Buying a car seat for your baby is a must if you ever plan on taking them in a car, even on a short journey. The proper use of car safety seats helps you keep your child safe.  If you are taking your baby home by car from hospital after giving birth, the hospital will insist in you putting your baby into your car seat prior to leaving. 

It has been recommended that you always purchase a new car seat, as when purchasing a second-hand one you will need to be sure that the car seat has never been involved in an accident as this will make it unsafe for your child. 

How do you choose which car seat to buy? 

• Car seats vary with many different brands and models. Always check that the car seat you wish to purchase is suitable for your car. Many stores selling car seats will ask for the make and model of the vehicle in which the car seat will be used and will tell you which car seats would be best.
• Check that the type of seat is correct for your baby’s age and weight.
• Some companies selling car seats will actually fit them for you to ensure they are fitted correctly.
• Infants should be in a rear facing infant only seat or a convertible seat until they are 1 year old and 20 pounds. They can then move onto a forward facing seat until they are around 40 pounds or their ears have reached the top of the car seat.
• If you have an airbag in the passenger side of the car your baby will not be able to travel in the front as it is illegal unless you have the airbag de-activated as is it not only dangerous but also the law.

Shop around and talk to the people selling the car seats, they should have a good knowledge of the type most suitable for your vehicle, your life style and your baby. 

Always read the manufacture instructions to insure you have the car seat fitted correctly.

The nappy changing bag is a vital piece of equipment that will enable you to carry everything that your baby needs with you when you are out and about, but just how much do you need to carry around with you?  

Many of us think the bigger the better when choosing our changing bag but then end up lugging around a huge weighty bag full of things that we never use but take…just in case! 

Nappy changing bags come in all sorts of styles, shapes and sizes. Many prams and buggies come with matching nappy changing bags which can make it easy when deciding on the bag for you. My top tip is always go for a style or colour that your partner will be happy carrying and not something that is too girly or feminine. 

What do you really need to carry around with you? 

• Obviously nappies, nappy cream and the all essential wipes and many bags have a small removable changing pad which is very useful.
• Bottles of milk if you are bottle feeding and equipment you will need for your feeds, such as bibs etc
• Spare clothing but not the whole wardrobe!
• Dummies (if you use them), many bags have great little compartments where you can store all sorts of little items that you don’t want to get lost at the bottom of your bag.
• Lots of the bags now realise that mums no longer carry hand bags as well as a changing bag and they include pockets for your mobile phone and purse.

When you choose your bag, try it for size. Does it have adjustable straps, will you be carrying it over your shoulder, across your body or on your back? Does it fit comfortably on your buggy or pram? Is it the right size for you? Remember the bigger the bag the more junk you can carry around..hurray!

 Part one – Cots and Moses baskets 

Getting your baby’s nursery ready can be a fun and exciting time.  

One of the most important things you will buy is a cot or Moses basket for your baby to sleep in. Most of us have our babies sleeping in our room for the first six months as advised by health professionals (many of us have them in with us for the first year or more!)    

• Many mums like the Moses basket as the first bed for their baby as it is smaller and more portable than a cot.
• It’s easily moved around from room to room, it will fit it in the car for visits to family and it will probably fit comfortably right next to your bed so your baby is close to you at night.
• If you buy a Moses basket you will still need to purchase a cot as most babies will have outgrown their Moses basket by around six-nine months.
• When you purchase your cot you may find you can get a second hand one for half the price and in good condition or a friend or relative may offer you their’s that they no longer need.
• No matter how well you know them it is always important to buy a new mattress to avoid cot death.

 Cot death 

Studies have shown that when a baby lies on a mattress inevitably the baby’s secretions fall onto the mattress through saliva, vomit and coughs and sneezes. This allows the growth of a fungus and this fungus attacks fire retardants in a way that it releases gases. These gases are heavier than air so they concentrate in the mattress. Babies are much more susceptible to these poisons and it is thought this is what causes cot death. Always buy a new mattress for every newborn baby as the fungus will not have had time to develop, never use a second hand mattress even if it looks like new. 

