What are some fab newborn non-essentials? ? ?

[virginpinkmartini]

So there are plenty of items out there that are deemed useless.. We have all the bare essentials for DS2's arrival in March, but what are some fun/ very handy things you've purchased that aren't on every essentials list but you definitely got use out of?

Teething necklace (for me to wear). It's beautiful and fun and DS loved chomping on it in the sling.

That and a red nightlight. Supposedly it's less interruptive to melatonin production.

A white noise machine - it really helped with sleep.

I loved the light projector thing we were given for ds3. It shone clouds on the ceiling and I found it relaxing!!!

A 'time capsule' for storing things from the birth e.g ankle bands, newspaper of the day, cards etc

More expensive - we were lent a wooden rocking crib for ds3. We kept it downstairs and it was amazing. I wish I had bought one when ds1 was born

Shnuggle bath - I wish I could still squeeze my 2 year old in to his!

Really good cake 😂 seriously, it's a proven medical fact that decent cake speeds up your recovery post birth.

Apart from that I loved blankets. Dd2 has so many, different materials, designs, sizes. I also fell in love with the Aiden & Anais giant muslins. I had some for dd1 and they are handy as another layer, something to sit on, sun shade etc and they do lovely designs.

And Loris is right, get a nice box to put keepsakes in like hospital tags/bands, first hat and outfit, name card from hospital etc. Those things get lost so easily in the fog of the first few days.

A bounce chair with vibrate function - ds1 loved it and was the only place he'd settle that wasn't my arms. Ds2 isn't as keen but he certainly enjoys it for a bit.

vibrate chair saved my sanity .A super soft blanket my daughter has busy hands and has always swatted at boob/ bottle.I placed a super soft furry blanket in her hands to keep them busy and even at 7 months its still a winner.

like this one you can get them places like bm for a few pounds

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Super-Soft-Fluffy-Large-Patterned-Baby-Blanket-Pink-Cupcakes/142487937972?epid=27022771208&hash=item212cf163b4%3Ag%3A%7EQMAAOSwSnFZoh5h&LH_BIN=1

@DivGirl Oh yes, I've heard of them. Apparently they're a good distraction for nipple twiddling bfing babies too (DS1 was a chronic twiddler so this is definitely something to put on the list. Love an 'excuse' to buy pretty jewellery.)

So far- white noise machine, time capsule, giant muslin and vibrating chair have piqued my interest. Might check out the bath but we still have our Cosatto bath /changing unit from DS1.
Looking forward to being a bit looser with the purse strings this time round... In a better position financially than last time so why not get a few 'wants...' as long as its useful/ enjoyable to use.

Thanks for the suggestions so far ☺️

Cashmere bed socks for mum, there is nothing worse than getting up in the night and then not being able to get back to sleep because your feet are freezing.

Second the giant Aden and Anaïs muslins. I was gifted some for DC3 and wish I'd had them with the others. Perfect size and grippiness for swaddling, great travel blanket, used as a cot sheet, playmat, picnic blanket etc

Also really liked Cuski muslins/blankets for the same reason but had some great colours. Also Faye and Lou standard sized smaller rainbow muslins.

Snooza breathing babymonitor.. Now this wasn't as great as I'd hoped and many would say totally unnecessary. But I found those first few days after the birth when you haven't slept off the birth yet and the baby is still doing that terrifying erratic breathing that they do, then the Snuza was great for that first week so I could actually let myself go into a deep sleep and not be tipped into exhaustion. I can't remember how long we used it, but there was a night where it kept going off for no reason and I ended up flinging it across the bed and not putting it back on-that was when I knew I didn't need it anymore... But I sold it for the same amount I paid for it on eBay. So it was a win win I think. Definitely glad I had it for the early days.

I was passed on a gorgeously silky soft bamboo
Bath towel that had a bit you could popper round the parents neck so it was like an apron on you. Friend said they didn't see the point of it but I loved it! It made it so much easier to get them out the bath and covered up.

