Trinny London Makeup

Since having a baby my self-confidence has taken a dip. What used to be a well thought out outfit with jewellery and accessories has now become a uniform of jeggings, a shirt, and Chelsea boots. Where I used to have time to put on makeup, play with my hair I now have a small person to care for and entertain.  

I hide from mirrors, cameras and generally, dislike the way that I now look. I'm not unique many friends who have had babies have gone through the same thing, what was once a clear and defined knowledge of what they looked good in goes out the window to what can I breastfeed in, what is clean, what hides a still very much post-pregnancy tummy.  

Over time this harms your confidence, how you view yourself and any recollection of what was your true sense of self and style has long since passed. 

In the interest of being a loving and supportive partner, my other half staged a mini-intervention and booked me a visit to Trinny London, who have launched a makeup brand and offer professional makeup sessions for £45. 

Growing up I used to love watching Trinny on a tv programme called What Not to Wear, where she would whip women into shape and help them find the most flattering styles. Trinny now does similar via her Instagram account, often set in her bathroom with special guests,  if you haven't checked it out its fab at sharing musings about the latest fashion trends, beauty and wardrobe secrets. Her bathroom has an enviable makeup collection with 97 draws crammed with makeup which is quite the stash to behold.     

So off I went to South Kensington, where hidden down an Instagramable side street is Trinny London. 

Knocking on the door I was a little nervous about what to expect but the nerves soon dwindled when an exuberant Trinny appeared, busily flitting from one room to the next talking as she went. What you see on her channel is exactly what she is like in real life, wild excitement and chatting a million miles to the dozen. 

In the upstairs studio, I was introduced to the makeup team who quickly asked me several questions about my skin type, the colours I like wearing and products that I love. Once that was out of the way the makeup artist set to work applying Trinny makeup to match my skin. 

The first thing to say is that the products come in lovely packaging and are stackable.  

The makeup range has been created specifically to be applied using your fingers, which is music to my ears.  Not having to be reliant on brushes to apply the makeup means that all the products can be applied anywhere and makes them perfect for travelling. 

The products are creamy in consistency which means applying and layering the eyeshadows up is also really easy. 

So what products have I repurchased, the BFF Skin Perfector is an absolute favourite, this has to be the easiest makeup I have ever purchased. It is so easy to apply that the hassle of using it has been entirely taken out, with built-in sun protection, its lightweight, moisturising and liberates dehydrated skin to make it look healthy and glowy.   

I've also enjoyed wearing Lip Luxe in the shade of Eugenie, which again is a low maintenance lipstick. As it's in a pot it can travel anywhere and the fact you can use your fingers means that a mirror is not necessary. 

A dusky pink nude is perfect for everyday use as it's subtle in colour. It lovely and moisturising and has a high pigment so a little goes a long way and a jar can easily last a good few months.  

So here's the finished look:

I had a really lovely time and the intervention certainly helped to make me feel a bit better. What I have learnt to appreciate is that a positive attitude plays an important part in how you feel about yourself. 

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and wishing you all a happy and healthy 2020. 

Have you tried any of the Trinny makeup? Any good suggestions to get yourself out of a rut, share with me in the comments below.  

https://trinnylondon.com/us

The realities of early parenthood

When you first have a baby you are absolutely overwhelmed; the emotion of having a little person that is solely dependent on you and the physical act of looking after a baby, is both physically and emotionally taxing.You are constantly balancing everything. 

It takes a good few months for your life to have any resemblance of an equilibrium. Well to be honest it took us a whole year and even now I'm not sure we've mastered it. Life is fundamentally different and whilst I wouldn't change it for all the world, it can be hard being a parent. If you are expecting a baby or have just had a baby, make sure you check out my tips for the first six weeks here. 

So what have I learnt being a parent?

1.A baby makes you appreciate time, I have become more than ever aware of how precious life is. Don't wish it all away as you will unbelievably want it all back again: the sick, the poop and the sleepless nights. 

