Accessories Dreamin' with Mamas & Papas

Sometimes mama-hood can feel a bit like starting school: eyes darting around the Monkey Music room (instead of the classroom) looking for Someone Who Looks Like You To Become Your New (Mama) Bestie. Learning stuff all the time (albeit How to Make a Happy Human rather than double maths). And... making sure you've got the coolest kit. Because, lets face it, parenthood can sometimes be knackering, messy, and a bit gross (whole-outfit-and-carseat poonami, I'm looking at you). Which is why, in the same way that getting the best rucksack/Kickers/hoiked-up-skirt for school was Very Important, with my second pregnancy, I wanted an epic nappy bag.

Yup, there's a sentence I never thought I'd write... First time around I was all, 'any bag is fine', and though I tried a bunch out, I ended up using a Herschel rucksack a lot of the time. I never understand why people spend £50+ on changing bags that literally say 'Yummy Mummy Cupcake' on them (ugh). But I do get why it's nice to get a great-looking bag, since you're going to be schlepping it around for a long time, and a practical one, because you're going to want to grab those nappies pretty sharpish and don't want to be rummaging around in a stamp-sized baby changing room.

Five summer essentials

Summer is the easiest season with a baby or toddler, I reckon. When they're tiny, you don't need to bundle them up in six layers like you do in Winter, and can stroll everywhere with the pram. When they're bigger, they're happy exploring in a park and easier to entertain. And I'm sure potty training would be easier in the garden on a sunny week..

But, since this is babies we're talking about, hot weather, bugs, holidays, all mean ... more things to buy. These are our favourite summer essentials, for home and away:

* Buggy - I know loads of parents trade in their big "travel system" buggies for a light umbrella-style stroller as soon as the early days are over, but I was wavering - I like the robustness of a bigger buggy - not to mention the big basket for shopping.. 

In the Joie Nitro, though, (pictured above) we've found a happy medium. It's pretty light - 7.5kg - and very nippy: I find it super easy to stride around the West End and negotiate crowds with. It takes just two flicks at the back to flatten it down, and it comes with a good raincover, which is unusual. The wheels have great suspension so your babe doesn't look like he's on a bouncy castle (something that I've experienced with other buggies of this type), and there's a useful carry handle on the side, great for public transport and holiday travel. 

Other plus points? It was really easy to put together - five minutes, max - and the seat lies really flat and must be pretty comfortable because mr-nap-hater sleeps for over an hour in these wheels! Its nippiness and great mixture of light-but-not-tinny (some super-lights rattle along the pavement like ricocheting frogs) means I really rate the Nitro for travel. Only downside was the in-built sunshade isn't as full as it could be - but I overcame that issue with the Snooze Shade (see below). Aaand it's only £75... which is a total bargain and means I love it all the more.

Travel Grobags: we use a Grobag every night at home but they are extra useful for holidays as if you turn up to a hotel and they're provided a thick duvet or nasty bedding, you've got your own. Plus it's a way to make your baby feel at home - and hopefully sleep - in a new cot. After a year battling to get a sleeping tiny man into his car seat around the Grobag, I'm a bit embarrassed that I've only just discovered the travel version: it has a flap at the back and double-direction zip at the front which means you can easily strap in a snoozing baby into a car seat, buggy, etc, if they're joining you for dinner. 

Wished I'd known about these GroBags earlier!

Grobags also come in a range of togs - we use the 1 tog for summer, although sometimes higher at home when it's brrrrr. There's a useful guide to layers here. We also always pack the Gro Egg - it changes colour depending on the room temperature, so you know whether to add a vest / higher or lower tog Gro Bag - which I find really useful when hotel air conditioning blasts at night.

Travel high-chair: I spent ages researching this - you won't always need to take a travel high-chair on holiday, but sometimes it's hard enough to find a nice restaurant and having to walk away because there's nowhere safe for the babe is annoying - so I bought this. It's so light we just popped it under the buggy, but fits on almost every kind of chair and works really well. And it's under a tenner: win.

