Single most useful thing you bought?!

[BB142831]

Hi Mumsnetters!

Just wondering, what do you think is the single most useful thing you bought for your baby/child?

I’ll start - a feeding pillow! Absolute godsend and useful no mattter how you are feeding baby!

I’m another one for the feeding pillow! Best thing ever! Saves arm and back ache!

Perfect prep machine

Stretchy sling and an electric swing chair. Sicky baby who wouldn’t sleep on her back during the day. Only bought the swing set when she was a couple of weeks old and the relief of being able to put her down!

I’d say for generic first time parents, number one purchase is sling.
For our situation it was the swing seat.

Oh yeah - and also a forward facing sling. When my DS was old enough and outgrew the stretchy sling I used it every day. For walks, for shopping, for literally anything and it kept him entertained as he could see and watch the world. Hes 18mo now and I wish I could stick him in the forward facing sling and get on with my day!

White noise machine 😂 only thing that helps lo sleep

@Letsallscreamatthesistene

Oh yeah - and also a forward facing sling. When my DS was old enough and outgrew the stretchy sling I used it every day. For walks, for shopping, for literally anything and it kept him entertained as he could see and watch the world. Hes 18mo now and I wish I could stick him in the forward facing sling and get on with my day!

Stick him in a wrap on your back

Bouncy chair. Was under £20 on amazon and by far the best purchase.
I would also recommend buying two changing mats, one for upstairs and one for downstairs, and also to pick one with a nice pattern on it for having as a background for some nice photos.

@Letsallscreamatthesistene

Oh yeah - and also a forward facing sling. When my DS was old enough and outgrew the stretchy sling I used it every day. For walks, for shopping, for literally anything and it kept him entertained as he could see and watch the world. Hes 18mo now and I wish I could stick him in the forward facing sling and get on with my day!

You can get toddler slings! Better for your own back if they're in the back, but definitely a huge help!

Can you?! Thanks everyone. Ill have a look.

At toddler age... Ring sling so I could have her on my side at the zoo, museums etc, or short walks that I didn't have time for toddler pace like school run. Easier than just carrying, but we could have a conversation and show her stuff.
Also bike trailer for similar reason.

Now they are older... Big car to fit all their equipment in plus friends.

A very sturdy pine unit designed for storing toy boxes. We used it as a changing table, with nappies etc in the top box - it was the prefect height.

Then it was used for toy storage ( and climbing on ) for about 15 years. Each coloured crate had a different type of you so it was easy to clear up.

We have recently taken it apart and used the pine for built in shelves in a cupboard, as our children have outgrown it. The boxes are still in use for tools etc in the shed.

It was a bit like this but taller so held 3x 3 plastic boxes and the boxes fitted very snugly.

Perfect prep and electric steriliser

A buggy with a big basket underneath

Amazon prime subscription

@IM0GEN

A very sturdy pine unit designed for storing toy boxes. We used it as a changing table, with nappies etc in the top box - it was the prefect height.

Then it was used for toy storage ( and climbing on ) for about 15 years. Each coloured crate had a different type of you so it was easy to clear up.

We have recently taken it apart and used the pine for built in shelves in a cupboard, as our children have outgrown it. The boxes are still in use for tools etc in the shed.

It was a bit like this but taller so held 3x 3 plastic boxes and the boxes fitted very snugly.

We have IKEA kallax in all Kids rooms for same purpose

Newborn: stretchy sling, white noise machine, and yoga ball. Swing seat, travel system and next2me cot were all humongous wastes of money. I was an absolute idiot for not getting more second hand.

Older baby: structured sling that allows forward facing (we got a Tula Explore) and the Chicco pocket snack booster seat for eating out and about.

Toddler: cheap and cheerful fold away stroller.

Perfect prep, Snoozeshade and portable white noise machine.

Travel cot. Great safe space to pop them down until they can climb out of it.

Some people don't like them but for me it was a moses basket. We didn't get one until my 3rd daughter and even though she was a massive 8 lb 8 oz baby she loved that thing and stayed in it for months!

I was gifted a baby rocker, I think the brand is Tiny Love, basically it’s a rocker, napper and even feeding chair all in one. Absolutely amazing.

Perfect prep machine
Joie 360 car seat

White noise machine! Still use it now and DD is 16 months. Neither of us can sleep without one now.

Swing seat (Graco Glider) and sling for newborn days when she was refluxy and wouldn’t sleep flat in the daytime. And a Rockit for the pram when she would

A really massive picnic blanket that was £10. It’s a good 2m square. We have used it so much, not just picnics but in the garden for playing on/crawling on. So useful.

The other was Star Wraps, so much better than bulky pramsuits etc. Brilliant things.

I don't know whether I have a single most useful thing. When she was 3 to 7 months, probably her baby gym. She loved it and would play in there while I got on with jobs. (Then she learnt to crawl!)

Now (9 months), I'd probably say a good buggy - I got an offroad one (second hand, so not too expensive) and the difference between that and some of my friend's buggies is notable - mine is much easier to push, and as we do a lot of walks with it that's important.

Sling
Naked bars

Tiny baby: stretchy wrap carrier, both of mine loved it and would sleep so well.

Older baby: 360 car seat. So much easier to get a wriggly one in and out safely.

For all ages: car with sliding rear doors. We have a Ford B-max and it makes parking and getting kids out an absolute breeze - no need for parent and baby spaces.