by Laura Frey

Congratulations on becoming a new mother, it is a great experience and moment in your life but it can be extremely hard work and terrifying at the same time.

You want to be a great mother who is not stressed out but is enjoying the time with your new baby, to be a chilled out mother you will need to get into a routine as soon as possible.

If you can plan the day and adopt a routine then you should be able to fit in some chilling time while the baby sleeps. At the start it's quite difficult to do this as there's so much to do but that's why planning is the key. Without a plan you won't get 5 minutes rest which is not good for you nor the baby.

Right what sort of things should you buy that you can't be without? Here's my top ten products to buy that you won't regret.

1. There are many baby bottles on the market that have advanced so much that they help relieve the symptoms of colic due to a clever design. If you are bottle feeding your baby I would definitely recommend these.
2. A swaddling blanket is a must to help your baby feel safe and secure to sleep well. It also aids to stop their strong reflexes from waking them up as their arms will be snug.
3. There are great new bibs for sale called bandanna bibs they are amazing as they are designed to keep your baby dry when they drool. They are really funky with the most popular range being from Bibs Bandanna.
4. You will need to buy therma bottle bags as they will keep food,jars etc at the same temperature safely for over 4 hours which is ideal if you go out and about a lot and want to continue to do so with minimal fuss.
5. When weaning I found Annabel Karmels range of books invaluable for simple yet tasty and nutritious treats.
6. A buggy is a must have item as they are so much easier than hefty travel systems. They also fit into your car easily without any effort. You can now get strollers from 0 months so they can be used for your newborn just make sure they go back almost flat.
7. A sleep bag will help your baby transfer from the swaddle with ease as they are still tucked in.
8. A sterilizer that goes into the microwave oven purely to save time and easy to use!
9. A UV tent is a must in the hot months.
10. Buy Gina Ford's Contented Little Baby Book she is the Queen of routine if all else fails!

I hope these tips help, they are mainly from my trail and error as a 1st time mum. Good luck and most importantly of all, enjoy your baby they are so precious.

Last thought - go to a mum and baby group, there will be mums there that you can swap ideas with or just chat and have a coffee with while your baby plays and explores with other children.