Getting Started on Weaning ... Cutlery

Age - 4 months +
Price - £3
Rating - ****

Once you've read up on weaning and decided that your little one is ready to try their first "solid" foods, its time to get in some essential kit.

There is not a lot that is a must-have but a soft-tipped weaning spoon is a good idea. If you chose to use pouches of puree rather than making your own then a spoon really is all you need, as you can squeeze straight from the pouch.

Using a soft tipped spoon is essential to prevent any nasty accidents with metal cutlery and to protect your little ones gums.

Top Tip: I always give my little one a spoon to hold and play with in addition to the spoon that I use to feed them. It helps them feel involved and develops their motor skills as well as keeping their little hands out of the bowl and off the spoon I'm using to feed them

I will cover more on kit needed to make and store your own puree's later, however the other piece of kit you may need is a bowl. This can be any plastic, BPA free, dishwasher safe bowl. I however like these Tommee Tippee Explora Bowls.

Bedside Sleeping ... Our Top Cot

Age - Newborn to 12 months
Price - £79.95
Rating - ****

When looking for our first cot to bring our little one home to from the hosptial, there were so many choices. Many parents opt for a moses basket or bedside crib or snooze pod. We were concious that our little one may be a "big baby" and didn't want to invest in a cot that they'd grow out of in the first few months and were pleased to find the Mamas and Papa's petite cot.

It's smaller than a standard cot so fits comfortably next to our bed yet should last us to at least six months (which is the recommended time to have baby sleeping in your room) as it has two height levels like a normal cot.

Luckily it has the same mattress dimensions as a travel cot, so it's easy to get fitted sheets and bedding to fit too.

The only downside is that it is more flimsy than standard cot/cot beds, otherwise it would get a five star rating from me !

Newborn Bathtime

Age - Newborn +
Price - Various
Category - Bathtime
Rating - ****

Baby's first bath time is a special and nerve wracking time for new parents. There is no right or wrong as to where you give baby their first bath - or even when to give it. Some recommend leaving baby's skin a week before immersing them in a bath whereas others prefer to bath their babies sooner.

We opted to bathe our little one at one week old using a baby bath set from Mothercare. There are so many options out there, moulded baths, baths with separate seats, the normal tub at home, bathing with your baby in with you or without and even in a washing up bowl in the sink.

We (stupidly) bought a bath seat from mothercare which didn't fit in our baby bath - so watch for the size and fit if you opt for a separate bath seat. We can use the bath seat in our big bath however our little one doesn't like the seat as the water doesn't come up high enough and he gets cold too quickly.

The set we bought came with a top and tail bowl, thermometer, towel and sponge. The thermometer is useful to begin with until you learn to judge the right temperature and the top and tail bowl was most useful in those first seven days before we bathed him to give him a sponge bath.

Top Tip: Babies get cold very quickly when they have wet, exposed skin. Try and keep their body and limbs under the water and wash their head and face last to avoid them getting too cold too quickly.

Remember .... NEVER LEAVE YOUR BABY OR CHILD UNATTENDED IN THE BATH

Snuffly Noses & Restless Nights Sleep

Age - 3 Months +
Price - Plug In £5.00 and Nasal Spray £3.00
Rating - ****

It seems that if anyone has a cold, your little one will be the first to catch it. It's no secret that children are super-spreaders of germs. And when your little one is feeling miserable with a blocked nose and unable to sleep this Calpol Spray and Plug-In will come to your rescue.

Whilst they are made by Calpol, they contain no paracetamol, the nasal spray is a saline solution which comes out in a fine mist and the plug in has essential oils.

The plug in is a combination diffuser and night-light, it smells of chamomile and lavender - it is not unpleasant and I used it in our room when both little one and I had a cold and it definitely helped clear my blocked nose and little one slept much better with it too.