What parenting products to buy according to Ashley James

As mentioned by Ashley in our Spill The Milk chat, Ashley has been using Kokoso coconut oil on Alfie's skin since he was little. It is designed to sink deep into baby's skin to soothe and hydrate, leaving it to feel beautifully soft and not greasy.

Pros: Keeps baby's skin soft and hydrated
Cons: Some customers have commented that the pot was smaller than expected

Review: "My little girl suffered terribly with baby acne and I just happened to stumble across an article online that mentioned this product as a miracle cure. I was somewhat sceptical and it seemed expensive for what it was but after using it every morning and night for a week her acne completely cleared up leaving her with lovely smooth soft skin again. She then also developed cradle cap and some of this and a face cloth and circular motions cleared it in no time!! We still use it daily on her skin as it leaves it super soft and supple. Wouldn’t be without it now!"

This is the baby monitor that Ashley uses in Alfie's nursery. It transforms your phone into a smart baby monitor as you can stream video and sound using the Owlet App. The camera will send notifications to your phone when it detects audio or motion so you can see your baby is okay from anywhere.

Pros: Audio and motion detection
Cons: Some customers have commented on a three to five-second delay between real-time and streamed video

Review: "I think it is wonderful sight and sound puts your mind at rest."

Another parenting product used by Ashley is this white noise machine. It features 15 soothing sounds to help your little one drift off to sleep. It also has different brightness levels and a built-in timer, so it will automatically switch off without disturbing bubba. The lightweight design makes it perfect for travelling.

Pros: Multiple sound settings
Cons: Some people have reported that the buttons make a loud click

Review: "This is the second White Noise machine that I have bought ... both presents for newborn parents! My three grandchildren had (and still use) this machine. It really works! They SLEEP! I highly recommend it. And, also, if as an adult you have trouble, the white noise will help you too!"

Baby Alfie has the adorable Liewood Winston Rabbit Night Light in his nursery. It gives off a warm glow that will give any nursery a cosy feel. The rabbit design will fit in perfectly with animal or woodland themed nurseries. We love the Dark Rose colour.

Pros: Cute design
Cons: On the expensive side compared to other night lights on the market.

Review: "This was slightly higher priced than I wanted to pay for a nightlight but I'm really impressed with it and pleased I opted for this one. It's very tactile so perfect for my daughter to hold herself in bed when we read at bedtime. It's very soft to touch and the light is the perfect brightness. Also, the charge life is very long and it's really easy to charge with a USB lead - a light even flashes until the charge is full which is really useful. Really love this product."

Ashley shared a beautiful photo of baby Alfie brushing his teeth with a blue toothbrush. Do you want to start getting your little one to use a toothbrush themselves? This set is a great place to start. It has a long handle that babies and parents can hold together and a shorter handled brush for when they no longer need to be guided. The safety shield eliminates the risk of choking as it keeps the brush away from the back of your baby's mouth.

Pros: Two in one pack, safety shield included
Cons: Not suitable for use from birth

Review: "I really like this set. The longer brush is brilliant as my boy instantly grabs hold of the brush to put in his mouth, but the extra-long handle and safety guard means I can keep control whilst he brushes his teeth, and he can't get too much in his mouth at once. Love it xx"

This breast pump was included in Ashley's packing list highlight from when she took Alfie on holiday for the first time. Its lightweight, compact design is perfect for expressing while out and about or when travelling. It has a rechargeable battery and can hold 150ml of milk.

Pros: Easy to use while travelling, quiet
Cons: On the pricey side

Review: "Purchased this as a Christmas present for my partner who has decided to breastfeed. she had tried a manual pump and electric ones and had issues with both. The electric-type before the Elvie was very loud and cumbersome so when we had seen these we were very excited to give them a try. The pump is almost silent when in use and is very small and easy to carry around with you. Simply charges with a standard Micro USB cable and you can get around 4 to 5 uses out of one charge from our experience. It is easy to assemble and disassemble for cleaning and they even send you a spare Valve, Spout and clip-on bottle (with lids)."

Ashley uses these cups for Alfie's bedtime milk. The Tommee Tippee First Cups are great for getting your baby used to drink from a sippy cup. The free flow means bubbas don't need to suck to get a drink out, and the handles are the perfect size for little hands to hold.

Pros: Two in a pack, great for transitioning from bottle to cup
Cons: Some customers have commented that the spout is hard to clean

Review: "These cups are great for transitioning a baby from a bottle to a sippy cup. My children and I love the bright colours it makes drinking water more interesting! The handles are a great size and easy to hold. I like the fact that it's free flow, so it prepares children for drinking from a cup rather than sucking on a teat. The only thing I dislike is that it's really difficult to remove the lid once it has been put onto the cup. It takes a lot of force to prize the lid away from the cup even my partner finds it difficult. Also, be aware that the spout is not the easiest to clean, so you will have to replace the sippy cup after a few months because I have found that after a while it looks grubby, and mould can start to grow inside, so make sure you check it before every use. There are lots of different fancy sippy cups out there, but I have found that these are the simplest design, least fiddly and very reasonably priced."