Your pregnancy/new mum dream product wish list?

[Dontgetmewrong87]

Hello, I was wondering what you would put on your pregnancy/birth/baby dream product wishlist, in terms of what is most useful/helpful for maternal health, baby comfort etc, and if money were no object?
Thanks

I've not had my baby yet but one thing my friends with children say was a life saver post birth is a peri bottle for helping soothe and clean down below after going to the loo. frida.com/products/upside-down-peri-bottle

Pro tip: they want nothing but YOU.

Thanks, this actually looks very helpful and is the sort of thing I’ll put on my list!

Presumably they will need some practical items, though, such as clothing for their bodies, a bed to sleep in, a means of transport, etc? Not really a very helpful response, though I do see what you mean I suppose.

I’m curious to hear if there was anything in particular that helped other mothers in the early weeks. There seem to be a lot of innovative products around these days.

Nothing much really. Somewhere to sleep and something to wear. If bottle feeding the perfect prep machine is a godsend

Lanolin if breastfeeding.
Swaddles that zip up.
A cocoon a baby or baby nest type thing.
Yellow metanium

If I’m lucky enough to have another I’m getting a breastfeeding chair! So many hours of breastfeeding throughout the night, trying to use various cushions for more comfort. I’ve been happy to hold my baby for hours and hours and hours (and got more reading done than I’ve managed for many years!). But my god, the pain!

BbHugMe pillow if you are still pregnant (hell, even if you’re not - I still use mine 2 years later!)

Babyzen Yoyo

Zip sleepsuit s

I promise it’ll seem more helpful when you are in the 4th trimester and haven’t put your baby down in days.

A basic bouncy chair. We've used it loads for DC from birth - great for popping them down for a bit while you eat etc. We looked at fancier models (electric swing seats and so on) but basic ones are small, light and portable, so you can take it into the bathroom while you shower, or take it apart easily to fit in the car if you're going to someone else's house.

My experience with my first:
Bbhugme - i didn’t have one of these for my first but they are amazing
Bedside crib - such as snuzpod, chicco next to me etc so much easier for night feeds
Perfect prep - if bottle feeding
Basic bouncer - we had an expensive one and a cheap one the cheap one was by far the better option and used a lot more although I would consider the babybjorn one. Can often get second hand
Car seat - Cybex cloud z. I had the cloud q first time which is the same but the isofix base doesn’t rotate. You can lie it flat out of the car so baby can stay in longer.
Totter and tumble play mat - maybe not for a newborn but I swear this is my best baby buy. We still have it out even though DD is 3. It’s so comfy for sitting on the floor with little one and wipes clean (handy as I had a refluxy baby) but looks nice in your home. Works as a good cushion for toddlers who like to jump everywhere.
Muslins - more than you think you will need!

A really good insulated mug to keep your drinks hot or cold.

A comfy sling.

Somewhere to put the baby down- I had a now recalled boppy lounger and it was SO useful. Just carried it around the house with me and popped DS in it wherever I was.

Brilliant, thanks everyone
Got a good list going now

Yes, the bouncer was a godsend. Bonus points if it vibrates too. And the enormous pregnancy pillow - bliss.

For me:

Positive Birth Company - used their Freya App for breathing, relaxation every night. made a huge difference during labour. Stayed at home a lot longer thanks to the breathing.

Pregnancy exercise ball - from 20 weeks, I swear this helped me stay comfortable all the way through and good in labour. I spent many hours watching TV on it, good to stay mobile.

Baby Bjorn bouncer- I got mine second hand, I can't explain why its better than other ones but it is. My baby loved it, good for meal times etc. Also very light, easy to take to other people's house.

Pram - do your research for what suits your lifestyle. second hand is fine but worth getting a decent one as you will use it a lot.

Sling - I didn't sling my baby loads when tiny but useful for walks etc. I have the Beco 8, would really recommend and good on the back.

Cheeky wipes - reusable wipes, so much better than normal wipes. I use for both face and bum at home. Saves a lot of wipes as one does the job of several throw away ones.

Next to bed crib - amazing. I had the Tutti Bambini, love the size of it and look. Zip down side to attach to bed and also portable if you go away for the night.

Coconut balm - love the KoKoso one. Great for babies skin, massages, your hands!

Cooking - stock up the freezer for those first few weeks when you don't have the energy to think about dinner.

Feel like I could go on all day! Personally I think don't get too many outfits, especially in smaller sizes as you do a lot of washing so have fresh clothes all the time and they grow fast.

The thing I loved more than anything was a Kindle Paperwhite. It meant I could read in the dark when the baby was feeding endlessly or refusing to sleep, without having to light up the whole room. I'm still using the same Kindle seven years later.

Also a decent insulated coffee cup. I didn't have it back then (I had a rubbish flask) but I wish I had - either a Klean Kanteen or a Sho coffee cup. I use them every day now but would have been even better back then.

Oh also I love white noise for baby and Amber coloured light, so you can see in the dark but it's not as bright for baby.

Another vote for the babybjorn bouncer, usually plenty available secondhand. In addition to the advantages mentioned here, the whole cover comes off easily so you can chuck it in the washing machine. It's also got a high weight limit, so no worries about baby getting too big for it before they've outgrown it developmentally – a couple of friends have had issues with this with other bouncers.

The opposite of 'money no object', but borrow a cushion from the back of a sofa for breastfeeding in bed at night. It's (obviously!) designed for sitting up against, and is so much more comfortable than faffing around with bed pillows.

Bedside crib
Dimmable lamp/clip on spotlight lamp you can attach to your bed which doesn't light up the whole room!
Waterproof mattress cover for when the baby leaks all over your bed!
Lots of hand towels/bath towels to put under your top half as you lie in bed feeding - soft and to absorb leaking milk in the early breastfeeding days and means you won't have to keep changing your sheets all the time!
Klean canteen type water bottle, bedside snacks. The hunger of breastfeeding at night and the exhaustion. You won't want to get out of bed!

Ergobaby embrace carrier for when they are tiny. Super easy to put on and soft fabric.

I get the 'just you' comments in a sense as a lot of these products my little one didn't take to or there are cheaper alternatives. These are a few I found really helpful or learnt after..

Some things I couldn't live without were my breastfeeding cape:
Pre-made formula packet for emergencies (if solely breastfeeding)
Nipple shields
My egg nightlight. You just touch it and it turns on. Great for nighttime changes without rousing baby (or yourself) too much.
A chest of drawers for clothes rather than a wardrobe
A nappy caddy for upstairs and downstairs.. filled with nappy cream, bags, nappies, thermometer etc
A good baby camera (can get a cheap Argos one that connects to phone as a second camera as well if ever out and want to check in on baby)
A good baby bath
Lastly if I could have afforded it at the time those next to me cribs (as baby co-slept for ages and would have been easier transitioning from that to a cot next to the bed I feel)
And an isofix turning car seat

I barely used a nappy bag.. baby hated sleeping pod.. Moses basket could be replaced by next to me crib and lasts longer.. didn't take to bouncer.. etc etc

Oh and stocking on frozen food!! Learnt that the hard way. This time I'm much better prepared.