Gadgets to help baby grow
Parents advised to always use their discretion
IT’S no secret that having a baby is no child’s play – pun intended.
Although a very happy moment in a parent’s life, it can also be overwhelming, especially for a first-time parent. There are so many things to take into account: the proper way to feed the child, bath them, etc.
And because not everyone has the luxury of a helping hand while seeing them through the early stages after giving birth, some parents have had to go it alone, as difficult as it may be.
Nowadays, however, with technology advancing every day, there are gadgets on the market that offer some form of assistance with the day-to-day duties of bringing up your little one.
Some gadgets could make your life easier as a parent, whereas others are just a big waste of money and essentially redundant. But where does the parent draw the line?
Fairoze Moolla, owner of A-Zee’s Baby’s World, a baby accessory shop based in Fordsburg, Johannesburg, takes us through some popular gadgets on the market.
Moolla has been in the baby business for 19 years and has seen various accessories introduced onto the market over the years, and how they have evolved.
Baby Monitors
Baby monitors have evolved over the years and gone are the days when a monitor resembled a walkie-talkie device that made dishevelled noises when the baby was crying in the other room.
Nowadays, Moolla says, there are baby monitors that have Wi-Fi functionality, allowing the parent to monitor their baby from wherever they are.
“The new baby monitors definitely allow for the parent to go about their business, especially working parents.
“They are installed in the baby’s room with a camera, and the parent can download an app on their phone with visual and audio functions that allow the parent to keep a close eye on their baby while they are not around. Now, this is not to say that this creates leeway for the parents to leave their babies alone and rely on the monitor, but the device serves to bring the parent some form of comfort,” he says.
“Firstly, of being able to see what their child is up to when they can’t physically be there, but to also to keep an eye on whoever is taking care of the baby in their absence. It is, in my opinion, a very useful device,” he says. Retail price: R2 400 – R3 999
Apnoea Monitor
Moolla says this is one essential device that could actually save your baby’s life.
“An apnoea monitor actually monitors your baby’s breathing. Many infants have stopped breathing without the parent’s knowledge, and this is where we get many instances of cot deaths.
“This device is fitted, usually under the mattress, in the cot or around the diaper area, and will notify you as the parent if there is any irregular breathing going on with your child, giving you the opportunity to seek help.” Retail price: R799 – R1 000
Formula dispenser
Moolla says this works in the same way as a coffee machine would, and that it can be really helpful for a first-time parent who is still trying to find their feet and may have little or no knowledge of how many spoonfuls of formula to mix, or what the right bottle temperature may be. “This device basically does all the mixing for you, and serves the formula at the right temperature every time,” he says.
“All you have to do is put the bottle there, fill it with the formula and feed your baby. It is easy, convenient and time-saving, especially if you have a baby that is crying for their bottle in the background. This gadget can help with all of that.” Retail price: R3 000 – R4 000
Electronic breast pump
The process of a mother pumping milk into a bottle is known to be uncomfortable and tedious, but Moolla says the new electronic version does away with the various problems.
“It is very comfortable and convenient, and ideal for working mothers who may not have the time to feed. The mother does not have to go through the whole process of a tug of war with her breast, but instead just plug in the pump, attach it and lie back or even sleep. It will do all the work, without any feeling of being uncomfortable.” Retail Price: R999 – R8 000
Psychologist Kamogelo Mooketsi says parents need to determine if the gadget replaces what they can do themselves.
“The parent needs to use logic when getting a baby gadget, especially for the price that they go for nowadays,” she says. “You have to determine if this gadget will really make your life easier, or if it is just a matter of luxury. If it is the latter, and the parent can afford it, I don’t see why not.”