Knowledge is power. Arm yourself (in a non-threatening, peaceful way) with everything you need to know about baby products and choosing baby names.
Some baby products are useful for longer than others. If you’re in two minds about whether to buy something, it can be worth considering its lifespan. The longer you use it, the better the cost per use and the more it will justify its place in your home. Here are thirteen baby products that are still in active service with my now five-year-old.
Around 20% of babies will suffer from colic, which is characterised by excessive crying. Mine was one of them. Somewhat unbelievably, the exact cause is unknown but there are many remedies you can try. My research uncovered 22 of them. Here is a review of each and the science (if any) behind them.
2017 was a big year in the world of breast pumps when John Chang created the first wearable device. The big difference is that the milk collection unit is curve-shaped so it can be worn inside the bra. They are becoming increasingly popular so what are the pros and cons will women all now be finally breaking free from the shackles of the standard breast pump?
A child goes through seven sizes of baby clothes in their first two years. That’s a lot of clothes needing to find a new home or ending up in landfill. Which explains the rise in popularity of renting baby clothes. But how does it work, why is it better for the environment, what are the downsides, and how do all the rental services compare?
If you’re looking for a single-syllable girl’s name, this list is different to all the others. It’s in order of popularity according to the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). So you can easily see how popular or uncommon your preferred names are. It also includes alternative spellings, meanings and what the name could be long for.
If you’re looking for a short and snappy one-syllable boy’s name - this is the list for you. And they’re not in alphabetical order like other lists. They’re in order of popularity so you can easily see if the names you like are very common or more unusual. Here’s why one-syllable names are so great and 96 of the best ones for baby boys.
Cot bumpers are often used to prevent a baby’s limbs from getting stuck though the bars and soften any impact. But traditional padded cot bumpers are no longer recommended due to safety concerns. Are the new breed of mesh, breathable cot bumpers/liner/wraps any safer and what should you look out for when choosing one?
After the 3459th read of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, you may need to remind yourself why reading to babies is so important. We all know it’s something we should do. But why? Here are seven reasons why it is so beneficial, where to get free books and thirteen of the must-have books for babies.
Smart, wearable baby monitors are devices worn by a baby that alert parents to changes in heart rate, breathing, blood oxygen levels and sleeping position. But can they actually prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), do they give the peace of mind intended or are they just a way to make money from anxious new parents?
Feeding a baby formula milk at night is a massive faff compared to breastfeeding. Having to make up a bottle to the correct temperature and following all the guidelines is so much harder than just getting your boob out. So what are the best ways to make up your baby’s bottle safely in the night? Here are your options.
What have Cheryl Cole, John Betjeman, Anna Friel, and Benedict Cumberbatch got in common? They were all born during a heatwave. Let’s spare a thought for their parents who had to cope with a newborn in tremendous heat. However hot it gets this year, there are some things you can do to make life easier and cooler with a summer baby.
The first time you stay overnight with family and friends could mean excitement at an extra pair of hands and a much-needed break. Or it could mean you are feeling overwhelmed by all the packing involved for a tiny human. If that’s the case, here is a complete packing checklist for your baby and some things to make a short stay easier and the journey lighter.
We all know about the baby essentials - the pram, the nappies, the baby grows. But there are also many lesser-known products. Some of which you definitely don’t need. Like the tool for applying nappy cream. Yes this exists. There are some that are super useful though. While they are not must-haves, they might make your life easier. Here is my top ten.
Vegan and cruelty-free products are becoming increasingly popular. But what does this actually mean with baby products? And if you want to avoid animal testing and animal products with baby bath and skincare, wipes, nappies, nappy cream, nipple cream and baby laundry detergent, which brands should you buy from and which should you avoid?
Pre-loved, pre-owned, vintage, hand-me-downs, nearly new. The fact that euphemisms exist for second-hand suggests that it’s still considered preferable to buy new baby products. But what if you can’t afford it, are on a budget or just want to try and reduce waste and live more sustainably? What baby items can you safely get second-hand and what should you avoid?
There’s a new steriliser in town for baby bottles. The UV steriliser. It’s making steam seem old-fashioned and the cold water method look medieval. Even though the technology has actually been around since 1878. So are they any good? What are the pros and cons? And is this now the best way to ensure your baby’s bottles and dummies are completely germ-free?
The first pram in 1733 was a carriage pulled by a dog, pony or goat. Sadly things have moved on a lot since then and we’re expected to do all the hard work ourselves. But there are some things to make it easier like buggy clips, Snoozeshades and pram toys. Here are the eleven most popular pram accessories. And a brilliant way to keep pram wheel mud and dirt away from your clean floors.
