Be the first to know!

We'll let you know when our products are ready to go and make sure you get first dibs on our debut range! You'll also receive our special friends discount!

Little Joey Co

The timeless, ethical, slow fashion alternative to disposable mass produced, ethically unknown babies and kids clothes. Handmade in Australia.

Blog

How to tell if your baby is low sleep requirement (from a mum who’s been there…)

by

australian baby muslin wrap

You’ve read the sleep/wake time guides and you genuinely think they are making it up. Surely no baby sleeps that much. As you rock your baby for the 6000th hour in a row, you wonder what on earth you are getting wrong here. How can everyone else in the world get their baby to sleep but you can’t? A niggling question lurks somewhere in the back of your mind. Am I the world’s worst parent, or does my baby just not need that much sleep?  It’s a question I refused to entertain when my first bub was little, despite hours a day rocking a wide eyed, unsleepy child. It was only the birth of my second child and the stark contrast between baby #1 and baby #2 that showed me something was amiss. My second child has normal sleep requirements, and with every long sleep, easy put down and freak out if she stayed awake more than the text book appropriate time, I began to see the truth. That my firstborn is among the ranks of Bill Clinton, Margaret Thatcher and Barack Obama, needing less sleep than most people to have a happy, healthy life. The signs were there all along, I just refused to believe them. But had I known early on, man I would have had a different experience of becoming a new mum! I would have relaxed and stopped believing I was the one messing it up. I would have let my poor baby stay awake when she needed to rather than spend most of her life being put to sleep (unsuccessfully!) And we both would have enjoyed it a lot more.

So how can you tell if your bub is low sleep requirement? In hindsight, these were the signs for me:

 

  1. They’re not sleepy when the book says they should be

She didn’t seem sleepy when I put her down and wouldn’t fall asleep after long periods of rocking, patting, leaving her to sleep etc. She didn’t have any tired signs (because I was working hard to get her to sleep before she got tired!) I always just thought I was bad at recognising them and she must therefore be OVER tired but my second child showed me that when kids have tired signs, it’s pretty obvious!

  1. They don’t fall asleep in carriers or in the car, or in the pram

If my second child is sleepy, the second she’s in a carrier or carseat she’ll pass out. I could count on my fingers the amount of times my low sleep requirement kiddo has fallen asleep in the car or pram. And she never fell asleep in the carrier.

  1. They have no “witching hour”

People used to talk about ‘the witching hour’ and how crazy their child would get towards bedtime. I had literally never experienced this until my second bub came along. My low sleep requirement bub was just as happy at 5pm as she was at 10am. Suddenly with my second child it all made sense.

  1. They don’t get overtired, even after long periods without sleep

My happy little low sleep requirement child has rarely been overtired in her now nearly 4 years. These days she often lies in bed for an hour or more after we put her down, singing to herself and telling stories to her toys. When she was a bub she would just lie there happily, awake and looking at the world around her. When my second baby started to show overtired signs I had no idea what was happening! She would be grouchy and crying and basically a nightmare until I could provide even the slightest sleep like environment for her when she would immediately conk out. This has literally never happened with my first child.

  1. They don’t cry

My super low sleep requirement baby rarely ever cried. She was always happy, engaged with the world, excited to have people around. If we left her in her cot she didn’t cry, if she hadn’t slept for hours she didn’t cry, when we were ready to cry from exhaustion she was bright eyed and bushy tailed. Tired babies cry. Untired babies are pretty content with the world.

  1. It doesn’t get better

Okay this is a bit of a kick in the teeth for the low sleep requirement baby’s parents but the fact is my nearly 4 year old has always slept less than other kids her age and likely always will. She gave up day sleeps when she turned two and since her second birthday she has not had a day sleep. As I mentioned earlier, we still put her down at a reasonable hour (730) every night, but often she sings and plays for long periods of time until she’s ready for sleep. The good news is that while a lot of my friends’ kids the same age need all kinds of help to get to sleep and usually end up in mum and dads bed before morning, she lies in bed entertaining herself until she’s tired enough to sleep without any intervention from us and once she’s asleep she’s usually good ‘til the morning.