2.So much happens from the moment a baby is born that you find yourself recording their every moment and developmental success. Time to increase your cloud storage. 

3.Parenthood is a full time job. There are no rest days, so take any help where it is offered. Making time for yourself it's important, it will keep you sane and also make you feel like your old self. 

4.Even when your not with your baby, you will be thinking about them. Your child will fill your every waking hour. 

5. Parent guilt is real, you will always feel like you are not doing a good enough job and should be doing something else. You will analyse, criticise and feel like everyone else is doing a better job than you. Stop fretting! 

6.Babies constantly change; as soon as you have mastered one stage, they change and you find yourself having to master another. Anyone who pretends they have it mastered hasn’t really. 

7.You need a routine. A routine means a life, find what works for you and stick to it. Absolutely don't deviate from the routine. 

8.Everyone will offer you advice: breastfeeding, cosleeping, cry it out method, discipline, potty training. Just because they offer it doesn’t mean you have to take it. Just smile sweetly and say thank you. Do what works for you. 

9.Leave all your ideals behind, you will do all the things that you think you wont. You will let your child watch TV for just ten minutes of peace and give in to your child whims just so they don't cause a scene.  

10.Anyone who has a child over three take their advice with caution, they have long since forgotten what it's like to have a small baby.

11.Just because life feels like it's running at super speed doesn’t mean you have too, there is something about enjoying the moment. The washing can wait!

12.Going to the toilet on your own is no longer a one person pursuit. Surprisingly you will be OK with this. 

13.Eating a meal warm is a thing of the past. Accept it and move on. 

14.Coffee and cake will be your new best friends. 

15.Supermarkets hold a new found appeal that they didn't previously.  

16.Stop Googling about your child, nothing good can come of your search. If you want information or are worried about something, ask the health visitor or GP.

17.You will do absolutely anything to make your child smile even if you look like a crazy person. 

18.You will love your child more that you have ever loved anything in your whole life and they will be by far the best thing you have ever achieved. That is until they reach their teenage years. 

How to develop your child's imagination

Growing up I had a vivid and wild imagination; I was always spinning some kind of yarn about a magical fairy world under the floorboards, pixies at the bottom of the garden or my ability to fly off on adventures. I had a magical imagination and I wasn’t afraid to use it.

I could often be found with my nose in a book, reading my favourite stories like 'The Magic Finger' (Roald Dahl), 'The Chronicles of Narnia' (C.S Lewis), 'The Secret Garden' (Frances Hodgeson) and many of the The Famous Five (Enid Blyton) books.

There are so many elements in life that are trying to expedite childhood, forcing children to drop their childish ways and morph them into mini adults. Well I’m not buying in. Children deserve the right to be children, to do childlike things and most importantly have their imagination fed.

When little Noah was born I wanted to really encourage and nurture his imagination to help it to grow.

Last year saw the opening of Discover the UK’s first Children’s Story Centre. 

A museum dedicated to the sole purpose of expanding and feeding a child’s imagination and curiosity. Last month the little man and I set off on an adventure to the museum and we are really pleased with what we found. 

The story centre is divided into story world, storytelling and a story garden. 

Story World - designed with the help of the talented Jim Field (children's illustrator who illustrates one of Noah's favourite books 'How many legs' by Kes Gray)

Story World is spread over two floors and offers an exciting creative play space, to inspire a little ones imagination and curiosity. On the ground floor you are greeted by a magical woodland with a giant tree. 

Little ones can climb inside the tree which houses dancing lights and humming beats, with a hill on the side, to climb or crawl your way to the top. 

The wood houses a castle; follow the river and you are greeted by a beach with marooned wooden boat.

The first floor houses Hootah, the resident space alien. 

Hootah has landed on planet squiggly Diggly and needs your help to create some new stories, as everyone on the planet has run out of imagination. 

Storytelling- Stuck for some ideas Discover has storytelling workshops that you can sit in to get some inspiration.

