The world seems to be filled with products claiming to be essential items for your newborn. Companies are practically jumping out of catalogues screaming “buy me!”. Nappy (diaper) brands and toy shops seem to be vying for your attention as you sit down to watch TV. You can’t even open a newspaper these days without baby-related coupons falling into your lap. The baby product market is huge, and continues to grow each year.

It won’t surprise you to hear that you don’t really need to buy every single product available for babies, but how do you know which ones to buy? Here’s a new baby checklist for you:

Clothes
This is probably one of the most enjoyable purchases, because the clothes are so tiny and adorable. But – yes, a but – there’s no need to break the bank. Your baby will probably receive lots of clothes from admiring visitors, so you really only need to buy the essentials. You will need:

• seven bodysuits
• seven sleepsuits
• a hat (for warmth or shade, depending on the season)
• knitwear (cardigans are easy to put on and take off – avoid jumpers for the first few months)
• socks or booties
• a few bibs

It’s unlikely that you’ll get through the pregnancy without buying at least one outfit for your unborn child, so do enjoy the odd splurge.

Changing
Now we’re getting to the less glamorous side of parenting – dirty nappies (diapers). During the first year, your baby will require around 3000 nappy changes. Yes, you read that right. For this wonderful pastime, you will need:

• diapers (cloth or disposable)
• wipes (washable or disposable)
• a changing mat
• nappy rash cream (or coconut oil, if you’d like a natural alternative)

Sleeping
Newborn babies sleep a lot, some up to 18 hours a day, so you want to make sure they’re comfortable. You’ll need to buy:

• a bed – this could be a side sleeper to attach to your bed, a crib, a bassinet, or a cot. Your baby will probably spend at least the first six months sleeping in your bedroom, so think about this when choosing a bed for your newborn
• growbags or sleep sacks – these are considered safer than blankets, so it’s worth investing in a couple of these
• blankets – these are great for when your out and about, or having a cuddle on the sofa
• bedding – your baby will need a firm mattress and sheets for his bed. Be sure the mattress fits the bed well. Do not use a pillow or blankets for a sleeping baby

Feeding
Your feeding purchases will depend on whether you decide to breast- or bottle-feed your baby. For breastfeeding, you may need:

• burp cloths
• a nursing pillow
• nipple cream
• breast pads
• nursing bras

For bottle fed babies, you will need to buy:

• 4-ounce bottles and teats
• 8-ounce bottles and teats
• formula (speak to your healthcare provider for information on deciding which brand to use)

Health and safety
It’s easy to overlook the safety aspects of having a newborn in the house, but you shouldn’t. You will need:

• a first aid kit
• a digital ear thermometer
• baby nail clippers
• a baby monitor

Toys
For the first few months of life, your baby won’t pay much attention to toys, but you may like to have a few to hand just in case. You may like to purchase:

• a couple of books
• a rattle
• a teether

Remember, your baby will probably receive a few toys as gifts, so you don’t need to buy lots.

The biggies
You will need to buy the following big items in preparation for your baby’s arrival:

• a car seat – this is a must-have. They won’t let you leave the hospital without it, so make sure you have one before you go into labour
• a sling – slings are a great way to carry your baby and keep your hands free for other things. Babies love hearing your heartbeat and being close to you, a sling is a great way to offer that while still being able to get things done
• a stroller – you may like to buy a stroller for out and about too, although you can choose to use the sling full-time, if you prefer
• a chest of drawers – you will need somewhere to keep all of your baby’s things, so it’s worth investing in some furniture, too.

Have you got all of the above in preparation for your baby’s birth? Do you think this list is missing any essential items?

Written by Fiona, proud owner of a toddler, @fiona_peacock

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

When you’re pregnant, it feels like the entire world is trying to sell you things. They want you to buy their baby clothes, take their pregnancy supplements and save with their bank accounts. All of a sudden, a whole world of products you didn’t even know existed, is inviting you (and your soon-to-be maxed out credit card) inside for a look around. It’s easy to lose your way in the beautiful department stores, with their pristine display nurseries, and end up buying one of everything, even if you don’t know what half the products do.

As a mum-to-be with a teeny bladder, a love for baby clothes and a lot of hormones forcing you to cry at the smallest upset, you might feel like you need some help in the shopping department. If you’re on a budget, or like to keep things to a minimum, you might be wondering which items you need, and which will end up gathering dust. Here’s a list of five useless baby products being marketed to new parents.

Top and tail tub
Ok, some of you may find this useful, but realistically you could easily use two small tubs from around the house. You shouldn’t wash your baby’s face with the water you just used to wash their bum, but do you really need a whole new product to remember that?

Wipe warmer
Yep, you read that right, a warmer to heat your baby wipes. While it sounds like a wonderful idea, it is quite unnecessary and a lot of new parents mention this when discussing pointless purchases. Your baby won’t be horrified by room temperature wipes, so don’t waste money on this item. If you really want one, ask your parent friends if anyone has one stored away that you could borrow.

Nursing chair
These overpriced seats will set you back a pretty penny, but you’ll be unlikely to get your money worth. If you’re feeding the baby, you’re most likely to be seated in front of the TV so you have some entertainment, not sitting alone in a nursery with nothing but glass-eyed bears for company. During the early months, your baby is likely to be sleeping in your room anyway, so why not wait until your little one moves into their room before deciding whether this is a necessary purchase.