  1. She can go ridiculous amounts of time without sleeping

It is crazy the amount of time my first bub could stay awake. We had countless nights for her first 2 years where she would sleep about 4 or 5 hours from 7pm until 11pm or 12am, and then was literally awake the entire night without ever even looking sleepy, and she didn’t make up for lost sleep the next day.

  1. The experts can’t get their heads around it

We failed sleep school at just 8 weeks old. It ended 6 hours in with the nurse crying out in desperation ‘pick her up, rock her, do whatever it takes, she needs to sleep!’ We visited a friend overseas who works in kids health who couldn’t believe her eyes when she saw how our child could stay awake for so long and be happy, engaged and unsleepy. She confessed that she hadn’t believed us when we told her about our child’s sleeping before she saw it with her own eyes. The fact is that most kids aren’t low sleep requirement, so ‘experts’ kind of freak out in the face of someone who contradicts all their norms. I’ve been accused of not giving my child the opportunity to sleep countless times by midwives and mothercraft nurses (seriously, did they think I was playing heavy metal in a neon room as a sleep technique?) I did everything right – dark room, white noise, gentle rocking and patting, strong consistent routine. But if a baby (or anyone at all for that matter!) isn’t sleepy, you can’t force them to sleep.

 

  1. Sleeping less than her peers doesn’t affect her at all

As I’ve said we tried everything to get my bub to sleep but she just wasn’t tired. She was super engaged, really happy and has grown up to be a very bright, responsible, kind, caring, low sleep requirement nearly 4 year old. Meltdowns and tantrums are so rare I couldn’t tell you the last time she had one. She’s always raring to go on the next adventure, to climb the next tree, to ride her bike and paint and draw. After preschool she’s keen as beans to go and play at the park with her friends. Sleeping less never has and still doesn’t affect her energy levels.

 

  1. You know because you are her parent

If you’ve suspected you have a low sleep requirement baby, articles like this may just confirm it for you. As parents, we are the only ones who know the truth about our kids’ habits and behaviours, because we are the ones who live them out with our kids. And we are the ones who really care that our kids are doing well. The truest bit of parenting advice is that most of the time, if it doesn’t contradict scientific evidence, our guts are right. In our local hospital children’s ER room, there is even a sign on the wall that reminds staff to ask parent’s what they feel is going on in the situation. Parent’s know.

 

 

Hopefully this has given you a clearer picture of what it’s like to have a low sleep requirement child, and whether you may have one too. If they’re happy and coping well, there’s nothing to do but wait it out until they’re old enough to entertain themselves during all the extra waking hours (in their rooms of course – mum and dad need a break!!)

10 Super Helpful Things to Bring When You Visit A New Mum and Dad

by

wombat swaddle

Not sure what to bring when you visit a new mum and dad? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! These simple, thoughtful goodies will make you a rockstar among visitors.

1.       Milk.

Got Milk? If you’re a new parent, probably not. There are so many people dropping around to see the baby and they all want tea, so milk is at a premium. Super easy, super thoughtful.

2.       Lactation Cookies

If you’re bringing milk, it just feels right to bring cookies. Lactation cookies are meant to boost milk supply and were most definitely invented by a very clever woman because new mums can eat as many as they like for the good of the baby. The best ones are choc chip and the beauty of them is that dad is scared to eat them in case his pecs start making milk. Delicious choc chip cookies that mum has to eat for the baby and dad won’t touch? Genius.

3.       Nappies

Every parent of a newborn underestimates the amount of nappies that babies need, simply because no one can actually believe something that small can create so much disgusting stuff. Save the day, bring nappies.

4.       Chocolate

Do I need to explain this one? To a hormonal, emotional, sleep deprived mum chocolate is life.

5.       Coffee

She may not have had coffee for the last 9 months. She may not sleep for the next 9 months. She needs a caffeine IV in her arm but that will keep the baby awake so just a normal coffee will do. Dad could probably do with one too.

6.       A Keep Cup

Hot beverage while breastfeeding – winner. Drinking hot liquid over a newborn baby? Not a great idea. At night a delicious hot chocolate while breastfeeding is amazing. A bit of sugar, a bit of warmth, a lot of comfort. Problem is the potential to spill on the baby. A good keep cup solves the problem. Even so, probably best for mum to drink to the side!

