Top Tips on Maintaining Your Baby's Pushchair

Top Tips on Maintaining Your Baby's Pushchair

Source: Pixabay

Not all pushchairs are made to last, but if you put effort in maintaining one, you can get a wonderfully constructed stroller that will remain functional for many years. Here are some of my top tips to keep your baby’s pushchair in tip top shape.

Read the manual

A pushchair is not exactly a sophisticated piece of equipment, but it still pays to read the manual. Surprisingly, 24% of women and 64% men don’t read the manual when buying something new, which includes pushchairs, too, so this is a gentle reminder to make sure you actively read up on your baby’s pushchair. A lot of valuable information can be found in a manual, including how to assemble and disassemble it, removable parts, material info, and of course, how to keep it in good working order.

Disassemble, brush, and vacuum the fabric

Cleaning a pram typically starts with detaching the seat and fabric from the frame. Most seats and canopies are machine-washable with a gentle cycle. Afterwards, leave them under the sun rather than tumble drying as this may damage the fabric.

Not all strollers can be taken apart, so the best you can do in this scenario is to brush it and use a vacuum. Focus on every nook and cranny, then soak a towel in soapy water and wipe down any dirty areas. A vinegar, water, and baking powder solution can remove more stubborn stains.

Inspect the frame

Inspect the frame for rust, dirt, and debris, especially the hinges. A solution made up of warm water and mild detergent is enough to clean the frame. Avoid strong abrasives as this can damage the plastic parts and corrode metallic components.

Clean and lubricate the moving parts

It's good practice to remove the wheels every once in a while to give them a deep clean. Most wheels can be disconnected and the steps on how to do it are found in the manual. 

Squeaky wheels can be fixed with lubrication, which ideally should be done once a month. Oil and silicone lubricants are the most popular but these tend to attract dirt and dust. A non-stick Teflon lubricant is a viable alternative. 

If your pushchair has air tyres, pump them up as well to keep the pressure at the recommended level. For most buggies, the recommended air pressure is 20 to 25 psi. The exact value is typically indicated in the manual, too. A hand air pump – the kind used for bicycle wheels – can do the job.

Mind the storage space

In my previous blog post about travelling with a baby, I suggested investing in a foldable stroller, especially if you travel a lot. Some parents prefer bigger ones though for more comfort and functionality, and in this case, it's a matter of looking for a robust buggy that is still easy to store. Go for a single pushchair that's compact enough to easily fit in the back of a car, and can be carried in and out of narrow passages or doorways. Use a storage area that's dry, easily accessible, and far from most busy areas in your house to avoid unnecessary nicks, bumps, and spills on the pushchair.

The space should also be cool, well ventilated and away from direct sunlight. This prevents rusting and moulding, while the cool temperature prevents the tyre rims from warping.

BABY PROOFING IN STYLE WITH FRED SAFETY

Stylish baby proofing. Now there’s three words you rarely see together.

Do you remember those days when you couldn’t wait for your baby to crawl? I look back on those earlier, much easier days and wonder now what was the big rush. The ease of leaving a door open, stairs in sight, or a cooker on, knowing that the only person in danger was me.

Fast forward nine months, and we have a determined, energetic little boy who sees everything as a challenge. So where to start with baby proofing? Well you can start with cushions, padded edges and corner softeners, but these are all only quick fixes and aren’t going to stop the inevitable. Playpens are pretty handy too, but I’ve been told the novelty of being placed in a hexangle baby prison doesn’t last long before they realise they need to be free to roam wild.

So what’s out there? The classic bar stair gate aka the baby prison in two variations; screw in ones and pressure fit. The pressure fit ones have bars at the bottom which can be trip hazards and aren’t meant to be used at the top of the stairs. The only downside with most of these are the sizes don’t always fit narrow old fashioned doorways in victorian houses.

Then there’s retractable ones which definitely appeal due to their compact, clutter free nature.

After researching and reading about what felt like every safety gate out there I had almost given up on trying to find something that didn’t hinder our homes aesthetics, which I know sounds ridiculous as our child’s safety is what’s at stake here. But if you can find something that’s stylish and practical and does the same job, then why not choose this. This is when I discovered Cheeky Rascals and a brand called Fred Safety and their clear view safety gate.

