We took so many photos of our baby, not wanting to forget a single moment. Now it seems to be artwork he brings home from nursery that is filling up the cupboards… can’t throw a single piece away though!

These are some of the things we bought before baby was born – but really didn’t need to!

• Bottles
  We bought the Avent steriliser and extra avent bottles. However, our baby just couldn’t get used to the bottles. We bought Dr Brown’s bottles on recomendation from our midwife. They worked a treat. They fitted in the steriliser – so at least we didn’t waste our money on that!
• Food/bottle warmer
  Milk needed to be cooled down, not heated up! So no need for this. It was still in the cupboard in it’s box, unused when he got to his 2nd birthday.
• Crib/cot bumper
  We bought one, put it in the crib. It looked fantastic. Then read that they shouldn’t be used for babies. They can be dangerous, in that they can increase the risk of suffocation or the baby can get caught in the ties. We took it out, and again put it in the cupboard where it stayed.
• Fleecy blanket
  We bought cute fleecy baby blankets. Anything fleecy is not good for the baby. They need breathable blankets. That don’t have bits that can come off.
• Soft toys
  Baby had his favourite soft toy. He never even looked at the others. And friends and family bought him that many toys when he was born, why did we buy so many before he was even around?
• Baby bath, shampoo, and talc
  We thought we needed all these things. Most are still in the cupboard. Plain water is needed for bathing a new baby, and a single bottle of top-to-toe wash cleans them – as the bottle says from top-to-toe!
• Bath thermometer
  This sounded really useful. We kept buying new ones though. The ones we bought just weren’t up to the job and just didn’t work for long. In the end sticking your elbow in the water to test the temperature was a much better way.

Any other things you bought and just never used? Please comment…

Other related articles
Newborn baby checklist – what do I need to buy before the baby is born?

Keeping your baby entertained in the first few days and weeks can be easy – they spend most of their time asleep anyway! As they get older and more mobile – they become more demanding for attention and stimulation. When they are young, a smile, the sound of your voice, a cuddle, might be all they need.

Sometimes you need a hand thinking of new things to do…

I have put together a PDF of things you and your baby can enjoy together. 

You can view and print the PDF ebook for FREE

Baby activities – ways to keep your baby entertained PDF ebook

We have included the following ideas:

Classes and learning for two

• Baby Massage
• Join or start a play group
• Baby signing
• Join an exercise class
• Mum & baby yoga classes
• Join a music class

The Great Outdoors

• Go for a picnic
• Tree hugging
• Remember your day
• Garden fun

Splish Splash

• Share a bath
• Swim in the bath
• Bath toys
• Patting water
• Make ice cream hair
• Go to the swimming pool

Get creative

• Make a foot or handprint of your baby
• Make a video for friends and family
• Make a mobile
• Make a memory blanket
• Make a weight/height chart
• Be green

Fun fun fun!

• Get messy
• Playing with food
• Blanket rides
• Change the words to her favourite nursery rhymes
• Sing Sing Sing
• Play peek-a-boo with her toys
• Be silly
• Giddy-up
• Play peek a boo
• Little drummer
• Round and round

Nice and quiet now…

• Snuggle time with teddy.
• Window talk.
• Whisper in your baby’s ear.
• Are you tired?
• Talk to your baby
• Rock a bye baby.
• Whisper in your baby’s ear.
• Skin to skin bonding
• Read, read, read!
• “Bonjour, je vous adore!”
• Are we nearly there yet?
• Dust off you CD collection and play some old
• tunes to your baby.
• Photographs of you.
• Know when your baby has reached overload

Remember – You can view and print the PDF for FREE

Baby activities – ways to keep your baby entertained PDF ebook

All you need to view it is Adobe Reader, if you don’t have this already you can download it for free.

Adobe Reader

Take a close look around your home. Look at your home from your point of view and from your new baby’s point of view – this does mean getting on your hands and knees and crawling about! If you are heavily pregnant – get your partner to do this bit! You will notice different things this way – the cat’s litter tray, the waste paper bin, the stone frog sitting by the fire…. 

