Motherhood Mondays: Baby things I couldn't live without {Part 2}

1. Philips Avent sterilizer
I put off expressing breastmilk for the longest time, simply because I was terrified of the whole sterilizing process. I imagined a long, complicated affair and I was scared that I would do something wrong but, as it turns out, it's as simple as adding a bit of water to the slot at the bottom of the sterilizer, chucking in your breast pump, bottles, teats, etc and flipping the switch. And viola! I have the Philips Avent Electric Steam Sterilizer, which is so quick and easy to use! I typically sterilize about three bottles and my breast pump in one go, but you can easily sterilize up to six bottle at a time. The best bit? It takes all of eight minutes, and the contents remain sterilized for up to six hours if the sterilizer remains unopened. 

2. Philips Avent Storage System
The storage system contains ten cups, lids and two adaptors and is safe for use in both the fridge and freezer, which means it's ideal for storing your breastmilk. These have come in handy while preparing to return to my full-time job in two months' time - I'm slowly but surely starting to build up my own breastmilk bank! I love that these can be used with any Avent breast pump and bottles - in fact, you can even put a teat on the cup (using the adaptor) and feed baby directly from the cup. The cups are reusable and have leak-proof lids, and can even be used to freeze pureed veggies as baby gets older. I bought my storage system for roughly R250, which is a real bargain considering that there are ten cups in each pack and the cups can be used as bottles, too - one Avent bottle costs approximately R80!

3. Baby Sense Taglet
Bean is far too small to be attached to any form of soother just yet, but I always make sure that I have his taglet on hand when I put him down to sleep or while feeding him, so that he can start to associate his taglet with comfort so that he is able to self-soothe. I fold his taglet in half and place it across his forehead while feeding at night or as I rock him to sleep, and this always seems to get him into a sleepy state, making settling him that much easier. Tip: I've read that you should 'wear' your baby's soother on you - down the front of your top, for example - so that baby is calmed by your smell. I also bought two taglets, so that I always have one on hand when the other is in the wash.

4. AngelCare Baby Monitor
This has been a real life saver since moving Bean into his own bedroom about two weeks ago. Although his bedroom is literally two steps away from ours (and his head is actually closer to me now than what it was while he slept in our room!), it was still a rather traumatic experience for me - I sobbed my heart out that first night! The only thing that helped to ease my mind was our very dependable AngelCare Baby Monitor. It also displays the temperature in your baby's room, which is something I've found incredibly helpful when planning Bean's outfit for the night and when deciding how many blankets to cover him with. This is a babycare essential, in my book - especially if you intend on having baby sleep in his or her own room.

5. Crib wedge
A crib wedge is designed to raise your baby's head and torso at a slight angle, and although I wasn't sure whether we would find one useful, I'm really glad that we bought one. They're designed to help ease the symptoms of reflux, which Bean has struggled with since he was about two weeks old. Since we started using the crib wedge, I've notice that he doesn't seem to bring up as much as he did before so it definitely seems to be helping.

6. Bibs
As I mentioned above, Bean suffers from reflux, which means that he brings up. A lot. In the beginning I'd often end up changing his outfit two or three times a day, but I recently started putting the hundreds of bibs I received at my baby showers to good use. I hear that bibs become even more invaluable once baby starts teething, so these once vastly underestimated items seem to be some of the most essential pieces you could have in your arsenal of baby goods!

7. Baby sleeping bag
My mom gave me a little baby sleeping bag, which I've started using quite a bit since the weather's cooled down. It's a quick and easy way to make sure that Bean stays warm and cosy. Bean often ends up next to me in our bed after his 4am feed, and I've found that placing him in his little sleeping bag next to me is the best way to ensure that he stays warm without having layers and layers of blankets piled on top of him. I also like to put him in his sleeping bag before putting him down in his pram - it adds a nice, thick layer of cushioning to ensure that he's comfortable.

To see part one of Baby things I couldn't live without, click here.
  
What are your essential baby buys? Tell me in the comments below or join my Beautiful Mama Facebook page - a little space where new and expecting moms can go for support, advice, or simply to swap baby stories. Please pop by the page and give it a like - and send all your pregnant or new mommy friends there, too!