For the record this safety gate is made of hardened plastic. Not glass as someone in my family asked. Its clear plastic is exactly what it says on the tin. Clear. So you can see your baby through it.

It’s also super easy to clean as its one smooth surface to wipe down. We opted for the screw fit for two reasons. First we didn’t think it would fit our narrow door frame, and this clear view gate is actually extendable from door ways of 75cm-100cm wide and you can fit them on the outside of your doorframe over the skirting boards. In the end we were able to fit it within our door frame as our doorway measures 75cm exactly. The screw fit design also appealed due to our hefty baby’s ridiculous strength at possibly being able to pull down a pressure fit safety gate. I know that sounds bonkers, but he’s super strong. But the third reason was its clear and looks great to the point that I forget it’s actually there.

I love how the clear view fred safety gate looks, and what I love most is how I can see Otis while I run the bath, nip to the toilet or cook the dinner. It was also super easy to fit too.

I’ve added a video to show you just how easy it was to fit, and also how great its been to keep our baby contained.

And don’t let anyone ever tell you that baby equipment will ruin your house, because they obviously haven’t seen these Fred safety gates.

This post was sponsored by Cheeky Rascals. All opinions and comments are 100% my own. I wouldn’t recommend something I didn’t love.

OTIS HAS MOVED INTO THE JUNGLE

Its official. We have a six month old. I blinked and my baby isn’t a baby ‘baby’ anymore. Where have those last six months gone? One minute I’m climbing up ladders, decorating our spare bedroom on my maternity leave wondering how much later he’ll be (he was 8 days late), and the next its fast forward six months and we have a little boy who is still keeping us on our toes. Otis is super funny, a great sleeper (most of the time), a great eater… he loves ALL the food and he’s full of energy and loves jumping in his ‘jump jump, jumperoo’ which by the way, why has no one invented a wooden one yet?? HUGE gap in the market! Anyways, I digress.. He loves his daily baths and now he loves sleeping in his bedroom which he sleeps and naps in. And yes we’ve even mastered day time napping. Who knew that could be so stressful?! I certainly didn’t, that’s for sure.

In honour of Otis moving into his room I’ve teamed up with Pottery barn kids to showcase a few of their gorgeous bits from their newly launched UK range. I say newly launched as Pottery barn kids have been established in the states for years and you may have heard the name from the Friends episode ‘The one with the apothecary table.. ’, well they’ve recently launched their UK website and are showing a selection of their range in a number of John Lewis stores over here in the UK, and Otis and I were lucky to get and invite to test drive a few items at their UK launch at John Lewis Oxford Street a few weeks back.

So here’s what Otis and I chose…

Elephant plush rocker £149 from Pottery barn kids; Honeycomb Baby Bed quilt £79 from Pottery barn kids; sleepi cot in grey £575 from Stokke; Melissa & Doug Plush Giraffe £84.99 from Argos. Zebra animal head prices from £29.99 from Fiona walker England.

The first item that caught my eye from the pottery barn kids range was the plush elephant rocker. This fun rocker is something that Otis can grow into and it goes so well with his jungle themed nursery and he can already play on him with a little help. It’s the sort of toy which will hopefully become a family piece as it’s such great quality. We love the wooden rocker and the soft plush body of the elephant. He’s as soft and plush as his cuddly toys, which is great for little baby hands.

Elephant plush rocker £149 from Pottery barn kids; Afaw Berber Style Rug from £269 La Redoute.

What I love about the pottery barn kids range is the attention to detail on all the bedding. Not only are they made from 100% organic cotton, but it’s so rare to find cot sheets which are printed, so I chose the below Elephant printed fitted sheet, which fits most cot beds and is reasonably priced at £29. It’s little grey elephant design also goes super cute in Otis’ jungle themed nursery and it’s super soft for him to sleep on.

I also chose two gorgeous quilts. The first is the horseradish yellow honeycomb quilt (see picture below) and the second was an elephant/ crocodile embroidered quilt which has also doubled up as a playmat for Otis. These quilts are double sided and are so beautiful, they’re like heirlooms which I hope to treasure for years to come. These would make beautiful gifts for a new baby in your family.