Story Garden - A safe and creative outdoor space with lots to see and do.  Play with the giant musical instruments, climb up the pirate ship, master the sails and set sail.Tackle the monster slide to find the buried treasure, but watch out for the alien spaceship ready to land and carry you away. 

We had a wonderful day out and we're really looking forward to adventuring there again. Next time we will take the short cut through our wardrobe.

Prices: Children under one free, children one £2, parents and children over one £6.50, family of four £22 www.discover.org.uk

Looking for ways to develop your child's imagination here are my top tips: 

Limit the amount of Television your toddler/child watches

Read lots of books to them with brightly coloured illustrations and imaginative characters. Make up stories and let your child do the same. Visit your local library for free drop in events

Create a dress up box or area so that they can role play

Get arty- Let them create their own art masterpieces and when finished explain what they have created in a story. Visiting art galleries is also a great way to develop their imagination

Build dens and let them play. You can use old delivery boxes to build space ships, rockets, cars, palaces etc







Still not sure where to start, don't worry there are lots and lots of books on developing your toddlers creativity and activities to help you out. 

What did you love doing as a child and what imaginative stories did you use to tell? 

Creating the perfect playroom

We're lucky to have enough space in the house that Noah now has his own playroom. It's been a while in the making, there is never any spare time with a little one to plan, organise and buy. But I'm really happy to say we are finally finished and we love the end result. 

As soon as Noah was on the move he has been into everything. He loves playing with my makeup, perfume, pulling my books from the shelves, oh and chatting on the phone that he has only recently pinched.

He is incredibly inquisitive and loves exploring his surroundings, nothing is safe, he has no fear so will climb on anything to reach something that sparks his interest. 

His favourite pastime over the last few months has been emptying out all his toys over the floor, me dodging the minefield and spending many an hour constantly tidying them up. So I knew finding the right storage would be important.

I deliberately waited over a year to create his playroom, so I had a better idea of his character and personality. I have tried to create a space that gives him the opportunity to explore, play and inspire his creativity with defined zones so that we don't have total chaos! The room will also grow with him. 

The room is lovely and light so I have left the walls white, they are decorated with pictures of Noah out on adventures enjoying himself. 

The playroom has a dedicated area for reading, where I have kept books at Noah's height on small shelves with perfect bookends (OrangeTree £19.99) and a book stand at his height (KidKraft £49.95) 

He has his own bean bag (Asda £20) to sit on, to relax and read. It's a lovely blue with white stars which runs through to his storage (Similar £5.49) for toys and rugs on the floor (Stars Asda £16 and Rocket Similar). The storage unit is from Ikea and the table is perfect for arts and crafts. 

For the reading area I also bought some lovely bits from Etsy: Personalised metal sign £11.53.

Fairytale and storybook signposts £9.50

The play area has a colourful Dwinguler playmat £145 perfect for avoiding bumps and scrapes. 

The mat has also helped Noah play imaginatively, he can often be found with characters marching along the playmat on some adventure. 

His love for creative play also extends to his teepee tent (WayFair) and kitchen (Tildo £79).

He loves whipping up a FoodieForce storm in this kitchen. It's true what they say that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. 

What was your favourite space when you were little? Share your ideas for the perfect playroom in the comments below.

I'm a working mummy; do I have it all?

Before you have a baby you have whimsical dreams of maternity leave, lunches,reading books and catching up on the latest box sets. You very quickly realise within the first few weeks to have even contemplated this was daft and that the reality couldn't be any further from the truth. Having a baby is a full time job and more, it's hectic and unrelenting. 

Motherhood is a feat of endurance, I have experienced more emotions in the last year than I ever thought was possible. There have been massive highs, beautiful firsts, lots of laughs but also tears (both from laughing and from pure exhaustion). It is definitely the most rewarding thing I have ever done. Does that mean I was a dull soul before, absolutely not but experiencing the world through different eyes. Spotting things that your grumpy older self has long since forgotten is beautiful. 

This post is honest, some of you might not appreciate it, for those of you that this applies to there will be happier posts to follow. So come back then. 