7.       Ice blocks

In summer there is nothing better than a cold ice block while mum and her baby are literally stuck together feeding in the humidity. Ice blocks also serve another post birth function. If you don’t know what I’m talking about best not to ask. It might put you off having kids of your own.

8.       News

News of the outside world is usually welcome by mums whose whole life revolves around milk, sleep (or lack thereof) and bodily fluids. Come armed with current affairs or just the local goss, whatever mum and dad are into, anything non-baby is awesome.

9.       DVD series

You’d never think anyone could get through the entire Netflix catalogue until you have to spend hours and hours and hours breastfeeding. Series are great because mum can watch one episode a boob/feed. Dig out your old Buffy, Friends – anything familiar and light-hearted – and prepare to make mum’s day.

10.   Just you

If you’re running late and you’ve lost your wallet and the dog ate your DVD’s, just bring you. It’s full on being a new parent and when mum and dad are ready, it’s great to pass the time with good friends.

 

10 things only the mum of a newborn will understand

by

Little Joey Co Australian Luxury Baby Products

Sure, lots of people have had newborns. But saying to the parent of a newborn ‘Oh I remember the newborn stage’ is like saying to someone who is currently running a marathon ‘Oh I remember running a marathon!’ as they sip on a wine and watch the runners go past.

So if, like me, you currently have a newborn, here’s some things that I know only you will truly get.

  1. Boob fatigue.

sore boobs

Sure breastfeeding is beautiful and magical (once you get over the initial soreness and issues) but sometimes the baby just feeds and feeds and feeds and feeds (and feeds.). 'Oh she's going through a growth spurt!' is what people who no longer have newborns will say. But you know the truth. You have become a human cow. You are suffering from boob fatigue.

      2. Touch fatigue.

dont touch me

Remember when the touch of your partner was a beautiful thing? You may remember that was the day before you gave birth. Since then you have had an excess of tiny human contact. This tiny human has also severely damaged all your special lady places. So no, sorry darling, no touchy.

    3. Fatigue Fatigue

You try to focus on a conversation, but the words flit around you and you can’t quite catch them to turn them into a full sentence. The keys are in the fridge. Your top is on inside out. You know what I’m talking about. It's a special kind of exhaustion reserved for people who wake up every 3 hours to use their body to nourish someone else's.

    4. I got the best one!

cute baby

You don’t know how it happened, but you got the cutest baby. Funny that, me too! I once read about a mum who thought that her baby was so pretty that she didn’t want to visit her friend who had a baby the same age in case her friend was jealous that her baby was so much cuter. A couple of years later she looked back and realised her newborn looked like a little alien. That’s not going to happen with us though – we are totally objective about our babies’ incredible cuteness. Totally.

    5. The cry of torture

stress cry

There’s some special part of a mum that only the cry of their newborn baby can reach. And if you can’t stop the crying pretty quickly it shoots adrenaline through your body until you could probably lift a semi trailer with your bare hands. It's unbearable. Something about nature wanting us to remember to look after our babies. But seriously. My blood pressure went up just thinking about it.

    6. Mama tiger

mama tiger

I'm not a violent person, but come near my baby with anything other than love and adoration and I will gut you with a spoon. Give me a dirty look when my baby is crying? I will take you down. Try to kiss my baby with a cold sore? Just try me. Having a baby awakens the tiger within us, and if you dare to cross mama, you’re gonna hear her roar.

    7. The small victories

newborn gas

Breastfeeding is tricky, but it’s only the first bit of feeding. The second bit is the gas that gets trapped inside which needs to come out, one way or another. When you have a squirmy baby who has trapped air that is stopping him from sleeping, it's high fives, happy dances and soccer celebrations all round when that wind finally gets out. Parenting is soooo glamorous.

    8. Active wear is a uniform

mum uniform

McDonalds workers, air hostesses … they all have uniforms. So do mums with newborns. You’ve seen mums with tiny bubs strutting around in their active wear but you never knew why until you became one yourself. Now you realise that post birth stitches, post pregnancy body and the need to be able to go to sleep comfortably at any given opportunity lends perfectly to active wear. I don’t know who pretended that stuff is for the gym. Activewear is the uniform of mamas.

