BUMP DIARIES #5 | MY ESSENTIAL SHOPPING LIST

BUMP DIARIES #5 | MY ESSENTIAL SHOPPING LIST

I remember a few weeks after announcing my pregnancy, a few of my friends and various acquaintances started sending me all these ‘must-have’ shopping lists for the impending arrival of our baby. I mean, some of the lists were serious Excel spreadsheets, categorised and colour coded, with over 100 (!) items on them. To say I started to get slightly overwhelmed at this stage, would be a minor understatement (however grateful I was with the kind thought behind of providing me with this list). But I soon got on top of it, and managed to narrow it down, pinpointing my own essentials that would work for us…  

Now I am by no means going to publicise any of those master lists with you guys on here, as I wouldn’t want to overwhelm you as well – however I do want to share some core basics (aside from the million muslin cloths, babygrows and nappies you will need) – such as the pram we’ve chosen, car seat, bouncer, crib… You know, those CORE must-have’s that kind of need to be in place in just a few weeks (eek). And no, this won’t be covering it all (who knew how much stuff a baby would acquire?!), but at least, a big chunk of it. Happy reading!


The Pram
We have spent so much time deliberating on probably one of the most important decisions we had to make in terms of major purchases – which pram to get. Naturally, there is a lot of choice out there – so many different brands, styles, reviews, opinions… In the end, we opted for what we felt combined the best look, alongside the best (and safest) quality – the Bugaboo Cameleon. We wanted something which wasn’t too heavy and complicated to use on a day-to-day basis, but also something with real suspension and ability to work in the city, as well as the park. We went for the classic black and grey combination (surprise, surprise , and I cannot wait to start using it!

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The Nursery Furniture
The nursery is slowly but surely coming together (the full reveal will be ready soon!), and although our baby will be sleeping in our bedroom for the first 6 months or so, we obviously wanted to get the nursery all complete – along with the cot, the dresser and changing table. Again, we spent quite a while shopping around for this furniture – and in the end, we opted for a real classic set from Boori (part of the Classic Collection). A simply designed, yet incredibly sturdy furniture set – with the cot, the 3-drawer dresser, and the fitted changing table on the top. 

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The Baby Bouncer
So many different people have recommended the BabyBjorn bouncer to me (sourced via Mamas & Papas), due to it being the most ergonomically best for the baby’s natural bouncing movement, helping to enhance and develop your baby’s motor and balance skills. No batteries required, and the best thing about it? It’s super lightweight and easy to carry around wherever you are. Oh, and it looks pretty good too, win win.

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The Car Seat
Obviously, this purchase was another incredible important one, which we spent a lot of time looking into and researching. In the end, we opted for a very popular choice, with the Maxi-Cosi Pebble Plus via Mothercare, which offers the latest up-to-date safety performance, and a (surprisingly) easy click-and-go system when used with the Maxi-Cosi 2wayFix IsoFix Base. It was so much simpler to install and get ready then what I expected, and I feel so much more at ease knowing it’s all strapped up and ready in the car for whenever he decides on making an appearance…

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The Bedside Crib(s)
We have invested in two cribs; a classic Moses Basket from Baby Elegance – which we will predominately be using downstairs in the kitchen/lounge. With the handy basket handles, it’s really lightweight and easy to carry from room to room when needed, and then just pop it back on the rocking stand (which can also be fixed to still-mode), when the baby is sleeping. For the main crib which will be fitted beside our bed, we have ordered and currently waiting on the Shnuggle Dreami Clever Baby Sleeper – which, after again, reading countless reviews – seems like the best option for us, in terms of size alongside our bed, and the fact that it’s so light and breathable.

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The Sleeping Bags & Blankets
For sleeping, we have already invested in a few different options for the baby – sleeping bags as well as blankets, then I will just see how I get on with both! So far, we’ve got the Baby Mori Clever Sleeping Bag (voted #1 sleepsuit by the Independent), made from breathable and thermoregulating bamboo and organic cotton, keeping your baby at a natural and safe temperature through cold nights and warm days – as well as a smaller and more compact style from Baby Elegance. In terms of blankets, we have various styles, including a classic white cellular blanket from The White Company, a grey style from Sheridan and a thicker cotton version, also from The White Company (the latter two will be used for the pram only).