I also love how the horseradish honeycomb quilt pulls in the yellow pops from the mustard canopy and the bananas in Otis’ wallpaper print.

Colby Animal Baby quilt £149 from Pottery barn kids; Honeycomb Baby Bed Linen £79 from Pottery barn kids; Melissa & Doug Plush Giraffe £84.99 from Argos. Mobile made by my mum.

Colby Animal Baby Bed quilt £149 from Pottery barn kids

Honeycomb Baby Bed quilt £79 from Pottery barn kids; ; Taylor Organic Nursery Bed fitted sheet (elephants) £24 from Pottery barn kids.

Collins side table £149 from Pottery barn kids; Elephant plush rocker £149 from Pottery barn kids; west elm x pbk Bear Plush £29 from Pottery barn kids; Medium plush elephant £29 from Pottery barn kids. Green velvet chair from Homesense; Animal heads from Fiona Walker; Baby name wooden plaque £12.99 from Fred and Robin

This green velvet chair above is where I feed Otis every morning and evening, but I didn’t have anywhere to put his milk, dummy and muslin so I chose the white collins side table from pottery barn kids to be our little work station. It’s also great that its round so Otis can’t bash his head on any corners when he starts walking and pulling himself up on the furniture. And speaking of muslins, Pottery barn kids also have a lovely selection of muslin’s which would also make great gifts for anyone with a baby under one. I went for the organic muslin/ swaddle set of three in grey, pink and mustard which come tied up in a little bundle. They’re great for mopping up milk and swaddling your baby in those early weeks.

west elm x pbk Dot Muslin Swaddle Set: Platinum, Rosette & Horseradish £49 from Pottery barn; west elm x pbk Bear Plush £29 from Pottery barn kids; Medium plush elephant £29 from Pottery barn kids; ‘I want to bear hug you’ print from West Elm Shepherds bush store, We can be heros print £22 from Disko kids; Mile stone blocks £18.99 from How I wonder kids; Led Cactus lamp £12 from How I wonder kids; Boo and mimi moneybox £50 from lumley locket; Mama and babe candle from lumley locket by Boo+Mimi £16.

west elm x pbk Dot Muslin Swaddle Set: Platinum, Rosette & Horseradish £49 from Pottery barn

Kids Lion Bath Wrap £49 from Pottery barn kids;

I mentioned before how Otis LOVES bathtime and our routine after dinner is a bath, book and bed, so the next items which I chose fit perfectly with our little bedtime routine. I chose this cute lion bath wrap from the vast range of bath wraps which pottery barn kids offer and these two little white collectors book shelves to hold some of Otis’ book collection. Again if you’re looking for a gift for a new baby, a bath wrap would also make a great gift. I’ve added a link here to the pottery barn kids range. I’m quite the fan of the bear bath wrap and the racoon one too.

Collector's Mini Book Rack Shelves £39 from Pottery barn kids; Kids Lion Bath Wrap £49 from Pottery barn kids;

west elm x pbk Dot Muslin Swaddle Set: Platinum, Rosette & Horseradish £49 from Pottery barn; west elm x pbk Bear Plush £29 from Pottery barn kids; Medium plush elephant £29 from Pottery barn kids; ‘I want to bear hug you’ print from West Elm Shepherds bush store, We can be heros print £22 from Disko kids; Mile stone blocks £18.99 from How I wonder kids; Led Cactus lamp £12 from How I wonder kids; White chest of drawers from John lewis; Orange storage trunks £60.50 from Amanda Holden QVC.

Taylor Organic Nursery Bed fitted sheet (elephants) £24 from Pottery barn kids; west elm x pbk Bear Plush £29 from Pottery barn kids, pineapple sleeping bag from Mamadesigns.

And lastly and most importantly for Otis, his new pottery barn teddy mates, as a little boy can never have too many teddies, right? We love the brown little bear (pictured above) which Otis absolutely adores, and the plush grey elephant teddy. The little brown bear has long limbs which are great to grab with tiny hands and the plush elephant is super soft and cosy. I know I sound like a broken record, but these would also make great gifts and are both priced at £29 so are great value.