When you think of re-usable nappies images of the good old fashioned towelling nappies may spring to mind where you need hours of tuition to just get them folded into a nappy sized shape before you secure them with the biggest safety pin imaginable! Thank goodness those days are over and in their place are easier to use, more modern nappies that are eco- friendly! There are more pro’s too

• Your baby’s poo is now collected in bio-degradle liners which you can simply flush away and then store the nappy in a nappy bucket until you have enough washing to put on a whole load! Easy! Unfortunately it still doesn’t alter the fact that if you haven’t got the convenience of a tumble drier it could mean you house will turn into Madame twanky’s wash room, with lots of nappies drying all over the place!
• It can save you money, you will need around 20 nappies if you are using them full time and half this if you use them part-time with disposables. Give them a few washes before hand and this will help with absorbency. They are actually best after their 3^rd wash.
• There are lots of different types of eco-friendly nappies to chose from, all with funky designs and different shapes and all around the same price. Check them all out as you can find the one that suits you and your baby best.

If you’re still not convinced, there are a few other points to mull over 

• Disposable nappies can take hundreds of years to decompose and most of the nappies we throw away end up in a landfill.
• Some councils are finding it a huge problem and many are so desperate they are offering incentives for parents to use reusable nappies. Get in touch with your local council, as some offer money back if you buy reusable and some even have starter packs.
• If it’s the thought of washing the nappies or having them left drying all over the house or you simply can’t imagine coping with a baby and all the extra time washing then check out  nappy laundering services and let them do the hard work.

You could always use disposables for holidays or times when you need the added convenience and re-useable the rest of the time It’s worth a thought and may make you feel virtuous that you’re doing your bit for the environment?

Choosing a pram or buggy can be more confusing than buying a new car, with so many different styles and features to pick from where do you start? 

You could ask other mums you know for their advice but really choosing the right buggy is as personal as getting the right fit of jeans.

 Think about where you live as this will be a big factor when you make your choice. 

• If you live in a flat or your can’t get to your front door without going up lots of steps then a lightweight buggy/pram would make your life easier.
•  If you live in an area where you will be taking lots of walks on rough pathways or plan on jogging with your buggy than maybe you should look into a buggy or 3- wheeler designed especially for rough terrain.
• If you will be using your car a lot then size is important, it will have to fit into your boot with ease. You could even think about getting a travel system as you could then put your car seat straight onto the buggy without disturbing your sleeping baby.
• If you will be using public transport, choose something that you can easily put up and down with one hand.

Check out as many shops as you can and practice folding them up and down, see how heavy they are to lift and practice pushing them. There will be guidelines and information for most buggy’s and prams so take it all home, read it through and work out the pros and cons. Don’t rush your choice or be influenced by the latest trends. 

It can be easy to choose one just because you like the colour or the look of it but remember that if it doesn’t fit in with your lifestyle you could end up buying another buggy just for an easy life. 

Hi there,

My name is Louise

I’m the Researcher for a show for Living TV called Extreme: Skinny Celebrity Mums 2.

We are looking for new real mums to take part and talk to us about the pressures of being a new mum.

Our main focus will be the pressure women feel from celebrities to lose their post-pregnancy weight in an unnatural time.

If this sounds like something you are interested in then please e-mail me.

louise.sammon@target-tv.com

ThanksLouise

We have all heard the horrific stories of babies dying from cot death and no-one seems to know the reason why!  There are some things you can do to reduce the risk. 

• Always buy a new mattress even if the cot is second or third hand!

• Place your baby to sleep on their back with their feet right at the bottom of the cot to avoid the baby suffocating under the covers.

• Don’t let your baby get overheated, keep room temperature between 16-20 degrees and always keep your baby’s head uncovered even if you have just come in from being outside.

• Don’t smoke around your baby or let others smoke near your baby. Avoid taking your baby to smoky places.

• Your baby should not share a bed with a smoker as this has been proven to increase the risk of cot death.

• Avoid cot bumpers, they make look pretty but your baby could get tangled up in them.

• Don’t let your baby fall asleep on a sofa where they could get smothered by the cushions.

Try not to get too hung up and stressed about cot death so you spend all your time worrying about it happening and not enjoying your first few months with your baby. Following this advice and that of your health visitor will help you reduce the risk.

