We all have them, the things we owe our continued sanity (or near sanity) to. What are yours?

1. Muslin squares: sick stoppers, emergency nappies, sunshades, sun hats, puppets, bibs, uncle and aunt cleaner-uppers - these things really, really are INDISPENSABLE!!!

2. Video monitor: Bite the bullet and buy one! (tip: see the cctv selection in Argos, not the baby section). You can see the little nippers as well as hear them...from the comfort of your own armchair...are they still alive? Have they moved in the last hour? Are they making their great escape? Or are they just trying it on? They are cheaper than you think (about the same as an audio one), and soooo worth it!!!

3. Ear thermometer: is it the Black Death, or just a mild, non-specific viral infection? Don't bother with the forehead peeling ones, or trying to stick them under wriggly little armpits - or worse, up little rectums (whose idea was that!?)...you WILL end up buying one of these in the end...

4. A book! "What to Expect in the First Year" (or "How to be a Little Sod" works, too). Great, no completely unworkable routines and idiocy - just straightforward, 'yes, all newborns breathe like asthmatic wart hogs' advice for new parents

Good luck!

Fantastic sound advice. a must for all parents I think.

May I also recommend an aspirator ideal for clearing out the collossal amount of green stuff which takes up residency in your childs nose. Brilliant during colds and handy for the day to day build up.
Best one we had was form a set we bought from James Babycare, priced around £5.50 and the tip of the aspirator is too big to go into the childs nose, instead of these nasty £land jobbies which look like they'd reach the brain!

Definately agree on the muslin squares...am stocking up now! Sleepsuits...does that go without saying? That's all my baby will be dressed in until it can walk...nothing goes over the head, soft and easy to wear...and finally - I guess obviously - a good pram - I went for Mamas and Papas Pliko pramette for first child and will be using exact same pram for this one...lie flat so no worries about baby's spine not being flat. Oh I can see my other half now...pounding the streets pushing the pram so baby can sleep!!!

Like the idea of video monitor though...just had normal baby monitor for first one but do like the idea of being able to see them. Particularly with what I believe will be an "involved" toddler!!!

eerrmm ....... a baby? :hihi:

ours is due in 5 weeks so all the above suggestions are useful. Keep 'em coming. :thumbsup:

microwave sterilizer! (once you're expressing or bottle feeding)

Dummies have been a saving grace for us, along with the straps which keep them attached to the babies.
Oh and rice cakes are good for emergencies :)

Ahhh muslim squares. Amazing!
A tiny travel changing mat that fitted in my bag was a god send so could change emergency nappies anywhere.
My blender ( not for puree babies but for puree foods).

If you bottle feed, put a ready to feed carton and a disposable steribottle in the glove box of your car, or in your changing bag. Then any emergency delay is covered.

Both our cars have an emergency pack of baby wipes, nappy and spare pants for older one in the glove box too.

metanium nappy rash ointment, this is the best gets rid of nappy rash within hours

We also find Bepathen is really good for nappy rash.

Bicarbonate of soda - the best ever nappy rash cure - shove it in the bath, let bottom dry naturally - nappy rash gone by morning! Excellent.

Baby jail - aka play pen - for when you need the little critter containing!

Baby bath with a plug! Saves flooding the kitchen when attempting to empty a non-plug one into the sink!

Baby jail - aka play pen - for when you need the little critter containing!



Or for you, when there is no containing the little critter - the number of times I've heard of parents moving themselves and their morning paper/book/other task into the playpen and letting the little one have the run of the rest of the room, lol.

Also worth bearing in mind, we use a travel cot as the play pen - saves money on buying two items, and works just as well.

muslins!
hippy chick
angelcare - breathing & sound monitor
bernie the bat

A friend advised me to get one of those 'changing stations' the one's with a bath in them. I thought it was a bit of a luxury item but as i'd been saving up £2 coins for months and had enough to one I shelled out. Got one from Mothercare about £54 I think.

It's got to be THE most used item of baby equipment i bought. I'm only 5'2" and it's a wee bit on the high side for me but changing baby on a changing mat on the floor (like I did for my daughter all those years ago) would have really done my back and knees in. The two shelves are deep enough to store everything I need - nappy sacks, wipes, nappies, spare outfit/vests, baby toiletries, soft towels etc.

There are a few minor design issues - the base of the bath is raised slightly so you have to tip it up to empty the dregs using the attached pipe.

Calpol or equivalent, absolutely essential!

No new parent should be without.....

...a comfy armchair into which you can just sink for that much needed rest.