Matching cot set
When you’re waddling round the baby department, gazing at the kitted out pseudo-nurseries while rubbing your hand over your growing bump, you will probably feel an overwhelming urge to buy a matching cot set. After all, it comes with everything you could possibly need, and it all matches! But don’t waste your money, most of the set will go unused because bumpers, comforters and pillows increase the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). While the sheet may still look beautiful, it’s probably not worth buying a whole set for.

Baby helmet
The baby you made is precious, and of course you don’t want him to bump his head. But, sadly, head bumps are a part of life. Parental supervision in the early days should ensure your child doesn’t suffer a serious head injury from a fall, so there’s no need to whack a helmet on him.

If you’re expecting your first child, speak to your mum friends to find out what they consider to be useless items. You don’t have to take their advice, if you want to buy a wipe warmer anyway then go right ahead. You could even see if anyone has one you can borrow to see whether it’s worth buying one.

Do you disagree with the list above? What would be on your list of five useless baby products?

Written by Fiona, proud owner of a toddler, @fiona_peacock

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice.  All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

You’ve probably already noticed that there is no shortage of weird and wonderful products on the baby market. There are so many companies competing for your hard-earned money, it’s easy to get swept up in it all. Any parent will be able to list at least a few baby products they had that turned out to be a complete waste of money. Here are just five examples:

1. Top and tail bowl

The very concept of the top and tail bowl is based on the idea that your baby’s butt is so filthy, it would immediately poison your poor baby’s face. Now, obviously you shouldn’t use your baby’s butt to clean your baby’s face, but aside from that, your baby will probably be fine in a normal baby bath. If you have a top and tail bowl, the chances are it was only ever used one and then resigned to the pile of useless baby products building up in your garage.

2. Baby shoes

Babies can’t walk, but that doesn’t seem to stop the hundreds of companies out there making tiny shoes for baby feet. They’re adorable, of course, in fact, they can cause serious injuries to the ovaries of broody women, but aside from this, they have little purpose. Your baby spends most of the day sleeping and all of the day not walking, so his need for shoes is actually minimal. It can’t be very comfortable trying to nap with your shoes on, can it? And yet, it’s a baby purchase that’s pretty hard to resist, after all, they’re just so tiny.

3. Wipe warmer

Your baby’s butt is arguably the most precious (and adorable) thing in the world right now, it’s true. But, is it really so precious that room temperature baby wipes are not acceptable? Baby wipes are used to wipe poop off your baby’s skin, does it really matter whether the wipe is at a warm temperature or not? Surely getting rid of the poop is the most important thing here? By all means, buy a wipe warmer, but know that you are being overly protective of your baby’s butt each time you use it.

4. Changing mat cover

You don’t want your newborn baby to get cold on the plastic mat and so you invest in a fancy cover for your changing mat. It’s hand-embroidered, very pretty and comes with a tiny pillow to rest his head on. It’s beautiful, but it’s also completely pointless. Your baby will still spend every change on the cold plastic mat because that fancy cover you bought will be in the wash again, along with the pillow. On the few occasions, they’re not in the wash, your baby will immediately pee all over them and you’ll have to put them straight back in the wash again.

5. Designer clothes

Oh, baby clothes can be so adorable. It can be hard to resist buying another tiny outfit for your baby, especially when you see a designer one you love. Be warned, though, your baby won’t care whether the clothes she wears were expensive or not. She’s still going to vomit on them, sneeze on them and do an explosive poop in them. She doesn’t care about the price tag, she’s a bodily fluid spraying machine. Better to save your money.

What baby products have you found to be completely useless?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.

Everybody gets excited when a new member of the family comes. That is because they get to pick baby names, buy fancy baby products, and play with the little one. However, most of it is buying baby essentials. There are thousands of baby products available online and offline. Here is a list of new baby products you should check out for your little one.

1.       Aden + Anais Easy Swaddle

Above the cost and magnificence of a product, comfort takes precedence. Aden + Anais is a brand known for the best swaddle blankets. Now, they have introduced an easier design of their muslin product. This Easy Swaddle secures your baby with a simple snap of soft, breathable muslin fabric.

2.       Angel Care Bath Support

Angel Care Bath Support gives you baby a safe and comfortable place for bathing. It is made of a mould resistant and soft-mesh material that assures the hygiene of your child. It is made of durable plastic and an anti-slip base to keep it in place.

3.       BabyBjorn Rocking Harmony Cradle

This is one of the new baby products. It is highly-researched and carefully designed. It is the first-ever cradle to use mesh fabric for better air circulation. The natural movement of the baby gently bounces the cradle, lulling him/her to sleep.

4.       Skip Hop Lady Bento

Skip Hop updated their bento diaper bag and gave it a more feminine design. It is a travel friendly bag to keep your snack containers and insulated food pack. The black-on-black pattern provides dimension, while the faux leather offers sophistication. You also can grab and go easily with the structured, slip-resistant rolled handles.

5.       Skip Hop Pink Elephant & Giraffe Safari

If you have a baby boy, the Skip Hop Giraffe Safari bedding set is a good choice to provide your little one with warmth and comfort. If you have a baby girl, you can opt for the feminine pink elephant design. The themed sheet set includes a complete sheet, nursery blanket, wall decals, and a linen crib skirt.

6.       BabyCook Pro2x

BabyCook Pro2x allows you to cook healthy food for your baby. You can cook, steam, or puree food easily and quickly. With its dual bowl system, it allows you to make more food in less time. Plus, you can defrost or reheat meals to help you prepare meals in advance. This is certainly one of the new baby products you should get for your baby.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2013. All rights reserved.