When looking at the prospect of whether I wanted to return to work post maternity leave I struggled to find only a handful of websites and posts that shared advice. More importantly had mothers directly share their experiences of what the reality was like. 

I have now returned to work and thought I would share my experiences in the hope that those who like me are dreading the prospect of returning to work, can see how it pans out. 

Leaving the most precious thing in your life with someone you don't really know is like climbing Everest with no air in your lungs. It is an absolute wrench and I've  found it one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. The months leading up to my return to work felt like an vulture circling over head, with an impending sense of doom. 

Now I should clarify here that prior to having Noah I had a job I loved.  I was successful and had achieved a great many things I am immensely proud of. 

But even with the prospect of returning to a job I love, it broken my heart into a million pieces. I'm giving my little boy, the one I love with all my heart to someone else to enjoy. His cheeky antics, funny moments that we have shared all of which I will miss. 

But I'm realistic, will my career wait for me, if I take an extended period of leave for a couple of years, sadly not. The dilemma is real and I have played out every conceivable angle and version a thousand times. What is the right thing to do? I have really mixed emotions. 

Now before people shout "do you know how lucky you are to have a job, a baby" etc. Yes I do, I'm grateful beyond belief for what I have, I am incredibly thankful. 

Returning to work or not is a divisive topic amongst mothers and can cause a heated debate. Everyone has different views about the best thing to do and where to place your child.

For some friends the thought of going back to work has been a positive step for them they have enjoyed the thought of mixing parenthood with work. But I guess we are all different, the world would be incredibly dull if we were all the same. 

One thing I have learnt is that as a mother there is always guilt, there is no better choice or decision above another. Both have their challenges and difficulties. There is no judgement from me for whatever path you decide is right for you. 

Returning to work you suddenly realise how many hours there are in the day. Hours that you will be without the little person you love the most. Noah and I have spent 365 days together, we haven't been apart at all. 

Nursery feels like I'm renegading on my responsibilities giving him to someone else. I lost my dad a few years ago and know only too well that life is too short and precious.They grow up so quickly, you don't get a second chance to relive the memories you miss. 

So I opted for flexible working in the hope of trying to get the best of both worlds. Working more hours in a condensed period to have more time with Noah. 

Being without your little one is strange, it feels like your life did before you had a child. Your life feels oddly similar but whilst you have dreamt of five minutes to yourself, the silence is now totally unsettling. 

In true Noah fashion the night before my return to work Noah decided to pull his worst no sleeping antics yet. The little man decided that he didn't want to sleep, leaving me at 4.30 am thinking desperately how this was going to pan out. 

So the morning came, I got dressed and left the house. I stood on the platform in exactly the same place I had a year earlier, shuffled onto a packed train and began what would be the longest day of my life. Ironically I was crammed next to a lady who was heavily pregnant and ready to pop. Nothing like a cold stark reminder of the wonderful year you have had and what an exciting journey she has ahead. 

The process of doing things from my previous life seemed strange. Not as hard as I had imagined, the months of worry and anxiety that had lead up to this moment. In a strange way you feel like you are in a dream, did the last year really happen, do I have a baby? Returning to work suddenly gives you an old normality that you have been missing. It's like an old distant friend, feels comfortable and strangely reassuring. 

My aching boobs are a reminder that I have a little baby. We have successfully weaned in the day, but the constant night feeding is still very much part of our lives despite every effort to stop.

So it's now been a couple of months and here are my survival tips should you decide to return back to work: 

• Put one foot in front of the other, even if you are faking it. The rhythm will become reassuringly familiar. 

• Planning is the key. Get clothes and bags packed the night before. Plan all meals for the week ahead. 

• Don't be too hard on yourself, I have learnt things are rarely perfect. The weeks leading up to my return to work Noah stopped eating and drinking, when I mean stopped I mean stopped. He would consume nothing. He stopped sleeping the little bit he had slept. I got an awful gland infection in which I was impersonating a hamster. 

