Back in the baby game… 12 years later!

[Amuseaboosh]

Well… here I am, a very soon to be (38 weeks) brand new old mum. After more than a decade out of the newborn trenches, I’ve found myself blinking at all the shiny new products, gadgets and 'must-haves'that simply didn’t exist (or weren’t a thing) the first time around.

I mean, White noise machines? Prep machines that make bottles in 2 minutes flat? Swaddles that look like little baby straightjackets but apparently guarantee sleep? Where was all this wizardry when I needed it before?!

It feels like there’s a whole new parenting starter kit!

I’d love to hear from recent mums and mums to be, are grobags still the holy grail of sleep, or are we onto something new? Does white noise actually work or is it another thing that drains batteries and patience?
Perfect Prep machines – lifesaver or just another bulky gadget on the counter?
Swaddling – still a thing, or have babies unionised against it?Bathing – are we still winging it with top-and-tail bowls, or is there now a spa-worthy system I should know about?

Basically, what have you tried, what genuinely helps, and what can I happily skip without the mum-guilt?

Because let’s be real, no gadget will truly fix 2am cluster feeds or the art of ninja-creeping away from a sleeping baby without the floorboards betraying you… but if there are a few things that make life just that bit easier, I am all ears.

MN, if this is in the wrong section, happy for it to be moved. Thank you 😊❤️

Hello! Congratulations! I also have a 12 year age gap between mine, currently 15 weeks pregnant.

im also in the same boat, everything has changed so much although we had the perfect prep machine last time and it was a LIFESAVER.

Wishing you all the best! Xxx

Ftm to an almost 1 yr old here.

Love to dream swaddles seem to be the thing for sleep at the minute. We had some that were given to us, and baby seemed very happy in them, but have nothing to compare to. I almost certainly wouldn't pay for new ones, they're extortionate!

I think the only thing that has really changed is access to Instagram and SM, which new mothers suddenly have much more time to scroll on, making them an ideal market to target with overpriced crap.

I thought I was the only one who’d have the classic 12 year age gap 😅Currently 20wks, so I’m joining this thread in the hope you’ll come back and tell us what new gadgets are worth it and what to avoid 😁

Ahh I had a 13 yr age gap! I did everything the same way as the oldest ! No gizmos. So much cheaper. Oh the only thing I did use was a steamer for washing the bottles.

Decade on for me too. Here for the tips too. In particular in built breast pump recommendations please!

12 year gap here…one of the benefits was that most of our friends and family were done having babies and threw all their expensive items our way!
I did buy the Doona which was amazing for school runs with the older children. Zip up babygrows!!!! Mam bottles that sterilise in the microwave…And for myself the frida mom witch hazel liners kept in the fridge for post birth. Mostly though the old school things do the job. She hated the fancy baby swing with a hundred functions so we went back to a basic bouncer.

I have a 4½ year old and number 2 on the way. 100% prep machine! Life saver for those night feeds and a hungry baby ha. All the other gadgets are just gadgets that either help or dont. I go with just old schooling it xxx

I've found white noise to be quite helpful in a busy house, seems to help them from being woken by other noise imo

White noise can give them the sensation of being in the womb apparently ( it does work really well)
Prep machines are a life saver (and a hearing saver!!)
Im a FTM im currently 28 weeks pregnant. However i used to work in a nursery and was head of baby room.
So babies are like my fortay as some people would say from a professional point of view... however having my own, im shitting myself😅
Theres so many reviews on everything.
Like you can buy them little baths now, but a sink would work just fine if you dont want to splash the cash, same with a little seat that you can put in the bath.
Ive had to buy one as my sink is small and my bath is so tall, i have to get into the bath just to clean it😅 making my life easier just by getting a small baby bath.
Swaddles give baby a sense of security and comfort, giving them the relaxing feeling and they usually tend to fall asleep relatively quickly.
You dont have to splash the cash now. You can do old school things, like a normal baby bouncer without all the electonics, Sterilising bottles with miltons ect its what you would feel comfortable with! Good luck and congratulations x

Only an 8 year gap here from oldest( in a few months when I pop) but my sister had one last year, she had lots of little gizmos but ended up not using any swaddled in the end (I never did either and won't be again) and didn't really find anything amazing enough to suggest to use.
Tbh, I wouldn't anyway, I'm a basic kinda mama when it comes to before 1.
We did use a sleep machine for both my current children, one didn't really care for it but does now sleep with music on occasionally, the other can't sleep without it, so I think it entirely depends on the child!

My dd is 12 and I had Instagram when I had her…

OP- the shnuggle baths are fab. I’ve never had a prep machine but I’ve heard good things but check regularly for mould.

White noise can be very good... white noise machine/pillow / gadget....leave until you know it works. There are loads of white and pink noise playlists on Spotify or YouTube etc play through your device or Bluetooth speaker. If it's magic for your baby look at buying something if not you have tried it without an outlay.
My daughter sleeps with guided meditation on every night. We used our pc and Bluetooth speaker rather than buying a fancy tonie box.

Swaddling can be great. Try second hand they are only used for a short time. I got a load passed on to me from one of the school mums. Her middle loved being swaddled her youngest didn't so they were free to a good home.

My daughter was 10 months by the time we switched to formula so decided against the perfect prep machine as we wouldn't need it for too long. Instead we took the perfect prep approach and prepared the bottle with a mix of hot water to sterilise the formula and cooled boiled water to get to the right temperature.

Some things I was most grateful when having my daughter were a very basic inside cupboard light with motion sensor. I had it in the bathroom which gave me enough light to see what I was doing without getting me too awake during the days of night time nappy changes and the motion sensor meant it came on as I entered the room when I didn't have a free hand. For similar reasons my lumie alarm clock where I could turn on just a fraction of light to see what I needed without illuminating the whole room. Finally a cleaning caddy that I used as a nappy changing kit with enough nappies and wipes for the day and I just carried that around the house with me and threw in the boot of the car if I went out for the day. Once I was finished I used it in the kitchen cupboard for its original purpose

In short I try to avoid anything that's single purpose until I really know I'm going to need it!

Well baby arrived a few hours ago, all 4lbs 12 oz of her.

Time to get testing!

She's been swaddled old school, with a sheet and blanket, works perfectly.

Currently on the boob but not for long, perfect prep or whatever it's called may still get ordered.....

Thank for all the tips and ideas and lovely posts. Those of you still pregnant, I send you love and masses of positivity.

We've all got this! ✨️✨️✨️❤️

Congrats OP, enjoy her ❤️❤️❤️