WHAT YOU REALLY NEED FOR A NEWBORN

Firstly congratulations, you've probably not good long to wait until you meet your baby!

I remember the preparation stage so well when pregnant with Etta, and with so much advice and so many apparent 'must haves' it all got a little overwhelming. But the truth is that you don’t need all the stuff. You just need a few things that bring calm, comfort and connection.

If you’re prepping, focus on:

• Comfort for you (they feel everything you do)

• Visual magic for them (think black and white, bold shapes - some of our bits essentially)

• Simple things that make your day flow

Here are some things that might help you feel more prepared.

• Nappies, wipes and changing mat. For cuddles, spills, and everything in between. Buy a couple of sizes of nappies to start with as you really don't know how big your baby will be until they're here! I recommend having a changing mat upstairs and downstairs (or in the lounge and bedroom if you're on one level) and a travel one too.

• Soft layers. Think easy-to-change sleepsuits, not fiddly outfits. I always recommend sleep suits with built in scratch-mitts and ideally zips too, so you don't have to spend ages popping and repopping after the many nappy changes every day.

• Awake window essentials. Black and white patterns help your baby's eyes develop - and soothe them too. Everything we make is designed to perfectly support their senses and work hard for you, so you can buy once and buy right. Browse our newborn essentials here

• A comfy place to put them down. A Moses basket or cot to sleep in and a safe space for naps. And of course the bed linen and blanket / swaddle to keep them cosy.
  

• Feeding basics including lots of small muslins. Bottles or breastfeeding support, whatever works for you. I planned to breastfeed but had a bottle and formula at the ready too.

• Baby wrap / carrier. They love being close to you as much as possible, so the sling was how we got around living in the city, and was a lifesaver for getting things done whilst Etta slept.

• You. Honestly — your voice, your heartbeat, your love and your cuddles are everything they need and more.

Other things that are non essentials but that I loved with my girls are:

• A white noise machine. Good to replicate the sounds they will have got used to in the womb as it's noisy in there! 
  

What else is on your list? 

Shop our newborn essentials here

Jen x