Baby sleeping bags are not like ordinary sleeping bags. For a start, you don’t have to spend up to an hour trying to stuff them back into that carry bag. They are basically wearable blankets, kept on with poppers and zips and are becoming increasingly popular in the UK. Here is the answer to every possible question you might have in this ultimate baby sleeping bag guide.
When entering a home of small children, the child-free are often secretly horrified by all the garish plastic. They may promise themselves they will never live like that. But then they do have a baby and before they know it there’s the giant hulk of a Jumperoo taking up half the lounge. But there are some easy ways to try and reduce the amount of plastic in our homes when we have a baby. And not just because of it how it looks.
Most children are toilet or potty trained by the age of three. But there are some doing it a bit sooner. From birth. This is the practice of Elimination Communication. Also called infant potty training and Nappy Free. I could only potty train my toddler by using chocolate bribes, which is definitely not suitable for newborns. So how do you do this? And, perhaps the much, much bigger question - why?
The first time I heard of a baby nest, outside the context of a little bird, it was 2017. I was reading through a list of ‘must-have’ baby products in the comments of an Instamum’s post. The Sleepyhead came up time and time again. Parents called it a lifesaver and an absolute essential. Then in 2018, the Lullaby Trust deemed them unsafe. So should you get one? Are they safe? And why are they still so popular?
It can take a while for your body to resume normal business post-birth. Unless you have a baby that painlessly slides out like an eel. All the stuff that may follow - the stitches, the bleeding, the piles, the fear of the first poo - none of it really matters as you’ve just expelled a real live baby from your body. You just won’t care. But there are some things you can get to make it all a lot easier.
Up until ten years ago the only thing I’d used a coconut for was making horse clip clop noises. I’d have been as likely to rub coconut oil into a baby as I would be to bathe it in a Pina Colada. But it’s now had a meteoric rise. Coconut oil is everywhere and becoming increasingly popular as a baby product. But how can you use it with a baby, does it actually do any good and which are the best coconut oils to buy?
Unless you are super fertile, you can’t plan to have a winter or a summer baby. You get what you’re given and there are benefits to each. It can be a bit harder in winter when the days are shorter and the nights longer. You might feel a bit envious of new parents with their sunny days in the park, but there are several ways to make life with a winter baby easier. And more importantly - warmer.
Disposable nappies take an estimated 500 years to decompose. If you wore them as a child, they all still exist somewhere. Baby wipes ‘only’ take 100 years to break down. But how much better are eco-friendly disposables, wipes and nappy sacks? Do any actually biodegrade, can they be home composted and what are the eco-credentials of five of the main eco nappy brands?
If you bought every item of baby gear aimed at new parents, you’d probably also need a bigger house. There are many things you definitely do need like Babygros and baby hat. There are many that you definitely don’t need: like baby wipe warmers and baby cologne (yes, that’s an actual thing). But there are also many everyday baby products that have free or cheap alternatives.
Most babies will have a bottle at some point. And 82% of these bottles used across the world are plastic. But a recent study has raised some concerns about microplastics. Here’s everything you need to know. Including the facts about the safety of plastic baby bottles, the pros and cons of glass bottles and seven of the best to buy.
Newborn baby clothes often have to be changed more times times than Beyonce concert costumes by people existing on two hours’ sleep. They should be easy. But they’re not. So to simplify matters, here are ten things you need to know. Including what sizes to buy for a newborn, whether they need to be pre-washed and the surprising reason why the neck is so wide on bodysuits.
Some of the most popular children’s books are very weird. There are families going on bear hunts, cats happy to wear hats and caterpillars at all you can eat buffets. Surely the real world is enough to deal with. It’s mind-blowing enough that caterpillars turn into butterflies.
Including 19 different uses, how many to buy and why Neil Armstrong took one to the moon.
Before I had my baby, I knew nothing about muslin cloths. They were just something I saw living on the shoulder of a new parent, like a chef with a tea towel.
There are many ways that babies get their names. Some more unconventional than others. Spare a thought for the Marjorie, whose naming story I once overheard on a train. “She was very sickly when she was born and they didn’t think she’d survive. So they called her Marjorie as they didn’t want to waste a good name on her. She had the last laugh though as she lived to 86!”
If you’re about to have a baby, congratulations! On the baby and also the giraffe you are about to welcome into your house. The Sophie the Giraffe teething toy has become ubiquitous amongst babies. Like a teenager with a smartphone, Dot Cotton (RIP) with a fag or God with the whole world - she’s always in their hands. Albeit with quite a bit more dribble.
These 15 toys are all popular for a reason. Babies between the ages of six and twelve months love them. And they don’t drive their parents insane. Any ones that make noise have an off switch and many also a volume control. If you are looking to save money, there is only one item included that is anywhere near the £100 mark. Ten of the toys are under £20 and five are under £10.