 * Snooze Shade: we used this non-stop as pram cover-up when tiny man was small to keep him out of the sun. But now he's bigger this stage two version is proving brilliantly useful for my little nap-battler. On days-out around town, or nights out on holiday, when it's time to snooze, we slide this on (there are two layers so you can be sure to have lots of air vents and spy-holes). It's backed by the Melanoma International Foundation, to give you piece of mind for sun safety, and fits on all buggies - we use it on the Joie (above) and our big Cosatto. It worked so well for us in Paris that he even zzzz'd through some of the world's most famous attractions, including the Eiffel Tower..

Sling: amazing for airports, stations, when the baby WON'T go in the buggy but you need to carry eighteen suitcases so he really needs too... As tiny man now weighs too much for the cosy wrap slings, I've found only one on the market is still wearable for a long time: this Baby Bjorn One carrier which I love in mint.

* Some items provided for review purposes, but rest assured we're seriously gobby and only rave about things we love.

Party planning with Hobbycraft

You know those nights when you head to bed early and lie down to gorge on sleep (for at least five hours..). But then you have a peak at your phone and suddenly it's an hour later and you've lost your sleep time to image envy on Instagram? 

That was me in the weeks leading up to tiny man's first birthday - ogling Insta baby parties and accessories. Yeah, how lame does that sentence sound? 

But who knew sleek black-and-white-and-flamingo (seriously, this is Instagram) parties could look so good? Or that some parents appear to redecorate their homes for their baba's first birthday? Or that I could find my finger hovering over the 'buy' button on £5 packs of stripey straws? Very cool looking straws, sure. But a fiver to suck liquid out of a glass in a way that the average pair of lips are pretty good at doing anyway? I had to tell myself it was more important to get over the cool party styling fomo... and have enough money to spend on nappies... 

But then I discovered Hobbycraft. 

I had no idea this place (I went to the Staples Corner branch, it's huuuge) also stocked everything you need to throw a super stylish party - but (don't tell anyone.. ) on the cheap.  

Like these fab-looking honeycomb ball decorations, which were £7 per pack from Hobbycraft, were so easy to hang all over the ceiling with masking tape - and tiny man loves them so much we're going to relocate them permanently to his nursery. 

Ditto the balloons - I found every colour so went for three shades of blue. Instead of spending loads on helium (although I did splurge for this cute '1' silver foil balloon) just looping some masking tape and adding a tail gives you the same look.

Their cute rolls of twine and tiny washing pegs were fab for a high-impact 'washing line' of baby photos - it's insane how many I had to pick between after just one year.

Then there's the store's baking section... Another drool-worthy one for me. There are loads of cake tins which make complicated Cake Boss-style bakes really easy - but I went for another cheat. I baked tiny man a two-tier cake and decorated it myself with hot air balloons, clouds and flowers, but used ready-mix packs of icing (again, Hobbycraft has every colour and it's so nice to browse IRL rather than online) to do the decorating. Eliminating that stage of dying another wad of white fondant a particular colour (and getting hands dyed in the process) made the baking process so much more fun.

Another amazing decorating idea came from Hobbycraft's die-cutting section. I used a Cricut machine (a whole post on this is coming soon.. It's basically the best crafting thing ever) to make a ton of personalised decorations like this one:

and stuck them all over the house. Someone in-store showed me how  die-cutters work - and once you've made a template like the duck above, it's so easy to have hundreds of perfect shapes cut out for you.

Hobbycraft also have great bunting - I went for a natural brown card set which was only £2 but really long. The holes were pre-punched so I just used the Cricut to cut out the letters for happy birthday and tiny man's name, then stuck them on. This is definitely a string of bunting that'll be coming out for every birthday - as will a lot of the decorations: all reusable, including this white twig tree which I forgot to snap but made a fab centrepiece - and I'm lending to a friend for her wedding soon too.

Yes, the cynics will say tiny man will never remember his first birthday party - but we will. 

I'm feeling so happy, proud and pretty emotional to have been his mummy for a whole year - it's gone so fast. We're really pleased to have been able to throw a party full of personal touches that we can keep to show our baby boy in years to come.

* Hobbycraft gave Run Out of Womb spending money for an in-store spree - but rest assured, we only rave about what we love and will definitely be spending far more of our own in the future.. 