And lastly, a wipes warmer. Not really a big product in the UK but if you can find them, I love them for newborns. I used it with cloth wipes or kept it full of cotton wool and warm water. Even with baby 3 I couldn't bring myself to use cold wipes or water on their little newborn tush, especially in the middle of the night!

I like the Etta Loves muslins, which are lovely and soft and have designs to help with your baby’s stimulation and development. Also love Aden and Anais muslins and their blankets, which are so soft and reassuringly heavy.

This time around we got a Baby Bjorn bouncer, which I liked so much more than our previous bouncer and is getting a second lease of life now that my little girl is one and it can be used as a seat. She loves climbing in and bouncing around on her own. We also bought the Ergo 360 Omni, which got a lot of use and can be used from birth without an insert.

Have a browse on websites like Modern Nursery, Natural Baby Shower and Kidly and just fall down a hole of things that are overpriced and unnecessary but really beautiful.

I don't have DC but for a friend I've always bought patchwork blankets usually from Etsy
To lie on as babies, play mat, blanket when older and they still have them as a throw at the end of their bed

I second the Baby Bjorn Bouncer, its lightweight and folds flat, I pop it in its carry case and take it with me when visiting relatives, I can also have a bath or shower with him bouncing happily in it

Decent chair for nursery! I say that currently sat here trying to balance a bottle on the radiator and prop up a cushion having bought a crap one! X

I second the towel that goes around your neck - loved it! Protects you from splashes as they get bigger and allows you to be hands free while they're small and slippery.

Facecloths for the changing. We had a stack of red and a stack of yellow. Yellow went under their heads and red went under their bottoms when we were changing them. It was a lot easier to wash those little cloths than change the whole cover every time.
Muslins - vital with so many uses.

Oh also washable change mats - soo much nicer than the plastic ones. I don't know how to link but I got the 2 pack on Amazon by Essentials by Lotte. They are lovely and padded so you can also use them as something to just lie the baby on while you're out as well as for changing. Also coming in a pack of 2 means you can easily wash one and still have the other to use. I wish I'd had them with ds1 and will definitely keep them in case of a future dc3 or pass on to a friend to use.

I was going to say Etta Loves muslins too. I haven’t actually used them but I would definitely get some if we have a second.

A tuppence and crumble star blanket. I found much easier than a snow suit.

I didn't get on with teething necklace as Dd was a drooled, is a drooler, and I ended up soaking!

Shnuggle bath - wish I'd have known about it earlier
Nice maternity PJ's for me - made me feel much better post birth
Getting the nursery all sorted before DS arrived - obviously he didn't sleep in there for months but I liked being able to take him to his own space

Star projector, my 4 week old likes to watch them and it relaxes her dad and I as well!

Ergo baby sling, angel care bath seat, sleepyhead and newborn bundlers (which are the greatest invention when you are changing so many nappies on a night!)

I bought an Angel Care bath and was gifted a Skip Hop bath too, much preferred the Skip Hop

DS is 10 weeks so we're still in the newborn chaos... some of the best things ive found so far are:
Sense-U monitor (like the snuza mentioned earlier). It monitors breathing, temperature and position. DS had breathing issues at birth and we now cosleep so it's reassurance on both fronts.

Decent bf pillow to save your arms and back! Useful even if ff.

Elvie wearable pump (if you're planning to bf/pump), a tad pricey but it's so convenient and comfy!

Love to dream swaddle, it zips up for easy use and keeps their arms in the natural up position. You can get a cheaper versions that are the same, my DS sleeps like a dream in his!

MyHummy white noise teddy, i pop it on at bedtime and there no fuss then it turns on if it he stirs.

A gliding chair and footstool. I spent many, many nights snuggled with non sleeping DD in mine.

They are not too expensive 2nd hand and I sold it for what Zi paid for it 3 years later.