• Don't torture yourself you are not a bad parent. Thinking you are because you have gone back to work is futile. You will become your own worst enemy, you are doing the best you can do for your family and personal circumstances. Remember to be kind to yourself. . 

• It's ok to have down days, we all have ups and downs.

• The job might seem the same but the reality is the job you left behind is unlikely to be the same. People will have left, new people will have arrived and politics will have played out. Relax. 

• Nothing is forever, if you really are unhappy a couple of months in, make a change. A different job, something with more flexibility or redo the maths and stay at home. 

• Book your little one into nursery at least two week before you go back to work. One for settling in, getting used to a new routine and the other to do all the jobs you have been putting off for a year. This I found really hard to do as I wanted to spend more time with Noah. The reality is this gives you both adjustment time without the additional pressure of work. Babies within their first couple of weeks pick up every germ going and being off means you have the flexibility to pick them up.

If you have any survival tips or suggestions please add them to the comments below. 

Baby essentials

As a first time parent it can be really difficult knowing the difference between what are essential need to have items and ones that are very much considered nice to have. 

One thing I have learnt through being a parent is lots of items you think are essential, have proved to be nothing of the sort! 

Everyone will offer you advice and their personal pearls of parenting wisdom, but whilst nicely meant it can sometimes be overwhelming. 

In my case this meant I sat and procrastinated about what to buy so much so, that our baby was in danger of being born with nothing ready. 

I am pleased to say however that I did eventually get my act together well almost together before Noah's birth. 

Quite a few people have asked me to do this post, so it's dedicated to the items we have purchased and found really useful. This is in the hope that it will help other soon to be parents distinguish between useful products and those that are a gimmick or non-essential. I've left it eleven months so that I can genuinely say and feel confident in the recommendations I am making. 

The important thing to point out before I say anything else is that a new born baby in fact needs very little in the way of products and goods. They need love, food and somewhere cosy to sleep. 

Clothing:

You will have romantic views of outfits you will dress your little one in: tops, trousers, dresses, tights, waistcoats, coats etc. The reality is they will live in baby grows (all-in-one suits) no one has time to be faffing with separate items, well not till they are about six months old. 

Stock up on at least fourteen baby grows and twelve baby vests. Make sure the baby grows and vests have poppers and that you can quickly access nappies and easily remove/put them on.

Buy those which are appropriate for the season in which your baby will be born, long sleeves for Winter and cap sleeves for Summer. This also applies to cardigans (minimum of two), Jackets and hats. 

Refrain from buying loads of things yourself, you will have loads of new born clothes that will be gifted to you, so many so you could put your baby in a different outfit everyday. If you want to purchase bits yourself go for the outfit that your baby will come home in from the hospital, a coat, or purchase baby clothes that are older, six to nine months. 

Sleeping: 
There are numerous options for sleeping, Moses basket, crib, cot and many products on the market promising you and your new baby a good nights sleep.

We decided not to use a Moses basket for many reasons, friends had advised us that they were a total waste of money, that their little ones would not sleep in them and for those that would they only last a few months. 

Instead of a Moses basket we opted for a Stokke Sleepi Mini (£445), beautiful in design, the wheels make moving it really easy, the size is amazingly efficient and it meant that Noah happily fitted in our room for the first six months. 

It also meant that we didn't then have the issue of transferring Noah from Moses basket to a cot. This also has the benefit of being able to be extended to a full size cot and bed.

I also highly recommend our Chicco Next2Me Bedside Crib (£165). Perfect for being close to your baby, feeding and from my experience getting back to sleep quicker as involves less getting up and down in the night. 

Remember if you're going for a cot you will also need a fitted sheet I opted for The Little Green Sheep organic fitted sheet and a mattress protector (but can also recommend DK Glovesheets), cellular blanket and a baby sleeping bag.

But our best product definitely had to be the Sleepyhead Delux Portable Baby Pod (£110). 

