01 Jul 17X MUST HAVES FOR MOMS AND BABY

Pregnancy is a truly magical experience. A little person is growing inside of you and in just nine months you create a newborn baby. A unique, challenging, and exciting time for (first-time) moms. Mummy Sarah has prepared a list of 17 nice-to-have / must-haves for (first-time) moms and baby: 

Pregnancy can cause a roller coaster of emotions. So it’s normal that you have a number of questions, like how do you know what’s best and what you really need? In this list are items we found really helpful, so you don’t have to look any further. We have linked all products, of which are some affiliate links to keep our platform going, no change for you of course! Enjoy your pregnancy, after this you will be an expert! 🙂

The Stroller

A stroller is often one of the first big purchases you make as a mom for your baby and is one of the most important must-haves. I was looking for a pretty design but even more important a comfortable, solid, and sturdy stroller that brings me easily from A to B for several years. If you live in the city and move around a lot as I do I would recommend to start your mommy adventure with the Priam of Cybex – a trustworthy German luxury brand. This stroller is stylish, has large wheels (it runs very smoothly, which makes pushing really easy), and has a comfortable handlebar which allow relaxed steering. I also really appreciate details like the feel of the handle and the extra-roomy and easily accessible shopping basket that can be folded out when needed.

Get ready for your next adventure with Cybex! Choose the frame as your basis for your Priam stroller here, available in different beautiful colors and attach one of three different options to the frame, depending on the age of your child. Enjoy the smooth strolls with your little one ❤️

Travel Stroller

Personally, I noticed that my own daughter became heavier, so I needed a lighter and more comfortable stroller for my travels. The Jacky2 of Easywalker is exactly what I needed! What I love about this particular stroller:

• This buggy automatically fold in just one second, and you need only two motions to unfold, so you always have one hand free.
• If you have a house with stairs, and you need to carry the buggy a lot, you are probably very happy to hear that the jacky2 weighs only 8 kilos.
• It also makes flying with a baby or toddler just a little easier, since it fits in the overhead bin on the plane and is car seat compatible with most car seat brands. 
• You have a fully upright option so your kid has the reclinable seat position for better posture and comfort.
• This travel buggy can be used from birth up to 22 kilos!! 

 

Chair

The dining table is where we come together as a family, where we eat, connect, and listen to each other. The most important features for a high chair are that it should be safe, comfortable, easy to clean and adjustable. The CYBEX Lemo offers all of that for your little adventurer. They can sit in style at the dining table, while food is easy to grab so they can learn to self-feed over time. With its pretty design and not taking up too much space, it blends seamlessly into modern homes, offered in multiple colors.

Bedroom Decoration

One of the most exciting and fun things to do is decorating the baby’s bedroom. I was looking for unique decoration pieces that bring some good and colorful vibes to the baby room.

• A favorite home accessory brand is Doing Goods. They started collecting treasures during their travels, which resulted into beautiful 100% handmade products from India, designed in Amsterdam. Doing goods offers beautiful animal carpets (hand-tufted), funky print poufs, fun brass knobs, block printed throws and stunning table cloths! Check out their IG for inspiration (watch out, you might be ending up buying much more:).

  

• Another amazing brand that really has a special place in my heart, not just because their products are stunning, but because they genuinely care about people, is Rice. This home and lifestyle brand offers colorful and unique products, that brighten up every room. The Rice family favourites are the alphabet printed cups and the handmade storage houses for the little ones. The storage houses are perfect for decorating the kids room and to hide toys and other things completely. They might seem a bit pricey at first glance, but when you consider the craftsmanship and the fact that you’re supporting more than 300 families on the Red Island, it feels worth it.

  

  For over 26 years, Rice has worked with talented women in Madagascar, and their colorful raffia storage houses are all crafted by hand. It’s amazing that it can take four women up to 38 hours to create just one set! Knowing the time, effort, and all the love that goes into each piece makes them even more special.
  Check out the fun and playful handmade  storage solutions in different sizes and colors of Rice here.

• MrStarsky is a master in personalized moon posters. Via their website, you can enter the name, birthplace, and date. Therefore a poster is always unique! So if you are looking for a great (maternity) gift, all posters are unique and timeless. I noticed the new moon poster in collaboration with illustrator Tijana Lukovic, and it reminded me of my childhood: amazing fairytales. When my daughter looks at this personal gift, I tell her a little story and she loves it.