Elephant plush rocker £149 from Pottery barn kids; Afaw Berber Style Rug from £269 La Redoute; Collins side table £149 from Pottery barn kids; west elm x pbk Bear Plush £29 from Pottery barn kids; Medium plush elephant £29 from Pottery barn kids; west elm x pbk Dot Muslin Swaddle Set: Platinum, Rosette & Horseradish £49 from Pottery barn.

We absolutely love our pottery barn kids haul. The little animal themed pieces fit perfectly with Otis’ jungle themed nursery and are all gender neutral. I’ve mentioned how these items would make great gifts and are such lovely quality, that they will be heirloom hand me down items in years to come. This goes for the rocking elephant and the gorgeous quilts. I just hope the teddies last the test of time after years of being man handled/sucked and bitten by Otis as I think the little brown bear is a favourite in particular. And Pottery barn kids don’t just offer a range for babies. The range is great for kids of all ages. I’m already lusting after the little grey kitchen for when Otis turns one next year, and it matches our kitchen, so would be adorable for him to have a mini version. Altho the pottery barn kids one has brass hardware. So it might actually be a better looking kitchen than my own. ha!

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the range. Click here to go straight to the site.

Source list- Elephant plush rocker £149 from Pottery barn kids; west elm x pbk Bear Plush £29 from Pottery barn kids; Medium plush elephant £29 from Pottery barn kids; Collector's Mini Book Rack Shelves £39 from Pottery barn kids; Kids Lion Bath Wrap £49 from Pottery barn kids; west elm x pbk Dot Muslin Swaddle Set: Platinum, Rosette & Horseradish £49 from Pottery barn; Honeycomb Baby Bed Linen £79 from Pottery barn kids, Colby Animal Baby Bed Linen £149 from Pottery barn kids; Taylor Organic Nursery Bed fitted sheet (elephants) £24 from Pottery barn kids; Collins side table £149 from Pottery barn kids; sleepi cot in grey £575 from Stokke, Home dresser/ changing table £349 from Stokke; Home changer top £149 from Stokke; Afaw Berber Style Rug from £269 La Redoute; Jungle palm wallpaper £198 a roll from Milton and king; Melissa & Doug Plush Giraffe £84.99 from Argos; Animal heads from £29.99 from Fiona walker England; Cotton ball lights from Cottonballlights.com; Mustard canopy £95 from Molly meg; Baby name wooden plaque £12.99 from Fred and Robin; We can be heros print £22 from Disko kids; Boo and mimi moneybox £50 from lumley locket; Mama and babe candle from lumley locket by Boo+Mimi £16.

The Pottery barn kids items shown above were kindly gifted to Otis and I. I was extremely lucky to choose the pieces that myself and Otis love and I will cherish for years to come. All words and opinions are 100% my own. Thank you Pottery barn kids for gifting us with some lovely bits for Otis’ room.

THE GAME CHANGER: THE BABYBJORN BOUNCER BLISS

If you asked me what my 'can't live without' top baby item was, then the baby bjorn bouncer bliss would be it. 

For the first three weeks of Otis' life we didn't have a bouncer as I thought bouncers were for older babies. How wrong was I. Showering and generally getting ready in the morning was a nightmare as we couldn't see each other from the ensuite to the bedroom. Throw in a pet cat who was intrigued by a new baby and that meant closed doors and lots of cries. 

Newborns sleep a lot at the start, so having a bouncer which could be moved from room to room, meant I could see Otis while showering and getting ready, and more importantly Otis could see me.  

The bouncer bliss design is lightweight which is handy when moving it around the house and packing it in the car. It also has a unique bouncing action that doesn't require batteries like a lot of other bouncers.  The mesh fabric has kept Otis nice and cool in the hot summer months, and the clean minimal design blends nicely with our home. The mesh fabric also moulds to Otis' body and neck, keeping him well supported and comfy.  There's no tacky bright colours or hanging animals which other bouncers come with. As you know me,  I like to keep things as interiors friendly as possible. 

To say the bouncer bliss is a lifesaver isn't an over statement. Otis is only 15 weeks old, and the bouncer is still being used at home and coming with us to family and friends houses, and I'm sure it will continue to do so for a while still. If I had it my way, we would have one on each floor of the house for ease. But that would be a lot of bouncers as we have three floors to cover. 

If you're expecting a child, then this is definitely a game changing item that will help make your life easier.

