No matter how many times you bring home a new baby from hospital, it can still feel daunting. This is my third time, but I still have some of the same feelings as I did the first time. My first baby was colicky and not a great sleeper so was kind of a baptism of fire for me!

This time, I am WAY more conscious of looking after myself and resting, especially as I am still running around after my first two and running a business.

I’ve put together a list of some of my FAVOURITE goodies that make my life a little easier as well as help promote healthy sleep habits for my little one and yours. I hope you find them helpful, and a bonus – these make AMAZING gifts for new parents.

For Sleep Time

Ewan The Dream Sheep & Ollie the Owl Grofriend

Ewan the Dream Sheep and Ollie the Owl are cuddly toys with a hidden noise machine inside, offering a number of sounds from a heartbeat to classic lullabies. This lulls bub off to sleep with gentle white noise. I couldn’t decide on which one to get, so I bought both! They both work really well.

Though toys aren’t recommended inside a cot with young babies, we sit either one just outside the cot to promote and associate sleep with these gentle sounds.

Kippins Comforters
Made from organic cotton, water based inks and with THE CUTEST designs, these comforters (sometimes called ‘lovies’) are great for cuddling and self-soothing. You can purchase a comforter before or when the baby is born and as they grow older they will start to notice the comforter and it’s smell. Use it at every sleep, which will help them realise it’s sleep time. I love this article on how to introduce a comforter.

A special mention goes to the faces of the Kippins, which feature high-contrast eyes and designs – great for focusing new eyes.

Bubnest
This is a great item to use for bub to rest in temporarily when they are very young – as they grow, it double as a tummy-time mat. Absolutely beautiful prints! I have been using mine outside when we go on picnics.

Hushabee Sleep program
The beautiful Bee from Hushabee is a sleep consultant and has online sleep programs to help develop healthy sleep habits for your bubs.

Bee passed on her Newborn Sleep guide to me, and it has really useful information. It covers what newborn sleep patterns look like, ideal ways to comfort/soothe, basic routines, feeding information, night waking, naps and so forth. A great guide on what to expect.

Baby Sleep white noise app
Download here

How cute is this app? Sounds for newborns, infants, toddlers and YAY: also for parents. I am amazed at how well this works! A great article on just WHY white noise works can be found here.

For Feeding Time

The Milk Bar Feeding Pillow
This thing follows me around the house – I’ve found it the most practical and comfortable feeding pillow on the market, allowing me to get a brilliant position for comfortable feeding.

Lactation cookies and muesli By Jewels
Wow – these cookies are truly amazing! I thought I’d just give them a go not sure if I’d like the taste but now am having a hard time only having 1 a day. The nurses were surprised at how quickly my milk came in… might be the cookies?

My two picks: the Macadamia choc chip cookies and the Caribbean Cruise (tropical) lactation granola. Delish.

For all the time

Wee Gallery Muslin Swaddles
Lightweight and breathable and available in a number of beautiful prints, these Organic Cotton muslins are fabulous for swaddling and as a light blanket – especially out an about in our sometimes ridiculously hot Aussie summers. The only wrap my Houdini hasn’t been able to escape!

Mister Fly Kids Play Mat
My most used and convenient product! Super soft, absolutely gorgeous and just as useful for a newborn as it is for my older kids to play on! Perfect for tummy time and their just-right thickness is perfect to use on any surface.

And finally

Raising Children website
Right from the start of my parenting journey, this has been a brilliant resource for me with information on almost everything, from breastfeeding to behaviour and parenting.

Did you have any go-to products with your babes, which you couldn’t live without?