Mum’s Top 5 Things For Baby

Having a baby opens your eyes to a whole new market of products, gadgets, gizmos and contraptions. It can be so very confusing, with some parents left wondering what they actually need to buy and what is truly essential.

With this in mind, I have asked BellyBelly Members to come up with their Top 5 products for baby. Each month, we will feature a different Member’s Top 5 products and keep a tally (scroll to bottom of page for tally) to see which are the most recommended products overall.

This month’s Top 5 writer is Janelle Griffin. Janelle is married with a 4 month old son. She is currently on maternity leave from work and is busy with her new baby, new house and being a new moderator for the BellyBelly forums.

Don’t forget to check back next month to see if any of the below products pop up again as a BellyBelly Mum’s Top 5 Things For Baby.

My Top 5 Things For Baby – Janelle Griffin, July 2005

1. Hug-A-Bub

We were given a Baby Bjorn carrier before the baby was born but I was confident of using anything like that as I have a bad back, although I knew that we would need a sling or something similar. So we were looking around to see what else was available and the ladies on BellyBelly recommended the Hug-A-Bub, so we bought one.

I love the fact that the baby is really close to your body and I believe it settles them easier. Also, it has allowed me to hang out washing, fold washing, prepare food, etc while wearing bubs in it. I also use it while going out to restaurants and going shopping, much easier than worrying about a pram.

I also like it as even though my baby is 15 weeks old at this stage, it will have a long life as it can be used for newborns onwards as there are different ways to use it.

I know several people that own a Hug-A-Bub and none of them have regretted buying it.

2. Fisher Price Ocean Wonders Aquarium Bouncer

This is a bouncer that has a small aquarium type attachment that plays music, has dangling fish, etc. We needed something to put baby in while getting ready, having a shower, etc. We bought this after I saw it at a friends house and I love it. Thankfully our son loves it also! I think he was around 4 weeks when we bought it and have used it everyday since then.He loves the fish and the sounds. It keeps him entertained and we like that a lot!

3. Xpose Infrared Wireless Baby Monitor

We were given a second hand baby monitor but that stopped working after only 2 weeks so we had to get something else. We liked the idea of this monitor as it has an infrared camera in it, so the parent’s receiver has a colour screen so you can keep an eye on the baby from a distance. We love this monitor because our bedroom is at the other end of the house as the baby’s bedroom so we would only hear him if his was crying loudly. Plus the added bonus of seeing him, means that we can see if he needs attending to or if he is dreaming or squirming in his sleep. It will be handy later on as he grows as well as we’ll be able to see him go to sleep without disturbing him by going to his room.

4. Bonds Clothing

We received a Bonds bodysuit as a gift (not the all in one growsuits) and once we used it, I had to go out and buy more. It can be very difficult dressing a baby and since the bodysuits have lycra in them, they can be easily put on and off. The whole range is fantastic; they have short and long sleeved and short and long legs. The long legged ones don’t have to go over baby’s head, which they all seem to hate.

5. Baby Love by Robin Baker

This is a book that is written for the first few years on the baby’s life, with great detail on newborns and breastfeeding. We bought this before the baby was born and found it invaluable as it describes all aspects of a newborns life. Robyn details each developmental stage and what you can expect. She describes how to breastfeed and deal with issues that may come up with that. I can’t tell you how many times I have picked up the book thinking something might be wrong with my son (or me) and reading her book has assured me that most things are normal!

My Top 5 Things For Baby – Debra Morris, June 2005. Debra is a mum to 2 month old Gabby.

1. Kaz Cooke’s “Up the Duff� and “Kid Wrangling�

I absolutely adore the humour of Kaz Cooke. I read “Up the Duff� and absolutely laughed my head off. It is full of useful information for throughout your pregnancy and it doesn’t preach to you. “Kid Wrangling� is equally as funny and is great as a reference book for when bubs is doing something (or not doing something) that you don’t know how to deal with.

2. Avent Bottles

I think they look great but they are also excellent for breast-fed babies. My little one has not had any issues with being fed from these bottles. She still attaches to the boob really well. They have teats to suit each stage of feeding that bubs is at. While they are a little on the expensive side, they are worth the investment!

3. Cloth Nappies

Even though I am using disposables, I find having a stock of cloth nappies marvelous for spills such as spews, poos and wees. When my baby has a bit of a kick around without her nappy, I put a cloth nappy under her to catch any little accidents which inevitably happen.

4. Pigeon Disposable Nursing Pads

These are a little on the expensive side but I buy a pack every now and then for when I am going out for the day. They are larger breast pads that are actually shaped to fit around the boob (rather than flat). They have a little sticky-bit on the back to hold them in place in your bra. They are really absorbent and feel comfortable. Each pad comes individually wrapped so if you have a couple in your nappy bag they won’t get all grubby and yuk.

5. Hug-A-Bub

I tried using a cheaper sling and found it to be uncomfortable and difficult to use. When a fellow BellyBelly member showed me her Hug-A-Bub, I just HAD to have one. My daughter absolutely loves being cuddled up so close to whoever is wearing it. It holds her nice and snug whilst freeing up both my hands so that I can actually get some things done. With a bit of practice, you soon get to putting it on like a pro. It’s so simple yet so effective. I like that it comes in really nice colours. I bought one in black because it is the colour I normally wear (and it is so slimming!). But you could definitely get one in a colour that suits your personality.