Child and baby safety – 13 things to look out for in your home:

1. Where are chemicals stored? Bleach, household cleaners etc
2. Toilets – can a toddler get into your toilet?
3. Taps – can a toddler reach them and turn them on?
4. Staircases – this sounds obvious – but don’t miss it out. You don’t need to worry about staircases until your baby starts to move about on her own – but better to be safe than sorry
5. Sharp edges on tables and other furniture – look for furniture at child height and below – like coffee tables
6. Electrical appliances – does your toaster or kettle cord hang over the worktop, can any appliances or appliance power cords be reached? Where do you keep your electric razor, curling tongs, hairdryer, mobile phone charger, headphones. In the modern world – the list is almost endless.
7. Plug sockets – it’s amazing how many you have – count them and count again – it is easy to miss one or two out – and they are usually at a perfect height for little fingers.
8. Heavy furniture that could fall on your baby – bookcases, lamps, entertainment units, CD towers.
9. Window blind cords – do they have loops that can get caught round a child’s neck? I was alerted to this danger when my cat got caught in the cord of my window blind!
10. Sharp utensils – where do you keep your knives?
11. Doors that lock on the inside – like the bathroom or toilet.
12. Choking hazards – anything that is small enough for a baby or young child to put in their mouth, do you have any decorative stones, pot-pourri, candles.
13. Look for broken items – these could be your things, or your child’s toys. Throw away anything that is broken.

Once you are aware of potential danger-spots -  you can remedy many of them simply.

Sometimes de-cluttering and tidying up will eradicate many of them. Removing items (if only until your child is old enough to not use them as a toy) and putting things out of reach are two more ways of child/baby proofing your home (remember anything that is moved higher up like onto a mantle-piece – make sure it cannot fall). Any toys or books that are for your child – make sure they can reach them easily.

Using child safety products does help protect our children and gives us peace of mind. Try these great safety products

See our other articles on baby safety.
Baby and child safety in the home – useful information
Child safety products that can help prevent injuries to babies and young children

Every family and every baby is different, but this is what we put into our baby nursery

First things first – your baby will need somewhere to sleep.

But where to start – Cots, cribs,  cot-beds, Moses baskets ?

We chose a crib for our room for the baby’s first 6 months. We really didn’t want to get up go to his room for night feeds. Also advice says that the safest place for your baby is in your room by your bed, in a crib or cot. (For the first 6 months anyway.)

We put off buying a cot until he was going to use it. Newborns are expensive enough!!

Mobile
We bought a mobile for above his cot. He loved the music and movement of the animals as it turned around. Newborns are supposed to see black and white shapes the best.

Changing table
The last thing you want to do is bend down on the floor to change your baby – especially if you have just given birth. A good safe changing table with a comfy changing mat proved essential time and time again.
We had a changing table upstairs and down – to make life easier for us!

Drawers for clothes, towels, bedding
It’s amazing how much room his clothes took up. We only had a few vests and baby-grows before he was born. Friends and family all bought him gifts and the chest of drawers in his room soon filled up.

That’s really all we had in his baby nursery. As he has got older, teddies and soft toys have taken over his cot. His drawers of clothes are overflowing – despite numerous trips to the charity shop. The mobile had to go – once he could reach it – it was too much of a temptation for him! Sad for us to remove it though – his baby days were going so fast!

Other related articles
Newborn Baby Checklist
Baby bouncers, baby swings and baby walkers – good for baby? A new mum’s experience.
Baby and child safety in the home useful information

Remember that young children and babies still need to be supervised even if safety devices are installed. You’d be surprised at how inventive kids can be!! Our son tried bashing the newly fitted stair-gate with his toy hammer – that desperate he was to try and open the gate to get up the stairs! Of course I was alerted to him doing this by the sound of ‘bang, squeak’ ‘bang, squeak’ with the toy hammer going at full pelt.

The first thing I would recommend you do is take a close look around your home. Look at your home from your point of view and from your new baby’s point of view – this does mean getting on your hands and knees and crawling about! If you are heavily pregnant – get your partner to do this bit! You will notice different things this way – the cat’s litter tray, the waste paper bin, the stone frog sitting by the fire…. Have a look at our articles  on child and baby safety in the home and child safety products.

Once you are aware of potential danger-spots you can remedy many of them simply. Sometimes de-cluttering and tidying up will eradicate many of them. Removing items (if only until your child is old enough to not use them as a toy) and putting things out of reach are two more ways of child/baby proofing your home (remember anything that is moved higher up like onto a mantle-piece – make sure it cannot fall). Any toys or books that are for your child – make sure they can reach them easily.

No amount of de-cluttering will be enough though, some things will need child safety products fitting to make them safer.

