So you were all prepped up for your pregnancy. You read “What to expect when expecting” cover to cover umpteen times, trawled through motherhood forums for the best cocoa butter and nausea remedies, and kept a strict watch on your diet, consuming all the herbs and medical marvels your mother-in-law concocted.
But what about when the baby comes?
Pregnancy may be one of the most harrowing yet beautiful experiences a woman can have in her life, but when it comes to parenting, it’s a whole different ball game altogether.
As a first-time mother, your priority will always be your newborn, and with all the available resources out there today in the digital age, it can be difficult weaving your way through all the different parenting advice and product offerings.
That’s why to help you along, we’ve curated a few core tips all first-time mothers ought to know as they enter this beautiful phase of their lives.
For those who missed our Nursery Fair, don’t fret, as the Robinsons Bundle of Joy stamp card promotion is still going strong, giving all new mothers, expectant or not, more reason to shop with us! Receive one stamp for every $50 nett spend in a single receipt; collect more stamps to redeem greater rewards!
1. Take care of your baby’s sensitive skin!
A newborn’s skin can be incredibly sensitive, being susceptible to eczema, rash, sun burns and more, which makes it imperative to take good care of their skin needs.
For starters, you may want to keep your baby away from the sun between 10am and 4pm daily when sun rays are strongest. A layer of sunscreen wouldn’t hurt either, though you ought to be careful with choosing sunscreen that caters specifically to babies.
That brings us to the importance of skincare products! Opt for fragrance- and tear-free products to ensure absolute comfort for your bubs. Even better if these products use natural ingredients, with hypoallergenic benefits, such as the Mustela range of face and body moisturisers, as well as their highly effective Dermo Cleansing Gel, which allows you to bathe your baby thoroughly without having to worry about skin reactions.
Mustela Bath & Protection Set. Price: $68.30
Speaking of bath time, babies only need two or three baths a week in warm water. The bath temperature is of utmost importance for the comfort of your baby, which makes the Aprica Temperature-Sensing Baby Bathtub a heaven-send. Not only does the tub allow you to control water temperature, it also offers an anti-slip cover design to keep your baby from slipping while ensuring he/she remains comfortable throughout their bath.
Aprica Baby Bath Tub. Price: $49
2. Nourish your baby with comfort and convenience
Some mothers opt for breastfeeding, while some don’t. Either way is perfectly fine and up to one’s personal choice, but for those who do choose to breastfeed their babies, you need to be well geared with top-notch products that aid you through the process.
For those looking for convenient, comfortable and quick products, you’ll love the Medela Swing Maxi Electric Set. Comprising the compact double electric breastpump Swing Maxi, the Purelan Nipple Cream, ISA UCHI Urban Breastpump Bag, diaper bag accessory set and Dr Brown bottle, pacifier and bottle wipes, this breastfeeding kit is all you need.
The Medela Swing Maxi is particularly nifty, helping you increase and sustain milk supple with a 2-Phase Expression Technology with a comfortable design that is light, flexibly and compact. Using it is pretty much a no-brainer too, as its design makes it easy to assemble, use and clean without a hitch.
Medela Swing Maxi Electric Set. Price: $794.60
Another option that would work great even for non-breastfeeding others is the Feeding Bottles Bundle Pack, which takes care of milk storage, feeding and bottle cleaning needs all in one. The pack consists of the NUK Premium Choice Bottle Set, a 950ml bottle cleanser, Teat Brush Set 2-in-1 with sponge top and a milk powder container.
Nuk Feeding Bottles Bundle Pack. Price: $75.50
3. Safety first
Your baby’s safety always comes first, whether you’re at home, on-the-go or in the car. As much as you may want to keep your baby home to keep them as safe as possible, it’s always healthy to bring them out for a stroll (and keep the new mother from going stir crazy from being cooped up all day!)
The Joie Mirus Stroller makes a perfect choice for heading out for a walk as a family. A versatile pushchair allows you to choose between a rear and forward facing seat – whichever makes your baby most comfortable. Along with a large expandable hood, reclining capabilities, an attached shopping basket and many other brilliant features, the Joie Mirus Stroller is great for both mother and baby. The stroller seats newborns to babies up to 15kg.
Joie Mirus Stoller. Price: $299
Car seats are an absolutely must-have for babies for safety and legal reasons. For which case the Britax Safe-n-Sound Lifestyle Car Seat makes a pretty safe (pun intended) bet. A cost-effective solution that grows with your child, converting from a baby car seat to a toddler car seat, it allows for a rearward facing seat for newborns to 12-month-old babies, and forward facing seat for 12-month-old to four-year-olds, with deep contoured side wings for side impact protection, three reclining positions and a removable cover that is machine washable for unexpected spills or accidents.
Britax Safe-n-Sound Lifestyle Car Seat. Price: $379
At home, it isn’t uncommon for new parents to go a little crazy with amenities for their kids, adorning their homes with a cot, playpen and changing station that when put together take up quite a fair bit of space.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there was an all-in-one cot? Well, the Joie Commuter Change is the answer to your prayers, combining a playpen, cot and changing table in one compact product. This way, you can ensure your baby sleeps, plays and has their diaper changed in comfort and safety without having to worry about cluttering your home with all the different amenities money can buy.
Joie Commuter Change. Price: $219
4. Dress to impress
In this day and age, dressing your baby is more than just a basic necessity; it’s about comfort, protection and making your newborn look even more adorable and cuddly than they already are. Turn to Bonds and Carters to achieve just that!
Bonds is all about bringing out your baby’s unique personalities – yes, even at such a young age – with a wide selection of baby co-ordinates so you can mix and match any day of the week.
Bonds Baby Co-ordinates. Price: $15.90-$23.90
Carters Baby Diaper Cover Set allows you to create any look and feel that best suits you baby with a top, bottom and bodysuit with nickel-free snaps on reinforced panels to ease your diaper changes and last for a longer period of time. It certainly helps that their prints and designs are cheek-pinchingly cute too!
Carters Baby Diaper Cover Set. Price: $39.90
Carters Baby Diaper Cover Set. Price: $39.90
Shop nursery wares and clothing at our Kids Department at any Robinsons store and enjoy the benefits of the Robinsons Bundle of Joy stamp card! Get one stamp for every $50 nett spend in a single receipt – the more you collect, the greater your rewards!