New Baby | What essentials do you really need for the first weeks?

There’s a lot you can buy for your baby. And there’s a lot you really don’t need! Admittedly, I have made my share of useless purchases in the past (for example, a nappy trash can which produces giant nappy sausages). Now, expecting our fifth baby, I think I have more of an idea of what I really need. And, I had given away most of my new baby essentials after baby Casper, so now I have to get them all over again. Taking money and space into account, I’m more picky of what I really need…
So here’s my list of new baby essentials that I think are crucial (or at least very handy) to have the first weeks. Remembering: less is more, and simple is best! : )

New baby essentials: CLOTHES

1. White envelope onesies (size 1 month). The envelope opening is the easiest when babies are curled up and tiny.
2. Baby hats, a few different thicknesses, styles and sizes
3. For winter: a warm, all-over suit for taking baby outside.
4. Long knitted socks and/or booties, newborn size.
5. White pyjamas (Size NB and 1 month). The simple white style is so sweet. All my babies have worn these the first 2 years of their lives!
6. A few little outfits, size NB and/or 1 month. I like these cute little overalls with feet for the first weeks! A little knitted baby cardigan is handy too.

Note: My babies typically are not big (they were all between 3200 to 3500 grams so far), so I know size newborn or 1 month will be ok. But some of my friends have had huge babies, so they needed size 3 months straight away!

New baby essentials: CARE

1. Newborn nappies and wipes (I’m trying Naty and Lilydoo)
2. A cosy receiving blanket to keep baby warm
3. Baby shampoo and body wash, baby ointment, baby cream bath (I like this one from Weleda), and a nice baby massage oil
4. Baby nail clippers, saline water and a simple nose sucker to clear up a stuffed nose. And a soft baby hair brush if you expect your baby to have hair (I don’t!).
5. A few cosy hooded bath capes, hooded towel or blankets to wrap baby in after a bath
6. A (natural rubber) dummy (so far, all of my babies have used dummies!)
7. Muslin squares, XL muslin squares and muslin wash gloves. Also: burp cloths.
8. A Tummy Tub. So cute and my babies have all loved bathing in them! (They are also quite compact, compared to a regular baby bath.) I also use the sink, the first few weeks. (When baby gets bigger I like the folded Flexi Bath until they are sitting up confidently and can go into the ‘big bath’.)

Note: If you’re planning to bottle feed, you obviously need formula, bottles and bottle cleaners.

New baby essentials: NURSERY

1. A swaddle blanket (I only started using a sleeping bag after the first weeks.)
2. A changing table (I like using a vintage chest of drawers — handy for storage of the baby essentials!) with a wedge shaped changing mat and one or two washable covers. Plus a cute basket for little tidbits!
3. Crib sheets and blankets (cotton and/or wool). And a hot water bottle with cover — a very Dutch thing and used to warm up the baby bed the first weeks. In the UK, when I had Sara and Pim, this was unheard of!
4. A crib or bassinet. (I actually have a crib set up in our bedroom, and a sweet woven bassinet downstairs in the living room for daily naps.)

Note: if your changing table doesn’t offer enough storage, you will also need a cabinet or something else for storing baby clothes etc.

New baby essentials: GEAR

1. A pushchair with rain cover and carseat attachment so you can click the carseat straight onto your pushchair. I have a Bugaboo Cameleon, but the new Bugaboo Fox looks cool too. I’ve heard great things about the BabyZen YoYo as well — so compact!
2. A baby carrier. I like the soft style wraps (slings) for newborns, initially.
3. Carseat with isofix base (so you can click it straight into the car — not an absolute necessity but SO fuss-free and handy!)
4. Bouncing chair with a cosy sheepskin cover (there are special sheepskins available fir this purpose, but you can also just buy a natural, non-bleached sheepskin and cut holes in it).
5. A cosy, washable cover or footmuff for the carseat.

Of course, as always, I’m curious to hear if you feel there are any new baby essentials I have missed, that you feel are essential for the first weeks!

xxx Esther

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Aupa Organics

Having met in Desigual (Spains multinational Fashion brand) Ana and Xavi quickly became friends when they realised each other’s passion for a better and healthier world. They wanted to create a space where you knew that everything they offered was a collection of carefully curated products that were organic and eco-friendly. The result is Aúpa Organics. Here you can find everything from beautiful wooden toys, organic cotton jerseys, and eco-friendly cereal. Although neither have kids, they have a great capacity to curate their collection not only thinking about materials, and faire trade but also thinking about education, and learning through play.

