Top 5 useful baby items

An honest review of a  few random baby items I have found useful since having Emelia!

1. Snuffle babe asprator
These disgusting little things help suck out all the mucus up little ones noses,. They are great for helping babies breath better, and also take milk easier when they are blocked up. Emelia had her first cold at 8 weeks, and until I brought one of these, I had to sit upright with her on my chest because she was so stuffy (at night too). When I looked online for suggestions as to what I could use, this was so popular.  I found the idea of using these disgusting at first but honestly, they are a life saver and work really well. There is a stopper, so you dont get whatever your sucking through the tube in your mouth too. Eurgh!!! All in all, gross but very effective! 

2. Lasinioh breast pads
​ These breast pads are the best I've found. They keep you dry day, or night, and comfortable. I didn't know wether I would need to use breast pads at all (naive.. I know!), but they are so good and worth the price. They are more expensive then the generic ones that you can get, but they are hands down worth it. I’m sure other breastfeeding mums can sympathise, but going out without any breast pads is a no no! And I've found I can’t live without these! The other day when rushing out I completely forgot when getting dressed to use any, so whilst driving to my friends, I had to use sanitary towels instead! I know, Omg ...Major mum fail, but I will not make that mistake again! You can get these in most supermarkets and super drug is definitely worth a try. 

3. Next to me crib 
This has been an "I wish we had this from the beginning" type of purchase. We had Emelia in her moses basket up until about 10 weeks, and it just wasn’t spacious enough any more. Because I still breastfeed and not feeling ready to put her in her own room, we purchased the next to me crib. Its so much more roomier, and I love that I can keep an eye on her without having to get out of bed. Its great just being able to pick her up to feed, and then straight back down to sleep. You can also raise, or lower the legs to fit against the bed. Or if your child suffers with colic or reflux, you can slightly raise the head end. This has really helped, and Emelia is much less sicky. We also recently went away for the weekend, and this easily packed away in the travel bag so we could take it with us. I really didn't think a bedside crib would be something we used, but it works so well for us.

4. Ewan dream sheep 
Ewan (or eewann as we call him) sends me to sleep! Never mind my child!.. He plays comforting Womb sounds, White noise, heartbeats, and a harp lullaby. Again we purchased this after having Emelia, but really like it, and have used him as part of her bedtime routine since birth. She’s not attached to him like a cuddly toy, but associates the sounds with bedtime. I put it back on during the night when she wakes, and it has helped to resettle after waking. His tummy glows red with a comforting light, and he switches off after running for about 20 minutes. There is a strap you can attach to the side of the cot, or moses basket which is helpful. Since she's a bit older, Emelia does try to grab him! There are quite a few different types of these cot toys, but I didn't want to spend a lot on something I was unsure would work, and to be honest, no toy is going to put your child instantly to sleep. Currently with Emelia, her sleep pattern has been changing quite anyways. This product is definitely helpful though. 

5. Mamaroo
This gadget Reggie was so desperate to get. We stumbled across this baby chair whilst looking through endless magazines full of baby products. Its not cheap, and something we really considered if we needed, or just wanted, but actually it has worked really well for us. We dont sit Emelia in it for too long, but it certainly has its place of use throughout the day. If she’s a bit grumpy, I find it works well, and she doesn’t get bored because she’s constantly moving. She tends to just fall straight asleep in it! I also like the size and shape of the seat. Its kind of egg shaped so I feel it holds the baby really well, and its very supportive. There is a newborn insert that can also be removed as the baby gets older and you can also recline or "sit up" the seat into a laying or more upright position. There are 5 movement settings, and 5 sound settings. One including aux so you can pick your own music! You can also control the mamaroo wirelessly from your phone. I know major laziness. I guess you could definitely cope without having all of these features, and at the end of the day it is just a baby rocker. I guess I would have just been happy with a regular chair, but this one has been something we use all the time, and I haven't ever thought "oh what a waste of money".  

​Robyn x