Lifestyle, Shop

The new mum starter kit: my fave baby products

26th May, 2017

I remember when I was pregnant with Sophia and the list of things I needed to buy seemed quite overwhelming and endless. To avoid drowning in endless amounts of baby paraphernalia it helped that I had recommendations from family and friends about what I would actually need and use as opposed to things that may seem nice but would end up sitting in the nursery gathering dust. Over the years, after a little trial and error, I’ve also managed to narrow down my can’t-live-without essentials and I often share this with friends who are about to become mums or gift things on the list when I’m attending baby showers. Here’s what I’ve found to be musts in my new mum starter kit…

Bugaboo Cameleon

There are so many types of prams out there but I’m a Bugaboo girl. I have the Bugaboo Cameleon and I’ve use it for both Sophia and Grace. I go on lots of pram walks so I like the fact it’s really sturdy and easy to manoeuvre but quite lightweight. The pram has lots of features that I like such as being able to easily recline it right back or sit it right up, adjustable handles and I now also have a little seat for Sophia which is handy. I’ve found it to be a really comfortable pram for the girls too—Sophia loved to sleep in it and that’s a definite bonus when you’re trying to get an unsettled bub to nap!

Baby Zen YoYo

Let me preface this with the fact that you technically don’t need two prams, however when I travel I like everything to be really super easy and light and for those reasons the Baby Zen YoYo pram is definitely a great option. I’ve taken mine on overseas trips and found as it’s easily collapsible and compact it was not too cumbersome to deal with. I think it’s good to have a really great pram but I think it’s handy to have a stroller that you can just pack up. I now leave the YoYo in my car so I always have a pram on hand without having to pack my Bugaboo in and out of the car all the time.

Baby Bjorn carrier

When I’m on foot with Grace while Sophia is at kindy, I’ve found the carrier is ideal, especially when I’m going to the shops as it allows me to have my hands free. It’s also great if baby is a bit unsettled and wants to be close to you as you can carry them for awhile without completely doing your back in! This carrier is easy to take on and off so doesn’t require too much fussing around with straps and buckles.

Sapling Child onesies

My kids just lived in onesies so I’ve tried a few different brands and have become a huge fan of the range from Sapling Child. Not only are they made from organic fabrics and have beautiful prints and patterns they also do up with a zipper. This is SO important as I hate buttons on onesies as they’re so fiddly. I love the fact that I just need to zip it up. They also doesn’t have any seams so there’s nothing that could irritate baby’s skin.

Mama Maya wraps

Muslin wraps are a must for swaddling in the newborn phase but it’s often hard to find one that’s the ideal size. I love Mama Maya wraps because they’re oversized which I found makes it much easier to wrap baby snugly. Also, they’re made from organic cotton muslin which makes them lightweight and breathable and come in a range of great colours in their signature polka dot print. They’re also great for using as a pram cover, a cover up while breastfeeding or a light blanket so you’ll definitely get plenty of use out of them. An added benefit is that Mama Maya have partnered with Birthing Kit Foundation Australia so with every wrap purchased they provide funding for one clean birthing kit and caregiver training to help women in developing countries experience a cleaner and safer birth.

Uniden baby monitor

I’ve found a baby monitor to be a must and is the kind of thing that you’ll use as the baby gets older. It’s obviously great for keeping an eye on the baby wherever you are in the house and I found it to be especially handy when the girls started sleeping in their own rooms at night as I was able to check on them remotely which helped put me at ease.

Pigeon baby bottles

I’ve always liked Pigeon brand bottles but recently my sister in law got me onto the glass version. They’re easy to clean and sterilise which is great when going through so many bottles throughout the day.

Baby washes

There are lots of different bath products out there for babies that it can be a little hard to decide on the best one to use. At the moment I really like the baby wash from the Milk Baby range and QV bath oil which I used on Grace as she had really dry skin when she was younger.

Madreperla bed linen

It’s inevitable that you’ll go through lots of baby bedding so it’s important to have multiples of everything. You don’t have to spend a fortune but if you’re wanting something a bit special then I highly recommend the Madreperla luxury baby linen range. It’s  300 thread count and 100 per cent flax linen so it’s super soft. Their quilts are also filled with pure cotton and free from polyester and synthetics. I find anything from this range also makes a really nice baby shower gift.

Baby Bjorn bouncer

Grace loves her bouncer! I’ve gotten a lot of use from the one we have as the bouncing motion is great for soothing a cranky baby plus it’s handy if you just need somewhere for bub to safely sit and stay in the one place. It’s also a great spot for baby to sit when reading to them or playing with toys together.

What are some of your baby essentials for new mums?

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1 Comment

  • Reply Claire 5th June, 2017 at 10:39 am

    Hi Kate, thanks for the tips on the prams, we are beginning this journey! I am keen to hear personal experience on prams. Is the Bugaboo Cameleon a bit of a task to get in and out of the car?

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