1. A baby carrier
I don't think it matters what brand it is, but a baby carrier is one of those items that I find incredibly helpful in my day-day-life. I wear it all of the time. It's so handy, especially while shopping, cleaning, and on those days when you cannot put the baby down. I have a Baby Bjorn that has lower back support, and have found it to be more than worth the price tag. But I have a friend who swears by her Ergo carrier. I think the most important thing is that the carrier has good back support. I have used side slings before, but I found them harder on my back and shoulders, plus I prefer to have my hands and arms free, (especially when chasing a toddler!).
2. Amolin and Bepanthen Nappy cream (technically two items... but lets ignore that)
I know there are a lot of nappy creams that people swear by, but I have used a fair few nappy creams when I worked in childcare, and I always found these two to be the best. My sister always used these as well, and we have both never had many dramas with our kids getting nappy rash.
3. A bouncer
There are all kinds of whizz-bang baby holding contraptions, but in my opinion, a good old fashioned bouncer is one of the better ones. Bouncers are cheap, light, and easy to carry around and great in summer. We were given two rockers when we had Georgie, and she hated both of them, so when Charlie was born, Mum got a hold of a bouncer for me, and I've used it more than I ever used the rockers.
4. A vaporizer.
Again, it doesn't matter what brand. But Vaporizers, or humidifiers, are a Godsend when it comes to sick babies. It helps them breathe so much easier when they have blocked noses, and I have found mine to be the difference between a good night's sleep, and a really horrible one when my babies are unwell.
5.
You know what? I honestly couldn't think of a number 5. I tried really hard, but I just couldn't, and I don't want to put something on the list just for the sake of it. I'd love to rattle off a list of things that would make baby-rearing a breeze, but the fact is, there really isn't anything that is essential. Fair enough you need nappies, clothes and somewhere for the baby to sleep, but when it comes down to it, everything else is just 'stuff'. Some of it might help you as a parent, I know the things in this list have made my life easier. But, really, when it's all said and done, babies don't need as much gear as we think. Feed, them, change them and love them. If there's one thing I'm noticing with Charlie, it's that the time they are babies goes by so fast, and generally, you won't screw things up too badly if you just do the best you can.
Did you find anything to be absolutely essential when you had babies? Could you add a number 5 to the list?
Linking up with Diary of a SAHM for I Blog on Tuesdays. Why not pop on over and see who else has been busy? And say hi to Jess while you're at it!
