Must haves for new mums in Dundee and Angus
Last week I posted in a local community group asking for mums to say what their best buy was when they had a newborn baby. I was hoping a few people might comment and I’d get a wee list of five or six must have items.
However, the comments kind of blew up and by the end of the list I was a bit bamboozled as to how I would put it all together into my quick read list.
So after much thought and consideration I have put together a little guide of must haves for new mums and mums-to-be.
The idea of the list is to offer some suggestions of things you could ask friends and family to get for you when the baby arrives and to point you in the direction of some good reviews of things that become a bit of a minefield when you start looking into them.
It’s also important to note that
you don’t need to buy new!
There are a ton of places you can get things 2nd hand. When it comes to baby stuff everything is used for such a short time that it’s usually still in really good condition when you are finished with it. You’ll only use it for a little while too so when maternity pennies are tight there is no shame in picking up something preloved! Make the most of Jack and Jill and Mum2Mum markets.
Thanks so much to everyone who commented. I hope this does it justice!
Oh and…I’ve got a ton of links in here to make life easier for you. None of these companies have paid me (unfortunately) and the links have purely come from recommendations by local mums!
The freebie!
The Baby Box
Ooo, so this is a bit special. I never got one of these, my bubs are too old but when I investigated what was actually in these I was pretty impressed. When my friend was pregnant, I gave her a list of things she would need before her little one arrived. A good chunk of them are in that box…for free! So anyone who is expecting soon, you have completely lucked out.
You register to get one at your midwife appointment somewhere between 20 and 24 weeks and it is delivered to your home.
And seeing as we’re starting at the reasonably priced end of the scale let’s go to our next bit, which is…
Terrific things for under twenty quid.
There were so many suggestions on the Facebook post that I loved and a good few of them were reasonably priced, which when you’re on maternity pay is sometimes more of a consideration than we’d like it to be. So here are some of the cheaper items that got a big mention.
1. A mirror for the car.
You don’t know you’ll even need this until you pop your new bundle in the car to go home from the hospital and then realise you can’t see what they’re doing. And of course to remedy this you then you do what all first time mums do, you go and sit in the back beside them.
Here’s a link to a review of the best 10.
2. Muslins
These are a total must! They’ve also come a long way in the last few years.
You can go cheap, white and basic - and really when you’re using them to clean up puke you don’t need anything fancy.
Or you can opt for patterned and coloured.
Either way you’ll easily pick up multipacks for under £20.
3. Pram gloves.
Believe me when I say you will have a mountain of things to organise every single time you go out. Make life easy and buy a set of super cosy gloves that attach to the pram that you will never have to look for!
You can get a whole range of colours and basic to designer options but as we’re sticking to under twenty quid in this section I’ve linked a set from Jo Jo Maman Bebe.
4. White Noise
There were a few people who mentioned Ewan the Dream Sheep or Ollie the Owl teddies. (Both of these are over £20 but the cheaper option is below…promise!) We had an original Ewan and he was a definite snooze extender for our first baby but it annoyed me that I had to keep fumbling to find his leg to pop him on every 20 minutes. The new versions now come with cry sensors so they go on automatically and I definitely would have forked out for that one at the time!
Ollie the Owl is similar as it has a cry sensor but instead of a selection of white noise sounds this plays lullaby’s.
In the end I opted for a white noise baby app. It was a grand total of about 99p and you could adjust how long you wanted it to play.
A few mums also suggested Spotify, which if you are paying for a subscription already makes total sense.
5. Shopping bag hooks for the pram.
You can get these for under a tenner and they are great for when you run out of room underneath the pram!
Jo Jo Maman Bebe do a set here.
6. Stain remover
I mean we all know that you’re going to need to deal with poo stains. One mum recommended this Tesco Stain remover as always being able to remove yellow stains. Ugh! At under £2 it’s well worth it.
7. Teething aids
This is a little further down the line but handy to know in advance what might help.
