What Parents Say

We understand how daunting it is preparing for your new arrival. With so much to buy and so many choices it’s hard to know where to start, that’s why we’ve created this guide. We’ve asked some of the UK’s parent bloggers what they couldn’t live without when their little one arrived, giving you the guide to what you need, from those in the know…

#00afed Clothing

The best tip I would give new parents is to moderate how many clothes they buy. It’s hard to resist those tiny outfits! My advice is to buy two special outfits for when family and friends visit. Then buy more practical wash friendly clothes for everyday use. Most people will buy you clothes as a gift, and you’ll be surprised how much they’ll grow out of without wearing. The more fiddly the outfit the harder it will be to change a nappy too! Those on a budget should look at online auction sites for good condition bundles of clothes.

Claire Curran www.20somethingmum.blogspot.com
#f99e1c Frozen Meals

You’re home; you’re on cloud nine. Your wife or girlfriend – the new mother of your new-born child - is still in hospital recovering. You won’t be able to sleep. And you can’t stay on the ‘phone all night. So do something. Do something really useful. Get the pans out; put the oven on; get peeling, chopping, blanching, cooking – everything that you can get your hands on. Make as many meals as you can, then pop them in the freezer. Let’s face it, you’re going to be a bit preoccupied when the family comes home. But you’re still all going to have to eat. And when you do, those little home-made ready meals you made will probably be the best night’s work you’ve ever done. Bar one, of course. The one nine months before!

Tim Atkinson www.bringingupcharlie.co.uk
#AC725E Mobiles

One item that I’d recommend to new parents is some sort of mobile for their cot. We actually had two. One she liked until about a year old. It was very colourful and had all sorts of shapes and things that moved, so she could watch it when she was in her cot. Every night we’d put it on when she went to bed and it would help soothe her to sleep. Then she lost interest in it. We had another neutrally-coloured one (that looked nice in her nursery) that she loved listening to when she went to bed until she was about 18 months old. You can also get mobiles for travel, which are great for the pram or on car journeys.

www.21stcenturymummy.com
#FA573C Tee Tree Oil

The midwife introduced me to the wonders of Tea Tree oil It has a long history of use in traditional societies. If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, check with your doctor or midwife first. I was introduced to Tea Tree oil by my midwife after I told her how I was missing having a scented bath, I had to have lots of baths to keep my stitches clean. It smells nice, a smell that will always remind me of my tiny babies and has magical healing properties. It made a real difference. Tea Tree oil can also be used to keep the nappy bin smelling nice and fresh. You can either put a few drops directly into your disposable nappy bin, or put some in the water if you are using traditional nappies. Its antibacterial and antiseptic properties will assist you in removing that yucky smell and potential germs. All in all, a must have product which is readily available and won’t break the bank!

Claire Walsh www.beingamummy.co.uk