11 new mum essentials which I wouldn't be without

When baby is about six months old they'll need to go into a cot since they would've outgrown their mosses basket or bedside crib. Having been working across several lovely mattress brands I spotted that eve sleep has a mattress which would fit the bill (cot) nicely. And to be fair it is featured in our #1 spot for the best baby mattress. It has a lovely and soft antibacterial mattress cover which encases a waterproof protector plus a luxury foam layer and pocket springs  – this provides a firm base for little on to lie on.

The cloud-patterned cover can be easily removed by a zip which goes half-way round the mattress and washed at 60-degrees, which is really helpful. And it has the iconic eve sleep yellow edging around the side of the mattress which is a nice finishing touch.

Things to note
It's light so you can easily move the mattress into position and turn heat to feet. There are also two sizes to opt for  – 60x120cm and 70x140cm – so be sure to measure as accurately as possible prior to ordering, bearing in mind that the gap between the mattress and the cot should not exceed 3cm in both directions.

It arrives in a cardboard box and wrapped in a plastic, protective bag. It's not rolled or folded, and doesn't smell, but you are advised to let it breath for 48 hours before putting baby down. I did, to be on the safe side.

I was amongst the first in the UK to try out the Lovevery Play Gym and gosh, was I lucky. It really has everything you could need for baby's first year, from a variety of card sets to teething rings. 

For the first 12 weeks, you'll find that the black and white cards are the most stimulating since it's these colours (and red) that are only visible to them. If you're child is anything like mine, the high contrast ball and batting ring will not only be fun to swing around but also nurture their determined little personalities.

The mirror cards and five sensory zones (floor flaps, as I call them) are also thoroughly enjoyable. The different sounds, textures and colours encourages reaching, finding and hiding which is fun for both parent and baby.

Things to note
From about 7mo, my little one was trying to crawl so was wanting to explore beyond the playmat. The ball, ring and teether can all be detached, however, so we're still using these as toys.

The mat is also machine washable so should sticky little hands or the seldom nappy leaks happen, pop the mat in the wash and hang out to dry. 

It's a really big pillow but I wouldn't be without it. I had it since the 2nd trimester whilst updating our best pregnancy pillow (opens in new tab) guide and although it's not as versatile as some of the other pillows out there, the Kally U-Shaped Pillow was super supportive for bump, my back and tummy time when little one was a few months old.

Things to note
The removable cover is easy enough to take on and off but it is pretty thin and attracts fluff quite easily. You'll also find that it takes up most of the bed, even in a kingsize.

It's no secret that you're going to feeling a lot warmer day and night, and waking up during the night is becoming somewhat of a nightmare in itself, too. A mattress protector which can help to keep you cool is a MUST, and this one is amazing. It is cool to the touch and stays cool throughout the night. It's even waterproof so if there's an accident or your water break during the night, your mattress will be protected.

Things to note
It's cool, yep, but it does feel a little slippery and plastically, too. It's also a little pricey BUT this mattress protector comes with a 15-year guarantee, and is a lot cheaper than buying a mattress topper or new mattress.

Technically a gym ball, this is something which I had bouncing around the home on since first trimester. Not only is it a comfortable alternative to sit on at the desk, but it also doubles as a useful foot rest and means of exercise. It's helpful when those contractions start, too. This was the biggest ball I could find at the time and, actually, it's okay for what it is - especially for less than £10.

Things to note
It's a bit of effort to pump up so ask a friend or your partner to help. I also ordered this for same day delivery and was very impressed with the service.

I wasn't sure if I wanted a moses basket to start with, just because there's SO much alternative choices out there, but I'm so glad I did. It was great for putting little one down for a nap, especially in the first few weeks.

The basket is made from natural materials  – inside and outside  – and even came with a stand so I had everything ready. The palm leaf basket arrived with the cotton quilted liner already in place which is secured with a couple of cute little bows between the handles. And the mattress sits snuggly in place which is recommended to be turned regularly.

Things to note
The stand needs to be assembled. There's various bits and pieces to it and although there are some instructions, you may need some help to hold certain pieces together as it's all screwed together.