Sophie Le Giraffe was mentioned as a teething aid.
Double backed dribble bibs were mentioned too.
These ones from Bibado look great.
8. Baby Bath Seat
This Shnuggle seat got a few mentions and I’ve managed to find one that just sneaks in under the twenty quid. Other colours and styles come in at about £25.
9. Baby Comforter
If your baby is using a dummy then these are great. The have little velcro bits on the arms so they can grip dummies, toys etc. The sooner your baby can find their dummy themselves in the night the better!
10. Silicone weaning pots
When you get to the stage of weaning your baby then silicone pots that you can fill with puree and then chuck in the freezer are great.
These ones from Boots would do the job perfectly.
And now onto the real nitty gritty.
The one thing I don’t want all the lovely pregnant ladies and new mums out there who are reading this to be thinking is, ‘I need all that stuff?’
You categorically don’t. In fact all the things you do essentially need are in that cracker of a free box that was mentioned at the beginning.
The following items are in no way necessary, they are just things that people found useful or helpful when they had their littles.
And my own personal advice would be not to buy any of them until you see what your baby is like. They are all individuals, they respond in different ways to different things and what works for one mum with their baby will be a no go for another.
Just read through them and bear some of the bits in mind. You’ll know what you need when you need it…and if you don’t you’ll become like the rest of us and guess!
Boobs and bottles.
We are going for no controversy what-so-ever with this little guide so all I’m going to suggest is that you… feed your baby. Doesn’t matter how.
And now for the helpful bit.
1. The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding.
There were numerous suggestions for this book in the comments. Must say it does look great! Poss worth a look before having your little one. I know that even after ante-natal classes and the oh so entertaining ‘knitted tit’ that is produced to show you how it’s done, that I still felt totally clueless about breastfeeding when my first arrived.
2. Lansinoh
Oh oh oh Lansinoh. How I loved thee. Yeah, get this! Someone suggested it was equally good for nappy rash and on dry lips too.
3. Nipple guards
Not going to go into too much detail with this one. If you need them you will come to know it quickly!
These ones get a great write up. Medela Contact Nipple Guards
4. A feeding pillow
You can pick these up for a very reasonable price and they just make things a little bit easier/comfier.
This one from Ergobaby gets good reviews at the moment but there are many many on the market!
5. Tomme Tippee Perfect Prep
This was the most mentioned item in the Facebook post and I’ll be honest, I hovered on putting this in. There has been a lot of negative press about this device and I know that midwives and health visitors are not recommending it for a variety of reasons. It was, however, the most mentioned thing on the post so it felt remiss of me not to mention it. I’m going to properly sit on the fence with this one and say, whatever you decide, do your research and make an informed choice about it.
6. Bottle Warmer Baby Food Kettle
This is basically a cheaper, simpler version of the Perfect Prep machine and came highly recommended by one mum. The Perfect Prep adds boiled water to a bottle, you then add powder and then it adds a further shot of cold, filtered water so the bottle is at the right temperature. This kettle boils the water to 100° and then when it cools it keeps it at a steady 40° so throughout the day you can just add it straight to the bottle and it’s good to go.
Bottle Warmer Baby Food Kettle
**Top tip - If you are bottle feeding, keep the machine you are using in your bedroom. It’s nice during the night to not really have to shift from the room and the quicker you can make up a bottle in the middle of the night the better!
7. Help with feeding
There is a definite myth that breast feeding will just come naturally and whilst for some it absolutely does there are also a whole range of reasons why it might not.
These facebook groups were mentioned in the comments Breast Buddies Dundee & Breast Buddies Angus.
It might not be a time that you are feeling super sociable but reaching out when you need help or even just sifting through the comments on previous posts can offer a world of reassurance and help.
If you need a little extra support this Lactation Consultant was highly recommended by one mum. She is based in the Ferry too so she’s nice and local. She offers classes before baby arrives and help after if needed.
