In the same way that everyone’s baby and postpartum is so individual, so are the things that help us get through those first grueling 6 – 12 months of parenthood. Some people swear by a baby bouncer (my son couldn’t stand being strapped into it), while others live and die by the Snoo (we hardly switched it on and used it as a fancy bassinet). What works like magic for one might not for another, and that’s okay!! So here’s a list of some things that helped me not lose my mind (most of the time…).
1. Artipoppe Carrier
My son Ziggy despised the pram for the first 8 months of life. Still does to be honest. We had a few different carriers lent to us (including one with the initials BB…), but our most used by far is the Artipoppe. It 100% lives up to the hype. It’s the most aesthetically pleasing, seamless to put on, as well as comfortable. I would have struggled to leave the house without it!
2. Tara Treasures Baby Mobile
I don’t know what it was about this mobile, but my son was absolutely OBSESSED with it. We hung it above his change table in the living room. I remember eating lunch standing up next to it when he was around 10 weeks old because it was the only way I’d get a reprieve from his crying.
3. Cocoonababy Nest
Ziggy basically lived in this baby lounger for the first 6 weeks of his life. My husband and I would have him strapped into it between us on the couch or on the floor while we binged Yellowstone during those bleary-eyed early weeks.
4. Bibs Dummy
I resisted using a dummy for longer than I should have. We have used it on and off over the past 10 months, but for those super unsettled periods during the evening or when he’s been teething, these brought Ziggy so much comfort. Even after not using a dummy for months, he took these (nice looking) Bibs ones instantly.
5. Dimmable Digital Clock
Whenever Ziggy would wake overnight, I found it really helpful to be able to just lift my head up and glance at a dim clock to see what time it was and whether he was due a feed etc, rather than needing to pick up and look at my phone. It also became easier to get back to sleep after feeding him if I hadn’t started scrolling!
6. Bug Floor & Booster Seat
As soon as Ziggy could sit up we started using this seat on our kitchen island. He was so happy being at our height and seeing what was going on. My husband would get up with him in the mornings to give me another hour or so of rest while he made breakfast with the baby watching. And now that he’s eating solids, I sit him in it on the bench, give him a piece of corn on the cob and get 15 minutes of time to fuss around in the kitchen.
7. Hatch Nursing Bra
I bought a lot of different maternity bras in the first few months after giving birth. I found that so many of them were too tight, cut into the wrong places (sidenote: not good for engorged breasts and can lead to mastitis) or so low cut that everything was flopping about. When I found the Hatch nursing bra, although expensive, it was by far the most comfortable and nice looking. Another plus was also that it really comfortably fit my wearable breast pump so I didn’t need to think about what bra I was wearing if I knew I needed to pump later.
8. Little Chomps Smock
In the early days of starting solids and baby led weaning, Ziggy got really distressed when having a bib put on him. These smocks are so soft and lightweight, he hardly noticed them once they were on.
9. Red Reading Light
These were so handy to use in our bedroom for overnight wakes when we wanted to keep the vibe very dim and sleepy.
10. Merino Wool Sleepsuit
Over the winter months in Melbourne, these wool sleepsuit were so soft and cozy for those low temperature dips overnight. They also gave me peace of mind that he wouldn’t wake in the early hours due to being cold!
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Becca’s MVP* Products For The First 10 Months As A Mother
