Spends that saved your sanity in newborn phase

[Cheesemonster45]

About to have my first baby and keen to hear what luxury you bought that turned out to be a lifesaver in those first few weeks / months.

I'm wondering whether to prioritise my cleaner, a food service, a dogwalker, or anything else?

I hear night nannies / doulas can be popular but not sure our budget stretches to that!

I'm also in the fortunate position my partner gets 4 weeks paternity leave and he has suggested splitting shifts overnight if feeding baby allows it. He also mostly wfh so doesn't need to be up early the next day.

What were your lifesavers during the newborn phase?

A Rockit! So I could put him in the pram when he fell asleep and he wouldn’t wake, or if he fell asleep on a walk I could stop for a coffee 😄

Sorry I just saw you said luxury - in that case, cleaner and/or meal prep delivery.

We bought the preprepared bottles of formula just for overnight . No faffing about making bottles. We made them up with powder in the day though.

I’m a FTM with a 6 week old and the Najell Sleep Carrier has been amazing. Also second the Rockit and a good baby carrier/sling . Ewan the sheep is also good 😂 none of the above are especially luxury items but they also aren’t ‘necessary’ as such x

I’ve never heard of a food service but that sounds great. I remember that if DP didn’t put a sandwich next to me when he left for work then I didn’t eat. It’s hard to fathom at a distance but a newborn is often on you 24/7 - feeding on you, sleeping on you so prepping food etc is very hard but so is cleaning. So cleaner could be good too.

my brother had night Nannies - it worked for them but I would hate to have someone in my house all the time even if I could afford it and had the space!!?

Actually maybe keep back £300-500 for tongue tie/breastfeeding support. The NHS take forever to diagnose and sort a tongue tie but it can really impact feeding. It’s important to find a good specialist who is properly qualified but if you do then they can sort it super quick and save lots of weeks of unhappy baby. Also I had a breastfeeding specialist come and help me in person with my first which was invaluable.

so maybe actually keep the money for a few private specialists if you need them

Decent ready meals like the ones from Cook. It just helped take the pressure off, especially when you’re tired but still meant you were eating good food

A nice big wrap sling. Not necessarily a luxury but we found it hugely useful.

We also arranged for a milkman and shopping to be delivered.

If you are formula feeding, get two perfect prep machines and keep one upstairs for night feeds.

Lactation consultant. She was a very qualified midwife, I paid 1k and it included:

• a session to show me how to breastfeed and collect colostrum and generally prepare for baby at 38 weeks
• a visit in hospital right after birth
• 2 home visits (and she would have done more if needed)
• 24/7 whatsapp availability for questions

I would not have managed to breastfeed without her.

She also weighed the baby, checked him over, answered all my stupid questions, and had some great tips generally.

Oh and she caught a problem with tension in his neck, which was affecting his feeding on one breast, so I went to the GP and got physio sorted for him which was amazing. I wouldn't have known to look out for it or ask for help.

Both me and DH said we will keep her in our prayers for the rest of our lives. An angel.