Mhairi Higgins Lactation Consultant.
8. Baby Bottles
Medela is a very well known brand for all things breast feeding, expressing etc. so it makes sense that these bottles were highly recommended.
9. Breast Pads
These breast pads are washable/reusable and organic. Ticking all the boxes. They also cam highly recommended.
10. Breast Pump
Breast pumps go from pretty basic to seriously pricey.
This one has a great design and is nice and cheap.
Best buys as suggested by local mums.
Ok, so this bit is definitely more expensive! Most of these are little luxuries that make life a little easier, a little cuter or a little more sleep filled.
1. Chicco Next2Me crib
This got a few mentions and I can totally see the benefit of this, especially when sitting up to peer over the top of the moses basket after a C-section is comparable in effort to climbing Everest. (Or Ben Nevis at least!).
There’s a wee review and some buying options here.
A good few mums also recommended a crib over a moses basket.
2. Poddlepod / Sleepyhead
Awww this is a dinky wee cosy sleep aid that was mentioned a lot! And god knows anything that helps them sleep, and therefore, gets you some sleep…well Hallelujah to that!
3. Baby Carriers
There were lots of slings and carriers mentioned.
This one was a favourite because it had a newborn insert which meant that mum could get the house done without having to put the baby down. Bonus.
The Caboo Baby Carrier was also mentioned a few times and it looks great!
The Ergobaby carrier was also suggested for babies from 4 months on.
4. Keeping cosy
Blankets that aren’t just blankets is next up on the list.
There is a huge range of blankets that you can pop straight into the car seat so they wrap around baby when you pop them in.
Morrck blankets got a huge recommendation. One mum suggested, however, that the thicker blankets are not as great at staying wrapped around the baby as the thinner ones so that’s possibly something to keep in mind when shopping for one.
Sheepskin pram liners - This company do a whole range of sheepskin products and they all look a bit fabulous! I’ve linked the page which explains what is so brilliant about sheepskin!
Baby sleeping bags were mentioned repeatedly in the thread and whilst The Original Grobag is the name we all know and love, I really adored Mamas and Papas ones. For a sleeping bag you need a 2.5 Tog during the winter and when it gets hot drop the Tog down to 1 or even 0.5.
5. Transportation!
Car seats are a bit of a minefield. There were several mentions of 360° car seats so I’ve popped a link to a Which guide in the hope that it can guide you through the basics.
This isn’t cheap but we opted for this with our car seats. Again one you would have to research yourself but we loved the ease of it and there’s something quite reassuring about hearing it all click into place and light up to let you know everything is A ok.
6. Cheeky wipes
These are reusable wipes that you can add essential oils to if you wish. Brilliant for the environment and considering how much we spent on wipes with my two they work out at really good value for money too.
8. Sterilisers
There are loads of options for sterilising bottles, dummies etc. and products for this can be quite expensive. A tub of water and some £3 sterilising tablets do the same job!
This article helps point out the pros and cons of each kind of steriliser so you can make an informed choice.
Which? - Baby Bottle Sterilisers
9. A night light.
You’re wondering why you need one for the baby’s room when they’ll be in with you for the first six months but actually this is a proper clever tip.
You will be checking on your baby all through the night, are they breathing, did they move, have they woken, are they hungry?
It helps to be able to see them without having to switch on a light which might disturb them…and we do not want that because really…it all becomes about sleep!
One mum suggested a night light that you can adjust the brightness of so that when you are feeding the baby isn’t disturbed by bright lights.
This one gets great reviews…
And this one also got a mention. The additional feature of a Gro Egg is that it tells you what the room temperature is by colour which when you are sleep deprived and a bit foggy, is no bad thing!
This Gro Egg one is a mum favourite.
10. Let me entertain you!
If you want to get things done around the house, or need to shower, pee or eat and would quite like to do it with both hands free then there are some great options here.
