Essential baby products you really need

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SLEEP SWEET BABE

Baby’s going to need a place to sleep, so you can either invest in a cot, cradle or even a camp cot that you can take with you wherever you go. Get the best breathable mattress you can afford, and ditch the cot bumpers – they might look cute, but research shows they may hinder baby’s breathing and have contributed to the rate of SIDS.

For peace of mind while he sleeps, baby monitors are a must-have, especially if he won’t be sleeping in your room at night. They’re also useful when you’ll be tending to other things around the house and need to be alerted when he wakes.

SOAPS ’N SUDS

Keep bathtime simple and leave everything you need for baby right next to his bath.

Keep these essentials handy: Baby bath (or baby bath seat if he’ll be bathing in the big bath), bath thermometer, baby body wash and shampoo, cotton wool, hooded towel, changing mat, and body cream. Include a pile of season-appropriate babygrows, so you never have to run off to find pyjamas!

ON THE GO

Safety first, so buy the best quality pram and car seat you can afford. Nowadays you can buy these travel systems in one, where the car seat clips into the pram. See “Bump Talk” on page 18 for a great travel system by Thule Urban Glide Hero.

STOCK YOUR NAPPY BAG WITH THESE ESSENTIALS:

Hand sanitiser Nappies Wet wipes Bum cream Dummy Burp cloth Swaddle blankets (you can use them to cover up while you breastfeed as well.) A change of clothes Extra pair of socks A snack for mom Water bottle Vaccination chart (you’ll be going to the clinic for Well Baby check-ups and vaccinations often in the first few months, so keep it in your nappy bag at all times). YP