The little mattress is also water resistant NOT waterproof so I bought an organic cotton mattress protector (opens in new tab) (twin pack). This fitted perfectly in our pram, too. And don't forget a fitted sheet (opens in new tab) which will not only make the moses basket even more snug, but it'll also help to hold the mattress protector in place.

It's suitable from birth until up-to about four months old. Your little one will quickly grow and, as we found, when they do a big stretch you'll see when they're about to out grow it.

My friends (and colleagues) absolutely rave about Ewan, as do I. Not only is he super soft and simply adorable, he replicates the comfort of the womb with a selection of soothing sounds, including actual recordings of the womb and heartbeat along with the calming Shush of a real human voice. White and pink noise is also a thing to help settle little one. And the smart cry sensor and comforting night light is mega handy for helping to resettle them. 

Things to note
You'll need three AA batteries to power Ewan. The recordings are approx. 20 minutes long which may or may not be long enough for you. I tend to just hit the button again, so the sound comes on repeat. It' also one of the best selling baby soothers which will make a really lovely gift.

The search for a breast pump is NOT an easy one. There's so many to choose from – manual, battery or electric powered – and it's SUCH a personal decision. I ended up with three very different options, one which was recommended by a midwife  but the Medela Swing was by far the best. This was mainly down to the speed and comfort. 

It has a breast shield which adapts to how the pump fits you and the technology is supposed to mimic how baby latches on. The more natural, the better (in my opinion). Being easy to use and portable is a good thing, too. Plus it's in the mid-price range which always helps with planning budgets, etc, for the new arrival.

Things to note
It can be operated via battery OR mains. It requires four AA batteries if you opted for this, which won't need to be removed if using plugged in.

Also, due to the WHO code Medela are not allowed to provide a teat to feed from the storage bottles. The bottles with teats can be bought direct from the Medela website (opens in new tab), if you need. Alternatively, you can just use the bottle which comes with the kit as a storage bottle and use bottles you're perhaps more familiar with like I did.

We bought this as an sleeping option because we were sold on the fact that it will adapt to our sleeping needs; attach to the side of the bed for safe co-sleeping, use as a stand-alone crib or as travel crib (it has a travel bag included). It's really versatile, and super light yet sturdy. The height can also be adjusted at either end so the bed can be tilted at an angle, which is mega handy if baby has colic or the inevitable cold.

Things to note
It arrives with a mattress but you will need a waterproof mattress protector and bedding (opens in new tab) to use with it. It's also only suitable for up to the age of six months, so baby will need to be moved on to his / her own cot for more space to grow.

A baby monitor really is an essential for keeping your mind at ease if little one is in another room to you. This will be especially relevant when they're old enough to go into their own room, so that's some of the day and night when they are not next to you.

The Nanit Pro is smart, in more ways than one. It's an upgrade from the Nanit Plus with improved pixel resolution, a night light, status light and reset button. The footage is super crisp both during the day and night. You can play background noises, engage in two-way talk and even take a photo of what you're seeing on the screen. Setting notifications are handy to alert you to any sound or movement, but the Nanit Pro is mega sensitive so check out the settings to suit what works for you.

A breathing band comes with all Nanit Pros. It's in a size small suitable for 0 - 3mo which ultimately monitors your baby's breathing. A swaddle and pyjamas are also available.

Things to note
There's no on / off button so I just turned it off at the mains when not needed. It requires a strong WiFi signal to run. And there's no separate parent unit.
It's available wall mounted or with a floor stand. Multi-stands are sold separately – these are useful when staying away from home.

This is a bit of fun when kitting out the nursery. Rather than controlling the bulb with a light switch you can do so on your phone. The app (TCP Smart) has thought of pretty much everything. Here you can dim lights, change the colour, set schedules and group together other smart heating and power products.

I've just tried it with the bulb and light tape (opens in new tab) which I stuck to the underside of a shelf. It was easily enough to set up, although it did take a few attempts to pair the products with our WiFi. If you have Google or Alexa, which I do not, then it could be even more fun because you can use your voice to change the light settings.

Things to note
A strong WiFi connection is required. And for some unknown reason when I connected the light bulb to the WiFi, it then disconnected the Nanit Pro.