For mums and dads to be the thought of getting your nursery all stocked up and choosing the right travel system can be an incredibly exciting prospect.
But as soon as you start looking, the baby list seems to get longer and the array of products can completely bemuse you. Here's some of my favourite products some I've personally tried and tested, others I just love the look of.
1. Blade and Rose Leggings
I'm obsessed with these gorgeous baby and toddler leggings. They are so very cute, just that little bit different and because they range from 0-6 years if baby has an older sibling they could get matching ones. How adorable. I think this brand is going to be a very popular label this coming year and being priced so reasonably, even more so. Blade & Rose developed whist the owner Amanda was on maternity leave and was inspired to look for alternative solutions. She couldn't find anything premium quality, funky, comfortable and that worked around the fact that most babies are crawling, climbing and upside down so she created this fab and funky line of leggings. The leggings retail from £10.
2. 'Loved So Much' Playmat
A playmat is just one of the essentials you're going to need for your newborn baby. When it comes to options on the market everything is very bright and for me a little OTT. I was on the search for a cute but neutral playmat and when I found this "Loved So Much" playmat from Mothercare I fell in love, not only with the colours but also the gorgeous teddy design. This soft playmat helps develop hand-eye coordination for younger babies but can also be used as a playmat for older toddlers to sit on, perfect as it's multi-purpose. It's as cuddly and soft as your child's own teddy bear. Made in luxuriously plush fabric and with higher padded sides it will cradle your child gently and securely. It also comes with two arches and five detachable hanging toys including rattles, crinkles and a squeaker. When baby gets a bit bigger you can remove the arches for a secure place for tummy time or to sit and play on. It retails for £44.99.
3. Pacapod 3 in 1 Firenze Baby Bag
A baby bag, or nappy bag as they can otherwise be known, is another key essential for your new arrival. If you love style and have a thing for handbags like I do then you don't just want the average nappy bag, you want a gorgeous bag that doubles as a stylish handbag but is practical and has all the inserts for travelling around day to day with your baby. This 3 in 1 Pacapod Firenze is perfect for the style conscious mother who wants to merge trends with the practicalities of motherhood. The Firenze is available in natural "putty" or brown and adorned with glossy gold hardware. Tucked neatly inside is the genius behind the PacaPod, the award winning 3 in 1 baby organisation system, (the bag comes with two separate mini bags with pictures on the compartments). This not only looks gorgeous but is perfect for the busy mum who prefers to keep her baby bag organised and all the little compartments make this so much easier. The bag is delivered gift wrapped in ribbon and comes with an organza dust bag for the perfect baby shower gift. It retails for £265.
4. Surf 2 by SilverCross
When I first saw the Surf 2, I loved the design and more importantly the great choice of colours. Not only that but you can purchase a coordinating Simplicity carseat in the same colour as your pram. For a nice country walk it has large, rugged wheels with revolutionary air spring suspension, which should really help when you are handling a variety of terrains. This is something a lot of mums tend to forget when choosing a buggy but the wheels are an important factor depending on your needs. The luxurious newborn carrycot is included, which means it's suitable from birth, the reversible pushchair seat unit can then be used from six months to toddler age. The fact that the Surf 2 is compatible with the Simplicity carseat means you can create the perfect travel system. It's been been designed to be comfortable, stylish and maneuverable. It retails for £700.
5. We Baby Carrier by BabyBjorn
For those of you that are considering a baby carrier for its benefits in and out of the home, a name that's been around for ages and I'm sure you'll know is BabyBjorn. When I had my first child I found that my carrier became just as useful indoors as outdoors, especially when cleaning because your baby feels comforted close to your chest while your hands are free to get on with things. The 'We Baby Carrier' is a new generation baby carrier you can use right away. It's easy to put on and take off and is designed for you to use by yourself in any position, even when you place your child on your back. Three carrying options have been specifically adapted for newborns, larger children and back carrying. You can carry your baby facing you, in the wide leg position, with the correct support for their head, back and hips. The 'We Baby Carrier' has padded shoulder straps and a pressure-relieving waist belt to give you comfortable, ergonomic carrying and to support your back. You can vary between 3 front and back carrying options during the time it is used, from newborn to 3 years. Retails for £84.99
6. Lazy Days Long Sleeve Sleeping Bag By Carla
I love this long sleeved sleeping bag, as most baby sleeping bags that you find on the market tend to just be sleeping bags with no sleeves whatsoever. The sleeves are detachable which helps in the summer months or if the heating's been a bit too high as it's 2.5 tog. For 0-6months the sleeping bag also comes with built in scratch mitts which helps prevent little ones from scratching themselves in their sleep. By Carla is a contemporary and stylish nursery brand, with strong links to Early Years Professionals that help to develop innovative designs, which not only look stylish but also aim at encouraging the interaction between parent and child, whilst still aiding the baby's developmental needs through the products within their ranges. It retails for £27.99.
7. Rockin' Baby Pouches
If you're thinking of a baby pouch consider looking at the Rockin' Baby range which is available in Mothercare. I love this brand because Rockin' Baby Pouches support mothers in Kenya and Haiti. For every sling or pouch sold, Rockin' Baby donates a new sling to a mother in need in Haiti or Kenya. With every donation, mothers are educated on the importance of holding their baby close, which in difficult conditions can improve their child's life. Keeping your baby close is a wonderful feeling. The benefits of a sling or pouch for parents can be; back support when carrying your baby, privacy when breastfeeding and free hands to look after other children. Carried babies are constantly involved in their parents' world and it is believed that carrying babies can reduce crying and colic. From £59.
8. Diono Cuddle Soft
Keep your newborn baby as cosy as possible when its travelling around with you in its car seat with this adorable Diono car seat insert. The cuddle soft insert surrounds your babies entire body, providing soft, comfortable support for premature babies, newborns or babies up to 22 lb. The soft terry fabric and plush-filled inside, make it supportive yet super-cosy for your baby. It also looks rather stylish. It retails for £19.
9. Dimple Crib Set by Clair De Lune
As a mother who loves style as much as practicality, I searched all over for a neutral coloured crib set and stumbled upon this White Crib set from Claire De Lune. The Dimple bedding range has been lovingly made in the UK from a snuggly, soft fabric, perfect for your little baby's nursery. It's suitable from birth until baby can sit up unaided. The bedding set includes: a gorgeous white quilt and matching bumper. It is also machine washable which will come in handy as it can be thrown in the daily wash with all those muslins and bath towels you'll be washing regularly. The set retails for £47.99..
10. The Simplifix ISOFIX Base
What I love about The Simplicity car seat is that it's available in eight colours to coordinate with your pram. This carseat is compatible with all Silver Cross modern prams. I tried it myself, it's so easy - just click the car seat on your pram chassis and you're ready to go! If you choose to use the Simplifix base as well then you are creating the ultimate in-car safety system for your baby. Simplicity can be installed with either a seatbelt or the specially designed Simplifix ISOFIX base. Simplicity features a five-point harness for a secure and comfortable fit. The harness and the head support can be adjusted with the baby in the seat for greater convenience. Simplicity retails for £130. The Simplifix ISOFIX Base is designed to be incredibly easy to use. It is installed with a simple one-click attachment and it houses four indicators that show green when the Simplicity car seat is correctly installed, guaranteeing a safe and secure fit. For extra safety, there is an easily adjusted leg with a green indicator to show contact with the floor. Simplifix retails for £125.
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