Mumsnet Talk

Is there anything that I could buy or request as a gift that might make life as a first time mum just a little bit easier? <crosses fingers and hopes that the answer is 'yes'>

Good washing machine and tumble drier would be a good bet - for something so small newborns generate an awesome amount of laundry....

A sling and a swinging chair also a v shaped feeding cushion.

I would recommend a kari-me sling, magic sleep inducing device. However I lent mine to a friend and she didn't get on with it at all so I think it's a very personal thing.

The number one thing that makes life with a newborn easier is the utter joy of no longer being pregnant.

This is worth the money.

Get some white noise. You can download it apparently, but I have a cd. It has magical soothing properties.

The bouncer is a good idea, but I got one for £15 and it seems to do the trick... You can get stuff like that second hand from NCT nearly new sales as well. It means you can eat your dinner whilst it's still hot, which is priceless. My son is 3 weeks old, and he is already using it when I am trying to eat my tea.

Night nanny...

(sorry, possibly not helpful)

I second the sling recommendation. My Moby saved the day on many an occasion.

God yes, white noise. Dc2 was a bad sleeper and white noise really helped. We put it on a cd and played it on a loop. It's amazing what you block out forget.

Deffinately the bouncer but you don't need one that is so£££

I 2nd the whitenoise app...amazing!!! esp the water based one's. 2quid..money well spend and change for a tub of ice-cream

Dry shampoo, meaning I can go more than 24 hours between washing my hair.

Someone willing to cook/clean/let me sleep

Earplugs

God, yes to moby wrap - wonderful invention!
Also good big BFing pillow.

Lansinoh nipple cream (if breastfeeding)

I haven't even used it yet (came in post today) but I can tell the My Brest Friend feeding cushion is going to save my back/wrists a lot of pain!
Second white noise machine (can buy on ebay).

close baby carrier - bit like the carry me and moby wraps but have little loops so don't have to tie it as such and just put over your head and pull tight - i had both close and moby and just as comfortable just easier and not long ends to drag in the mud when putting on!!!

baby swing!

Sling
Grobag for night sleeps only, helps them to know its not a nap

Swaddling wrap sheet! I think we got ours from Jojobebemaman. Newborms have a funny startle reflex that makes their arms fling out and wake them, they settle easier if swaddled. The Jojo one has velco and looks a bit like a straight jacket but it is a revalation! One of our children used to wake herself up pulling her own hair and cheeks when she broke free of her swaddle before we found this one- she would lie there screaming and angry, unaware that she was doing it to herself!
Don't spend a fortune on a pram if you're not into them, if I had my time again I'd make do with a good sling/backpack (which I loved and used to death)and move on to a buggy when needed.

Oh, I forgot about grobags, they're brilliant, no blankets to worry about.
Fairimum, is a swing better than a bouncer then?

Dry shampoo is fab! Also some eye roll on, I had a garnier caffeine one and I found it really soothing and helped shift the dark circles. A sling is good, but which type is a personal choice. A list of takeaways that deliver lunch or batch freezing meals. Babies don't need anything really, but you do I found.

swaddling blanket - good stretchy one, and car seat that fits on buggy wheels (with the foam insert and neck thing for newborns).

Lots of pre-prepared meals in the freezer.

Comfortable sling.

Slaves.