    9. Coffee is life 

coffee mum

You thought you needed coffee before. Ha! Now you can only have a little, but you need it A LOT.

    10. You’ve joined a tribe

mama tribe

You probably didn’t realise this before you became a mum but you’ve joined a tribe of women who have your back. They will provide wipes when yours are out of reach, offer to help when you’re struggling through the supermarket with a screaming child and give you a smile when you look like you need some support. They are the mama tribe, and you mama are one. Mum’s have a reputation for being judgy, but if that's a thing I've never experienced it.  Every mama I've met has been awesome.

Having a newborn is a crazy thing. Don't do it alone. Welcome to the tribe x

The common advice new parents should ignore

by

Have you ever heard a story about the selection process soldiers undergo to join special forces? Ever notice how much it sounds like the birth/newborn phase??

We were put through extreme physical trials to the point where we were sick from pain and nearly passing out. After that, we were only allowed to sleep for 2 hours before we were taken through our next trial. We were pushed to our limits physically and emotionally, no sleep, our bodies falling apart. For weeks on end we were forced to carry on beyond the end of our physical limits, reaching in to a place we didn’t even realise was there to do what needed to be done. But the best feeling in the world was to get to the end and to realise that we’d done it. We are among the most elite military soldiers in the world.

Kinda nails the first few weeks postpartum right? Oh, except for the bit where it ends and we get to be elite soldiers. Our bodies heal (mostly), but the sleep deprivation, pushing ourselves beyond our limits emotionally and physically, and digging deeper down than we ever thought we could for that extra bit of endurance (and patience!) goes on for a looooong time.

I imagine the advice given to special forces soldiers is something along the lines of  ‘It’ll be tough, but hang in there. You were made for this. You can do it.’

And what advice do we give to new mums?

'It'll be tough, but hang in there. You were made for this. You can do it'

Heck No!

To mums with newborns, fresh out of hospital, a look in their eyes that is equal parts elation, exhaustion and raw fear (what do I do now??), we give this little gem of advice:

"Enjoy every moment!"

Really? Every moment? Like, Every. Single. Moment?? Are you freaking kidding me??

The problem with this little nugget of advice is that most new parent's already feel pressure to do that, especially if they've spent a long time trying to conceive. They've been blessed with the thing they've been wanting so much, surely they should love every second of this precious little life? Argh the pressure!!

I’m having my second baby very soon and I can already tell you I will not be enjoying every moment. When she is waking every 2 hours to feed I will spend a good portion of those moments willing her to hurry up so I can go back to bed. When she’s crying non stop and I can’t for the life of me figure out why, enjoyment will not be my go-to feeling. When I try to put her to bed and she systematically vomits on every single set of bassinet sheets we have, again enjoyment will not be on the cards. When my boobs are killing me, she’s not latching properly, my body is aching, my hormones are going crazy and sleep is all I crave and the one thing that is completely out of reach, I’m telling you now I am not going to enjoy those moments. I don’t have to. And neither do you.

Because strong, true, long lasting love is not only forged in the giddy happy moments of heart bursting joy. Deep love is forged as we pour ourselves out for someone else. True love is tested and proved true when it costs us – sleep, freedom, patience. When we go the extra mile (or ten) to ensure our babies are safe and healthy and loved. When we forgo our own comfort to ensure theirs. When we have nothing left to give but give it anyway. When we know that we actually can’t give our bubs what they need at this time and we make the brave and vulnerable decision to ask for help.

It’s great to enjoy the good moments, but let’s face it, not every moment of motherhood is enjoyable. Some moments suck. Just because we don’t enjoy them doesn’t mean we’re bad parents. It doesn’t mean we don’t care. It doesn’t mean we’re doing parenting wrong. It doesn’t mean we’re ungrateful for what we have. It means we’re human. And no human being on this earth enjoys every moment of anything that lasts, no matter how good it is.

Parents are under enough pressure. Let’s not pressure them to ‘enjoy every moment’ as well. The moments are up and down, good and bad, enjoyable and awful. Just like everything else in life.