And it's all about ease when you have a baby. 

The baby bjorn - bouncer bliss is for use 0-24 months. 

RRP £147 for the mesh version, and £137 for the cotton fabric version. 

***This post was sponsored by BabyBjorn and babyville PR. The bouncer was gifted to us, however everything I have written is my own opinion and this is definitley an item that I would buy again.  ***

OTIS' STOKKE 'JUNGLE' NURSERY

This is finally happening! I'm finally sharing Otis' finished nursery. Okay, technically it will never be finished because a room never is, and that's why I bloody love interiors. But this is where it's currently up to so far.

Wallpaper- Jungle palm by milton and King, Gold canopy from Molly meg

When I started looking at nursery furniture, all I saw were rectangular white cots and white changing tables. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with white nursery furniture, but I just wanted to be more excited by the offer. After all, interiors are my thing, and I wanted bub to have something a bit different.

So let's start with Otis' cot. This is the Stokke sleepi bed in Hazy grey. What I love about the sleepi cot bed range is that its one of the only cots that can transition from newborn baby to toddler by adding the extension kits. We've gone straight to the 'middle' size, but it's good to know I can extend it and take the middle panel out when Otis gets bigger and can climb in and out of his bed himself which means I shouldn't have to buy another new bed for another four/five years. How many other cot beds can take a baby from infant to childhood?

The stokke sleepi doesn't compromise on style or quality. The 360 degree cot bars mean it's easy to see Otis from every angle and the lockable caster wheels makes it easy to move to clean around, although you don't need to add the wheels. The cot can just sit on the floor on the frame and the sleepi has four mattress height positions to choose from. We currently don't have it on the lowest,  but we'll soon move it down once Otis can pull himself up. 

It's style, longevity and quality make this a perfect cot bed which should see Otis through to his childhood years.  The sleepi cot bed is available in three colours; white, grey and natural. 

Now let's talk about the changing table/ dresser which is also from Stokke. These come as two separate pieces.  The home dresser is handy storage for all of Otis' clothes, spare nappies and blankets and the soft close features on the drawers means you shouldn't wake up baby.  The style and colour compliments his sleepi cot bed and is also available in the same three shades of hazy grey, white and natural. 

The top home changer can be added to make it a changing table, but also easily removed to leave the dresser in perfect condition. 

Extension kits and bigger mattresses are all available on the Stokke website. Click here to view. 

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Leopard rug is from Cotswold trading £149.99

Lion and Elephant felt heads by Fiona walker London.

**Otis and I were very kindly gifted the cot and changing table from Stokke for his nursery. Regardless of this, I would still recommend these items and would purchase them again.** 

MY MUST HAVE *NEWBORN* BABY ITEMS

As Otis is approaching the 3-month mark, I thought it was time I shared my must have baby items. I’d be lying if I said I couldn’t live without any of them, as I’m pretty sure people made do without all of these items years ago, but for me they made my job a hell of a lot easier and got us through that fourth trimester.

When you’re expecting everyone will give you their advice. Most of which I took on board. The only mistake I’ve made is on the buggy front. We bought the Icandy orange which is super sturdy, but it’s also heavy and bulky and takes up far too much room. I know, I know, everyone told us not to get such a big buggy and I should have listened. So with that in mind, I thought I’d share my top items so you can get prepared. 

1. Sleepyhead Deluxe

Otis loved his sleepyhead so much I even wrote a separate article about it being a parenting must have item for a newborn. This portable mattress was brilliant to use all over the house and to take with us when visiting family. It comes in snazzy prints too, so its interior friendly for that mum who doesn’t want to loose their style identity. The snuggly bumper design kept Otis cosy and he could use it from birth, and he's still using it now for afternoon naps. I didn’t get a moses basket, and in hindsight I’m glad I didn’t as they’re not in them for long, and I would have just ended up putting the sleepyhead inside it anyway.

The only downside is the size, but that goes for most baby stuff. Otis is only 11 weeks and he's starting to out grow it, so I might have to invest in the bigger size sleepyhead. **Otis is top of the centile, so I think most babies would be fine to use the deluxe up 8 months if they're smaller.  

