The 14 things a new mum *really* needs


by Joanna Dunbar |
Published on

Forget oh-so cute outfits featuring 400 buttons and luxurious bubble bath to enjoy while the baby sleeps (when exactly is that?). Those first few days after birth, a new mum is often sore, tired and shell-shocked (sometimes all three) so rather than add to an already-busting 0-3 months wardrobe, focus on the new mother. If you turn up on her doorstep offering a few of these then you’ll be enjoying cuddles with a newborn before you can say ‘breast pads.

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things mums really need

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1. Maternity pads

Let’s cut straight to the glamorous part and save her a(nother) trip to Boots the Chemist. We love these which are only £1.29.

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2. Muslin cloths

​She’s probably only bought a pack of six. Try not to laugh as you deliver another dozen to her. You can never have enough muslins. Actual parenting fact. We are big fans of aden + anais Muslin Cloths from John Lewis.

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3. Cake. All the cake

She’s knackered, sore and probably fairly confused. Whether you bake her something from your new Hemsley + Hemsley cookbook, or buy a Colin the Caterpillar, give the woman sugar.

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4. A Netflix subscription

he’s going to be trapped under a feeding, sleeping, mewling baby for the foreseeable. May as well get mum up to speed on Orange is the New Black.

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5. Glorious food

This woman is HUNGRY. Go armed with a lasagna, or a Domino’s delivery: she won’t care. She’ll be too busy eating – one-handed, obviously.

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6. ​A shower

Not literally. But half an hour to wash her hair in the bathroom on her own is her equivalent of two weeks in the Caribbean at this point.

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7. Coffee

Obviously not enough to wire her infant – that would not be helpful. A lot of our new mums said a thermal mug was the best present they ever recieved, as with a newborn, drinking a hot cup of tea is impossible.

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8. A rubber ring

It’s not glamorous but she’s uncomfortable and you understand.

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9. A pair of marigolds

Cleaning will be right at the bottom of her to do list so a quick bleach of the bathroom, 15 minutes of hoovering or washing the dishes will make you friend of the year.

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10. Gossip

Instead of grilling her for gory birth details; how she plans to feed and whether there’s a routine in place, arrive with a few nuggets of gossip so she can sit back, listen and feel a bit like her pre-baby self.

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11. Tissues

Her hormones are going haywire; she’s sleep deprived and probably quite overwhelmed. A few tears are inevitable.

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12. Groceries

Dull, yes, but also incredibly useful. Arriving with a few items from the supermarket is really helpful when she’s still at the stage where leaving the house with the pram is on a par with a maiden space voyage.

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13. Handcream

She’s never washed her hands this much before. We love The Ritual of Ayurveda Hand Lotion by Ritualswhich smells gorgeous!

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14. ​Reassurance

Everything is new and she’s worried she’s doing it all wrong. Give her a hug, tell her she’d doing brilliantly, and that no one knows her baby better than her.

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