Best Baby Buys

A pregnant colleague at work recently asked me for a few tips on baby products and I obliged with a list of my favourite brands - and a few hits and misses. I'm not saying this list will suit everyone, but this is what we've found has worked best for us. For more opinions, check out the forums at www.essentialbaby.com.au - I quizzed other mums there on almost every major purchase.


Nappies - Huggies, hands down. I've tried Safeway's home brand and they are nowhere near as good. I also use Bebe's nappy inserts for nights.
Nappy wipes - Curash. Huggies were too "wet" (if that makes any sense) and left Ari's bum all red and sore.
Cot - Ikea. It even converts to a first bed. Very practical and not that expensive.
High chair - Ikea Antilop. Easy to clean and use.
Clothing - Bonds, Safeway Little Wishes romper suits, Red Robin socks, Converse sneakers, Kathmandu thermals and Ticklish cords have all been proven favourites. Home knits are also a big winner.
Pram - Adventure Buggy Company three-wheeler and a Maclaren Quest stroller.
Toys - Peter Rabbit box of boxes (a set of different sized cardboard boxes that fit inside each other) and a Little Tikes walker have been two fantastic toys.
Bottles - Avent bottles and microwave steriliser. Pigeon peristaltic teats (Ari spat the Avent ones back at us!).
Dummy - Tommee Tippee animal faces dummies.
Sippy cup - Tommee Tippee
Bowls, spoons - Tommee Tippee and Take n' Toss.
Bedding - Grobags and Living Textiles sleeping bags, Onkaparinga wool duvet.

Other hits:
Maclaren baby rocking chair with massager. We took this EVERYWHERE and Ari loved it. We fed him in it, rocked him to sleep in it. An absolute winner.

And misses:
Baby bath. So not worth buying. Ari grew out of it in no time. Use the big bath unless bub finds it scary.
Bassinet. Yes, they're pretty, but see above.