2. Baby bath- Stokke Flexi Bath with Support

We’re lucky that we have a bath in our house, but the idea of putting a tiny new born in a giant roll top bath scared me so the Stokke foldable flexi bath with support has been briliant. We place the flexi bath inside our bath to wash Otis and the back support is cleverly designed to clip onto the edge of the box. It keeps Otis comfortable and relaxed, and saves you having to hold onto your baby. Its foldable design means it’s portable to take to the in-laws for his first sleepover so he hasn’t got to change what he’s accustomed to, and as its foldable we’ll definitely be taking it on holiday come September.

3. Baby Bjorn- Bouncer Bliss

I’ll be honest, the baby bjorn bouncer bliss was a game changer. Around 4-6 weeks Otis was becoming more alert and wanted to sit and look around without the constant need to be held and cuddled. Don’t get me wrong, I loved the new born cuddles like everyone else, but a girls got to shower now and then, and being able to put Otis in the bouncer while he watched me meant we could leave the house before 9am occasionally. The mesh fabric has also been ideal for this hot weather making him feel more airy. 

4. Baby Bjorn- baby carrier one 

No this is not an advert for baby Bjorn products. I paid for this carrier and it was, and still is the best £139 I spent. This carrier has enabled me to sterilise bottles, put the washing out and walk to the shops while keeping Otis near to me. It says it’s from birth to 3 years, and luckily Otis is quite a chunky baby, as the only downside to this carrier is that it’s not really suitable for small/ new-born’s and is better suited for babies 6-8 weeks + depending on their size. The positive is you can wear your baby in multiple positions facing you, front facing and on your back and its extremely comfortable due to the waist and shoulder straps which help distribute the weight.

5. Pram- Icandy orange

This one’s controversial. You need a pram, there’s no question about that. But which one? I bought an icandy orange. Its sturdy, safe and has a huge shopping basket underneath. It’s also almost £800. Do I regret buying it? Yes. Do I wish I had listened to everyones advice, of course. If you live in a city or a house without a driveway, or have a narrow hallway like us, then this pram is not for you.  It weighs a tone and takes up too much space. I’ve been advised by a lot of you on Instagram that the best buggy around is the baby zen yo-yo. Its foldable, light weight and even has a new born basinet attachment and it cost's less than £550. Lesson learnt. 

6. Maxi Cosi Cabrio fix carseat

I'm not saying you need to buy this exact car seat, but you will 100% need to buy A car seat before your babe arrives. Hospitals won't even let you leave without one, so make sure this item is top of your list to buy. (That goes for you car less folk too). 

We bought the maxi cosi cabrio fix and the 2 wayfix iso base. You don't need to buy the iso fix base, but it does means Otis' car seat just clicks in and makes things much easier, than having to worry about car seat straps. 

The cabrio fix is affordable and well rated and is also one of the lightest car seats on the market.  You have no idea how much you'll appreciate having a lighter car seat until your baby is over a stone and you have to walk to your car. 

We bought both the car seat and the base at the baby show with our icandy pram and managed to save £100 off the total package. Shop around and definitely don't buy second hand when it comes to the base or the car seat. (for other items second hand is fine, but car seats aren't recommended).

** The toy attached to the car seat has been the best £7.99 spent. Its by Bright starts and was bought from Amazon.  Otis only started paying more attention to toys from approx 10 weeks old, but now he loves this.  **

7. Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep Machine

I had a nightmare with breast feeding. Bad latch, posterior tongue tied baby, blocked nipple (they call it a bleb), bleeding nipples, mastitis and a toe curling pain each time Otis latched on. Pretty much everything that could go wrong, did. Was I  going to let it get me down, hell no! Otis is a big baby. Born between the 75%-91% centile at birth weight,  he wanted a LOT of milk. They say feed on demand, and I was feeding all the time. I breast fed for 3 days,  expressed for 6 weeks and combination fed with breast milk and formula. Then after our 6 week Dr check up at 6 weeks I quit the pump. I had my life back. I was able to leave otis with my mother in law for the night, I didn't have to pump in the night and day and be glued to a socket and otis started sleeping for longer stretches. The perfect prep machine makes the perfect temperature bottle. You just add water, select how many oz's, press the big dial and add powder, shake and its done. First it filters water, then it adds an initial hot shot of water which kills any bacteria present in the formula and helps it to dissolve. If you're planning to give any formula in the first year, then invest in one of these.  

