What's the number one investment for making life with a newborn a little bit easier?!

[runlolarun10]

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?

Sling

Bouncy chair

A decent local take away

A flask so you can have hot chocolate during night feeds

An smart phone for surfing the net during night feeds

Extra pillows

Loads of chocolate

An smartphone?!

Can you tell I have a non sleeping 11 week old

There are so many as you have seen! But our best buy was a baby gym. There are loads but we went for the 'Bright Starts' one because the sides fold up to enclose the baby and when they are little it stops drafts. My DS has loved it since 3 or 4 weeks and will happily play for anything up to 40 minutes! He sometimes will even drop off for a nap in it in the morning and it's very cute to see him 'talking' to the characters on the side now he's a bit bigger (12 weeks old)

If you are planning to breastfeed, I've found the La Leche League book 'The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding' very good too.

lansinoh

this although we eventually ditched the bear and had the electronic bit velcro-d to the stand, it's movement activated so if she woke in her moses basket fretting the womb sound would go off and worked a trick

a travel mug - you will not finish (possibly even start) a cup of tea for months. I didn't have this at the time but am planning on getting one for DC2.

From the trenches (mine's about to turn 12 weeks old) - baby carriers are brilliant but don't despair if yours hates them, mine did until 8 weeks or so. We co-slept at first, so no need to sit up at night with looooong feeds, just snoozed; I haven't been sleep deprived at all really. A million breast pads/sanitary pads, I always underestimate how many I'll need.

And ir's a funny thing but everyone always says cook loads of meals to freeze, which is great and all but really, given preponderance of ready/semi-ready meals in supermarket & online shopping, it's not that important. I think this is one of those areas where tradition hasn't caught up with modern technology, you know?

good luck!

for bf-ing this was brilliant lap sac and easier than the v-shaped pillow I had in pregnancy

An IPad - keeps you sane.. Easy access to Internet, kindle, bbc I player for adult stimulation but also access to loads of baby related apps.

White noise cd

Lots of pillows / cusions if breast feeding.

Hundreds of muslin cloths.

Sling, try out a few before you buy one, it means you can do laundry, make dinner and even go for a wee and the baby is with you.

A thermos mug so you can drink your tea while it is still hot/warm without the worry of spilling it on baby.

Boobs.

I am truly in awe of people who parent without breastfeeding. I am yet to come across a baby issue that can't be solved with a boob. And they're always there. And always full. So handy.
Hungry? Boob.
Thirsty? Boob.
Tired? Boob.
Can't get to sleep? Boob.
Grouchy? Boob.
Something hurting? Boob.
Nappy? Okay, actually boobs can't change nappies.
No idea what's wrong? Boob.

"If anyone knows of someone who is willing to be clean my house, fill my freezer, administer gin and be on stand by with earplugs can you please let me know but after I've pushed a baby out my DP will do all of the above without question and with a smile on his face"

If you want someone to do some of those things, a PN doula would be perfect.

Google nuturing birth or doula uk.

Silentboob .

Completely agree. I would be at a total loss otherwise.

sling, baby bjorn or stretchy wrap

agree with silentboob too :)

Ear thermometer. As a new mum I spent half my life worrying that there was something wrong with my little man, and your bog standard forehead or mercury thermometer tend to give different readings every time depending on how long you manage to hold it under baby's arm. Spent £45 on a braun ear thermometer and I relaxed a lot after that.

Swing :) calms them down a dream :D

SilentBoob, that is so true!!!

Another one agreeing with silenyboob. I bottlefed DD1 and 2 and breastfed dd3, honestly don't know how i coped with out the gobstopper boob. and a doula did i mention that

king sized bed

I second widgey bf cushions - fantastic. Also lansinoh ointment for those sore nipples, and I think their bf pads are brilliant too.

Don't bother with a standard baby bath - they take up so much room. We bought one of those plastic ergonomically shaped baby supports to keep both hands free for washing. Mothercare does them.

Brilliant thread OP, I was wondering the same thing. I'm 24 weeks pg with first baby (can't sleep!) so just marking this thread so I remember to come back tomorrow and make a list.

As much time off as you/DP can take.

As much paid help as you can get.

As much unpaid help from friends/family as you can get.

Did I mention the HELP?!

A good DP can make all the difference- dd1 is very hard work but made easier by dp support. Ds1 much easier but found it harder as ex not supportive.

Mobi wrap or similar (Victoria sling lady)

Muslins.

Ewan the dream sheep- White noise/womb - although think we got it too late!

Morrck hoodie

An iPhone is a lifesaver. Download free books for the 4am feeds to stop you dozing off- I got through all the classics and Lord of the Rings before resorting to buying anything. Plus you can use Mumsnet and google for baby stuff as you think of it. Ocado etc on line so you can shop while you are stuck on the sofa in a feeding marathon, download apps / use BBC iPlayer to entertain yourself and the baby/toddler when they are older (trust me, you will resort to this to get ten mins of peace occasionally - I recommend Timmytime)
My daughter hated the swinging chair,if you can borrow one I would recommend it!
Meals in the freezer. A pre set up 'staple' shopping list /menunplan is a godsend. My ability to decide what to cook and plan to eat for lunch and dinner went down the toilet with lack of sleep. Invariably I was missing one key ingredient.
Cleaner or babysitter so you can clean is a godsend.

If breastfeeding, lansinoh and a breastfeeding cushion/pillow (and a supportive DP) - invaluable!
Personally, we found a baby bath really useful as it meant we could bath DD together on the dining table. Much easier on my aching back!