Using child safety products does help protect our children and gives us peace of mind. Try these great safety products

See our other articles on child and baby safety
Baby safety products that can help prevent many injuries to babies and young children
Child and baby safety – 13 things to look out for in your home

Don’t worry about being a Supermum
You don’t have to get everything right all of the time. Your baby won’t notice, and neither should you.  You won’t be an expert straight away, but you will get better. Just remember you didn’t pass your driving test without taking lessons, and you didn’t get good at swimming without lots and lots of practice. Why should your baby be any different? Babies don’t come with a manual, and you don’t have to pass an exam before you get one.

Suddenly everyone is a baby expert
Take on board what you want to, listen to advice – it can be invaluable. But, no two babies are the same, and while advice is given with the best possible intentions – something that worked for one mum or one baby might not work for you or your baby – only you knows what is best for your baby. Sometimes you have to trust your instincts.

Bonding with your new baby
After labour, many mums are exhausted, and it’s no wonder that they don’t fall in love with their baby straight away. What they want is lots of sleep! Any relationship builds and gets better with time. It could take a day, a week, or longer. You have just been though a very physically demanding labour, you need recovery time. Don’t expect things to be wonderful straight away and all of the time. Don’t put pressure on yourself to feel something you don’t. It won’t be long and you’ll look into your baby’s eyes and feel a love you never felt before.

If things are getting tough, get help.
Talk to family, friends, your Doctor. No one is going to judge you. Everyone just wants to help you. It is a sign of strength not weakness to ask for help.

Talk to other Mums.
To know how other new mums are feeling will help you. You can get advice, support, tips, and a good chat from someone who is going through the same as you. Try the internet, mother and baby groups, your post-natal clinic. Even a mum who you are chatting to in the queue at the supermarket can brighten up your day and help you feel that you are not the only one.

Rest whenever you can.
Babies are tiring. You won’t be able to give your best to your baby if you are shattered all of the time. Sleep when she sleeps. Take advantage of your mum coming round – let her baby-sit and take a nap.

Forget the housework.
This is my favourite tip! Your baby won’t appreciate it if her t-shirt was ironed but she will appreciate a cuddle. Do what needs to be done around the house, and no more. This time with your baby is precious and will pass so quickly – don’t waste time on the ironing or the dusting!

Accept help
If people offer help – take it. It doesn’t mean they think you are doing a bad job or are not coping – they just know your job is the toughest one in the world. They wouldn’t offer if they didn’t want to help

Start as you mean to go on
Your baby will soon learn that you are no pushover, or will run rings around you. Attending to her every whim is easy when she is little – but judge when the time is right when it is good to say “No”.

Baby-free activities

Give yourself some “me” time. You are the most important person in your baby’s world, and you need to be happy.  When she is safe in her crib, try these baby free activities. Remember , just 5 minutes can make all the difference.

• Listen to your favourite tunes or some chill-out music.
• Put your feet up with a cup of coffee and read a non baby magazine.
• Order takeaways – ok, so it’s not the healthiest option but now and again it’s nice not to have to cook.
• Write a diary, blog, or start that novel you’ve always wanted to write. You only have to do a small amount a day.
• Surf the internet – stick to non baby sites (except this one of course!)
• Make your partner a CD of his favourite tunes.

Make life easier

• Don’t hike up and down the stairs unnecessarily with your baby
• Keep a changing mat and nappy stuff upstairs and downstairs. Have a moses basket in the living room for naps, and a crib upstairs for night time.

Get out of the house.
Sometimes you can feel stir crazy. Sometimes anything seems better than sitting at home with a baby all day every day watching daytime TV. Go to the park, the shops, see friends.

Remember Dad
He is new at this too, and probably just as bewildered as you are. You are the best support for each other – but only if you both talk about what you are feeling. Don’t let him get pushed out by the new love in your life. (No matter how gorgeous your new little one is!)

Visitors
People want to come and see you and your new baby, but does it matter if they come this week or next? Visitors can be exhausting and stressful, stagger your visitors. Tell them when they can visit not the other way round. When they are in your house you don’t have to be the perfect hostess. Point to the kitchen and say “You know where the kettle is, help yourself, oh and mine’s a coffee, milk and 1 sugar please.”  Most people are happy to help! Some folk are glad to be useful.