8. Tiba and Marl baby bag

I'm not saying you need to buy an expensive baby bag, but you will need a bag dedicated to your babe for all the nappies, wipes and bottles that you need to carry around. 

I chose a Tiba and Marl backpack as it was the nicest bag I could find, which didn't compromise on style. It's handy insulated compartments keep the milk warm, and the foldable changing mat is super handy for changing Otis while we're out and about. It also comes with a separate purse to keep your phone and keys in so you don't need to take another handbag out with you.

I wear it on my back, or on the handle bars of the pram, or even place it in the basket if its not full of my shopping. 

It's also big enough to hold my laptop. Not that I get to do much blogging these days when Otis is awake. 

9. Snuz pod bedside crib

We first bought the chicco next to us cot, but as soon as we assembled it we didn't feel it was very secure so we returned it and bought the snuz pod. The snuz pod is £199, so £30 more expensive than the chicco next to you cot, but it's worth every extra penny. The wooden frame feels sturdy and the frame even rocks sightly when baby moves. The zip front means you can pull the side down for easy access when feeding if you have the cot attached to the bed. Just to note, I did have the cot attached to our bed, but after my episiotomy I asked my husband to change sides with me as it was super painful to slide out for bed to go to the bathroom in the night. Plus I ended up not breast feeding anyway, so I've since detached it from the bed. **Top tip, buy a basket to keep your nappies, wipes, creams and nappy bags in to keep tidy**.

10. Medela Swing breast pump

The breast pump is something I regret not buying upfront before Otis arrived. It just meant I had to send the husband to Mothercare to buy it when Otis and I were fresh out of hospital and he returned with the not only the most expensive pump, but the double version which came with an eye watering price tag. Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating but I didn’t realise these things can cost up to £180. Whether you choose to breast feed or not, no one can prepare you for the engorgement of your breasts on day 3 post-natal. The Medela swing pump was brilliant. It’s hospital grade so you can’t fail for its quality in pumping. My advice would be to shop around. You can buy them second hand and sterilise the bottles and funnel yourself. I’d also recommend buying the hands-free bra off amazon to free up your hands while your sat next to the plug socket. Those 15 minutes per boob is precious time to yourself.  

11. Stokke changing table

I was only going to write 10, but I had to include our Stokke changing table. We keep ours in Otis' nursery on the middle floor of our home, but we also bought two cheaper changing mats so we have one on each floor- trust me, you'll need them! 

This handy dresser is great for storage for all his clothes and the side compartment gives me easy access to all the nappies, creams and wipes. 

I dress Otis on this every morning and dry him off after bathtime in the evening and get him ready for bed on it. 

The top changing part comes separately from Stokke, which means I can use the dresser without the top once Otis is bigger. 

Oh, and One last thing. You're going to need plenty of memory on your phone, so get clearing those old photos NOW and get ready for the baby spam! 

THE SLEEPYHEAD, AND WHY EVERY NEW PARENT NEEDS ONE

I added the kids & baby sub category to the blog to help other first time parents. Not just because I wanted to give you a list of must have baby items, but I also wanted to help inspire other parents or parents to be that you don't need to loose your homes identity just because you've had a baby. And that highly practical and tasteful baby items do exist, and you don't have to succumb to a house full of brightly coloured plastic tat quite just yet. 

Today I want to talk about the miracle baby mattress, aka the Sleepyhead Deluxe+. A portable sleeping pod/ mattress suitable for newborns from birth and up to 8 months, depending on how fast your baby grows. (They also do a sleepyhead Grande for when they grows out of Deluxe+). 

You may have seen them all over instagram, and if you haven't, then where the heck have you been?  There's been a lot of hype about this parenting must have item, and quite rightly too. Easily transported around the house, car, or even on holiday, this miracle mattress can go anywhere your baby goes.

After returning from hospital we have used our sleepyhead all over our house; on the sofa in the lounge, inside the cot at night, on the bed co-sleeping, bedside the bed, on the bathroom floor and even on the dining table when we were having dinner. Okay okay, I know you're not suppose to put them on a table in it, but when Otis was only a couple of weeks old, there was zero chance of him rolling and it meant I could have some dinner for a change. Plus having a cat made this option safer than leaving him on the floor in those early weeks. 

