Practical Gift Set for Mum-to-be

Our wonderful child-minder has just gone off on maternity leave with her first. She’s been with us since the Boy was 5 months old, and I can safely say, she is the reason I’m still sane!! Though I don’t work full time, I work evenings and weekends, which worked out well until J started travelling for work, a lot more. Dani has been super flexible with her working hours and has often had little notice to work late, when a plane has been delayed or J has written down the wrong time on the calendar!! She has gone above and beyond in the love and care she has shown our children and consequently, become part of the family.

Being quite a practical kind of person, and having had three babies of my own, I decided to put together a ‘New Mums Starter Kit’ for Dani, containing all the ointments, creams and kit that worked best for me. I’ve tried so many nappy rash creams, teething treatments and colic medicines, I could have written a survey report on each section over the years! Obviously, this list is not exclusive and I could have gone on to buy other practical items such as wipes, muslins, breast pads and Calpol, all necessary items, but not ones that I have found a particular brand is better than another and I had to stop somewhere!!

So here are my items and why they’ve been chosen to go into my ‘Practical Gift Set for Mum-to-be’:

• Bepanthen cream– this was far the best cream for nappy rash that I used. Lou suffered with open sores when it was particularly bad and this cream would work wonders over night.
• Alokui cream– the Boy suffered with eczema on his torso and this cream worked really well and was not greasy like the Double-base cream prescribed by the GP. I still use it on all the kids and myself for any dry skin patches, minor burns or eczema rashes. Click here for further information.
• Olbas oil for children– they all get colds and this has been a staple in our house ever since!
• Snuffle babe– rub on chest and back to relieve congestion and also to the soles of the feet when they have a cough (once they are 3 months).
• Infacol– luckily, none of mine suffered hugely with colic, but they all did at some stage and this worked for us.
• Ashton & Parsons teething powders– the only teething treatment that worked for us. Nelsons powders were also quite good. The gels just didn’t seem to do anything.
• Lansinoh nipple cream– again, the only one that worked for me. It applied easily and a thick application when they were really sore did wonders.
• Lavender and tea tree essential oils– a few drops of these in the bath, sooths and heals after giving birth. They also smell lovely and are wonderfully relaxing. Check out these oils with Rebecca over at All About  U and her essential wellness store, she knows more about them than me!!
• Bedtime bath– I love this stuff! Smells lovely and helps baby relax and sleep- what every new mum needs!!
• Clear plastic, zip pouches– though I will use the biggest one of these to hold all the items, it is not the main reason for the purchase. These varying sized pouches are fab for carrying baby items around in your main bag and you can see at a glance what you are looking for. If a cream or lotion explodes, it’s contained in the pouch and they are an essential for traveling, (Dani’s family live abroad so I know she’ll be flying with baby very early on) I still use mine now!
• Sanctuary Spa Mum-to-be Ultimate Retreat– I do like Sanctuary Spa products and as I was in Boots and saw this, I’ve added it in, as all mums and mums-to-be deserve a little pampering! Often, with ‘new mummy’ gifts, mummy gets forgotten, with all gifts being for the baby!

This post was inspired by our fabulous childminder and her bump! We wish you happiness, health and sleep in your new adventure -good luck with the latter!! We love you Dani!! xx

What would be in your ultimate starter-pack for a new mum?