So next time someone tries to tell you to ‘enjoy every moment,’ tell them no. Tell them that ‘Some Moments Suck’. And next time you see a new mum, tell her too. ‘Some Moments Suck. It’ll be tough, but hang in there. You were made for this. You can do it. I’m here for you if you fall’.

8 Ways to Overcome a “Mum Life Crisis”

by

how to be a mum

If you’ve got a toddler (or two!), chances are that at some point you’ll find yourself smack bang inside a ‘Mum Life Crisis.’ The first year of parenthood tends to go in a bit of a blur of high highs and low lows magnified by extreme sleep deprivation. But once the basics are sorted and the daily routine is in place, life can start to stretch out before you like a Parenting Groundhog Day. Days that only change with increasing levels of emotion from your toddler as he learns how to be his own very, VERY opinionated little person. That’s when park visits become tear filled meltdowns about which water bottle was brought (the wrong one), what to play on (the swings which are always occupied), a bit of dirt on his top making it totally unwearable (yes my child is the shirtless one over there) and whatever else is the issue of that particular day/hour/minute/second. And you look around and think, ‘is this all there is?’ Or as a friend recently put it ‘I do NOT want to be a mum today.’

If you’re feeling this way, don’t worry, it’s normal. And there is hope for us all! Not just in the long term waiting for them to grow up, but right now. Here are some ideas that may help:

1. Make sure your day is also about you

Sometimes we can think that we need to spend our days entertaining and fulfilling our kids. We need to remember that kids are fulfilled and entertained just by being exposed to the world. Elsewhere in the world, it is totally normal to see children tagging along to work with their mums or grandmas, strapped onto their backs for the day. You pretty much never see them cry or look bored. Yes, it’s good for little ones to go to the park or play with other kids, but they also learn from tagging along with us to the things we want or need to do. So go and do that thing you’ve been putting off. Arm yourself with snacks, toys and books to occupy little hands. And if it all goes pear shaped, giving them your phone for an hour will not be the difference between them getting into Harvard or not

2. Structure your day to spend time with people you like

Over the last 2 years I have collected the most wonderful mum friends who I love to catch up with. The park is less monotonous when you can meet a friend. I’ve only recently started inviting people around to my flat thinking that it’s too small, but it’s actually great having the kids contained. It also means my huge pregnant body can sit on the couch and drink tea with friends rather than push and pull and run at the park! I’m not a super planning person, but I have a rough schedule for my entire Monday – Friday with only a few afternoons unplanned, and all the things we do are fun (or at least not unpleasant!) for everyone.

3. Have an interest

I started my own business, Little Joey Co, because I love using the practical and creative sides of my brain doing something that has nothing to do with little people (or MY little people at least.) I have deliberately chosen something that I can ramp up and slow down as needed. Maybe it’s not business, maybe you want to learn to knit or play the guitar or study to change or enhance your career. Find something to get your head in a different space. What do you do with the kids while you are embracing self fulfillment? They actually need to be able to do things without you and this is something you need to teach them by getting them to play independently. A little sandpit with toys in it will work even on a little balcony, a little craft area indoors, whatever works for you. And if your kids don’t nap, a few cartoons will give them a rest, and buy you a bit of time to do what you like.

4. Volunteer for something you’re interested in

Volunteering helps you meet people, is good fun and gives your kids a great example of giving back to the community. It also helps to give you a sense of fulfillment. Helping others helps us feel good. You can google organisations and charities in your local area – Mummies Paying It Forward is a good one in Sydney. Or just go to the local nursing home and ask if there are any residents who would like a visit.

5. Have a plan and make choices

If you feel like you’re stuck in Groundhog Day, try to get your head out of the details and into the bigger picture. We don’t have to be a victim of our circumstances. We can make choices about what our days will be like, and make plans for the future. We can have goals and excitement outside our kids. You might need to work hard on the weekends and in the evenings (or whenever you get a second!), but that might feel great. Ask a support person to help you, and forget the preconceived ideas about the kind of mum you think you should be. If there’s anything I learned when I became a mum, it’s that everything I thought I knew was great in theory but didn’t work at all in practice!

