My Top 10 Newborn Essentials…
Now that pregnancy has come to an end, it’s time to embark on the fourth trimester. The fourth trimester is the first three months after giving birth to your child and all the joys and hardships that taking care of a newborn entails. I have already given you my list of top ten pregnancy essentials (which you can read HERE if you haven’t already done so) and now it’s time to let you know the top 10 items I couldn’t do without during the newborn phase.
Being a mother of two, here are a few items I have collated together to be the top ten essentials during the newborn phase. Of course, there are a hoard of other products out there on the market, and each mother will find something best suited to them, but these are my personal favourites and what came to the rescue during my time of need. So let me share with you my top ten newborn essentials…
1. Waterwipes Baby Wipes
So after my first child was born, I was naive enough to think that I had all the time in the world to dip some cotton into water and use it to wipe my baby’s bottom with every single time his nappy needed changing, which let me tell you is A LOT. In reality, the cotton got stuck in places I didn’t want it to, and he was already crying before I had the chance to dip the cotton in water. Second time round, I discovered Waterwipes and ordered them in bulk to last me the first three months of my baby’s life. These wipes are 99% water, super sensitive on a baby’s bum and made my life extremely easy when it came to nappy changes. I switched to regular nappy wipes after the newborn phase was complete, but can’t recommend these enough for those soft bottoms!
Available to buy online on Mumzworld here.
2. Nursing Cover by Love By Jo
This is the holy grail item for me when it comes to Breastfeeding. 9 months on, and I am still using it every single time we go out. There are many benefits of this nursing cover including the fact that it allows you to peep inside whilst your baby is feeding, which was revolutionary as I struggled with this during my first breastfeeding journey where I’d simply wrap a shawl around me and had to work blind. (Rest assured no-one is able to look down into the cover if they are standing on top of you, I’ve made sure to test this out with my husband.) The material is also thin, and so very well suited to the Dubai climate. Lastly, I love that the cover itself is so long that it accommodates a growing baby. Even now, it completely covers myself and my 9 month old as I breastfeed him, without the risk of anything showing as he wriggles and kicks under there. Can’t recommend this nursing cover enough!
Available to buy from Eggs N Soldiers (Located in Times Square Centre) or online on Mumzworld here.
3. Button down Maxis
These were my post-partum uniform for atleast a month, and I got them in every colour and design I could manage to find from all sorts of different places, the only necessary requirement was for these maxis to have buttons on them so I could easily breastfeed in it, whilst ensuring I could walk freely in it.
4. Sleepyhead Deluxe
Since I had decided early on to co-sleep, the Sleepyhead Deluxe was a great way to ensure my baby slept safely whilst being close to me, especially when he was so little. It’s also a great way to make them feel cosy and secure during the first few weeks when babies tend to thrash their arms involuntarily causing them to wake themselves up! I also love that it is so portable, and I could have my little one sleep in it anywhere in the house, close to me always.
Available to buy from Five Little Ducks (Located in Town Centre Jumeriah) or online from Mumzworld here.
5. Chicco Next2Me Sleeping Cot
During night times, I placed the Sleepyhead Deluxe Pod inside the Next2Me cot, in which it fits perfectly, allowing again for very safe co-sleeping. I love that the cot has a mesh viewing section, and can be attached to the side of your bed, to allow you to keep an eye on your baby wit ease. Now that Little Z has outgrown his Sleepyhead Deluxe Pod, we simply pop him into the cot during night time.
Available to buy in Chicco Store, BabyShop or online from Mumzworld here.
6. ClevaMama ClevaCushion 10 in 1
I have raved about this product on any given opportunity, because I honestly love it so much. I used it throughout my pregnancy as a pregnancy pillow and back support, and continued to use it after birth as a breastfeeding pillow, for tummy time and eventually as support when Little Z was learning to sit up by himself. I have written a detailed review about it here, so feel free to give it a read.
Available to buy in Mothercare stores and on Mumzworld here.
7. Sunveno Diaper Bag
This diaper bag has it all. Not only is it stylish, I love that you can wear it as a backpack and has SO many pockets and sections, making it incredibily easy to find exactly what you are looking for. It has a special thermal pocket to fit up to 3 bottles, as well as a nifty key chain string holder to strap your wallet in so you can simply pull up the string holder instead of burying your hands inside in an attempt to find your wallet in the mass of nappies and blankets. It’s really spacious, but reasonably light at the same time, and is able to fit all the necessary items (mainly snacks!) for BOTH my boys, not just the little one.
Available to buy online on Mumzworld here.
8. Candylicious Nursing Bras
We tend to underestimate the power of a good supporting bra and more often that not, we are wearing the wrong size or fit. During nursing, it is even more important that we get this right, ensuring that you do not wear wired bras as they can clog the milk ducts and cause mastitis. I found the Candylicious nursing bras to be perfect for me, and bear in mind that you will need to get fitted again during pregnancy as well as after birth since your bust size will go through many changes.
Available to buy from TKD Lingerie (Located in Town Centre Jumeirah).
9. Belly Bandit BFF Belly Wrap
I swear by the Belly Wrap, not only to reduce the size of my post-pregnant belly, but to give much needed back support in those early days when doing menial tasks can seem challenging. I wore it with my first born, straight after birth, for the first month and a half, and I repeated this with my second born too. I would wear it the entire day, and only remove it during night time, wrapping it tight around my belly. It really helped me reduce back pain because my back was supported at all times.
Available to buy from KLynn Lingerie or online from Mumzworld here.
10. Hana Baby Organic Stretchy Wrap
I know what you are thinking. Baby Wearing? That’s so hippy! And it’s exactly what I thought until I tried it for myself, and let me tell you it was a GOD SEND, especially as a mother of two who needed those hands back. Newborns, as you may have heard, are pretty clingy. But being able to wear Little Z, meant I could still go about my day to day tasks whilst still having him nestled into me. As complicated as it may look for first timers to wrap the fabric, I would be able to wear it within 30 seconds. Not only that, but the skin to skin encourages milk production (for breastfeeding mamas) and my little one would relax and fall asleep almost instantly, as it mimicked a similar feeling of being in the womb. The stretchy wrap also ensured that my back was supported whilst I carried him, distributing his weight across my shoulders, back and hips. I would definitely urge a new mother to look into baby wearing, and see which kind of carrier suits you and your child best as there are plenty to choose from, but always make sure you are observing the TICK safety guidelines when you babywear.
Available to buy from Eggs N Soldiers (Located in Times Square Centre) or online from Mumzworld here.
There you have it! My top 10 newborn essentials! What were your absolute must haves during the fourth trimester? Are any of them the same as that on my list? Also, be sure to help fellow mamas out by sharing your own suggestions in the comments below!
Note: Some of the items mentioned above were gifted to me for use. However, all views and opinions expressed above are honest and solely my own. Also, where applicable, I have linked items to where they can be bought on the Mumzworld website. These are NOT affiliate links (I do NOT earn anything if you purchase them), but you ARE free to use the discount code “Mummyonmymind10” to gain a 10% discount, if you wish to do so! You can use this code at checkout for these or almost any other product you wish to buy from the website. (Terms & Conditions Apply)
Disclaimer: Some Product Images have been taken from the internet, and do not belong to me.