Save your pennies, don’t waste them
Babies grow very fast. It is very tempting to try and get your youngster new clothes and toys. After all they are so precious and deserve the best. Yet, as soon as they fit something then it is too small for them. They don’t care if their clothes, toys or nursery furniture is new or second hand. As long as it is safe and clean – you can’t even tell, and it’ll save you a bundle! If a baby wears something for 2 months – it is hardly worn out!

Most important tip…..

Enjoy the cuddles while you can, and enjoy your baby. You’ll never get this time again.

However, with hindsight, did I really need the expensive changing bag that went with the pram?

In reality, no. Ok so it looks better, all matching, but at the end of the day it is a bag.

What needs to go in a baby changing bag?

These are the things I carried for my baby in his change bag:

• A change of clothes
• Nappies
• Barrier cream
• Nappy bags and wipes
• Bottle and formula (if feeding time was going to be when I was out)
• Spare dummy
• Antibacterial wipes
• A bib
• Change mat

The bag came with a small foldable changing mat. This was really useful, but they can be bought separately from as little as £2.99.
The bag also had an insulated bottle holder – which could have been useful to keep milk or food warm – but it is not something I personally had need for.
The other feature it had was lots of pockets which was useful, but many bags have this feature so was not exclusive to changing bags.
All in all, with hindsight I wouldn’t buy a changing bag. I would use a bag with pockets and big enough to carry everything. I can imagine other Mums would laugh at this. Some would think it crazy, what’s wrong with everything designed to match I can hear you saying. But for me it was money I could have spent on something else.

Other related articles
Baby bouncers swings and walkers – good for baby? A new mums experience.
Baby activities ways to keep your baby entertained.
My baby nursery – what do you really need to buy.

It can help you think of the perfect name or might lead you on to think of other topics that mean something in your life. In any event it is a fun game for you and your partner to play! 

Print off this list and ponder the answers.

Questions:

Where were you born?
Village, town, region, state, country

What country or place are your parents or grandparents from?
Village, town, region, state, country

What holidays, rituals and traditions are most important to you?
Ok so you might not name your baby “Christmas”, but what about Holly or Noel?

What might your baby’s personality be like?
Your baby might take on some of your traits. What about Grace if you are graceful? Isaac means ‘to laugh’ in Hebrew.

What will be your baby’s astrological sign?

What names have been used in your family?
First names and surnames, as surnames can be used as first or middle names

Where did you conceive?
Posh and Becks used this one and ended up with Brooklyn and Romeo!

Where did you go on your honeymoon?
Phuket is probably not a good idea, but Venice could be.

Where do you like to go on holiday or where are your favourite places to visit?
The same applies as to the last question?

Where will your baby be born?
St Lukes Hospital is not a great name – but Luke might be.

Who are your heroes, artists, sports people, celebrities or authors?
How about: Bronte, Chaucer, Monet, Michelangelo, Tiger, Venus.

Who are your favourite biblical characters?

Source: http://www.biblical-baby-names.com/

What are your favourite flowers, trees or plants?
There are so many, how about…, Camellia, Dahlia, Daisy, Flora, Fleur, Heather, Iris, Ivy, Jasmine, Laurel, Lilac, Lily, Meadow, Poppy, Rose, Sage, Violet, Basil, Heath, Sage, Acacia, Aspen, Holly, Olive, Rowan, Willow, Alder, Ash, Aster, Cypress, Forrest, Hawthorn, Leaf, Linden

What are your favourite animals or birds?
How about…, Fawn, Lark, Raven, Robin, Teal, Wren, Colt, Hawk, Jay, Martin

Who are your favourite mythological characters or characters from folklore?
There are so many in this category.

Who are your favourite relatives?
Don’t just think about people you know well, think about stories of people long ago in your family.

Don’t forget the seasons and months!
April, August, Autumn, June, May, Season, Summer, Winter

What about earth water and sky names?
Aurora, Nova, Rain, Sky, Tempest, Blaze, Sky, Brook, Canyon, Clay, Jasper, Ridge, Rio, River, Stone

What are your favourite gemstones?
Amethyst, Diamond, Ebony, Emerald, Jasper, Opal, Pearl, Quartz, Ruby, Sapphire, Topaz.

Or what will the birth stone of your baby be?
Or  the birthstone of a relative?

