Newborn Essentials

Baby Girl has been here three weeks now and I think it is safe to say there are some newborn essentials I could not live without. Now what I consider essential is most likely different to what baby books say but I know I prefer honest opinions from real people so I thought I'd share what has become part of our every day life these first three weeks:

Shnuggle Moses Basket

Shnuggle is a hypoallergenic and silent modern Moses basket. It is big enough that she'll be able to stay in our room as long as medically suggested but not so large that it inhibits our living space. All of the dressings are cotton and machine washable which means it is easy to clean--great especially since she has spit up and leaked out her nappies a few times! 

The shell is fully ventilated and hygienic so we can feel safe putting her to sleep and since it's not wicker like traditional baskets it can be fully wiped down and sterilised. The stand is also a great height for me as it is high enough that I can easily bend over and get her without straining myself and the dog can't jump up and reach her either.

Cosatto Giggle Pixelate Travel System

Since you have to limit the amount of times you go up and down the stairs after a c-section, baby girl has been sleeping in her Cosatto Giggle Pram downstairs. It is a great height for me bending down and the pram base is large enough for her to sleep comfortably. One of the things I love the most is the pattern on the inside of the pram base; Baby Girl has kept herself occupied staring at the colourful patterns on several occasions. It's an extra feature I'd never have thought of but is so clever.

NotBlondeHusband has been raving about the Hold carseat and base as it is so easy to click her in and out. With Blondie Boy we had a carseat we had to strap in with a seatbelt every time we got in and out of the car so this is so a vast improvement! We keep getting tons of compliments on how bright and fun the pattern is too, again another improvement from the bog standard black seat we had 4 1/2 years ago!

Thurpenny Bits Feeding Pillow

When we came home from the hospital I didn't have any sort of feeding pillows or supports and was sort of stacking various wedge pillows together and well it just wasn't working. Thurpenny Bits Feeding pillow has made such a difference to helping me support Baby Girl and taking pressure off my incision when feeding.  The portable pillow was invented by Mum Melissa Hyatt-Fosbury out of necessity for something supportive and stylish. It can be carried like a bag and ties at the back so it won't slip off. The cover is washable and can be re-used as a toddler bag (if you remove the pillow) once your baby is older.

HM Nursing Tanks

If I'm at home I like to be braless but when you are breastfeeding that is just not an option; my best friend mentioned how she slept/lived in nursing tanks so I had NBH take me to HM to grab some and honestly I never want to wear anything else. They are super comfortable and my feeding convenient. They give me the right about of support without being overly restrictive and are much preferable to bras to sleep in.

Tommee Tippee sangenic Nappy Disposal System

The nappy disposal bin offers anti-bacterial protection and odour control in a uniquely coloured tub. All you do is put in the nappy, twist and it is wrapped and sealed killing 99% of germs and sealing in smells. It makes night-time nappy changes super easy and means we don't have to rush to get nappies out to the outdoor bin. It is so simple and effective I'm not sure why we didn't have one with Blondie Boy.

Volvic Touch of Cherry Water

I'm perpetually thirsty (maybe a breastfeeding thing?) and have become obsessed with Volvic Touch of Cherry water. I will drink normal water from the tap but instead of pop or juice I've just really gotten into flavoured water. I couldn't tell you how many liters I've gone through but the stuff is good.

Vitamix Professional Series 750

In general I tend to follow medical advice but I refuse to take iron pills because of their *ahem* unsavoury side effects. So instead of taking the iron pills I was prescribed for blood loss/anemia I've been supplementing my diet with added iron. We've been having lots of red meat, fortified cereals and most of all green smoothies. The Vitamix seriously makes green smoothies the easiest thing ever. I throw in a handful of ice, some berries, a banana, handful of spinach and a splash of almond milk and it does all the work for me. All the spinach is blitzed down and I end up with a thick frozen smoothie like you'd get from a shop. Best of all it even has a self-cleaning setting so I don't have to worry about clean up either!

Tommee Tippee Breast Pads

Not the most glamorous item but wet patches are even less glamorous. NBH brought these home for me from the hospital and when they ran out we grabbed a supermarket own brand to replace them. The supermarket own brand were smaller, not individually packed and I still leaked out. Literally every time I used them I wound up with wet patches, not nice. I've gotten more of the Tommee Tippee pads and am much happier and drier now. I wouldn't think there would be a difference between generic and name brand breast pads but I was definitely proven wrong!

....and most important 

My husband

I honestly don't know what I'd do without him being home these past three weeks. This has been a totally new experience breastfeeding but he's been amazing and getting up to change her in the middle of the night when I get up to feed her. It makes SUCH a huge difference especially since I'm still stiff and sore bending over. I can't drive still post section so he's been on the grocery runs, taking BB to and from school--not to mention just entertaining the boy in general--making dinner, taking Baby Girl off me so I can grab a shower. Honestly he is by far my most important newborn essential but unfortunately for you can't buy him in any store; I'm a lucky lady.

What newborn products could you not live without?

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Transatlantic Blonde was provided the linked items for review but all opinions, on review or non-review items, are our own. I'm too tired post baby to be anything but truthful!