ATTENTION MOM/DAD TO BE!

You’ll get A LOT of tips on parenting and stuff people think you’ll need. Not all of it will be true! To navigate the adventure of becoming a parent, it’s key to remember you’re unique and you DON’T HAVE TO DO IT LIKE ANYONE ELSE.

That said, I’ve compiled a compact list of 9 items (stuff) I’m REALLY GLAD we had when our Lucy was a baby. I believe a lot of it is relevant to most households, so it could be baby products you need too.

Want more advice on a specific item? Pop me a message!

Backpack Diaperbag (Grownup Styled!)

About 3 months before our Lucy came, I walked into a public bathroom and a mom was changing a diaper. I commented on her nice babybag and her immediate reply was advising me to make life easier on myself by getting a backpack-type diaper bag.

Best buy EVER!

2 years down the line I’m STILL using it and looking at some other moms weighed down by traditional bags…and then I wish I can hand out backpacks at maternity wards!

Here’s what I love:

• Better weight distribution makes carrying it much less tiring.
• Your hands are free to handle a rambunctious toddler, soothe a crying baby or carry your shopping bag while pushing a stroller (#multitasking).
• Exterior pockets make it easy to reach the essentials, even without taking it off your back.
• I can carry the diaper bag AND my own handbag and not feel encumbered.

Here’s the other piece of advice a close friend gave that I’m glad I listened to:

Remember, it’s YOU that will be carrying that bag for the next few years, NOT the baby. So, pick a design you actually love, since your little one won’t care what it looks like. Truthfully…it’s a parent’s bag, not a baby bag. So, why not add some style to your outfit whenever you head out?

Bath Pillow

These pillows may be a bit expensive and luckily we had one gifted to us, otherwise I wouldn’t have thought it worth the money.

But it is!

Do note that your baby may go through phases of hating water and then loving it…and then hating it again.

However, ours definitely enjoyed relaxing on this floating cloud and it makes bath time much easier. They’re designed so warm water is around their little bodies to keep them warm, but their heads are elevated.

If you feel awkward during newborn bath time since it’s all so unfamiliar, try introducing this fairly early on, as they work even for very young babies. (photos for proof ) The baby is sufficiently supported, while you do the necessary washing.

Small Stroller

So, everyone at the prenatal classes discussed which baby products brand of stroller to get and of course a travel system is a MUST for taking baby in and out the car – hopefully without waking the sleeping angel!

But, no one told me the magic of a small stroller – branded or not.

We loved our gifted travel system, but I will tell you I pretty quickly ditched the bulky stroller and started using a cheap secondhand stroller that was MUCH easier to handle in store aisles. Without it, I probably wouldn’t have created so many memories of me and my little girl grocery shopping or having mom-daughter restaurant dates. It just made it EASIER to be out and about.

Pic for cuteness…

Bonus features:

• If baby gets fed up with the stroller, collapse and put in the shopping cart and simply continue shopping with baby on your hip or in the trolley (yes, moms can manage a baby and a shopping cart if they need to).
• Easy to maneuver in small spaces – even around grocery store aisles.
• Shopping baskets or bags fit over the handles, so you can do shopping while pushing the stroller.
• You have loads of boot space left after loading it into the car. 

And yes, our little one found it more than comfortable and even had a nap in there if ever our adventures became a bit tiring.

Baby Carrier

I’m so thankful for my crew of friends and local church moms that taught me the magic of baby carriers. Certain baby products for parents can transform your entire parenting experience!

Important tips:

• There’s no perfect carrier – try out second hand ones to see what works for you.
• Different carriers work at different ages, so if multiple friends offer theirs, take them all.
• Husbands and wives often have different preferences in carrier design- so once again, never say no to anyone offering to give or lend you a carrier.

Here are three types our family used a LOT.

I simply adored having my baby close to my chest with the wrap-style carriers (I used a Noonoo Pie secondhand one – live sustainably and sell or pass it on when you’re finished with it). It was magic for the first 6 months but Baby soon outgrew it and it can get hot in summer.

With a carrier like the green one above I prepared an entire birthday dinner for my husband, with my 4-month old strapped in. And she was happy throughout.

