Baby essentials...

Every baby shop, parenting website, book or person has a list of things that they find essential(please find a few linked below for future reference). But after already having one, and seeing what seems like the endless list I thought I would write my own. Please note that some items I class as unnecessary may indeed be necessary to you.

My must haves:
The big ticket items:

• Cot/crib
• Carseat(either convertible that is suitable from birth or a capsule)
• Pushchair/buggy/pram
• Baby Monitor

Clothing:

• Onesies/bodysuits and lots of them
• pants(no jeans or big bulky ones though)
• SOCKS as in at least ten pairs them little suckers go missing in no time
• All-in-ones/sleepers what ever those footed one piece garments are called.
• a few shirts, long and short sleeved.
• A couple of woolen cardies/jumpers and some nice cotton jerseys too. 
• A nice outfit or two just in case you want to dress your baby up super nice. But nothing impractical, 

I am a firm believer in dressing my babies in only natural fibers so we had no polar fleece or polyester clothes until my son was about one and a half. 

Other stuff:

• A baby carrier/front pack if you think you would be into babywearing. 
• Waterproof playmat and changemat
• generic cloths that can be used as burp cloths. I just used muslin baby wraps and old fashioned flat nappies.
• Bibs and lots of them in different styles/shapes etc. 
• a nappy/diaper bag or a bag that can function as one(no need to buy one specifically designed to be one when a simple backpack will work just as well). 
• Nappies/diapers its your choice whether you go cloth or disposable(I personally am doing disposable for approximately the first week then starting bubs in cloth). 
• a play mat with the toys hanging from above, those are brilliant.
• wipes
• face cloths
• bedding
• a few select toys as in 4-5 max.
• baby manicure set
• bum cream and as natural as you are willing to go.
• baby wash(in case they get really dirty, but just water and a wash cloth works fine for the first few months). 

For mum(please note most of this list is catered to breastfeeding simply because that is what we did, if you plan on formula feeding then ignore most of it).

• 3-4 comfortable nursing bras
• nursing pads either reusable or disposable.
• a pump, I have a manual one but it is personal preference.
• A few bottles(like 2-3 in different styles)
• Nursing singlets(these are prefect for sleeping in)

I have probably missed stuff off the list and it may seem like a lot which it is but in reality baby just needs somewhere warm and safe to sleep, someone to look after them, clean clothes and nappies and food. Everything else is non essential so only buy what you need. Oh and don't do a big shop until after your baby shower if you are having one.

Here's some links to some lists put out by shops/websites here in new Zealand:

The Warehouse

Baby On the Move

Baby Factory

Baby City

Oh Baby

Huggies

Kidspot

KiwiFamilies

LittleTreasures Magazine

Another tough decision: Diaper/Nappy Bag... Need a top of the line one, or something simple?

That dreaded diaper bag, do I need a fancy one, a cheaper alternative or none at all? I have been given one, which I will find helpful, but i don't know if the style is right for me.

I have seen quite a few online that I like the look of but so far have resisted buying one. Sure I want to be a trendy mum and have a stylish nappy bag, but do I really need to spend $100 on one when I can get one similar or the same size for less than half that, that also does the same job. What about you mums what style/price/absolute must haves did you decide on.

In other news, I have officially gone past my due date, am now sitting at 40 weeks and 3 days and totally over the waiting. Have been off work for 4 weeks now and had honestly thought that I would have a baby by now. This time last week there was what we assumed as the start of labour but it went no where and since then nothing. Here's hoping the walking that I will be doing when I go out this afternoon will kick start this baby into arriving. It unfortunately is banned from arriving this Wednesday or Friday as I wish for my child to have it';s own birthday and not share it with another family member.

Feel free to also check out my YouTube and Instagram channel and latest pregnancy vlog.

It's Time Honey

Last night I finally got to tell my darling partner, they are 1 min long and 12 minutes apart. All was going well and the contractions were getting longer, stronger and more frequent. We were thinking now is the time. I finished packing my hospital bag and called the midwife to let her know and then just played the waiting game until I was ready to be taken to the hospital.

They tell you to rest while you can especially if it is at night. So what do I do, I crawl into bed and attempt sleep. It worked, I actually managed a fair amount of sleep; the contractions seemed to be mild enough to let me do that. Now a few hours later at 6am they seem to have come to a standstill and almost stopped. Sure I get the occasional one but nothing as strong as last night when I went to bed. 

Oh the irony, you sleep to conserve energy for the further stages of labour and birth and your body up and decides, it has had enough and wants a break. Not that I'm complaining they were really starting to hurt. 

Current stats: 39 Weeks 4 days,big, fat and uncomfortable. 

Before all this contraction business started I had begun the nesting bug. For the past week I have cleaned, cooked and sewed. Sure I had days of rest and my house still looks like a bit of a bombshell and I don't have kids to mess it up just yet, only a partner who owns too much stuff, but it is cleaner than it was. I did originally predict that I was going to give birth a week and a half ago but it just didn't happen. A week of boredom was my allotment in life instead. 

Come on baby we are ready...

Burp Cloths

Bib 2 front

Bib 1

Bib 2 reverse