You can find an entire shelf dedicated to sensory play for the little ones, where you can fill a basket with objects of your picking like natural sponges, bean maracas, cinnamon chimes, wooden balls, shells ect. A great gift for first time mothers, since as we know it can be a little difficult to know what to do with your first baby and how to keep them entertained. The basket of different textures and sounds will give you at least enough time to sit and have a cup of tea without a baby in your arms…

Located in the area of Poblenou, the shop, although not in the center of town, is easy to get to by public transport. This is an area of Barcelona that is very family orientated, and so the shop is a perfect fit.

 

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Waiting for baby… our nursery corner

The waiting game has began! I’m nearly 39 weeks pregnant and it can be really any day now… or not! I always find these weeks around the due date so strange. All is quiet and calm, everything is more or less prepared for the arrival of the baby. And no one knows when or how it all will happen! It’s once again a matter of accepting that some things in life can not be foreseen…

My first baby was 10 days late, my last one 5 days early. This new baby can be born any day between now and the next three weeks!

In the meantime I have set up the nursery (meaning, the little baby corner in our bedroom). The beautiful, handcrafted little baby bed is from Nesta’s Nest (made from 100% wool felt). I love the simplicity of the bassinet, and the fact that is so low. (It will move next to our bed once the baby is born, so we can easily pick him up and put him back in the middle of the night.)

We’ve used the changing table for our other babies too. We originally found it in the attic of my husband’s parents — he was changed on it as a baby as well! I love the shabby chic, vintage look of it.

I made the bed with the baby sheets my grandmother embroidered when she was pregnant with my mum, in the winter of 1941/42. Both my grandmother and my mother have passed away, so I feel very connected to them this way.

The shelves (by String) were already hanging in our bedroom. I put some of my old Beatrix Potter books on there, as well as my birth announcement from the ’70s. The little sculpture of me as a baby was made by my mum.

The two samplers were also made by my mum. The bottom one is celebrating my parents’ wedding, the top one my birth. I like the way the colours work with the rest of the decoration and feel they make a surprisingly lovely nursery wall decor!

xxx Esther

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Natural pregnancy skincare by Eve & Rose

My belly is big and round now and I just feel the skin stretching around it. So tight! Also, the itching is terrible, and comes in waves. My legs, my arms, my back (especially there where I can not reach)… All so itchy! It’s part of the pregnancy deal, of course, and thankfully temporary (almost done!).

Every morning I religiously rub my belly with oil, and it helps to soothe the skin so much. I am a total fan of the Eve & Rose products — their Precious Body Oil is beautifully dry and has such a gentle, soft and soothing scent. I also use the Eve & Rose Nourishing Body Lotion on my legs and arms, and I swear it helps with the itching.

Eve & Rose products are made of 100% natural ingredients, using blends of fine oils such as organ and academia, and other ingredients like aloe vera, shea, white lily flower and tocepherol (natural vitamin E). There is no use of essential oils, alcohol, parabens, phtalates, SLS, petrochemicals, synthetic fragrances or colours.

Another great thing about Eve & Rose is that 50% (!!) of the profit is used to support the charity ‘Children of the Mekong’. Thus helping the poorest children and their communities in remote areas and slums. What a great initiative!

xxx Esther

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The hospital bag | what essentials do you need to pack?

The last few weeks before giving birth is all about preparing for baby. I’ve been reading books and trying to practise my breathing for during delivery, and I have set up the little crib and changing table in our bedroom. Of course I’ve washed all those little baby clothes as well! Part of the fun, for sure. And considering that I’m keeping my options open (home birth or hospital birth), I did pack my hospital bag. So I’m ready either way!

Here’s what’s in my hospital bag:

1. A wash bag with lip balm, some samples of face wash, face lotion, shampoo and shower gel, toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, hair brush, hand cream, and a case (plus solution) for my contact lenses. Also, elastic bands for my hair!
2. Some basic make-up (my two favourite tinted moisturisers, from Laura Mercier and Estee Lauder (which in winter I mix), my favourite cream blush stick and simple black mascara)
3. Warm socks and slippers (I packed a pair of disposable slippers that I brought from a hotel room. Handy, I thought!)
4. A cute night shirt / nursing gown and a cosy robe
5. Cotton grandma briefs!
6. A comfy nursing bra and nursing tank
7. A bar of chocolate, some little bags of nuts and a bottle of champagne
8. A little notebook and a pen
9. Breast pads (washable) and sanitary pads
10. A pair of maternity leggings, a long sleeved T-shirt which allows for nursing and a cute oversized blouse to wear when going back home

I also packed a phone charger and left a note to remind myself to stick my phone in the bag, as well as my glasses. And to not forget our (charged!) camera and the baby car seat.