Bouncy seat - These range from £10 to literally hundreds depending on what kind of features you want for them. We had mid ranged ones that vibrated and neither of mine like the vibrate. Other mums swear by the vibrate.
8 of the best in 2022 are listed here with pros and cons. Hope this helps!
Jumperoo, Baby Einstein, Bright Stars Disney Jumper - all do the same thing. They bounce them and they keep them in one place. This is absolutely an essential item!!! You’ll also pick one of these up 2nd hand really easily. They only use them for a few months and they’re expensive.
Sensory Baby Kit - there are a ton of options to choose from for these. I’ve linked a cheaper option, a mid ranged and a subscription box which is on the higher end.
Classes/Support groups
Ante-natal
These classes are great for first time mums. They are informative but more importantly they let you meet other mums who are due at the same time. I don’t know a single mum who doesn’t keep in touch with some of the people they met at an ante-natal class.
I didn’t bother going when I was pregnant with my second and I must say, I kind of regret it. I was pretty isolated and my little man doesn’t really have many little friends that are the same age. Pop along however many you have, what do you have to lose?
Baby Sensory
Aw these classes are a bit lovely. My boys had a ball at every single one. You sing, dance and play every week and there is always something extra special at every class. Jack’s favourite was definitely the under the sea week and graduation was very emotional. These classes really are great for giving your little person a whole range of experiences and having a bit of time to have a chat with other mums whilst littles socialise is no bad thing either.
I’ve popped a wee link here for classes available in Angus and Dundee.
Waterbabies
There were a good few recommendations for these classes in the Facebook thread and I don’t know many mums who didn’t go to a Waterbabies class. A great early skill to build and well worth a look into.
They run classes at Harestane Hydro Pool where babies can swim from birth or there are a selection of classes from 12 weeks at Kingspark School, Doubletree by Hilton and Caledonia Gym in Carnoustie. And the best bit? They include a wee underwater professional photoshoot at the end of the block!
Here’s a wee link to Waterbabies
Bookbug
This one is close to my heart.
My mum works in a local library and both she and the rest of the staff work hard to make these classes great! And they so are. Not only that they are free! What more can you ask for? As a teacher to trade, I am a little obsessed with children’s books and don’t get me started on the value of reading to your little one! These classes are filled with singing and rhymes, stories and fancy fabric fun. They tick all the boxes.
Some light reading
Last but not least…
If you find time (probably before baby arrives) to have a wee read of something then these two books were recommended to give you a giggle.
The Best Friends Guide to Babies by Vicki Iovine
There’s also a pregnancy one too which gets great reviews. Nice to have a wee chuckle about it all.
Mother Truths by Karen McMillan
And I think that’s us.
I have tried really hard to include as many of the ideas and suggestions that were mentioned in the thread and genuinely thank you all for such a fabulous response. I hope this is at least a little helpful for one or two people out there.
Being a new mum is hard.
There are a lot of lovely things about it, baby snuggles on the shoulder and the little noises they make, that amazing new baby smell and all the first times of everything that are just magic.
But, oh boy, it is hard too.
So on a personal note I’d just like to add...
Be kind to yourself and give yourself time to adjust.
Ask for help when you need it from family or friends. They will be delighted to be of use.
Sleep whenever you can, stuff having an immaculate house…prioritise sleep!
When friends come round, ask them to make the cuppy and hand them the baby.
If you feel down seek out one of the many support groups that are around, it really does help to talk to others who feel the same. Everyone finds it hard, no matter how well they hide it!
And lastly, try to find something good in every day no matter how hard it has been. Not to be too predictable but...it really does fly by.
Ah if only I had followed those snippets myself first time round!
If you have any other suggestions of things to add just give me a shout and I’ll pop them in!
And if you liked the images above and you fancy some of your own little bundle that look like it then come and have a nosey at the Maternity and Newborn Photography Sessions that I provide.