These are a few of my favourite things...

Apologies if that headline has stuck the Sound of Music in your head.. I haven't seen many raindrops on roses or whiskers on kittens, but nothing says more about how much I've changed since become a mama than a shopping trip.

Where I used to head straight to Zara or Topshop to pick up a new top or skirt for the weekend, now I like nothing more than browsing tiny shoes ready for summer, or an amazing new nappy bag that's nicer than most of my handbags, or a new stripey sleepsuit.

These are some things that have entered our wardrobe this week... 

Jemima bag, Jem + Bea

How great does this beautiful soft leather bag look? Not great as in, not bad for a changing bag, but beautiful, full stop. Yes, it is a changing bag - there are pockets (eight inside, two out), a padded changing mat, an insulated bottle-holder, it's wipe-clean inside. But oh, it's a lovely bag too. 

If you're thinking it looks a bit Mulberry, good spot: one of its founders used to work there, and it shows: alongside the great-quality leather (I opted for tan), you get a clutch/pouch for the few belongings us mums are allowed to tote around, a leather keyholder, mobile slot, gold metal bits and something that poses prettily under the buggy - and on your shoulder. (See tiny man getting his hands on it below..)

A photo posted by Run Out Of Womb (@runoutofwomb) on Jan 25, 2016 at 1:30am PST

You'll want it to last - it's £265, which is loads, but I've already checked that it fits my laptop because this bag is definitely gonna be in my life for longer than I'm carting around nappies. The only sore point beyond the price is it's fairly heavy, once all your paraphernalia is on board. But I forgive the Jemima that, because it makes me feel like a properly dressed, made-up, grown-up on days when I'm wearing the same jeans for the fourth day in a row and have Batiste'd for more days than I care to count... Basically, this is a non-maternity maternity bag - and it's gorgeous.

Also this week, we've been shoe shopping. Not because shoes are exactly a necessity when you're ten months old and love nothing more than to dash around on your knees. But they're pretty darn cute. Stocking up for summer (the Womb crew are moving house next week so obv we're prepping for all the important things, like baby fashion...), these tiny Salt Water sandals are so cute. They're proper leather, (and cost about £35, although look out for sale prices, I've seen them for £15), available in a rainbow of colours, unisex, splash proof (they stretch a little when they get wet), and basically the only baby sandals I've ever seen that have NO velcro or rubber or weirdo cartoon characters, and are lovely.

Back to the current, uh, season - and tiny man is wearing these cute rubber Attipas shoes all the time. They've sock-like uppers - so soft and comfortable - and rubber grippy soles, which are great now he's standing and coasting around. They're £16 from Perky Panda, a brilliant online baby and kids' store, curated with cool but reasonably-priced designs. And since these shoes also happen to look one helluva lot like a certain All Stars design, I wear my grey Converse, he wears these, and we're both happy. 

Now when I found myself listing a pack of nappies as one of my 'favourite things', I realised I realllllly was a mum. Because.. really? Nappies. Here's why: they're called Moony. Which is already a pretty good reason that they're good, to be honest, because anyone who's done time in a British school playground is going to enjoy dressing their baby in Moony nappies. 

So how do they differ to Pampers, Tesco's, et al? Well, they're much more slim-lined and flexible - no big baba bum here - but they're also super-absorbent and we didn't have a single leakage with the 60-pack size we tried. 

They've got a wetness indicator, too, which most of the supermarket brands leave behind as babies get bigger, but remain useful, and they're really soft and flexible so crawling babies won't feel trapped or rubbing. There is a drawback: a 60-pack costs about £25, which is really going to add up if you use them every day. But if you keep facing night-time leaks, I'd recommend them, and if you've got a special occasion and want to avoid a big-nappy-bum ruining a cute dress or smart trousers, they're great too. Available from Amazon.

* Items sent to Run Out of Womb for review - but rest assured, we're seriously gobby and would only rave about what we reckon rave-worthy. The rest we just don't feature.

Celebrating heritage baby clothes and kit - and *competition*

The approach of the big Four-Oh birthday can be alarming when you still feel like an eight-year-old inside (given I still wake up with excitement at 4am on the night before holiday, I am still regularly astonished that I have a grown-up enough to have a baby).


