Ok, so the title of this post may be a bit dramatic with my list of 3 things but really, since becoming a new parent recently, apart from the essentials every family needs, there are a few items that have just been invaluable to me. 

So here’s a list of 3 things I find very useful as a new parent.

Essential item for parents 1 of 3: Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep Machine

Why use Tomme Tippee perfect prep to make your formula milk

I had an ideal picture in my mind, as many mothers-to-be do, where breastfeeding would just come easily to my baby and I and it would be the most wonderful, natural, best thing you could do for your baby. Well, this didn’t happen. My baby and I tried and tried but it just wasn’t meant to be so I turned to formula and bottle making.

I heard about the Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep Machine from both a family member and a friend who raved about it. It allows you to make a bottle at the perfect temperature in less than 2 minutes! Tommee Tippee says this is 10 times faster than boiling a kettle and waiting for it to cool.

How does Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep machine work and why it is useful?

The way it works is that first it filters water, then an initial hot shot of water at 70℃ kills any bacteria that may be in the formula and helps it to dissolve. You then measure out the formula and the Perfect Prep Machine adds more water to the amount you need, adjusting the final temperature to body temperature. 

I have boiled a kettle and made formula that way which is perfectly fine of course but this machine saves so much time when your baby needs feeding and you’re trying to juggle everything else you have to do. You don’t need to think about making it in advance to allow for cooling time, you don’t need to test the temperature on your wrist, it’s just so quick and easy and in the middle of the night, that convenience is just what you need. It’s been a lifesaver! 

Accesories and filters for our Tommee Tippe Perfect Prep machine

The Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep machine comes with a filter. This filter needs replacing once every 3 months. The change filter light will come on once you near the 3 month lifecycle of the filter. The filters can be easily purchased from Amazon or Tommee Tippee website and the changing process is quite simple.

Where did we buy our Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep machine from?

We needed our Tommee Tippee delivered in a bit of a rush. Therefore, we ordered ours from Amazon with next day delivery which worked great for us.

You can buy the Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep Machine from most large UK stores and online. It’s not the cheapest baby item (retailing between £60-£80 depending on individual offers/deals etc.) but it is absolutely worth it if you are bottle feeding your baby.

At the time of writing, it was still available at Amazon and you can get it in black or white.

Essential item for parents 2 of 3: Baby Carrier – Ergobaby Omni 360 Baby Carrier All-In-One Cool Air Mesh

3 reasons why I wanted to buy a baby carrier

1. For when your baby gets fed up being in a pushchair if you’re out all day and just wants to be held and feel close to you.
2. For when you need to get some household chores done but your newborn doesn’t want to let you leave their sight.
3. For when you take your baby out to non-pushchair friendly places for example, some countryside/woodland walks.

Advantages of using buying a baby carrier

A baby carrier allows your hands to be free and also distributes your baby’s weight on you whilst supporting your back. Carrying a baby in your arms can get heavy and limiting at times so a baby carrier can really help.

I am not suggesting to use the carrier all the time, you go by what your baby needs, but for those moments above, it has been completely worth it to have one.

Why I chose the Ergobaby Omni 360 baby carrier

I chose the Ergobaby Omni 360 Cool Air Mesh Carrier because it was lightweight, breathable and you can use it in 4 different positions from newborn to toddler.

• On your front inwards facing
• On your front outwards facing
• On your back
• On your hip

It also comes with a small removable pouch for your phone, keys, money etc. It is also acknowledged as hip healthy by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute. The adjustable seat supports the natural “M” position in all carry ways. 

Ergobaby Omni 360 also comes with adjustable base for babies to toddlers which was quite useful for us. We started off on the smallest setting and we are currently on size 2 of 3 for our 5.5 month old son at the time of writing this post.

Again, this is not the cheapest baby item but well worth it. It has been so useful already and my baby is only 5 ½ months old currently. You can buy it in many different colours/designs, each with a different price.

I bought mine in ‘Midnight Blue’ because it was the cheapest colour at the time.

Essential item for parents 3 of 3: Real Sheepskin Rug

I was given a real sheepskin rug as a gift and my baby spends so much time on it, any time of the day.

Sometimes your baby doesn’t want to sit in a bouncer or play on an activity mat so the sheepskin rug is perfect for then. You can put the rug anywhere! We take it into our garden and let our baby lie on it there, he can now sit up on it on the sofa (with support and supervision of course). We also often leave it on the carpet in the lounge for him to play on, sit on, do tummy time, read a book, play with toys etc. 

6 benefits of real sheepskin rugs for babies

• It is really soft and comfortable so it can go straight onto a wooden floor or carpet.
• It regulates body temperature because of its breathability. Sheepskin has hollow fibers, which increase air flow so your baby will stay warm without overheating.
• It can help prevent rashes and skin irritations. Sheepskin releases moisture into the air at a faster rate than other materials and can absorb 33% of its own weight in water without feeling moist. Lanolin naturally found in wool also helps to improve baby’s skin.
• It is self-cleaning, hypoallergenic and antibacterial (although you can put them in the washing machine every so often and buy special wool cleaner too). A wool brush used every so often also keeps your rug looking fluffy.
• It can reduce the chances of developing asthma.
• Research has shown that babies are more content, cry less and sleep more soundly when sleeping on natural sheepskin (my baby hasn’t slept on it but is very happy there, especially when lying naked on it outside in the garden 😄) 

How to take care of your real sheepskin rug

Although sheep skin is self-cleaning, hypoallergenic and antibacterial, you may still want to wash it every so often. You can put them in the washing machine but you will have to use a special wool cleaner shampoo. You can also buy a wool brush which comes in really handy to keep your rug looking fluffy. It also gets rid of debris quite effectively.

You can buy sheepskin rugs very easily online, just make sure it is REAL sheepskin to get all the benefits listed above.

I hope you found this post useful and will get the same joy, ease and convenience out of these items as I have. Feel free to get in touch with any questions or suggestions. Thanks and speak soon!