  
  

• Poster & Moon is another original gift
  and captures a memory in an unique way. How amazing is this aquarelle piece that captured my little family (with baby nr. 2 in my belly!) She also paints adventures and any memory of the story of pictures you send her. postersandmoon.com

  

 

Skincare

From hormonal shifts to less sleep, pregnancy and postpartum bring major skin changes for most women, which is very common. During pregnancy certain ingredients can be absorbed into your body, and therefore, your baby’s body too. So navigating the best skin care for pregnancy (and postpartum) is important. Since some years I use Esse skincare. Esse is a certified organic, vegan, cruelty free and carbon- and plastic neutral and that focuses on the microflora of the skin. I use the sensitive line, to calm and to heal my skin. And I kept on using it during and after my pregnancy since Esse is safe to use, and perfect when sensitive to scents and for skin break-outs.

Between feedings, less sleep and endless diaper changes, you might forget about your skin, but it’s key to keep on hydrating to maintaining healthy, glowing skin.
Tips:

• Incorporate the clay mask of Esse to purify your skin and get rid of toxins.
• Use the deep moisturizer to nourish and balance the skin.
• Make sure to exfoliate regularly with the gentle products of Esse.
• Use a sun block on your face each day to prevent pigmentation and avoid the hot sun.
• Try to take a moment for yourself. As you nurture your baby, it’s important to remember that you deserve love and care too.

Birth cards

Celebrate the arrival of your newborn with a unique birth card.
Your baby is born and you want to share this exciting news with family and friends. It’s time to send out your birth announcement card. Creative or not, some help is always appreciated isn’t it? Made for moments has a stunning collection of birth cards available where you can choose from: Warm, natural colours, unique drawings, linnen paper and twinkling gold foil. Each day their designers bring in new creatives, so there’s a card for everyone’s style and taste. Up for an exclusive design? At Made for Moments you have the option to design your own card if you have something specific and special in mind.

How does it work?
Choose a design from the large collection and edit to your wishes. Order a sample card to see what it looks like, which costs only €1,-. When you are happy and your little one is born, you choose your type of paper, envelopes in the color of your choice, stickers, and then place your order. 

I had so much fun creating our card and I’m very happy with the outcome. What do you think?

Cover Up (in style)

A newborn baby spends a lot of time in bed, so preparing also involves buying sheets and blankets. I got some secondhand Koeka items from my sister that she used for her first and second child. I must admit that the quality of Koeka is amazing, it still looks beautiful after 6 years. I’m a sucker for pretty products, but even more important, it also should guarantee safety. All products of Koeka have a special Öko–Tex–label and guarantee a certain level of health safety. Equally important, we are all striving for a better future, and therefore it’s important to buy 100% organic cotton! Koeka is developing more sustainable products, so another great reason to check out this brand. 

Natural Baby Care Products

You want to look after your little one in the best way possible. Therefore, when it comes to skincare, natural products are the way to go. In the early weeks, you might want to avoid lotions or use the mildest lotion. Many skin and hair care products are made with synthetic fragrances and can cause allergic reactions. I use organic products myself and I find it super important to use natural products for my newborn only. I tried Naïf sunscreen this summer and I found out that all products are natural, sustainable, and vegan and they stay away from chemicals. Pamper your mini’s skin with soft, smooth, and hydrating products. Naif offers a great starter pack, for 68,61 euro.

Body Oil for the belly

It’s also important to take good care of yourself when you are pregnant. Our tip: invest in a good body oil that can reduce the appearance of stretch marks. I started using Kenkô Body Oil Mother, the scent and the softness of this product is amazing. Then I decided to start using the Golden Mother Oil in my last trimester, perfect for the transformative months of postpartum and long after. The formula was designed to enhance mother’s natural scent. I love my every day ritual that helped me to embrace the changes of my body and to have a moment with my baby.

Pregnancy belly art piece

You will miss your pregnant belly after giving birth is what people told me. So make sure to capture it, and that’s what I did. I went to De 3 Bar in Amsterdam (they also have one in Deventer) where they create timeless, sentimental and customized 3D sculptures of your pregnant belly. After you got settled with a drink (the non alcoholic Prosecco is amazing), you can check out the different sculptures and choose your style and size. They will walk you through the poses, answer all of your questions and then it only takes about a 2 to 5 minute 3D scan of your (naked) body. After 14 weeks your sculpture arrives at your doorstep. They advise to come between 32-36 weeks. This perfect baby moon gift starts from €199.