The reason the sleepyhead works so well is pretty simple but so effective. The bumper shape around the side of the mattress creates a cosy nest for bubba to get snuggly in, which is far better than putting baby down in an expansive cot with just a blanket to rattle around in. It also prevents babies from getting a flat head on a hard flat mattress, as their little heads are still soft and mouldable. 

As Otis has grown bigger I've undone the clip at the bottom, allowing him to spread out more, and the pod has handles on the top and sides, which make it easy to be transported. 

The covers are easily whipped off to be machine washed if theres any puking or poop explosions, and we've even used our sleepyhead for tummy time and nappy changes, which was super handy. *You can even use it as a play-mat by adding a mobile toy arch which Sleepyhead also sell *

So, THE covers.... Not only is this sleep pod a miracle worker where sleeps concerned, but they also come in a variety of gorgeous prints, so it doesn't look out of place in your home.  I have the marble deluxe+ sleepyhead and the nightfalls cover. Both are dreamy. But to be honest I love all of the sleepyhead cover designs. They're available in a variety of prints from florals, geos, animal and leaf prints, so its worth taking a look at the range before deciding on which one to purchase. 

The only downside is the price. 150 EUROS for the plain sleepyhead deluxe+ and 170 euros for the printed, and additional covers are available at 85 euros each. Although it was nice to have the extra cover, I wouldn't say its a necessity. 

The second down side is sadly bubba will grow out of it, and then comes the next cost if you want to purchase the Grande which start at 200 euros + depending on which print. But this is the same for all things baby related. They don't stay babies forever. 

I was very kindly sent the Sleepyhead Deluxe to review. Regardless of being sent this, I would put the sleepyhead deluxe in my top 5 must have items when having a baby. It certainly helped Otis sleep which in turn helped me out. Happy baby, happy mum. 

INTRODUCING OTIS ....

Otis William Cotton - 0 days old

Its June and my baby is already six weeks old. Where has the past month and a half gone? The good news is I'm back into the swing of things on the blog. Well, sort of. 

Otis arrived on Monday 7th May at 12.10am, after a very long (48hour) labour which resulted in me having to being induced, and have an epidural, which wasn't something I had planned. It just goes to show that having a birth plan is great, but be prepared that it can all change. When you've been 6cm dilated for over 18 hours, with no pain relief, and nothings changing, you have to take the recommended advice.  He was 6 days late (due date was the 1st May) and weighed a very healthy 8lb 7oz. 

The past few weeks have gone by in a flash, as we're currently settling into our new life as a three, and getting to know one another. 

There's so much more to having baby that I never understood before. Terms like engorgement, mastitis, and how your tits swell up like a couple of bricks after you've had a baby and continue to hurt if you're breast feeding/ expressing. How breast feeding can hurt and be fecking painful if the latch isn't nailed. The night sweats, the need for a padded ring to sit up at night, and how having a cot attached to the bed isn't practical when you've had stitches down there, and you need to slide down the bottom of the bed to go to the loo. And, just how long the recovery takes from an episiotomy. I'd say about six weeks actually. 

The tearful moments. The crazy hormones that make you cry because your husband drank your favourite bottle of chablis that you'd been waiting nine months to drink (I don't think that was just the hormones), but couldn't, because you're on another round of antibiotics for the mastitis. Or, because you don't think you took enough photos of your baby as a newborn, and now he's six weeks old. Seriously, this has happened. 

The amount of unwanted advice you get from other mothers. Mothers who had their babies ten, twenty, fifty odd years ago, when gripe water was actually made from alcohol and when smoking around a baby was OK.  And this isn't just from the older mothers. The look or disapproving radio silence when you tell your mum friends about your parenting methods.  Or, when you say you've bought a canopy for your babies nursery, to be told it will be the death of your child.  Everyones an expert eh? But it will look great on instagram, yeah? 

Every day is a life lesson in parenting, and if I've learnt anything, its that we're all just winging it like each other, and a mother should never judge another mother. 

 Now speaking of canopy's... Lets get back to the fun stuff. 

Otis William Cotton - 2 weeks old.