A New Baby List - My Top Ten Baby Gear Essentials

If you're a first time mom or mom to be, you are probably feeling a little overwhelmed by all those "great baby products" out there.

What you need is the advice of a mom who's been there, done that, and is now sitting with boxes of unused baby stuff!

Baby goodies are expensive, so before you go on your shopping spree, take a look at my new baby list to find out which products will give you the most value for money.

1. An Infant Car Seat

My absolute number one essential baby item - don't put baby in a car without it!

2. A Nursery Rocking Chair or Glider

Essential for maximizing mom and baby bonding time. Your nursery rocking chair is the place where you will spend countless hours of snuggle time. Not to be missed!

3. An Infant Health Book

There's nothing worse than having a sick baby and not knowing what to do. You don't want to call the doctor in the middle of the night, but you're not sure if you should wait until morning.

A good baby health book will help you to relax and determine the best course of action - put baby back to bed, or rush her off to the emergency room.

4. A Sound And Movement Monitor

Having a sound monitor in your nursery room enables you to move around the home while still being able to monitor baby wherever he is. No need to worry that you won't hear him when he wakes.

Movement, or apnea monitors check baby's breathing. An alarm goes off if baby does not inhale for an extended period -- usually twenty seconds. Often cited as a preventative measure against SIDS, these monitors do not necessarily prevent SIDS, but they do provide peace of mind. If all is quiet, you know baby's OK.

5. Infant Sleeping Bags

Lots of blankets can be dangerous for baby. They can lead to overheating and suffocation. Besides that, from around five months, babies have an annoying habit of kicking them off in the middle of the night, and waking up freezing cold. Guess who else gets woken up?

Sleeping bags are the perfect solution in winter when your baby's jammies may not be enough to keep her warm.

6. A Baby Swing

A baby swing is a must-have for soothing a fussy baby. They just love the to and fro rocking motion. Swings also make great baby sitters while you indulge in the luxury of a shower or a meal without a baby on your hip.

7. A Nursing Pillow

This is a wonderful invention, whether you are breast or bottle-feeding. Even dad can use it! The nursing pillow elevates baby to the correct feeding position, thereby eliminating back and neck ache and preventing sore nipples.

8. Burping Cloths

Take a couple of these with you everywhere you go with baby. Indispensable for keeping your shoulders clean and wiping up spills and spills and spills...

9. A Baby Sling Or Pouch

This is useful for keeping your young baby close to you while you are getting a few things done around the house. Does folding the laundry sound familiar?

Young babies don't sleep for very long at a time in the beginning and when they're not sleeping they like to be held. To have any hope of keeping your home in a livable state - you have to have a pouch!

Baby pouches are also a wonderful help if you have a colicky baby. The warmth of your body against her little tummy is very soothing and calming.

10. A Wheat Bag

I found an unexpected use for this little goody with my new baby. The warmth of a wheat bag on a sore little tummy beats every colic remedy on the market hands down. It soothes, relaxes and comforts.