6.  Tell your support person what you need

Your partner can’t read your mind. Neither can your mum or your best friend. Whoever is helping you along this journey needs to know what you need. If you need a night off, negotiate how often and when. Tell them why. Try and help them understand. They may well not, but hopefully they’ll help out anyway. And after awhile, the contentious issue of mum taking time off will turn into the norm and no one will question in it anymore (at least that’s the plan!) As a mum you are constantly pouring yourself out for everyone else. If you don’t take time out once in awhile you will end up empty with nothing left to pour.

7. Ask Around

Ask mums with older kids how they survived their Mum Life Crisis or how they find fulfillment outside of motherhood. You are more than a baby making, bum wiping, milk providing, swing pushing, cooking, cleaning machine. Even if they are a bit lost right now, somewhere inside of you are amazing ideas and hopes and dreams. Sometimes chatting with people in similar situations can help unearth those things that have laid dormant since those two little lines first appeared. And that’s when it starts to get exciting!

8. Make it happen

Whatever it is that needs to change to help you out of your crisis, make it happen. If you think there’s always a way, you’ll find one. If you think it’s impossible, it will be. Brainstorm crazy ideas (like getting an army of robot servants!) and eventually some practical ones will fall out too. When my first bub was about a year old and I was feeling in a bit of a rut, I started a course that I’d always wanted to do. It took some juggling to make it happen. I would travel in with the bub to meet my husband after work, hand over the baby and go to the course, often getting home super late with lots of homework. I used opportunities like the baby being awake in the small hours of the night to do homework (it was in advertising so lots of creative thinking involved.) I was pretty exhausted but my mental health and well being improved dramatically (plus I learned some cool stuff along the way!)

Assess your life, think about what you want, make some choices and find a way. Your Mum Life Crisis could end up being the best thing that ever happened to you!

 

6 ways of using the humble swaddle that have nothing to do with swaddling

by

Little Joey Co Australian Luxury Baby Products6 ways of using the humble swaddle that have nothing to do with swaddling

Swaddles are amazingly versatile, and investing in a few good ones will do the job of several products!

Breastfeeding cover Either drape or tie the swaddle around your neck for a quick and easy breastfeeding cover, especially if your bub gets easily distracted.

Tummy time mat Lay the swaddle on the carpet at a friend’s place, on the grass at the park, or anywhere you want to ensure a clean, soft space for your bub when out of the house (or in!)

Pram cover Keep out wind, sun, light and people’s peering eyes and poking fingers by throwing a swaddle over the pram when you go out. I’ll never understand why people think they can touch your baby without your permission!

Spew Rag Particularly for friends who aren’t used to babies, throw the swaddle over their shoulder to catch any milk that might want to make a re-appearance.

Change table cover For an easy to wash change table cover, lay over the change table mattress. It will make it more comfortable for baby and you can just throw it in the wash if any accidents happen!

Scarf for mummy It’s a great way to carry around a spare swaddle! Plus it’s soft, feels good and looks great!

Whatever you use it for, a great swaddle will always come in handy!

What you really need when you have your first baby

by

Little Joey Co Australian Luxury Baby ProductsWhat you really need when you have your first baby

A lot of my friends are having their first babies, and being the veteran pregnant with number two, I’m getting a lot of questions on what you need for a newborn. I know there’s a million lists about the essential items you absolutely have to have before you are allowed to bring an actual living, breathing baby home, but actually it’s pretty likely that the baby wipes warmer is going to be used for the first week, and then you’re going to be way too exhausted (or horrified by what’s actually in the nappy) to care whether your precious angel’s tiny little bum is wiped with a room temperature or a luke warm wipe.

If you’re happy to spend a fortune on stuff you may not need, don’t let me hold you back, spend up and don’t read on! There is no question that it is super fun buying cute little outfits and the worlds tiniest shoes. If nothing else it takes your mind off the fact that the baby has to get out of you at some point in the near future. But if you’re just wanting to buy what you need, and not spend any money unnecessarily, here’s what we’ll call a moderate guide to baby survival needs:

  1. A place for baby to sleep. A bassinet is fantastic as they are easily portable, you can rock the baby to sleep in them, they are high so you don’t need to spend so much and your tiny baby won’t look quite as small as they do in a huge crib. You can also buy them second hand in excellent condition and sell them easily as they won’t get more than 6 months’ use. But if you want to, you can skip that and go straight to the crib, also easy to buy second hand in great condition
  2. A space to change baby. It’s good to have a change table to save your back from any unnecessary bending and to have a place where you can keep all your baby related products like nappies and wipes and medicine. I have personally switched from a table with open shelves to one with a drawer and cupboards beneath to keep little crawling/toddling hands from getting into everything.
  3. Transportation
    Pram. Firstly a pram. Read reviews online, go to the store and try a few out. Here’s some good features to look out for: easy folding, light, a big basket underneath and easy to steer. I would also look for a seat that both reclines, and can be pulled up into a straight back position. My pram doesn’t go into a straight sitting position (it reclines a little even at its most upright) and my bub has always struggled with not being upright enough.
    You can also get a pram liner if you want to bling up the pram but you only really need one and even that is optional if you have a pram that’s easy to clean.Carseat. Given that all Australian baby car seats need to live up to industry standards, you can’t really go wrong as long as you buy an Australian seat that complies.
  4. Nappies and Wipes. You’ll be needing a lot of these but it is remarkable how quickly babies go up in nappy sizes so don’t go overboard in the one size. We found it easy enough to have 2 mattress protectors and 2 or 3 bedsheets and as soon as one became dirty (usually baby spew) we swapped it for the other and immediately washed. Note: every now and then you’ll get a double spewer where the baby does a huge puke, you change the sheets and she then pukes on the second set. Along the same vein as ‘inside out undies’ which men seem to be so proud of, you could prolong the use of the second set of sheets by putting the baby in the crib in the other direction. I don’t know how proud you’ll feel but it’ll get you through! I should also add that you probably need a dryer for this method. Otherwise, a couple more sets won’t go astray!
  5. Bedding. We found it easy enough to have 2 mattress protectors and 2 or 3 bedsheets and as soon as one became dirty (usually baby spew) we swapped it for the other and immediately washed. Note: every now and then you’ll get a double spewer where the baby does a huge puke, you change the sheets and she then pukes on the second set. Along the same vein as ‘inside out undies’ which men seem to be so proud of, you could prolong the use of the second set of sheets by putting the baby in the crib in the other direction. I don’t know how proud you’ll feel but it’ll get you through! I should also add that you probably need a dryer for this method. Otherwise, a couple more sets won’t go astray!
  6. Towel. You can actually use a grown-up towel but the baby might pee in it so it’s nice to give them their own towel. Also, it just fits them a bit better. You only really need one or two if you want to splash out, and good quality ones will last for years!
  7. A few outfits that are swaddle friendly. Singlets or onesies, depending on time of year. Theoretically, babies sleep a lot. Practically, either the baby sleeps or you are trying to get the baby to go to sleep for the majority of their newborn lives. If you put them in cute little dresses and two piece outfits, it will probably ride up and be uncomfortable for them when they are swaddled, or you will spend your entire day changing them in and out of outfits. Also, you will be given lots of adorable things for those times you want to play ‘look how adorable my baby is.’
  8. A thermometer. You can’t really use any medicine for the first few weeks but you’ll be incredibly paranoid about babies’ health so I would definitely get one, even just for your own piece of mind. You can get in ear or even non contact thermometers which are less of a hassle than the old under arm ones.
  9. Swaddles! Of course I had to put this one in, but as it happens, they are super handy. Sleep is almost as important for you as it is for your baby, so it can be best to try out a few different styles of sleeping bags and wraps to see what suits him best. Our bamboo swaddles are soft and breathable and don’t stain easily so of course we recommend them J Even if you use a sleeping bag in the end, swaddles are great for a number of reasons. If you want to know more, here’s a handy little guide.

Stuff to borrow to see if your baby likes before you spend gazillions on them. Babies are crazily fussy so don’t spend too much until you know what you need. If you can’t borrow, try second hand on ebay, gumtree or a Facebook buy/sell/swap site.

  1. A Baby Bjorn, Ergo, Manduca or other baby carrier
  2. A baby swing or bouncer
  3. A breast pump

A playmat. You can buy this earlier or wait until your munchkins neck is strong enough.

Remember, the shops are still open once the baby is born! If you need anything, you can always send your partner out or order online express!