8 ESSENTIALS FOR MUMS-TO-BE
If you are reading this, the chances are this is your first time getting ready for the baby’s arrival.
If that’s the case… congratulations! And welcome to the world of motherhood.
As a mum (of two) myself, I remember well how important it was for me to ensure that everything was PERFECT for my daughter’s birth.
I remember the books, researching online and all of the endless conversations with other mums… as overjoyed I was at the idea of meeting my baby girl, I sometimes also felt anxious.
If this sounds a little bit like you, here is the good news: there are really only a few things you actually need for when the baby arrives.
8 THINGS YOU NEED FOR YOUR BABY’S ARRIVAL
To make things easy for you, here is my list of 8 essentials you need to prepare.
1) For feeding: milk & co!
Whether you are hoping to breastfeed, already know you will use formula or maybe a combination is preferable to you, you will need some additional products.
For breastfeeding, my lifesavers were breast pads, a few good maternity bras and feeding tops!
If opting for bottles, consider whether a Tommee Tippee machine like the one here [https://www.tommeetippee.com/en-gb/product/perfect-prep-machine] is something you may want to purchase.
We had one and loved it and saved having to prep the bottles in advance.
A steriliser which holds lots of bottles may be a good investment too!
2) For sleeping
This could be a Moses basket in your bedroom, but some people also opt for the “next to me” crib [read more here https://www.madeformums.com/reviews/8-of-the-best-co-sleeping-cots-and-cribs-for-safe-sleeping/].
Sleeping bags are only recommended from a certain age/size so we used cellular or crochet blankets until the baby was big enough for sleeping bags.
I would suggest a few spare sets ready for spit ups etc.
3) Baby bath
There are so many versions of bath aids these days.
We opted for a traditional baby bath and it worked well for us, the biggest benefits were the fact that it used much less water than a full bath and I could use it on the utility worktop to save my back.
My tip would be to find one with a plug so you can empty it out without having to try and lift it!
Something caesarean section mummies may wish to consider too as bending down/lifting maybe tricky for a time.
4) For travelling: a car seat
Apparently you are not allowed to leave the hospital without one!
We opted for the Maxi Cosy which interconnected with our pram wheels too.
This is very handy when you can transfer babies without having to get them out of the car seat if they are sleeping!
One tip, ensure you know how to use the car seat and wheels etc before going into the hospital!
Once discharged we spent an hour in the car park trying to get the maxi cosy off the wheels and into the base in the car!! Not ideal.
5) For going out: the pram
The car seat leads us nicely into the pram!
We had a travel system which included the car seat (base is often additional), moses basket and pushchair. It had some good points, for example, the moses basket could be free standing and also fit on the wheels of the pushchair (handy when visiting away from home).
However, they are often large and bulky so you need a big car and even then they can take up a lot of space. Second time around we were a bit more experienced and opted for the Baby Jogger City mini GT [https://www.babyjogger.com/city-mini-gt2.html].
I loved the fact that you could fold it up with one hand, took up minimal space in the boot but also had additional clips you could buy for the car seat to clip into!
If it is safe to do so, I would recommend going and ‘test driving’ some prams to find out which one may suit you.
6) Changing bag
For when you have to go out, a must for any new parent!
I opted for a dark colour so Daddy didn’t feel too awkward when he had the little one and had no excuse for not changing bums when we were out!
I was a fan of the Pacapod range [https://www.pacapod.com/] as it helped keep everything organised.
It has a bag for the nappies and another bag for food or bottles, so many pockets for everything you can think of as well as insulated pockets too.
7) Clothes: cuteness overload!
I found it is a fine balance you need enough not to have to wash everyday but the baby often grows very quickly (or mine did) so didn’t get much wear out of them!
First time around, we bought lots of outfits which I soon learnt were very fiddly for changing!
When these can be 8+ times a day I soon switched to sleepsuits!
Vests too for winter babies, the handy rule I was told, add one layer to what we would wear!
8) Thermometer
Not just for our current crazy world we find ourselves in, but I always ensure I have a working thermometer in the house.
Not just for babies but mummies can also experience complications after giving birth and they can be very handy to have.
Check you are comfortable using it before you need it too!
This is one area I would suggest paying a little more if you can to get a really good one.
I am a fan of the traffic light system and the digital non-contact forehead infrared thermometer.
Just check it is suitable for newborns and adults alike!
… AND BREATHE!
Everything else is optional or nice-to-haves.
So, whether you have already repacked your hospital bag 10 times (I hear you!) or you are expecting your second baby and don’t have a moment to spare… you’ll be ok!
Newborn babies do not need much.
If you are a first-time mum, one final tip for you: as hard work as it is to get through the first weeks, enjoy every moment.
It will be gone in the blink of an eye!
That is why, as a newborn photographer, I love being able to capture this amazing moment for parents.
Newborn sessions are definitely one of my favourite photoshoots, and the smile on mum and dad’s face when they see their photos for the first time it’s just priceless.
And if you are considering booking a newborn session for your baby, please drop me a message… I would love to chat!