What might seem like a very expensive pillow, was an absolute godsend. This is the pillow just keeps on giving, I found so many uses for this pillow, tummy time, play mat, perfect for travelling, changing station and a lovely bed that little Noah was wonderfully snuggled in.  

You only need to read the wonderful reviews for this product to see that it is money well spent. The only downside is that the Sleepyhead is outgrown well before eight months. At six months we moved Noah into the Sleepyhead Grand.

I found finding the right baby monitor incredibly stressful. I knew that it was an important purchase and so did plenty of research. But seriously there is just too much choice. Do you go for audio only, one with video, what about a sound and movement sensors. One word STRESS!

For me personally I wanted a monitor with a sound and movement sensor, sudden infant death syndrome frighted the life out of me. So we opted for the Angelcare Movement and Sound Monitor AC401 (£74.99).  

This has been a great monitor, it has relaxed me knowing that the alarm will go off if movement and sound is not detected. 

It was easy to set up but you want to make sure that you have done it right, especially if you have chosen a movement pressure pad. Setting this up after birth having had little sleep and under pressure is not advisable. 

In the early days white noise is also a great way to settle a baby. I found the following apps great for at home and on the go. Sleepy Sounds and Sound Sleeper. If you're looking for a teddy Ewan the dream sheep combines soothing music and lights babies seem to love him. 

Bath and changing:
Some people will tell you that a baby bath is not essential but to be honest I really think it is. Whilst it takes up space and you probably won't use it beyond three months, the alternative is a top and toe baby bowl or holding your baby desperately trying not to drown them and breaking your back over a bath at the same time. 

I still remember bathing Noah for the first time they feel tiny and like you might break them. A baby bath means that your baby is securely supported and gives you the ability to use your hands to wash them. 

I chose the Tippitoes Mini Bath (£13) which was a great buy, deep enough to wet the entire baby but allows them to sit comfortably, supported with anti-slip pads. 

Another wonderful bath is the Angelcare Soft Touch Bath (£18.99) with support. 

You will also need towels and toiletries as well as a thermometer for the bath to check the water temperature. Finding towels with hoods for a baby is a challenge, shops to look in are Mothercare, Dunelm and Mamas and Papas. 

Stockpile a supply of nappies, wipes and cotton wool. Go easy though on purchasing too many first stage nappies; babies grow quickly and they will out grow this size quickly.  

One thing I didn't register for ages, is that most newborn baby nappies have a marker on the front which changes colour when your baby needs changing.

A great purchase for disposing of nappies has to be the Tommee Tippee nappy disposal bin (£24.95). Ours has been well used and I would absolutely repurchase it. 

In the UK rubbish is collected weekly and in some areas general waste fortnightly. Nappies absolutely stink but this bin means that they are hygienically locked away and can conveniently be disposed of in your weekly rubbish.  

Feeding:
I have written a whole post on breastfeeding here. 

Breastfeeding is a lot harder that it looks it can be one of the most stressful things about being a new mummy but I promise if you stick with it that it does get easier. In the early days it's painful and very tiring to have a little person constantly feeding (cluster feeding). 

A feeding essential that I found useful; have at least two tubes of Lansinoh cream, use it regularly after each feed, even if you don't have pain to start with. Make sure you pack a tube in you hospital bag. 

It's tempting to express milk early on, don't resist the urge at least till you are in a routine with your feeding and milk supply. I would say at last six weeks. Buy the best breast pump you can, trust me it will be money well spent. I went for Medela Swing Breast Pump (£134.99).

Its worth sharing that most breast pumps you can purchase different size teats. 

Regardless of how you decide to feed your baby you will need breastfeeding pads. They are as much for keeping milk in, as they are for protecting your nipples rubbing on clothing and getting sore. I loved the Johnson's nursing pads. 

With a baby under one you will need to sterilise everything. I loved my Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Microwave Steriliser (£19.99).

Within four minutes I could sterilise bottles, breast pump attachments and other feeding utensils. 