Hubby’s choice? He preferred something similar to this.

Silicone Breast Pump/Cup

So, these cute little jars are AMAZING!

Simply use the power of suction to let one adhere to a breast while you pump or feed on the other side. You’ll be amazed at the amount of milk that collects in the cup. That’s perfect for creating breast milk stash. Pour out and freeze!

Recliner Chair in the Baby Room

Rocking chair? Cute wooden type?

Please no!

After enjoying the luxury of sleeping in my parents’ comfy recliner wiht baby-in-arms, we had to get one ourselves. Do yourself a favour and get yours from the start if you can – I wish we got ours sooner.

We moved when she was 1 year old, so there was space for one in her new room – and we didn’t regret the expense once!

• If she was fussy, I slept on it in her room so I didn’t waste time and energy going back and forth between bedrooms. We retained the luxury of having a bedroom that’s OURS…but we were also comfy when looking after her in her room.
• It is super comfortable for breastfeeding.
• It was the book-reading spot before bedtime.
• The chairs are big enough that even a toddler can comfortably sleep on you or next to you if they’re feeling poorly

Getting enough sleep is vital, but it’s difficult to get enough z’s those first few months. A recliner chair benefits everyone’s sleep quality, so it’s a luxury item that’s worth investing in.

Washable Breast Pads

I’m so sorry I only invested in these later on!

I could have saved money AND the environment.

Find washable breast pads rather than buying boxes and boxes of disposable ones.

As a bonus they’re very soft and comfortable and no, you won’t really miss the fact that they don’t have an adhesive section on the back. In general, they stay in place and won’t cause discomfort.

Syringes for Medicine Time

Giving medicine to a baby was a conundrum for which we tried various solutions. At one stage I added medicine to her milk in a bottle but that was only relevant at 5-months old when she started taking the bottle. Luckily she wasn’t a sickly newborn!

But when a friend mentioned syringes, I went “why didn’t I think of that?”

Even up to 2 years medicine in a syringe was the easiest, no-mess method to get Lucy to drink meds. Of course, a syringe also makes it easy to see if I’m giving her the right dosage to drink.

Do prepare yourself that sometimes they’ll enjoy the novelty of it and other times they’ll refuse it. Also, stay close if they want to squeeze it into their mouth themselves because it may just go everywhere. But in 90% of cases, it was a success (and it’s an easy way to send measured-out medicine to daycare, ready to administer if needed).

No-mess Reusable Paint-with-water Books

Okay so these are for toddlers, rather than babies, but keep a lookout for them while shopping for baby products online, so you have one on hand as soon as baby starts to scribble. Along with the paint-with-water books come pens that only contain water, so there’s no risk of stains all over the house. The kids love seeing the pictures being revealed after drawing on the white surface.

My little Lucy enjoyed her books over and over and the thick pages were practical for journeys in the car – 30 minutes of fun guaranteed!

What NOT to spend your money on (in my humble opinion)

I will say it again: all families are different, so other parents will have other go-to products. But do think twice before you spend money on the following, as it doesn’t necessarily work despite it being trendy top sellers:

• Don’t buy baskets full of bibs and burp cloths. Lucy wasn’t a drooler, so I rarely used mine. Make sure you actually need a lot before you spend your money on them. If you get lots of them as gifts, that’s a bonus.
• Do not buy an entire set of new, expensive bottles from a single reputable brand. Many babies have bottle preferences, so if you can start by trying out borrowed bottles (just add new nipples) or buying ones secondhand, you can figure out which set is a good investment. You may save yourself a lot of money.

Some things you see online or that other couples love are baby products you don’t need from the get-go. Spend on the must-haves first and have fun shopping online for the ones you still need once your little one arrives and shows you what they need.

Finally – a Word of Encouragement

Here’s my last tip apart from my baby products list to consider…

…as my boss told me and my husband often says…Sometimes babies just cry (you won’t always have a solution). But you’re still an excellent mom or dad!

Now, good luck. If it gets tough, remember it won’t always be like that.

You’re all going to be fine!

Please share your personal tips or baby-product-must-haves in the comments.

PS: I’m not a medical/baby expert, so I’m just sharing opinions based on personal experience. Hope it works for you too!