Nappy Time Amusement

Age - 3 Months +
Price - £4.50 (IKEA)
Rating - ***

As my little one approaches five months old, gone are the days when he would lie still for a nappy change. Often now we are wrestling him into his nappy. And as he gets bigger and stronger I have no doubt this will become an even greater challenge.

I purchased this mobile as I longed for those days to return where he would gaze distractedly at something (the wall next to the changing table used to suffice) and for now this mobile is having the desired effect. I'm sure the novelty will soon wear off but until it does I'm a happy mummy!

Simple Pleasures

Age - 3 Months +
Price - from £1
Rating - *****

One of the simplest and most pleasurable ways to amuse your little one is by blowing bubbles. This is something we first encountered in a baby sensory class and ever since we've introduced bubbles to bath time and playtime to amuse our little one.

It is so cheap and simple, you can pick up numerous "party bag" bubble tubes in supermakets for £1 or under and the hours of fun are endless.

If you're looking to splash out, there are also bubble machines you can purchase to blow the bubbles for you. Useful if you want to introduce bubbles at bath time if there is only one person present.

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!

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.