It’s the run up to Monkey’s first birthday and boy a lot has happened in the last year! My mum said the other day that the first year is always the hardest, and while we’ve had lots of fun along the way it certainly hasn’t been easy at times! I’ve been thinking a lot about the last year and about some of the purchases or gifts that have been hidden gems and made our lives a lot easier along the way! So I thought I would share some of my top products to hopefully help others through the difficult first year. I’m no expert and I’m sure others on the market are just as good but these are what worked for us!

Johnsons Breast Pads

Yep I’m starting with breast pads. I tried loooooads and who knows, maybe I am just fussy but I found the Johnsons ones to be the best. Most makes have plastic backing on them which just made me feel quite sweaty. The Johnsons pads were absorbent and breathable and massively helped through the difficult days of breastfeeding and boob leakage!

Cotton wool pads rather than balls!

In those first weeks when you are only supposed to use cotton wool and water on baby’s sensitive skin, don’t go for balls, use the pads you use for taking off make up, much easier for wiping and don’t leave bits of cotton wool all over their little bottom. We used them first when we had run out of balls but never went back to cotton wool balls after that day!

Avent bottles and pump

I found the Avent pump to be great and we never had any problems with Avent bottles, but then I didn’t try others on the market so I can’t really give a good comparison, they worked well for us though!

A Microwave steriliser

A friend recommended a microwave steriliser and it absolutely makes things easy when you need to sterilise bottles etc. We used an avent one as it went with the bottles but I’m sure they are all good.

Beco Gemini baby carrier

There are so so many baby carriers out there and it took me ages to decide which one to get for Monkey, but in the end settled on this one and absolutely loved it. It’s really comfy and gives great back support. It’s also great because you can use it three ways. On your front with baby facing in to you, or out ahead. You can also wear it on your back. Monkey absolutely loved this in the facing out position so he could see where we were going and kick his legs about, and it is very easy to put on. Brilliant carrier, definitely recommend it!

Fisher Price Rainforest Jumperoo

Fabulous toy, monkey absolutely loved bouncing around and spinning about in it. Not cheap so worth trying to get second hand but so worth it as it is lots of fun! He used it for months too so useful purchase 🙂

Fisher Price EZ clean highchair

We have said a number of times recently how much we love this chair and how pleased we are that we bought it. Again I’m sure there are loads out there which are equally good but for us this has been perfect. Monkey has been comfy in it from day one, the tray is so easy to lift on and off with one hand (very useful as any mummy will agree) and is not fiddly in the slightest. There is a top layer of the tray which can be removed so if they make a massive mess with dinner you can take it off to clean while they eat their pudding off the next layer of the tray. As the name suggests it is also very easy to clean. I have also found that he is so well supported in it. So many highchairs that I have used in restaurants Monkey has slid down in or he can stand on the foot rest. He’s not a small baby by any means but he seems swamped in them. With this chair we have had no worries on that score at all. It is also easy to move around. It’s quite big but luckily we have the space to push it out of the way when not in use. Fab highchair though 🙂

Chicco walker (or any walker)

I know not everyone thinks that walkers are a good idea but monkey was always so frustrated at not being able to get about and wanted desperately to walk. We were given one second hand by some friends whose girls had all enjoyed it and Monkey loved it too. May not be for everyone but we definitely had a very happy monkey whizzing around for a few months until he realised he could walk without it 🙂

Green thing – aka Star Fleece Baby wrap

Yep interesting title I know, but this was another present and it’s like a fleecy blanket and it was so useful in the winter. Our was green, hence our nickname of green thing. When you need to make a short trip in the car somewhere, rather than fighting to get baba into coat, hat, shoes etc, we would just slip monkey into this and he would be instantly cosy. Probably not thick enough for long walks or anything but in and out of the car briefly it is perfect. It also helped Monkey sleep well in his naps as he was lovely and snug in it 🙂 (Bought from Not on the high street)

Annabel Karmel weaning book

I have mentioned this book before and I am sure I will again because her recipes are amazing! For me it was a must and am sooo glad I bought it!

Maxi Cosi Axiss car seat

We had the Maxi Cosi cabriofix car seat when monkey was tiny which was great for in and out of the car, but our next car seat is fabulous. The Maxi Cosi Axiss is brilliant because it swivels. My back doors in the car don’t open that wide so in busy car parks especially it can be difficult getting him in and out, but because the car seat turns to face the door it is so much easier as I can get him in from the side, strap him in and then turn him to face the front. So easy and he’s v comfy in it. Love it!

So there you have it, a few of my favourite things to help survive the first year with baby!

P.S I do not own copyright of any of these images, all were taken from Google image search.