Newborn must haves

When your having a baby there are hundreds of lists on the internet about the essentials that you need for your newborn. It only seemed right now to pass the occasion without adding my own list of what we have found to be the essentials. Obviously it’s worth noting every baby is different and what works for one doesn’t necessarily work for another. So here goes...

1. Tommee Tippee Perfect prep machine - £75 - I’m in the process of writing a post about feeding and our journey into breastfeeding but needless to say, we ended up switching to formula around 2 weeks ago. I’d seen these prep machines online while I was pregnant but at £75 (the older model is nearly always on offer) we decided it wasn’t an essential. We quickly realised awesome this product actually is and I picked one up second hand on Facebook marketplace for £15 - total bargain and worth every penny. It makes a bottle at perfect drinking temperature in 2 minutes - perfect when your little one is having a melt down because they are starving. The only problem I’ve found is that it only does a minimum of 4oz so if your little one isn’t drinking that much in one go it can be a waste
2. Holder for your changing bag - I got my craft on before Erin arrived after seeing bags online where you could store nappies, wipes and nappy sacks. They rang e from ones that are effectively like a make up bag to posh ones which have a changing mat built in. Which ever you decide to do - it’s so worth having your nappies, wipes and such in one little zip, grab easy bag as it means if your in a coffee shop or somewhere where you may change baby on the go, you don’t need to take the whole changing bag with you as everything is always in one place 
3. Tommee Tippee starter set - £159.99 currently £69.99 at mothercare - this set is amazing! It literally comes with everything you could ever need for your bottle feeling journey from a steriliser, bottles, formula holders and a bottle brush. I really love the Tommee Tippee bottles so this was perfect for us - we picked it up when it was on offer in mothercare - currently is again 
4. Sleeping bags - These have become popular over recent years and there’s so many available in everywhere you go to varying in price. I picked up a couple of them in Sainsbury's at Easter when they had the 25% off in TU making them around £10 - one in a 1.5 tog and one in a 2.5 tog - they are available in 0-6 months, 6-12 months, 12-18 months and 18-24 months. We will defiantly be using these until she is too big to. She loves being snuggled up in them. 
5. A playmat - Erin loves nothing more than lying on the floor and kicking her legs about and having a good stretch. We decided that with some of the money we received as presents when she arrived we would buy her a play mat so she could enjoy some time lying of the floor and having a kick. The one we decided on was from Mothercare (after spending at least 15 minutes looking at the different ones available. It has lovely bright colours, was a good size and the lion makes different tunes. It also comes with a cushion that helps with tummy time. 
6. Baby Sling Wrap - I actually purchased a different carrier before Erin was born however every time I wore it, it didn't feel right. I loved the idea of baby wearing and had read a lot about it while I was pregnant so I persevered. We went along to our local Mum2mum Market last week which is a second hand market / table top sale where parents sell all their baby stuff. If you have one in your area I would defiantly recommend it! Here I picked up a Kari Me Baby Sling (available here on amazon) for a bargain price of £10 - I have only used it for a week but i am SO in love with it and it feels so much more secure. And even better Erin loves it too! If like me you have been looking into baby wearing I would say go for it! I am just sad I didn't do it from the start but I have learnt my lesson for next time. 
7. Nasal Aspirator - £6 - I'll be honest - this was on a lot of the baby essential lists I read however, I passed it off thinking it was just one of those gimmick items you didn't really need. However this last week Erin has had a cold and cough and I'll admit I turned to Amazon's amazing prime next day delivery (here) and ordered one which arrived the next day. It is awesome - never thought I would be that person who say things like that about a nasal aspirator.. but when your baby is too young for Calpol and can't breath through there nose properly its amazing what you get excited about. 
8. Baby Swing - This is one of those, depends on your baby products, some babies absolutely hate being in a swinging chair - Erin however loves it. She is quite happy to sit there watching everything thats going on or having a little snooze. I wasn't sure she would love it as she HATES the car seat with a passion. The picture above is her sitting in the swing while I cooked tea the other night. I positioned her in the kitchen away from anywhere she may get splashed or anything and she sat quite happily and watched me. A lot of babies are quite happy to sit like that as long as they can see you. Its been quite handy for getting things done as I can just pop her in it and crack on as long as she is happy. The one we have is the Fisher Price Chair - It was given to use by a friend however is still available in Argos HERE for  £59.99 (on offer - normally £84.99). What I love about this one is it folds flat too so we can take it on holiday to Centre Parcs when we go in September 
9. Ollie the Owl - £34.99 - Again this one was on a lot of the lists we saw and one we picked up after lots of recommendations. We havent' had to use it too much as *touch wood* Erin tends to settle easily however when she isn't quite settled we set it off and she soon goes off to sleep. What I love about Ollie is it has a mode on it where you can set it so if baby stirs in the middle of the night, Ollie will go off automatically by monitoring the motion. 

Thats our essentials so far! Im sure as we go on there will be lots of other things I can include and I may do another one of these list as she gets older. There are also lots of these lists around of things people wish they had not brought. I'll be honest, at the moment there isn't anything I can think go that I would defiantly say I wish I had not brought. I spent a lot of time during my pregnancy viewing different lists and watching videos about essentials so I was very clued up about things before we brought anything. Again there may be things as we go on but I will update you in the future.