But if you're a brand, surviving forty years, through tough trading times and booming ones, against mighty chains and online start-ups, is definitely a cause for celebration.
It was back in 1976 that Steve Jobs first set up a little tech firm called Apple. When London Fashion Week launched for the first time. Aaaand when the Swedish kidswear brand Polarn O. Pyret came to life with the launch of its baby range and of its famous stripe.

I see a lot of that stripe - because the company isn't only 40 years old but its clothes seem to last as long too. We've got loads of hand-me-downs from cousins, and the Polarn leggings and long-sleeved Ts aren't even bobbly. Plus - an important one for us, with four girl cousins and just one boy - the brand mostly eschews gendered gear. They make colourful stuff that's designed to be played in (my speed-crawling tiny man definitely puts their soft cotton leggings to the test), not grungy adult mini-me items. 



Oh, and if you've always wondered, as I have, how to say it - it's “Pole Arn Oh Pier Et”, which means “Buddy and the Little One” in Swedish. But I normally just say 'that stripey kids shop' and everyone knows what I mean.

Anyway, Polarn want to celebrate their birthday with Run Out of Womb readers. You can win a £40 gift voucher to spend online on anything you want (there's even an adult range... is it sad that I've just bought a matching Breton-style top to one of tiny man's vests?). All you have to do is think about what's lasted 40-odd years in your life. I'm talking baby and kid-related, not your husband. 

Have a family heirloom blanket that's still going strong? A precious baby grow that's lasted through the generations? A board game or toy that's loved more than the modern stuff? To enter, just WRITE A LINE about it below, or post TELLING US ABOUT IT on Twitter, or SNAP IT on Instagram - remebering to TAG @runoutofwomb and @polarnopyretUK. Celebrate things that last a long time.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

* This post was written in collaboration with Polarn O. Pyret but rest assured, we're seriously gobby and would only rave about things we really love.

Great ideas for first birthday presents

Maybe your baba already owns three-quarters of Early Learning Centre and you're after some imaginative ideas, or perhaps all of your relatives are asking what he/she wants and you need some inspiration. Either way, here's a list of great gifts that any first-birthday celebrant will love receiving!

With the proviso, of course, that they 1) won't remember anything 2) will prefer playing with the packaging and 3) probably really want you to spend the money on a spa trip / dinner out / etc... 

If you can afford it, and/or your child really has loads, try to donate to help a child who is in need too.

Meantime, over to the ideas:

* The gift of a class / activity - relatives might agree to pay for a term's swimming lessons, for example, to learn a skill and avoid occasionally-played-with toys.

* A teepee - great place to hide, play, chuck toys out of site, Instagram your home.. etc.

 joyjoie.etsy.com

* Activity table - to stand and play 

* Membership of a local soft play / kids' group

* Sponsor a child in a developing country - they can become penpals as each gets older

* Vouchers for a special outfit or first pair of shoes

* A year's membership to London Zoo, National Trust, or other fun days out

* Building blocks or shape sorter

* Baby space hopper 

* Little rocking horse or other ride-on animal, or Scuttlebug

* Books


* Push / pull along toys

* Little Tikes car

* Montessori tower

* Ballapalooza 

* Fisher Price 'Little People' garage 

* Mini Micro Scooter with seat

* Baby Annabel or Baby George

* A personalised toy box 

* Toy buggy and first doll 

* Tea set

The best last-minute (parent) presents

Whether you're keen to be a 'useful present giver' or just want to send out something super-cute to a new (or not-so-new) parent in your life, these are some things that I reckon any parent would be glad to receive.

First up, my new favourite photo gifts are from Cheerz. Their bright, Insta-alike site lets you easily turn your photos into fridge magnets (my fave), old-style strips of pics (see above.  I've done one of tiny man at 1m, 2m, 3m, 4m and it's so nice to see him grow in them) or boxes of Polaroid-style snaps. They arrive really speedily in gift-friendly boxes. The magnets really jazz up the fridge and the filters mean they look cool, rather than mad-magnet-plastered-house weird. And the strips are an ideal gift for doting grandparents etc - because who wouldn't want a pic of a pouting baba in their purse?