Travel:
Buying a pram and pushchair is a big investment, think wisely about your needs and lifestyle. I've known loads of friends who have regretted their pushchair purchase six months in. 

Big is not always better, consider your needs, are you living in a busy city? Will you be getting on and off busses? Huge off terrain wheels then are probably not the easiest to navigate around shopping isles and on a bus. Also think about the weight of your pushchair, if a lift is out could you carry the pushchair and your baby. 

We did absolutely tons of research to find a pushchair that met our needs, our Babyzen Yoyo plus 0+ (£485) is definitely the best purchase we made and still is eleven months on.

This is a brilliant everyday pushchair, it is lightweight, easy to collapse, works on a variety of terrains and can travel in the overhead locker in the cabin of an aeroplane. I have used this pushchair everyday, taking it over cobbles, gravel, thick grass, down and up steps, run with it, folded it and un-folded it hundreds of times as well as taking it abroad.

A perfect addition to your pushchair purchase will be a Snooze Sleep Shade (£19.99), protection from the sun, wind and black out for such much needed sleep.

If you intend to travel in a car with your baby you will need a car seat, in fact most hospitals won't let you leave without one. Like prams there is so much choice and it can be overwhelming. Car seats come in different groups which are specific to a child's age, weight and height.   

We went for the Cybex Cloud Q Group 0+ in Autumn Gold (£220). 

As a family we do a considerable amount of driving so we wanted a car seat that passed all the latest safety standards and checks. I also wanted a seat that was comfortable to ride in for Noah. We have been really happy with the car seat, with detachable covers for easy washing.

Travelling in a car with a new baby can be stressful if you can't physically view them. One of my best purchases was the Streetwize extra large super view mirror (£11.95).

The mirror was easy to fit, is large in size and as its plastic you have no worries of it shattering. Having this mirror has meant I could see Noah and an added benefit he could see us.

A baby needs changing lots so when out and about on your travels you will want a bag that holds everything you need for your little one. I am going to do a what's in my changing bag post in a few weeks but until then here is a sneaky peek at mine.

I was keen to have a bag that was practical but also looked nice, PacaPod changing bags are just that. 
I loved the Jura (£59) in beautiful Cranberry, which comes with a 3-in 1 bag, changer pod, feeding pod and changing mat. 

Play: 
Babies don't require many toys, Noah wasn't really interested in any until around four months. There are however some parent essentials that mean you can place your baby down whilst doing every day tasks.

For me our best purchases have to be baby activity gyms and a swing seat.

Mine and Noah's favourite activity gyms have to be the Skip Hop Treetop Friends Activity Gym (£69.95) and Fisher-Price Rainforest Melodies & Lights Deluxe Baby Play Gym (£36)

Our baby swing for me was a god send, Noah hated being put down which made showering or really doing anything impossible. The Fisher Price Rainforest swing and seat (£59.99) meant that Noah would happily swing away to soothing nature sounds whilst I got on. 

So there you have it all my baby essentials and products that I have really valued buying. Do you have any recommendations or things I have missed off? 

There are also some essentials for you too, now I can't really say I thought about this before the birth of Noah and I wish I had. You will need a minimum of two good nursing bras, getting ones that un-clips at the strap and have modesty cotton inside are fab. You will also need nursing tops, failing having any of these a vest top under a jumper or top will suffice. Easy to open nightwear to feed is also needed if you are breastfeeding.  

Lastly a good bit of advice from a mummy friend is that with Amazon Prime anything you need or have forgotten can be with you either within 2 hours or the next day, so there is no need to stockpile. As an added bonus, you can while away a few hours whilst the baby is cluster feeding, Internet shopping sneaking in treats for yourself amongst the essentials!

Other pregnancy and parenting posts to read:

• A new chapter
• Pregnancy Beauty Tips
• Morning sickness the survival guide
• Baby nursery ideas
• What's in my hospital bag 
• Birth Story
• Having a baby the first few weeks
• Being a new parent tips
• Six month baby update
• I need my baby to sleep