A little one on the way but no idea where to start? You’ve come to the right place. We’ve compiled a new parent starter kit. A list of all our favourite essentials that we hope will help you in the early stages of this exciting new chapter.
Where To Start
Finding the right pram is possibly one of the hardest decisions you’ll make. It’ll be a part of your life for years and needs to be comfortable and easy for you to push around just as much as it’s comfortable and supportive for your child. Things like the storage section underneath, a cup holder, easy kick break and how small it folds up for the boot of the car are all things you need to take into consideration.
After lots of shopping around, reading various reviews and asking other parents I decided to go with a CYBEX. This is a brand I love, their child safety is second to none and the prams are stylish and compact. You can get a complete travel system, so it comes with a bassinet and car seat (you might need to buy the adapters for the car seat to go on the pushchair frame, I got caught out by this). I used my pram till my son was three, it never let me down and even after endless spillages and getting stuck in rain storms, didn’t lose its style. It’s not cheap, but the quality speaks for itself. Check it out here.
The Car Seat Confusion
Choosing the right car seat can feel extremely overwhelming and the safety features confusing. Plus you need to be sure it’ll fit in your car. These days though most cars are fitted with Isofix which means they’ll meet the standards for most car seats.
When it comes to sizing and the age bracket, typically you can buy a car seat that will fit your child from birth up until about four. Then you need a new booster seat until they’re around 12. There are also car seats designed just for the first 18 months. These are the ones you can clip out of the car and insert into your pram. These are also a requirement that you have to take your baby home from the hospital in.
A great and very safe brand that’ll suit your newborn and can be attached to a buggy is the Maxi Cosi, check it out here. When you’re ready for a permanent seat, I cannot recommend the swivel designs enough. They will literally save your back! With a push of a button, your child turns to face you, you then unclip and carry out. So simple! This was the brand I went for and I couldn’t fault them.
Where To Sleep?
In the first six months you’ll want to keep your baby close to you at night and a co-sleeping cot is a lifesaver. In the new parent starter kit we love co-sleeping cots. These cots can be strapped to your bed, and have openings that allow you to easily roll over and lift your baby out when they wake in the night for a feed.
They have their space and you still have yours. It teaches them to sleep independently too and means you don’t have to keep getting up and walking over to the Moses basket or cot. I decided to go for the Tutti Bambini bedside crib. It’s not only stylish, but it’s portable if you ever go anywhere. The handy shelf underneath is perfect for nappies and creams for midnight nappy changes. The sides adjust too so you can raise one end up if your baby suffers from reflux. A game changer!
Another must-have for your home is a Moses basket. These are ideal for napping babies in the day. When I needed to clean up or do any household bits, into the Moses he went. When he fell asleep or needed a nap, into the Moses he went. This gorgeous organic palm basket is a perfect example.
Feeding
When it comes to breastfeeding, everyone has a different journey. Lots of mums struggle at the beginning, and I was definitely one of them. So pumping became an essential part of my day-to-day and a definite must for our new parent starter kit. Our son was combi-fed for the first four months before I switched to formula full-time.
The first four months I alternated between boob and pumped milk in a bottle, and a formula feed before bed. I got the Elvie, a total revolution in the world of pumps. It’s cordless and hands-free. In fact, all you have to do is switch it on and put it in your bra. I would literally walk around the supermarket or take my son to baby classes with a pump in my bra. It’s so quiet and discreet, no one would have guessed. And by the time I got home, I had a full tank of milk!
What about bottles?
When it comes to bottles a lot of brands advertise that they’re anti-colic and will prevent reflux but don’t have the technology to live up to these promises. I used Dr. Brown’s, which were fantastic in preventing air bubbles and keeping the colic at bay, but they leak a lot. I’ve now heard of this magic brand Nanobebe which looks ideal and I know parents who swear by them. Anti-colic, nipple-like feel, anti-leak, what could be better?
With bottle prep I’m a big fan of the Tommee Tippee perfect prep machine. This clever gadget makes preparing the formula super easy. Once you measure out the powder you select the water volume from the display. It gives the formula a shot of boiling water to kill off any bacteria. It then fills up the rest of the bottle with filtered water at the perfect temperature so you can feed your baby straight away. Formula feeding might feel like a faff, but it really isn’t.
The only other thing you need is a steriliser, like this one from Milton. You arrange the bottles in the plastic container for a quick blast in the microwave and you’re good to go!
Smaller Essentials
As well as all the big items and gadgets, don’t forget the little things. You’ll need nappies, baby wipes, nappy cream, muslins, cotton wool balls for wiping the baby’s eyes and mouth. Also a baby bath (although you can just put them in a very small amount of water in the tub or sink), babygrows, sleepsuits, sleeping bags, hats and blankets. Plus a nappy bag, dummies if you’re planning on using one and that should be about it!
You’ll get sold into the idea of buying a lot more but all your newborn needs is you, food, warmth and sleep. Another top tip from me, sign up for the Boots parenting club – you earn double points on all your essentials which honestly covered the cost of my nappies for at least a year.
And for you
You’ve sorted all the baby bits, now it’s your turn. It’s not glamorous sadly, but not much about childbirth or newborn life is I’m afraid. For this part of the new parent starter kit you’ll need some heavy-duty pads, some comfy big knickers and a comfy set of pyjamas.
If you’re breastfeeding I was obsessed with this nipple cream. This brand also does great products like Spritz for Bits (for relief after tears) and Skin Elastic which really helped with my c-section scarring and stretch marks. Get yourself a nice feeding pillow too so you and baby can be as comfortable as possible. Oh, and essential apps like Amazon Prime, Ocado and Netflix are a must.
Like this or have some top new parent tips for us? Get in touch and tell us about it here.
The Joy 