For the 'useful present-givers' out there - generous friends or grandparents who want the parents baby (who are we kidding) to come and visit them, maybe, this Baby Bjorn travel cot *rocks*. In fact, our well-travelled tiny man has slept in loads of these already, and this one comes out top every time. 

Why? It's light - 6kg, which is a lot less arm-straining than any of the other major brands - and, unlike most of the mesh/plastic monstrosities, it looks good enough that I'm planning on using our turquoise in the lounge as an occasional play pen. But best of all is that once you've got the travel cot out of the bag, it almost erects itself - no separate appendages or other parts to attach, the legs pop up automatically, the mattress plops on top and you're ready to go. Which is ideal when you arrive at non-baby-set-up farmhouse hotel at 6pm with a tired baba who really needs their bed ready, now. 

The mattress is also thicker than the usual paper-thin travel cots, (developed with paediatricians which reassured me as travel cots can feel flimsy) and it's easy to wash as the casing just zips off ready for the washing machine. Only downsides are, it's fairly low so bad back-sufferers won't like it, and you do have to buy Baby Bjorn sheets because it's a different size to standard. You do pay a bit more - it's £170 - but it lasts up til around age 3 and it's got the to stage where I'd pay more than that for a good night's sleep!

This cute babygrow (£32) has tiny teddy bears printed all over it, has a matching beany hat and blanket and is seriously soft. Ideal present for prospective parents because it's gender-neutral - and has easy poppers, which, on one hour's sleep and the 9878934th nappy change of the day, can really make a difference... It's from Fine Young Things - a site we love where you'll find loads of other gift ideas: its set up by a group of European parents who pick the best (cutest, long-wearing, and different) products from across the world and pop them all on one website - this set is by Sticky-Fudge, a South African brand which majors in unusual prints. You'll struggle to restrict yourself to just one thing on this site...

Aaaand, at the other end of the market, since tiny people grow out of their clothes twister-fast, the benefits of cheap-o supermarket baby clothes can't be underestimated. Only problem is, much of the Tesc-bury-sda range is cartoon-splattered bore-ville. Which is why I love Morrison's Nutmeg range. Their babygrows are soft, come out the wash as good as they went in, and have really cute designs, but now I'm hoarding their clothes too. We love this amazing cosy and soft Fair Isle hoodie (looks designer-good: costs £10..) and the penguin top and tracky bums (£3 and £4 respectively.. omg). are so comfy for winter days. I happily travel to Morrisons in Camden for their big range of Nutmeg gear. 

Revealed: the seven types of baby group

A caveat: we all love a good baby class. 

It provides structure to a day that might otherwise involve singing Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star 84 times before 10am. 

It provides the opportunity to meet other local parents who you might even like (if they're not cliquey/an entire NCT class who 'booked together!'/weird/Mums of Several Children, whose only spare hour of the week is spent at this class.) And the teachers are often passionate and dedicated, and parents themselves.

But after trying some classes out, you might start to notice some similarities. And start to wonder if your baby might instead prefer to spend his or her class budget on, well, some new clothes for you.. or a Frappe. Because a happy mum is happy baby, right? 

Here are the some of most popular baby classes (or variations of...), explained:

Baby Massage: sing Twinkle Twinkle whilst massaging your baby's tootsies with such love and skill that you would pay someone £90/hour to do the same on your tired body. You note, however, that your baby is more interested in eating the towel belonging to the masseuse-mum next to you. (£84/hour, plus oil bill.)

Baby Sensical: sing Twinkle Twinkle to a new tune, which incessantly sticks in your head All. Day. Long ... but which, for some reason (amazing lawyers?), is untrack-down-able on YouTube. Simultaneously drape material over your baby whilst singing said Twinkle re-mix. (£73/hour, or sign up for life for reduced hourly fee of £69).

Small Swimmers: sing Twinkle Twinkle whilst bouncing your baby around a swimming pool that's hotter than your average summer holiday. (£100/hour, plus your own waxing bill.)

Marmoset Music: sing Twinkle Twinkle whilst shaking small plastic maracas at your baby (£30/hour plus joining fee.)

