Our top 5 baby purchases

There’s so much to buy — it’s easy to lose track! The shops are overflowing with useful (and less useful) baby products. To help you out, here are our top 5 baby buys — based on our own experience and that of our friends.

Our top 5 baby purchases

1. Co-sleeper or bedside crib
   A small bed that attaches to your own, allowing your baby to sleep safely right beside you — perfect for those first few months! It takes up little space, you don’t have to get out of bed, and babies often sleep better because they hear your breathing. You can easily place your hand on their tummy for comfort — without ending up with a numb arm hanging over the crib.
2. Flexi Bath
   A foldable baby bath that saves a ton of space. It’s also available in transparent plastic, which makes for adorable bath-time photos!
3. A small night light
   During those nighttime feeds, every light suddenly feels blindingly bright. A small dimmable lamp or soft night light is a must-have. I received one after my second son was born — a gift from my lovely colleagues — and it’s been one of my favourite items ever since (though, of course, it’s a matter of taste!).
4. A good water bottle
   It might sound strange, but when you’re breastfeeding, you’ll notice you get incredibly thirsty. How many times have I longed for that glass of water just out of reach… Once you’re all settled with the nursing pillow (also highly recommended!) and your baby is finally latched on, you simply can’t move. That’s why I swear by an old-school sports water bottle — one that doesn’t leak, can be opened with one hand, and you can carry everywhere around the house.
   Bonus tip: also handy during labour!
5. A nursing pillow
   This one isn’t just helpful for breastfeeding — it’s also great during pregnancy. Sleeping with the pillow between your legs eases pressure on your hips. HEMA sells a great, affordable version.

Extra tips

• Ask for a discount if you’re buying several items at once. Many people in the Netherlands don’t realise it’s perfectly normal to ask — but most shops are happy to offer one!
• Buy a cord ring and give it to your midwife or the hospital staff during birth. It’s a small elastic ring that replaces the large plastic cord clamp normally used. The clamp stays on the baby’s belly for 7–10 days until the cord falls off — and it’s much more uncomfortable than the soft ring, which is just as safe. (You can buy them from us or online.)
• Keep a small notebook to jot down who gave you which gifts. I thought I’d remember — but trust me, your postpartum brain won’t! People often ask if you liked their gift, and it’s nice to know what came from whom. Forgetting to thank your mother-in-law, for instance, is not something you want to deal with in your first week with a newborn!

What are your best baby buys? Do you have any tips? We’d love to hear them!