And here’s what I packed for baby:

• Layette essentials (two envelope onesies, two cosy white sleepsuits, a cashmere receiving blanket, a swaddle blanket, two muslin squares and a hat)
• One tiny baby outfit (overalls and hat which I knit for Casper!) and minuscule socks
• A few organic nappies and wipes

xxx Esther

PS Some women love to bring a little bluetooth speaker to the hospital so they can listen to music. Some bring candles so they can dim the light. Some even like to bring a pillow from home. I personally don ‘t need any of this in the hospital, but I’m curious to hear what you did bring and loved having with you?

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Boob, pregnancy and breastfeeding-friendly fashion from Sweden

Boob is a Stockholm-based maternity label offering an extensive collection of clothes for all stages of motherhood. With clever solutions for double use (being pregnancy and breastfeeding friendly), the fashion goes way beyond 9 months. The great quality even makes them last so long they can be used for other pregnancies or be passed on to friends! I love clothes with a long lifecycle like that.

I have found the Boob basics to be staples in my pregnancy wardrobe. In my posts about first and second trimester essentials, I mentioned Boob pregnancy and breastfeeding friendly fashion already. The styles are so cute and comfortable, they easily cover the belly in all different stages and are flattering as well. (I’m wearing the Flatter me long-sleeve top as we speak!)

Boob just launched their Spring Summer collection and I wanted to show you some pieces I am so excited about. This Air dress — how beautiful is it? I just love the elegance of the cut and the prettiness of the colour. It works for pregnancy (see the photo below where I’m wearing it with an 8 months bump!). After birth, all of the flowing fabric will lovingly disguise the after-birth belly, while offering a clever breastfeeding solution. Just by pushing aside the fabric pleats, nursing access is revealed! When your waist allows, I love the belted version as in the photo above too. (I’m far from that option, of course!) Also, it is made from 100% organic cotton.

Another item I think is so fun is the Amelia Jumpsuit. I wear it so much now that I am cocooning and nesting around the house! Again, it is super comfy to wear and offers easy and discreet breastfeeding access. I love the fun style with the cropped legs, and the tied top. I’m excited to be able to keep wearing this piece after I’ve had the baby, as I think this will become one of my favourite pieces for the summer, like the Air dress.

I’m also very excited to announce a give-away we’re hosting over on our Instagram together with Boob! They are giving away a 250 euro voucher to one lucky winner (and will ship your prize all over the world)! For details, head over to our Instagram page now. Good luck!

But that’s not all, Boob is also offering a whopping 20% off their entire collection for all Babyccino readers, from today ’til the 24th of February. Just enter code BABYCCINO20BOOB at check-out! Enjoy!

xxx Esther

PS This post has been sponsored by Boob, a longtime member of our portal and a brand I personally love and endorse.

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A new collection from Louise Misha with pretty pieces for mamas too!

The new spring/summer collection at Louise Misha launched last week and it is simply beautiful! With stunning, bohemian dresses and accessories for little girls, and a larger-than-ever selection for women, this is my favourite collection yet. There is honestly not a single piece in the women’s collection that I wouldn’t love to have in my closet: pretty blouses, flowing silk dresses, and easy-to-wear-anywhere dresses like this one (honestly, how pretty is it?!!!). I just love the effortless feel of each and every piece.

The girls collection is equally stunning with lots of flowy shapes, ruffles and beautiful embroidery. And what I think I love most about the Louise Misha dresses is that while they are delicate enough to wear for special occasions, they are durable enough to wear day-to-day, thrown over a swimsuit and worn to the beach, for example.

Louise Misha is a French brand created in 2014 by two friends, Aurélie Remetter and Marie Pidancet, who were inspired by their travels to India. They initially launched with a collection of jewellery, which later expanded to a collection of clothing for girls and then, lucky for us mamas, a collection for women, which they launched last year.

In the photos above, Marlow is wearing the beautiful saffron-coloured Nouchka Dress with bright pink detailing on the side tassels, and the embroidered Hindaka Dress in white. I am wearing the floral Aster Tropical dress, which I love because it’s so lightweight — perfect for this hot, humid weather.

Check out the full collection here.

Courtney x

This post has been sponsored by Louise Misha, a longtime member of our portal. All words, images and opinions are entirely my own.

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