Rhyme Time: sing Twinkle Twinkle with actions, in the library. Free (but no one counts this in your 'baby class schedule - be warned.)

Baby Yoga: sing Twinkle Twinkle to your baby whilst they balance on your shins, above your head, either sicking on your head or drooling on you. (£59/hour, plus obligatory mat purchase.)

Baby Sign Time: sing Twinkle Twinkle with your hands, whilst being promised that this will help your baby to tell you when they are hungry/tired/just pooped. Try it at home later, realise this is madness. (£73/hour, plus your sanity.)

They won't change your life but they will make you smile

It's hard to justify splurging on baby clothes. They're going to get worn for about two days before they're too small or food-splattered to wear again - making their cost-per-wear less justifiable than a Mulberry handbag, basically. 

But here's a good solution: From Babies with Love is a baby brand that donates 100% of its profits to orphaned and abandon children living in SOS Children villages in Africa and elsewhere in the world. Their organic yarn clothes are also super-cute, come in a lovely reusable bag, and aren't crazily priced (about £20 for a sleepsuit). Their new own-label range includes sleepsuits, t-shirts, hats and blankets in styles - The Rabbit, The Duck, The Frog and The Monkey. We're loving the duck sleepsuit - and you can buy them here.

***

I am not a tech geek. I am not a tech geek. I am not a tech geek... is what I'm having to repeat to myself as I go gaga over a random new phone gadget. It's the Tactus Smootch – an absurdly-named protective iPhone case that turns your phone into a magic sticking marvel. 

Thanks to "micro-suction technology", apparently, you can slap your phone into any smooth surface like glass or mirrors, it hangs there like it's been superglued - then easily comes off (with no residue and no reduction in future stickiness) when you want it. So far I've mainly been using it in the kitchen (stuck on the wall it can't get splattered when I'm using my phone for a recipe) and for Skype chats - it makes selfies really easy without requiring the gimpiest thing in the world, the selfie stick.  And it's only £14.99 from Argos. The ideal present for any narcissist, like a teenager, or, er, blogger.

***

On the one hand, this Mamas & Papas Timbuktales knitted blanket is just a blanket. On the other, wrapping my tiny man up in it when he's snug asleep to take him from the car to house, or house to buggy is making this oh-so-chilly weather more colourful and cosy than it otherwise would be. It's unisex whilst still being colourful, and currently 20% off so under £24. A really practical-but-beautiful baby shower or Christmas present for some parents-to-be, I reckon.


* Items provided to Run Out of Womb for review... But rest assured, I'm seriously gobby and just don't write about things that don't pass the muster.

Spreading food around your baby's face (or, 'weaning')

Weaning! "It's so exciting," said everyone, "watching your newborn's elation at tasting new foods! Are you going baby-led or purees? Ella's or Organix? Sterilising or just triple-dishwashering-at-60-degrees? Following the gospel according to Annabel or .. Someone Else?"

Tiny man and I are now almost a month into weaning (aka learning to eat). There are definitely lots of fun moments  - like watching his face contort into joy, disgust or confusion every time something new approaches his lips. But creating a zillion different concoctions, then watching, helping and encouragingly-grinning as tiny man grabs the spoon and turns said concoctions into expensive face packs, spread in 29 different places around his mouth, then clearing up afterwards - three times a day - does occasionally get a bit tedious. 

So, screw the 'feeding philosophies': these are the eight gadgets and gear that I recommend everyone includes in their weaning armoury. (They are in a random order because ... I haven't slept enough for logic to come into my brain.)

2. Philips Avent Combined Steamer and Blender. This. Is. Amazing. At first, living in a small London flat, I didn't want to buy any more equipment for a packed kitchen. But after a whole Sunday of spending hours putting chopped veg on top of a sieve then mushing with a blender.. I thought life's too short. This machine makes it so much easier: you put whatever veg/fish/fruit/meat/etc you need in the top, pour in water, let it steam for 10 or so minutes, tip the jug upside down then press blend... and you've got easy, healthy, homemade baby food. 

