Haute Mama Must Haves – Preparing For Your New Baby

Our absolute favourite items/brands for a newborn baby. You’ll notice our list is fairly minimal (and mostly organic), that’s because babies need you more than they need accessories. As your baby develops it will have more requirements, therefore, wait to see what you truly need to buy as your baby progresses. Items like a bouncy seat, pacifiers, activity mat, high chair and certain toys can wait a few weeks, even a couple of months. For now, here are the basics for a newborn baby:

• Car seat – Look for a compatible car seat, one that fits your lifestyle needs and adapts to your stroller. Graco and Peg Perego Primo Viaggio work with most strollers. 
• 2x Hooded towels and washcloths. Look for organic cotton and bamboo towels. My favourite bamboo terry towels are by Shinwa Organics. 
• 3x Newborn onesies, cardigans, rompers and pants. Don’t go overboard, tiny babies grow very quickly. Giggle, Green Depot, Egg Baby and Pure Baby all have a nice basics collection.
• Baby bath seat – I prefer a seat to a bath as its smaller, lighter and folders up easy storage. You can also travel with it. If you really want a bath, consider the Shantala baby bath. Resembling a bucket, this tub creates a womb like feeling and can be used for toy storage once your baby outgrows it.
• Nature Baby Biodegradable diapers and wipes. The number one green diaper on the market and my absolute favourite! 
• Organic cotton burp cloth
• Organic cotton swaddling blankets by Egg Baby – why these? The blankets have a stretchy weave allowing a tight wrap.
• Changing pad – you really only need a changing pad, and this can be placed on a dresser or other sturdy smooth surface you’d like to use. Green Depot’s organic changing pad is light and washes easily.
• Bottles: I love the look, feel and function of glass. My favourite are from Wee-Go. My nursing baby prefers Gerber’s NUK silicone nipples when she’s using the bottle to the nipples supplied with Wee-Go.
• Breast Pump: Medela make a good selection of pumps for the occasional or regular expresser. You can easily attach your Medela pump to your Wee-Go bottle.
• Baby Carrier: I love using a sling. I use Hot Slings as I’m not a fan of the ring. My husband loves using his Baby Bjorn. Whatever you chose, a baby carrier is indispensible when you need to hold your baby and use your hands. Slings are especially great for calming baby, nursing and carrying baby while having to do something with an older child. 
• Sleep: sleeping arrangements are personal decisions. Our baby sleeps in a bassinet, Moses basket and in our bed. If you have purchased a crib, make sure it’s of FSC wood and you are using organic sheets and an organic mattress. Watch our video on baby bedding to learn more about sustainable bedding.

 

 

Haute Mama Must Haves - Items For You:

Preparing for your imminent bundle can leave you rather absent minded when it comes to yourself. So here is a little list of must have items to treat your post birth body to. Believe me, there are some areas that need more attention than others!

• Angel Baby butt balm – You simply cannot live without this item once you’ve delivered vaginally! Got hemorrhoids now? Wait til you give birth. This is a serious MUST HAVE item.
• C- section healing cream - Planning a c-section? Then Scar Repair Booster by Mambino Organics is the healing cream for you!
• Sore nipples? - Apply Weleda baby face cream – to your tender nipples. Why this and not nipple cream? I've tested a lot of products, and found this to be the most effective. The healing properties of calendula are quickly absorbed and it doesn’t taste bad should baby ingest some cream. Once your breasts have healed, use it on babies soft face.
• Nature Baby breast pads – biodegradable and compostable. Absorb well and don’t leave cotton fluff on your nipples.
• Breast pump – I use the Medela Harmony, because I’m an occasional expresser. Before rushing out to buy a pump, wait to see how your milk supply is once your baby is born. Then think about how often you’ll pump. It’s easy to order one online, or have your husband, partner, friend or relative pick the one you want up from a store.  My breasts were severely engorged with both births and I had to pump and dump on the third day once my milk flooded in.
• Heavy duty sanitary pads - I love the Natracare chemical free pads.
• Personal hygiene wipes - Natracare certified Organic Cotton natural wipes, are enriched with calendula and chamomile and gentle on your sensitive nether regions. They are chemical free and flushable, and come in tiny packs you can tote in your purse.

 

 

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