My Top 5 Things For Baby – Kelly Zantey, May 2005

1. Hug-A-Bub

When my first was born, I bought a Baby Bjorn, which had a very short life. My back and shoulders ached and I really didn’t enjoy using it. When my second was born, I was very hesitant about using another baby carrier/sling. But I am so glad I decided to try the Hug-A-Bub. It was a huge difference, my back actually felt more supported and the closeness I felt with my baby was amazing – I almost felt like I was still pregnant! My second baby was very refluxy and colicky and the Hug-A-Bub would settle him really quickly – he loved being in it and would be sleeping in minutes. Now he is older, he prefers to be outwards facing but it still sends him off to sleep that way too. It’s really easy to wash in the washing machine with no parts or metal components to worry about. Baby’s head is also really well supported and isn’t left bobbing around unlike other carriers.

2. Avent Isis

Generally breast pumps are associated with bottles and mum going back to work; however I found so many uses for my breast pump. The reason I chose the Avent Isis was due to overwhelming recommendation from other mums. I didn’t want to spend lots of money on an electric pump when I didn’t know if I would even use one, so it seemed a logical choice.

I first used the Avent Isis when I had a nasty split in my nipple from some breastfeeding problems with my first born. I used it to help express some milk which I then intended to bottlefeed her – unfortunately she didn’t take to the bottle and I persisted breastfeeding, but there were still more uses for the breast pump yet! I also used it when I later developed mastitis to help express milk – I had become engorged and I had to express the excess milk. That excess milk I was able to store in special Avent freezer bags that came with the pump.

A good breast pump is perfect for times when you can’t be there for a feed, if you want a night out or for hubby to cover some night feeds when you need your well earned sleep! For those with a low milk supply, it can also help stimulate supply.

3. Fisher Price Ocean Wonders Aquarium Bouncer

This is one of the best ‘baby entertainment’ products I have bought to date! We bought it for my son for Christmas, he was around 8 weeks of age and from the day he started using it, he was infatuated! He loves the bubbles on the screen, the sounds (of which you can select ocean sounds, music etc) and I am not sure if he likes the vibrations in the base but he kicks his little legs with a huge smile on his face with or without it!

4. Pinky McKay’s books

Before I had even heard of Pinky McKay’s books, ‘Parenting by Heart’ and ‘100 Ways to Calm the Crying,’ I had tried to follow a gentle parenting approach into our home. I was soon faced with lots of external forces which told me that such gentle methods (for example co-sleeping or methods of comforting) were a no-no and I should instead be ‘training my baby’ with other methods. I was terribly confused and I had no idea what I should be doing – I felt completely lost. Reading Pinky’s books have been a huge breath of fresh air and have given me so much confidence in my own instincts as a parent. They didn’t tell me what I should be doing, rather, what I might like to try.

Pinky’s work has given me a sense of direction not only for myself, but for BellyBelly when it was in its early stages. Pinky’s words in both her books and her personal support have been so wonderfully beneficial for me. I wish for everyone to know how fabulous and refreshing it is, to know you are allowed to parent your child, exactly the way you want to – without the need to ‘train’ your baby. The benefits of gentle parenting seem endless.

5. My Digital Camera

I was so glad I bought a digital camera! Not only could I be snap happy and take lots of great pictures of my children, but I could choose the ones I liked best and send them straight off to friends and family. It’s been a great investment.

Some special mentions:

Jolly Jumper

Anything that gave me five minutes peace from my very active daughter is worth a mention!

A deep freezer & dishwasher

A deep freezer for stocking up on food to reduce on shopping trips, and dishwasher – need I say more?!

The support of some good friends

I met a great friend after my first born was almost a year old, she has been able to get me through some really tough times and give me great advice on all things parenting – as well as many other things! Another friend had a very similar family background to me so I could discuss all things relationship wise with her and feel at ease. It is so important to find a great source of support from others in a similar situation, especially those who believe in similar parenting styles to yourself. As a parent, it’s always much more confidence boosting when you have your own personal cheer-squad and others to relate to! I don’t think I would have been able to get through without some of the wonderful people around me.

Mum’s Top 5 Things For Baby – Tally of Top 10 Results

1. Hug-A-Bub – 15pts
2. Fisher Price Ocean Wonders Aquarium Bouncer – 10pts
3. Digital Camera – 5pts
4. Pinky McKay books, “Parenting by Heart” & “100 Ways to Calm the Crying”- 5pts
5. Avent Isis – 5pts
6. Pigeon Disposable Nursing Pads – 5pts
7. Cloth Nappies – 5pts
8. Avent Bottles – 5pts
9. Kaz Cooke’s “Up the Duffâ€? & “Kid Wranglingâ€? – 5pts
10. Xpose Infrared Wireless Baby Monitor – 5pts 11. Bonds Clothing – 5pts 12. Baby Love by Robin Baker – 5pts

Kelly Zantey is a birth attendant (aka doula) the creator of BellyBelly, mum to two beautiful children and has just opened the BellyBelly Pregnancy Centre in Canterbury, VIC.