Treasuring Special Memories

Age - Newborn +
Price - £12.00
Rating - *****

These "Milestone Baby Cards" are brilliant for documenting those "firsts" and age milestones. They go from 1 week old right through to 1 year.

The idea is that you take a photograph with your baby next to the cards for each milestone achievement or age. Even now, my little one is only four months but it's amazing looking back at how he has changed - it's so easy to forget how old they were too when each thing happened.

I've also had lots of comments from friends on Facebook that they like the cards and many have got some for their own baby. Perhaps they'd also be a good newborn baby gift too!

Do your research .... weaning

Age - Four Months +
Price - £6.99
Rating - *****

If you are starting to consider delving into the wonderful world of weaning with your little one it's time to buy this book. It covers all the basics, the do's and the do-not's and has some handy recipies so that you can start preparing some first foods for your little one.

Annabel Karmel is a weaning expert and this DK book is simple to follow and straight to the point. It's worth having a read of this before sooner rather than later whether you decide to start weaning at four months or six months (as recommended by the NHS).

Our favourite thing at ... four months

After hearing other mums recommending one of these, we purchase a JUMPEROO for our little one. He started in it at about three and a half months, but the age and suitability is really dependent on the size and weight of your baby as well as their head control.

There are lights and sounds to encourage your baby to bounce, different songs and different activities around it, and it rotates around so baby can enjoy the different activities. As well as a parrot and frog dangling from the leaves above. We find that our little one gets over tired if in it for more than twenty minutes at a time, but even so, twenty minutes of contented happy baby is worth it for us.

Fisher Price Rainforest Jumperoo (from £65)

There are three height options, our little one is already in the second option so I can't imagine that he'll be in it for very long. However there are many available second hand and the resale value is pretty high.

B(r)e(a)st Pads

Age - Newborn +
Price - £3.99 for 60 Pads (John Lewis)
Rating - *****

As a breast feeding mother its important to feel that you are secure and leak proof when out and about and equally at night when many women find their breasts can become fuller and leaky.

I've tried and tested many supermarket and chemist own brand breast pads but these Lansinoh pads are the best by far. They are more expensive however they are the only pad I've found that is up to the job and can be used day and night. They are individually wrapped too, so you can easily take some with you in your changing bag/handbag.

Messy Nappy Changes

 

Aldi £1.99 for 10

Age - Newborn +
Price - from £1.99
Category - Nappy Changes
Rating - *****

When our little one first arrived we used Muslin Squares or Changing Mat Liners to protect little one from the cold changing mat and to prevent any "accidents" from running back down the changing mat toward his clothes.

Boots £3.79 for 12

Then we discovered disposable changing mat pads, which are basically incontinence pads, which are super absorbent. As our little one is getting older we find that we use them less but certainly in those first few weeks they were a vital part of our changing kit. I also use them on our travel changing mat when out and about to make cleaning up any accidents much easier.

There are a variety on the market, prices range from £1.99 to £4.00 - they're really worth a try!

Pampers £4 for 12

Baby Tracker App

Age - Newborn +
Price - Free (with in-App purchases for full function of graphs etc)
Category - Nursing, Feeding, Weaning, Nappy Changes, Milestones, Sleeping
Rating - *****

Around day five of being home, when you are harassed and tired and the health visitor pops in to see how you're coping and to weigh the baby - and they ask how the baby is feeding, how many bottles they are having, how many dirty nappies you've had and how much sleep you (and baby) are getting - and when life has all blurred into one big nappy changing/feeding/nursing/sleeping (or not sleeping) mess - there is a certain amount of satisfaction when you can get out your app and show them exactly how long baby has fed, how many mls of bottle they've taken, their sleep pattern etc.

Being able to track all of the above provides reassurance that your baby is beginning to settle into a routine, this app has it all. You can track feed, sleeps, medication, growth - and its all presented in graphic form too.

I found this app was incredibly useful during the first 12 weeks especially but it now serves the purpose as a record keeper for those milestones and growth spurts.

Our favourite thing at .... three months

Whilst on holiday earlier this month we visited a zoo, and purchased this glove puppet in the gift shop as a memento for the day.

This has turned out to be such a hit with my little one. It's brilliant for interacting, he talks to it and there doesn't seem to be any situation - be it wind, hunger, over tiredness that this little fella can't distract from - for at least a few blessed moments !

We've named him Larry Lion, since his success we've also purchased a red panda and a sheep, but Larry still wins the popularity contest here.

Age - 12 months + (we use Larry under supervision and don't let the little one get his hands on it)
Price - £10.99
Category - Bedtime

Rating - *****