There are so many different baby products out there that it can be a minefield knowing where to start. Here are a few products and toys that I would recommend - Not just because they are good items but because we have got so much use out of them, and will continue to do so for a while. There is no point in buying something when the novelty will just wear off after a week, but to buy something that will get used almost every day.
Ollie the owl
This is a great little companion and is best to start using at the newborn stage. This way they get used to having it close, and get used to the sounds and the night light from an early age. Its soft so can be cuddled and also has a strap to attach to the cot
Nursing chair
We got ours 2nd hand as we didn’t want to spend a fortune, as we weren’t sure how much we would use it. We had the cushions cleaned and painted the wood to keep with the style of the nursery. Almost 19 months later and we still use this every day. Having some sort of cosy rocking / gliding chair is definitely recommend to settle your baby / toddler
Sandpit
We used an old fashioned metal bathtub for ours as we like the look for the garden, but any sandpit will do. This has been a big hit from the sitting age and is still very much loved. If it’s cold or a bit wet just put our little one in a mud suit and let her get messy
Tuff tray
Again another thing that can be filled with sand, but there are also lots of ideas out there to use your tuff tray for. Pinterest and Instagram have some great ideas. Indoor and outdoor messy play
Play kitchen
A lot of my mum friends recommended getting one of these for the first birthday, and although it’s good to start roll play early on I think this was a little bit too early. Our play kitchen started being used a lot more at around 16 months, but definitely something I’d recommend. There are also lots of accessories you can get for play kitchens, so some great gift ideas from the family
Shape sorter and numbers/letters puzzles
Great little games to keep them entertained and learn their shapes, numbers and letters. Something like this can be great from the sitting up age right through to to when they are older
Duplo / Lego
Obviously with this you need to be careful of small parts but we just took the smaller pieces away until she was old enough to not mouth everything. Building blocks and towers are a great way to keep them entertained
Bath Toys
They actually don’t need loads of these as we found that plastic bowls and jugs from the kitchen work well too, as they love the pouring action. Even a couple of balloons in the bath were a great hit! But a few basic bath toys are always a good way to start
Board books
Without stating the obvious that books are great for learning they are also a must in our house. Whether it be winding down time or just some quiet time, our little one loves flicking through the pages, lifting the flaps and pressing the buttons
Author: Annie Allen
Professional Photographer specialising in maternity, newborn, baby, birthday and family photography
Aldershot Hampshire based (covering Guildford, Farnham, Camberley, Woking, Reading, Basingstoke and Bracknell areas)