Baby monitor 

The first few months the baby will be sleeping in his own bassinet next to your bed in your room. Then you  phase when you decide to put the baby into his own bed is when you don’t want to worry and  checking on baby every 5 minutes. 

Pregnancy Massage (at home!)

If you really want to treat yourself, we got this amazing tip for you that you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home. Elvira brings her massage table, and can give you a super relaxing massage with an holistic approach, at home. Our tip: book her in the evening so you can roll into bed straight afterwards! You can also book her just after giving birth, so she can help you relax or help you with any tension. Book her here!

Breastfeeding pillow

My friends kept saying that I should invest in a good pillow. So finally I decided to buy one, and I must admit that I’m so happy I did. We can’t sleep or live without it anymore (I found out that even my boyfriend sometimes steals this pillow at night). The Doomoo pillow is a multi-functional pillow, it’s not only soft and flexible, but it’s also supporting you during feeding and resting. You can also transform this pillow into a babynest in no time with the teddy cover of Ilmaha. I also choose Doomoo since most of their fabrics are made from ultra-soft oeko-tex certified organic cotton. Shop yours here for €57,59.

Baby carrier

You are so used to keeping your baby close to you, so when walking outside you might feel more comfortable with a carrier than a stroller. It also keeps your hands free while keeping your child warm and secure. There are so many carriers, but I must admit that Artipoppe was my number 1 choice. Needless to say that you have probably seen all the “celeb” mums walking around with it! They are all incredibly beautiful, eye-catching, and comfortable. The quality, the prints, and the designs are great! Is it worth the money? I’ve just tested my carrier and it’s super comfortable, so yes!

A house free of dust, allergens, and bacteria

Blame it on my hormones, but cleaning my apartment has become a part of my daily routine! I think it’s super important that the house is clean. I was getting a bit stressed about germs and dust. I’ve read that it can be dangerous, therefore I decided to look into the Dyson Purifier Cool Formaldehyde™ machine. What I like about it is that it automatically senses, captures, and traps pollutants, and detects and destroys formaldehyde.

Great during summer, since it also cools your home. Even at the highest speed, the machine is quieter than all other machines that I have had. You can download the Dyson app, and link it to control the fan even when I am not home.

Photoshoot

This is a personal choice of course, but I’m so happy I did this. It’s such a special moment and experience in your life. Your body is changing and a little person is growing inside of you. They say that the best period for a pregnancy photo shoot is between weeks 30 and 35. The belly is most beautiful during that period. I decided to connect with photographer Marieke. I like her style and it fits our platform Wander-lust.

Marieke is super sweet and she makes you feel very comfortable from the beginning. I was proud of my bump, but I was a bit insecure about my legs, but I completely forgot about it when shooting with her. A 45-minute shoot with 15 images is 225 euros.

Oh my Guts, post-birth food!

Another tip that will make your life a little bit easier once the baby is born. The only thing you want to focus on is your newborn, breastfeeding, and your recovery. Make sure you prepare some meals ahead like soup, curry, pasta, etc, which you can easily keep in the freezer. If you don’t have the time or you don’t like to cook, then you should consider the maternity box of Oh My Guts. You will receive a healthy week menu, which is perfect for the first week! Their food is not only healthy but also so delicious. Thank me later:).

Sebra Bed

This bed not only looks adorable, but it’s also very conscious. It may cost way more than a ‘normal’ bed, but it’s a great investment. The Sebra can be used for babies and toddlers. The bed grows with your child, from birth up to the age of seven years. It will stay in your family for years. When your baby can sit or stand, the base of the bed can be lowered, to ensure that your baby does not roll out. You find new ways to use the bed due to the many different combinations this incredible bed offers.
The bed is also available at the Archive store in Amsterdam although a little more pricey. The price for the Sebra bed is €949 at Bol.

I bought this cute little bed bumper of Koeka,

Dear first-time moms, enjoy this super special time, slow down, get more into nestling mode and get your must and nice-to-have items before welcoming your baby.

Love,

Sarah