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.

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).

Discrete Feeding - Nursing Covers

Age - Newborn +
Price - from £3 (ebay)
Rating - ****

I found these nursing covers to be really useful especially during the early days of breast feeding. They are similar to an apron that sits high up and covers you and the baby whilst you feed.

There are a variety of different nursing covers on the market, many designs and colour schemes too and some which are wired at the top so you can easily see down to your baby. It's also much cheaper than many of the nursing tops that are on the market.

They are very useful but can be a little cumbersome at times and can flop down onto baby's head but as my little one is getting older I also find it useful to stop him from getting distracted whilst feeding in busy places.

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.

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 !

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.

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