths and these are now 'bum cloths' for drying his bum during changing. And they work wonderfully! My top baby tip :-)
Top and tail basin
This is great for giving your baby a quick clean in the morning if you are not doing a bath until the evening. It's also great for the first week or two when you are still nervous about bathing baby! It's essentially just a plastic basin with two compartments - water for 'topping' and water for 'tailing'! I like to use the Tesco Baby Cotton Wool Squares when topping and tailing.
Bepanthen Nappy Cream
For the aformentioned dreaded nappy rash. Works like a dream to quickly get rid of any redness - a great product.
Nappy bin
You know why.
Laundry basket
Just for baby's clothes. I got mine for all of €2.49 in Home Store and More.
Play time
A playmat
My mom and dad bought our baby a lovely padded fabric playmat while I was pregnant. It has turned out to be one of our baby's favourite things - he loves to lie on it and kick his legs and it's great for 'tummy time' too.
A bouncy chair
Another gift - this one from my husband's mom - a bouncy seat is great for baby to sit in after a feed when you want to have a bit of a chat together or when you want to sit your baby safely while you are nearby.
Bath time
Baby bath with a bath support
All you really need for bath time is a baby bath, baby soap and a wash cloth, but when my husband's mom bought us a baby bath support it really helped me enjoy bath time more! It allows your baby to gently recline in the baby bath while you wash him - much less slipping and sliding and much less stress for mom! The baby bath we have is from Smyths and the bath support is from Mothercare.
Big baby bath towels
To dry baby off after his lovely bath! They're also handy to place on the changing mat for extra reassurance against little boys who like to have their nappy's off ;-)
Sleeping
Angelcare Baby Monitor
This was a gift from my husband's brother and his wife. Oh how we love this monitor. It has a sensor pad that you place underneath your baby's crib mattress - it monitors their movement and gently 'ticks' away during the night, letting you know your baby is breathing. If there is no movement for fifteen seconds, an alarm will sound. It's also a 'voice' or sound monitor for when you're not in the room. Great for peace of mind!
Ewan the Dream Sheep
This little sheep is absolutely fantastic. Really. Such a wonderful product and an AMAZING baby gift. My mom and dad bought this for our little guy. It hangs on his crib and sends him off to sleep every night, without fail. There are a number of different settings but all of them incorporate heartbeat and womb 'white noise' and our little man loves it. Very soothing and calming.
Avent Soothers
Our little guy gets a lot of comfort from his soother! And they're great for settling him to sleep or when you're out and about in the supermarket, etc.
Cotton cellular blankets
An absolute essential. Go for the 100% cotton ones - they will keep your baby cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Everything else
The Baby Book by Rachel Waddilove
Sensible, practical baby advice that has been like having my own private maternity nurse in the house. Great to turn to for absolutely ANYTHING baby-related. It's in there.
Braun No Touch Digital Thermometer
A little bit pricey but totally worth it. Takes your baby's temperature accurately and very quickly without even touching your baby's forehead. Technology at it's best.
That's it! I better stop typing before this list becomes too unwieldy! I hope you find this post helpful :-) These are my favourite baby items so far.
So many mental notes again Holly! Thank you! We're just starting work on our spare bedroom / nursery now so I've made loads of notes. The clock, radio and face cloths - totally going to make sure we have them as none of those occurred to me. And we too are hoping to use a dresser as a changing unit too!
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Ah Alex, delighted you are finding these baby posts helpful! I will keep writing more :-) If you have any questions, let me know!
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