It's not easy to know which items will be REALLY useful when baby comes.

After 3 children and as a paediatric physiotherapist, here are the essentials that are worth putting on the birth list, and the items to avoid:


 

 As 1st age toy, the best  one are:

Sophie the giraffe: it's designed for the grasping need of the very young, it become more  complex and its texture is adapted to baby's gums, it is complete.


The empty ball: one of the only objects that baby can hold in his hand at 2 months. It's great because, as well as the soft ball, baby will also develop his mouth and tongue muscles with this object. Very important for oral and masticatory development.

 

 

  Early learning mat: A classic early learning mat will be fine, but I'd recommend the TAMOLI evolving motor skills mat. Unlike others, it's just the right thickness and firmness (designed by a physiotherapist), and can be used as a reading area and extra bed. www.tamoli.eu

We complete it with a removable arch, suitable from 1 month, and which really important (for prehension) even if only useful for 1, or even up to 2 months. After that, it's essential that baby plays on his stomach most of the time.

 

 

 Mattress:

The mattress must be firm from birth. If you are lent a bed, check the firmness of the mattress. If you can crush it completely by pressing on it, it is not firm enough. There is a risk of flat head/plagiocephaly.

Here's an excellent French brand: https://www.cosme-literie.com/matelas-bebe-24

 

 

 The babybjorn travel cot: It doesn't get damaged. You can  almost fold it almost with one hand, and it doesn't take up much space, which is very important when you're in a room while travelling and it hasn't been furnished to welcome a baby with you... I tried to buy a cheaper folding crib, but it broke, so I bought another one... I've clearly wasted money on a product like this, but you have to be able to afford it if you're going on holiday or weekend trip.

 

 

 The Shantala sitz bath: bathtub

From the age of 2 months, baby can manage his position in the bath, also the water longer remains at the right temperature in the tub (unlike in a regular tub, where the water quickly becomes cold). Baby likes to taste the water, just as he did in utero with the amniotic fluid. It's a magical moment (for the first month, the sink is enough!). Remember not to put too much water in the bath!

 

 

 The evolving bodysuit:

Several rows of buttons mean you can use it for months. Woven from ultra-soft merino wool, it's even softer than cotton.

The only brand made in France: https://macouchedurable.com/les-habits-de-bebe/144-1862-body-bebe-evolutif-pure-laine-merinos-france.html#/160-taille-bebemout_s_0_6_mois

 

 

 The Ma Petite Laine birth cocoon:

Sleep is the basis: baby will sleep peacefully from birth in his bed and will be able to go back to sleep independently. Created by a pediatric physiotherapist, it replaces the sleeping bag, and baby sleeps peacefully and safely, on his back.

We can also do it yourself, which is so cool, as we all have an aunt who knits!

www.mapetitelaine.fr

 

 

going out:

Avoid the trio stroller and prefer a stroller that extends. For an infant, you can install a footmuff so that baby is contained in his stroller. Also, there's no need to have a  trio stroller because the cozy/car seat that clips onto the stroller is not recommended for stroller use because baby lacks mobility in it, and the cozy promotes flat head/plagiocephaly when it's used in a stroller.

 

 

 Being offered a babywearing workshop BEFORE birth allows you to get used to babywearing from maternity, yes we have time for that! And baby has a strong need for closeness after birth. This will prevent your baby from asking for these moments at night!

 

 

 2 ways of carrying:

1 for each parent, in general, each one has their favorite. We often think that it is a choice to carry or not baby. Yet, it is really necessary for its development and also to avoid flat head/plagiocephaly.

 

 

 1 massage for the mother:

we don't think about ourselves too much anymore, and this moment will force us to!!!

 

 

 the fruit pacifier:

Especially if baby is diversifying in the middle of summer, we put ripe fruit in it, baby discovers the taste, the texture... he is independent... I loved seeing baby using it.

 

To this you can add clothes, a changing table + diapers, the necessary to feed baby:

- if breastfeeding, a small breast pump will be really useful

- if bottle-feeding, do not buy too many of them, sometimes you have to try several brands...

Finally, the useless or dangerous  things or the ones which will not necessarily be useful.

 Bed decoration: dangerous: risk of suffocation. Forbidden by caregivers

Curved mattress: ok but less than 1 month of use, after that, it promotes flat heads

Doomoo: flattens babies' heads very very quickly.

Prolonged use of the bouncer: flattens babies' heads and not conducive to baby's development

Youpala: teaches the baby a bad walking pattern

Swing: baby cannot play, slows down baby's development

Anti-flat head cushion: does exactly the opposite, it tends to flatten babies' heads

Bed reducer: dangerous, not recommended by caregivers