What is your favourite colour?
Blue, Burgundy, Crimson, Cyan, Green, Indigo, Ivory, Pink, Red, Scarlet, Sienna, Silver, Slate, Steele, Stone, Teal, Violet

Who are your favourite singers?
Take a trip down memory lane – just be careful if you want to call your son Elvis

Who are your favourite historical figures?

Other related articles
Babies names do’s and don’ts for naming your baby
Top baby names – your FREE copy of baby names

So, weaning your baby is not as scary as it might seem. Just remember a few simple rules of what you shouldn’t give them to eat. Hopefully below explains why some foods are not suitable for your young baby.

Sugar

Why not?

• Sugary food can lead to tooth decay, both in babies and small children.

What to do.

• Only add sugar if it is really necessary. If your baby has not had sugary food, they will not miss it.
• Don’t encourage a sweet tooth.

Other info

• Sweets, ice cream and so on are not recommended for babies under 1 year old.

Honey

Why not?

• Occasionally honey can contain bacteria that produces toxins in babies intestines. This can cause infant botulism.

What to do.

• Never give your baby, under 1 year old any honey.

Other info

• Honey can also encourage a sweet tooth and lead to tooth decay, so it is best avoided.

Some helpful books when weaning your baby:

Salt

Why not?

• A baby’s kidneys can’t cope with salt.

What to do.

• Don’t add any salt to food you give your baby.
• Check the labels on food you buy, like cheese, sausages, bacon – they are often high in salt.

Sodium or salt??

• Food labels often list sodium not salt. 1g of salt is less than 0.4g of sodium.
• Babies under 1 year should have less than 1g of salt per day, so check labels carefully.

Other info

• Baby food isn’t allowed to contain salt
• Foods you buy that you eat too, like cooking sauces, can be high in salt, so while it is good that your baby is eating the same food as you, watch how much salt they are getting.

Nuts

Why not?

• Nuts can cause choking in children under five.

What to do.

• Don’t give any whole nuts, including peanuts, (see below) to children under five

Also

• Peanut allergy can be life threatening. Children from families with a history of allergy are most at risk from peanut allergy.

These tips may help reduce the risk of your baby developing peanut allergy: avoid eating peanuts or peanut products while you are breastfeeding, or pregnant

• don’t give your child any peanuts, or foods containing peanuts, peanut (groundnut) oil
• or peanut butter, until they are at least three years old
• read food labels carefully if in doubt, avoid the product

Low-fat, low-calorie and high-fibre

Why not?

• Unlike adults who are often told low fat and low calorie food is good, babies need fat. It gives them energy, and gives them vitamins only found in fat.
• High fibre products like bran enriched cereals stop babies from absorbing important minerals like calcium and iron. Babies stomachs are tiny so they need to get lots of nutrients vitamins and calories from a small amount of food, and not bulk up on fibre.

What to do.

• Choose full-fat dairy products (fromage frais, yoghurt, milk, chese).
• Avoid brown rice, wholemeal pasta bran enriched breakfast cereals until your baby is older

Fish

Why not?

• Some fish can contain mercury, which can affect your baby’s immune system.
• Raw shellfish can cause food poisoning

What to do.

• Avoid shark, swordfish or marlin.
• Avoid raw shellfish.

Other

• Fish can be very good though, see article on foods that are good for baby!
• Fish, especially oily fish, is recommended by all kinds of experts to be part of a healthy diet. Everyone – children and adults, are recommended to eat at least two portions of fish every week, and one of them should be oily fish.  Fresh fish such as salmon, trout, cod and haddock, tinned fish such as sardines and pilchards, as well as fish products such as fish fingers and fish cakes are all nutritious foods for young children.
• Avoid giving fish tinned in brine to babies, as it is higher in salt than fish tinned in oil or springwater.

Eggs

Why not

• Eggs are high up on the list of foods that can cause allergies
• The risk of salmonella from improperly cooked eggs

What to do

• Don’t give raw or lightly cooked eggs to babies.
• Eggs can be given to babies over 12 months old, make sure both the white and yolk are solid.
• Just the egg yolk can be given to your baby from 7-10 months old.
• As your baby gets older she will start to eat more and more of the same food as you, but you still need to watch out for levels of salt and sugar, and a young child still needs full fat versions of dairy produce.

Some helpful books when weaning your baby:

Other related articles
Easy kids recipes – Fruit snacks for kids
Easy kids recipes – Vegetable snacks for kids
What food and drink should I avoid when pregnant?