This weekend we’re headed to my bestie’s baby shower, and to say that I am beyond excited about the impending parenthood of my bestie is an understatement. After thinking that perhaps our Mothering journey’s would be years apart, and our children very different ages, low and behold we somehow ended up pregnant together (albeit not as closely as we planned, those pesky timed pregnancies can be tricky to co-ordinate!) and our little pikininnies will in the end be only about 3.5 months apart. But the best bit? This is obviously my second bambino, so I get to share all of the things.
Upon finding out said bestie was indeed expecting a mini-me, I promptly set about putting together a little care package for her. All the things which I would’ve found handy, some things just for fun, and some things needing explaining and a list included. Behold…
In my little (ok, big) bag of goodies I included basic things like toweling jumpsuits (ain’t nobody got time for cute outfits with a scrunched up newborn who needs changing every 20 minutes: jumpsuits jumpsuits jumpsuits), hand sanitiser to have on the change table (a little thing that you’ll probably forget in baby nursery set up, but I found handy) and Pigeon brand breast pads (always Pigeon brand). Little tips like that I like to pass on, things my older sister or friends with babies told me. Kate has no sisters and not too many friends with babies, so I was like “Here, you’ll be needing this…”
Also in the pack were Bonds snap under singlets – always with the snap under. Eleanor still very rarely is not wearing a snap under singlet or snap under long sleeved suit. The one difference is that Kate’s baby will be a Summer baby, in a northern climate, Eleanor was a Winter baby in chilly Gippsland. I don’t know Summer babies. I was all about the fifteen layers, knitted bonnets, crocheted blankets and don’t even get me started on jumpsuits without feet or baby socks – useless! But…a Summer baby is a different beast obviously. Bonds feeding singlets are just a must, bras never worked for me, after my milk supply calmed down and got itself sorted I was basically back to a B-cup anyway. Singlets are so easy, keep your tummy covered, and I always preferred to lift my top up rather than down for minimal exposure. Singlets. Need ’em. And the Bonds clips are one handed operational = a must.
I gave my bestie some breastfeeding tips, especially in those first few weeks where it’s all arms and mouth and milk and hormones. I found Hydrogel breast discs to be great for popping on before a feed, when your milk had come in and that poor little mouth was just up against a brick wall of milk. A warmed face washer will do the same thing too.
A set of stroller clips because I never had any and wish I had’ve (I nearly kept them for me!) A fun little board book of faces, I remember well when Eleanor started recognising that certain shapes were ‘a face’, apparently a major developmental leap, I saw this book and thought it would’ve been well loved! Somebody gave us a rear-view little clip on mirror for the car and it was brilliant, another handy little thing that you don’t think much of, but I lost ours for awhile there and it was like I’d lost an arm!
Finally, some handmade goodies. Of course. I couldn’t walk out of Spotlight without these sweet muslin unisex prints (the sneaky buggers know what they’re having but aren’t telling) which I made into some big 1.2 x 1.2 m blankets. I never used muslin blankets very much with a Winter baby, but I think Kate will with a March bubba. The one great muslin I had was 1.2 metres square. Bigger the better.
I’d love to know if you have a standard baby gift you love to give?
Or what was the most valuable baby item you received when you were expecting?
Did you have Winter or Summer bubbas?
Sami says
I LOVE getting a little newborn pack together – like yourself, snap singlet suits are number one – nothing worse than a singlet that rides up every single time they move or pass them around. I also liked doing a little toiletries bag up, one that you can throw in and know everything you need is there. a toothbrush, toothpaste, those tiny travel shampoos & conditioner + body wash, FLUSHABLE TOILET WIPES!! (insert spirit finger hands here), maternity pads, lasinoh cream, hairties, a little deodorant and a hair brush. I also love a good wrap, and still use them now with mr almost 4, the bigger the better is my theory too. if its someone extra spesh ill also throw in a nice printed dressing gown or pj pants for the hospital because we all know it gets to arctic temps in there. a few cute little suits for bub and that’s about it. so exciting, my bestie is due TODAY & another friend is having a C-section this morning, im bursting with excitement. bring on the newborn cuddles + clucky discussions with my husband about how one more baby is a good idea ๐
Emma - a simple living journey says
A ringsling! So handy, so portable and so easy to use one you know how! Holding baby close and getting to smell the top of that little head with ease. Oh my goodness I LOVE that smell.
Also so easy to carry around, makes walks around the block a breeze and perfect for when babe just. wants. to. be. held. all. the. TIME! Beautiful cuddles with ease.
I love a ring sling for a summer baby, suitable for tiny babes right up to toddlers. ๐
xx
Emma says
Yes love my ring sling, still use it with 19 month old chunky monkey. I gave Kate my Happy baby wrap (similar to a Hugabub) which I found good for a little tiny one.
Rosie says
Ooh, it’s been a while. Yes to snap under singlet suits and hydrogel breastpads! You can’t beat Bonds zippies (long arm and leg ones) Perfect for a late Summer/Early Autumn bub – they’re so lovely and light, can be layered if need be, but also good overnight when it starts to cool down. I actually used re-usable breastpads this time around and they were so much nicer than those dreadful plastic things with an adhesive back that got all hot and sweaty! I always give first timers a medium sized tub-trug (the one that fits in a sink) as a soaking bucket is absolutely a must have with a newbie, and it’s nice to have a new one, and the handles make it easier to empty the water out before stuffing the whole lot in the machine! The old style flannelette flat square nappies are another good one – I find the terry ones too big and bulky, whereas the flanno ones fold up smaller and flatter!
Emma says
Great idea for the tub trug! Our massive one is used as Eleanor’s washing basket and her bath! Will have to get some of the flannelette nappies too.
Georgina says
So much yes to the snap-under singlets (I call them “singlet suits”). We bought some regular singlets when I was pregnant but found them completely impractical with an actual baby- total waste of money! I haven’t tried the Pigeon brand breast pads (I will though). After a few duds, I found the Johnson and Johnson Ultraform ones. Who knew I’d one day have such a strong view on breastpads??!
Emma says
I know, right?! The Pigeon ones I found great. Good luck!