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The Portable Bed
So many people have recommended the Sleepyhead Deluxe to us (sourced via Scandiborn) – and when I popped it up on my Instagram Stories the other day, I got so many messages from you guys saying it’s the best investment as well! So I am hoping we will very happy with it. No idea what it is? It’s basically a sleeping pod for your baba, giving them a safe and cosy place for babies to sleep, rest, lounge, have a nappy change or just chill out. They’re super light weight, making them easy to move around in the house, or whilst travelling, and they’re all made in soft breathable, washable and hypoallergenic material. If it fits, I am also planning on using ours within our Shnuggle bedside crib when the baby sleeps, and then if I want to stay in the bed longer, I can just move the Sleepyhead up into the bed, knowing it’s in a safe and secure position.

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The Changing (Bags)
I am super lucky to not just have one, but three changing bags already! I planned to get one for Sam to use, and one for myself – and then last week, I had a bonus gift sent to me, in a backpack version! The first bag I got, was the super chic quilted midnight navy style from Day Birger Et Mikkelsen – which seems to be really practical, lightweight and spacious for all our needs (I think Sam has his eye on this one). Then I got another practical, yet super elegant and minimal style from Jem+Bea with it’s classic black Lola bag, which I think I will be using. Again, a really lightweight style, yet sturdy and super spacious. Last but not least, for a more urban and sporty alternative; I am loving the Tiba & Marl x Mamas & Papas leopard printed backpack, which is a limited edition collection on Mamas & Papas (available to purchase in a few weeks).

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The Bedroom Essentials
As I am sure you’ve gathered or already know, there are so many various essentials to all different degrees and budgets. Two more smaller, yet nonetheless important which I have also been recommended time after time – is Ewan The Dream Sheep, a soft cuddly toy which can be used hand held or attached to the cot side for sleeping, which has gentle womb, rain or musical sounds, with a glowing light in his chest (I have heard it’s amazing to get them to sleep). Another more practical essential, includes the Groegg – the ultimate temperature tracker, which changes colour to let you know at a glance whether the temperature of a room is too low, too high or just right, helping you maintain a safe sleeping environment for your baby.

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The Baby Carrier
It was a close call between the Ergobaby and the BabyBjorn carrier, but in the end – we opted for the Ergobaby 360 Bundle of Joy Baby Carrier – after so many of our close friends were raving about it. Why 360? Well it does exactly that; providing four comfortable and ergonomic ways to carry your baby – on your front facing either you or the world, on your hip and on your back. Using the Ergobaby Infant Insert cushion, it helps support growing babies ranging from newborns to 4-5 months, keeping pressure off a baby’s developing spine and pelvis, and providing necessary head and neck support for more comfy carrying from day one.

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Reading & Audio Material
Last but not least, lots of reading and audio material to get prepared! As well as all our Hypnobirthing material (we are currently doing a course with Stiletto to Strollers – more on that in the next Baby Diaries series) – which includes The Hypnobirthing Book by Katharine Graves + various relaxing audio tracks – I have also been reading The Bump Class: An Expert Guide to Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond by Dr. Chiara Hunt and Marina Fogle, Elevating Childcare by Janet Lansbury and Your Pregnancy Bible by Anne Deans – all of which are (so far) proving to be very useful…

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As I said, lots more essentials one needs, but I thought a little sneak peek into what I have already invested in, might be useful! I would love it if you wanted to share any other essentials you think I might be missing, or which you just want to tell me, and everyone else, about! Would love to hear from you. Ax


Note: Some of these items were gifted to me, however as always, I only ever feature products and brands aligned with my blog, and which I truly love/believe in.   

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5 Comments

  1. Sophia
    September 6, 2017 / 23:18

    Great list – will be needing this in a few months for sure!

  2. Nina
    September 9, 2017 / 14:55

    Did you buy these items or were some gifted to you? It would be helpful if this was identified in these posts

    • Anneli Bush
      Author
      September 10, 2017 / 17:43

      A mixture! However 85% of the products were already items on my wish list and something I had planned on getting (but some ended up being gifted). As always, I only ever feature products that I truly love and that have been tried and tested (whether gifted or not). I do have a Disclosure section within the About section on my blog, if of interest :) http://www.annelibush.com/about/bioandcontact/

  3. December 14, 2017 / 06:41

    Nice list will be needing this in a few months for sure!

    • Anneli Bush
      Author
      January 15, 2018 / 14:32

      Thanks and good luck!

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