Breast feeding is proven to be best for your baby but what if you are really finding it difficult?Breast feeding is convenient, no bottles to sterilise, formula milk to carry around and the search for somewhere to heat it up and then of course having to let it cool down when the kind waitress has made it hotter than a flaming zambuka!  Breastfeeding burns calories and fat, your baby will get your anti-bodies and the best start in life but what about you……? 

Some mums do find breast feeding easy and have no problems, for others it is more difficult. Bleeding and cracked nipples can leave you in agony. Soaking wet breast pads can have you feeling embarrassed and leave you feel like a walking, talking feeding machine? 

There are some things you can do to help and if you can persevere it does actually get easier! 

• Cabbage leaves placed in the fridge and then placed inside your bra will have your breast feeling cool and give you some instant relief. The down side is you will smell like cabbage soup as they heat up nicely and start to wilt inside your nursing bra.

• Buy some nipple cream, this will help if your nipples are cracking and bleeding.

• Try to get your baby to latch on in different positions, and count to ten as they do it. The initial pain as they latch on doesn’t last long but will be imprinted in your memory forever, After a few weeks it does get easier as your nipples get firmer.

• Fresh air really is a great healer, try to have a lie down with your breasts exposed to the fresh air and don’t forget to lie on a towel to catch any spillages.

• Speak to other mums who have breast fed, they can probably offer you lots of support and get you through the rough patch.

Breast feeding can really get you down and leave you reaching for the bottle but if you are in any doubt it does get easier. One day you may look back on the time spent breastfeeding your baby with fondness.

 If you find your baby continually cries at a certain part of the day and it is difficult to get them to settle, they could be suffering from colic. 

Early evening is when most mums find colic strikes, this is the time when you will probably be feeling tired and looking forward to relaxing. The crying can last for hours and everything you do may not seem to help to soothe your baby.  Why does colic occur?No-one can seem to agree on what causes colic, some doctors say it is due to wind and stomach pain. Whatever the cause, there are a few things you can try to help you get over this period. 

• For breastfeeding mums you could try changing your diet, maybe something you are eating doesn’t agree with your baby. Talk to your health visitor who can advise you on where you could make adjustments to your diet.

• Avoid lots of visitors handling your baby and passing them around, over stimulation can cause your baby to become fretful, it doesn’t mean of course that you can’t let anyone hold your child, just make sure they get time to settle on their own and enjoy quiet times.

• Bottle fed babies may find a change of formula milk can help. Your health visitor will be able to advise you.

• Gripe water or for younger babies there are alternative colic drops, some mums think these really help.

• Massaging your baby’s tummy in a circular motion clockwise could relieve any build up of wind.

Get as much help as you can, share the crying with some-one, coping with a baby who cries constantly can make you feel stressed and unable to cope…..this is normal. It doesn’t last forever but it can be an extremely difficult period to deal with.Don’t be too afraid to ask for some help.

Being alone with your baby for the first time can be quite frightening. This is it, you are now a parent and there is no turning back. The realisation of the responsibility can seem really overwhelming. 

The first few weeks really can seem so daunting with so much to learn, some new mums really take everything in their stride, for others it can take longer. 

How to cope 

• Make your baby your priority – don’t worry about the housework, cleaning or worrying about things, it can wait.

• Don’t feel like a failure to ask for help– ask your partner, your mum or friends for help. Get them to do a shop for you, make a meal or simply make you a cup of tea.

• Ask visitors to give you time to settle – having lots of visitors all arriving in a continuous stream can be stressful with all of them wanting to see and hold the baby. It can be unsettling for your baby and put added pressure on you. Get them to visit when you are ready.

• Get as much sleep as you can – when your baby has a nap, have a rest too. Twenty minutes sleep will have you feeling refreshed and ready to carry on with the rest of the day.

• Get a friend or partner to keep you well stocked up with some nutritious snacks – they will keep your energy levels up and stop you from filling up on junk food.

This stage doesn’t last forever, it can be hard but it will get better. In a few months you will look back and wonder why you it seemed so difficult!