There are three speeds, so you can make perfectly smooth puree or have more lumps and bits for older babies. Frankly I've started using it for our meals too, because in this one jug you can make soup, houmous, risotto.. with only one pot to wash up: this is the knackered parents' weaning dream machine.

1 and 8. I love Munchkin's baby 'crockery' - it's bright, easy to clean and really practical. These bowls are particularly great: they have a suction ring underneath so when tiny but seriously strong baby fists try to flip the food bowl out of the way, they... can't. Ha! Foiled you! The spoons are soft and chewable for little mouths too.

3. Oh. The. Mess. Pureed food gets everywhere. I found a bit of sweet potato behind my ear earlier - and tiny man ate that for yesterday's lunch. This £10 JoJo bib is really good for covering tiny man all over, and it's wipe-clean so easy to wash too. Worth the extra money.

4. I've got a stack of weaning books and find them really useful for advice on what to feed when - especially River Cottage's because it has really beautiful pictures too and recipes that you can use for your meals too. But I also love Annabel Karmel's app for its practical lists: you click on the meals you want to make, and it'll add the ingredients to your shopping list as well as making a meal planner. 

5. Ella's Kitchen pouches. Sure, we're all making uber-nutritious delicious impeccable Michelin-starred-style purees almost all of the time. But sometimes, you're too tired to even defrost something from the freezer. Step forward these easily-spoonable purees in a zillion different varieties that, according to my tiny man's licked lips, taste pretty great too. Perfect for the nappy bag too as they don't need to be kept in the fridge, and whilst out-and-about as you don't need a bowl - just squeeze a bit onto a spoon.

6. and 7. If you don't want to spend your one spare daily second meal-making, big batches is the way to go. These Jojo pots (6) can be filled up, frozen, then grabbed whenever you need them - particularly useful when going out. They come with labels, or you can do what I do: forget to label them and take out what you think is a healthy tub of butternut squash that turns out to be a big pot of Ella's mango, which pleases your baby very much indeed. A cheaper option - I do both as the lidded pots are useful for travel but my freezer's capacity is less than that of my pregnancy bras - is to fill up flexible ice trays in freezer bags, then pop out the cubes into bags as soon as they're solid. 

Get stuffed: best baby storage

Seconds after I gave birth to tiny man he began rapidly building up an enormous wardrobe. And now, six months on, a combination of amazingly generous gifts, lots of hand-me-downs, and too many visits to Brent Cross by his mama mean my son's range of shoes, dungarees, socks, and generally cute outfits vastly beats mine ... and my husband's combined. 

But whilst we have two big Ikea wardrobes and drawers plus under-bed clothes storage in our bedroom, tiny man has a single chest of drawers. His nursery is shared with a bureau holding all of our files and papers, and a cupboard storing all of our crockery - it used to be a study/dining room and in our London flat every room now has at least 17 purposes.

So we needed more storage, but didn't have a whole lot of space. I looked for a solution in the obvious place - Ikea - but its nursery furniture is pretty boring and barely durable. Then I found something great in a surprising place: the chic baby store JoJo Mamam Bébé, which I associate with super-cute rompers and lovely print anoraks and sleep suits. But on a visit to its website I found JoJo has really practical storage cubes, where you can build a shape to suit the space and pick the colour of the fabric drawers. 

I went for the blue and red ones above - but these natural hues are lovely too:

or you can opt for fuschia and blue colours. 

The drawers were so easy to build - you do each wooden cube separately, with each one taking me 10 minutes, and needing nothing more than a screwdriver - before popping the fabric drawer inside. And they hold loads too. In our nursery, one is full of towels and sleeping bags, another has toys, another slings and travel kit, and the other has all of tiny man's summer clothes. 

                                                     

My favourite thing is that you can stack them on top of each other, alongside each other, or have an individual drawer. So I'm going to put two of my cubes whose contents aren't used every day (summer gear and travel kit) under tiny man's cot to save space. They're cheap too - £25 for the cube and £6 for the fabric drawers - so I really recommend them for nursery storage which will be useful all over the house for years to come.

* Item sent to Run Out of Womb for review. Rest assured, though, that I'm seriously gobby and would never rave about something that was rubbish.