10 celebrity-approved parenting must-haves for mums – including Victoria Beckham’s posh pram and Kate Middleton’s favourite swaddles
HERE comes baby – and with baby comes more ‘stuff’ than a mum-to-be ever deemed necessary. So, how’s a pregnant woman to decide what’s actually worth the splurge?
Here, we’ve rounded up the celebrity-approved must-haves Meghan Markle, Kate Middleton, Beyonce and the A-list swear by. Purses at the ready!
On your Markles: The £1,119 ‘yummy mummy’ pram
- Bugaboo Fox, currently £1,119 from Mamas and Papas –
Meghan Markle raised eyebrows after saying Bugaboo to tradition and opting for a posh mum’s favourite £1,119 pram for son Archie Harrison.
The Duchess, 38, shunned Silver Cross – the royal choice for every baby from the Queen through to Princes William, Harry and the Cambridge kids – for a top-of-the-range .
The Beckhams, Gwyneth Paltrow and Myleene Klass are proud Bugaboo owners, with one even featuring in an episode of Sex And The City
The choice of loaded London mums, it features a carry cot, buggy base and “all-wheel suspension” to “take it anywhere, from city streets to snowy trails”.
Made by a Dutch company, the Bugaboo first hit the UK in 2003. The wheeled goods sector of the baby industry is worth £235million in the UK alone, helped by pricey pushchairs.
Victoria Beckham, Gwyneth Paltrow, Myleene Klass and Anna Friel are also proud owners of the Bugaboo, with one even featuring in an episode of Sex And The City.
Christy McGhee, Consumer and Reviews Editor at MadeForMums, told Fabulous Digital what to look for when buying a pram: “All pushchairs must comply with British Standard 7409:1996 or BS EN 1888:2003 – most will but it’s worth checking if you buy second-hand.
“Look for a five-point safety harness (again, most will have this as standard) and use it.
“Likewise, use the brake when you’re not pushing the buggy, check the frame is locked into place when you’ve unfolded it, and adhere to the buggy’s weight limit.
“It’s tempting to load up the pushbar with bags, but be careful the weight of them can’t pull the pushchair over.”
Counting sheep: The cuddly that guarantees a good night’s sleep
- Ewan Deluxe, Baby Shushing Sleep Sheep £40 from Mamas & Papas –
Stacey Solomon and Ferne McCann have taken counting sheep to a whole new level thanks to Ewan, the sleep sheep.
The £40 grey cuddly mimics the comfort of the womb with a soft pink glow and selection of soothing ‘pink noise’ sounds, including an actual recording of a heartbeat and womb, to lull newborns into a peaceful sleep.
It is recommended by paediatricians that a white noise machine is placed at least seven feet away from a baby
Lucy Shrimptom
Inspired by paediatric sleep research, Ewan includes the calming ‘shush’ of a real human voice to soothe fussy babies, as well as rainfall, a harp melody and the sound of a vacuum cleaner.
The toy, which can be used from birth, features a smartCRY sensor that listens to your baby for four hours and activates when they stir in the night.
Lucy Shrimpton, The Sleep Nanny, who will be appearing at , told Fabulous Digital: “Ewan has been safety tested though common sense as to where to place the product out of a baby’s reach and volume control are important.
“Ewan serves as a comforter both in sound and as a familiar character to associate with sleep time. If the sounds are found to be soothing for a particular baby, this can certainly help with settling to sleep and masking background noise.
“The light and visual aspects could be stimulating for some babies especially in a dark room as opposed to on a pram. For some babies, this visual stimulation will hinder sleep and encourage them to keep their eyes open.
“It is recommended by paediatricians that a white noise machine is placed at least seven feet away from a baby and that it is set below the maximum volume setting.”
Repli-Kate: The £12 swaddle that’s fit for a future king
- Jungle Jam 4-Pack, Classic Swaddles £44.95 from Aden + Anais –
Aden + Anais was already a household name among celebrity parents including Beyonce, Sienna Miller, Khloe Kardashian, Jessica Alba and Jools Oliver.
But after Kate Middleton stepped onto the steps of the Lindo Wing in July 2013 with Prince George swaddled in one of their muslins the Australian-born brand became every new mum’s must-have.
The Duchess, 37, wrapped her newborn in the Sweet Bird Print, which comes in a pack of four called Jungle Jam, retailing at £44.95. Other designs are decorated with monkeys, elephants and giraffes.
The machine washable swaddles measure 120cm x 120cm square, which makes them handy for use as pram shades, a breast-feeding cover and portable sheets – as well as drool, spit and vomit cleaners.
They are made of 100 per cent cotton muslin, and the brand claims the more you wash them the softer they become.
Milk it: The ‘breast’ choice pumping kit for A-list mummies
- Swing Maxi Flex, £249.99 by Medela –
Amy Schumer hit headlines around the world after uploading a snap of herself to Instagram using Medela’s Swing Flex Maxi double electric breast pump.
The Hollywood actress, 38, jokingly captioned her candid pic: “Guys what are we doing tonight? #schumerpump.”
The pump promises quick, efficient and – most importantly – comfortable expression, and is designed to support mums so they can feed their baby with their milk for longer. Giovanna Fletcher and Vogue Williams are also fans of the brand.
Rachel Fitz-Desorgher, author of Your Baby Skin to Skin, told Fabulous Digital: “The Medela Swing Flex Maxi doesn’t have too many parts and so assembly, dismantling and cleaning are relatively easy.
“The collection bottle is a good size to hold during expressing and also a nice size for taking out and about.
The Swing Flex Maxi doesn’t have too many parts and so assembly, dismantling and cleaning are relatively easy
Rachel Fitz-Desorgher
“The electric pump is quite quiet in use and most mums find it effective and efficient.”
She added: “On the negative side, the “Calma” teat could be designed better. The hard plastic under the silicone teat prevents baby from suckling in a natural way as it forces the baby onto the teat to suckle. The small plastic valve is quite fiddly and fragile.”
Sweet dreams: The award-winning bedside crib that’s functional and stylish
- SnuzPod3 Bedside Crib in Luna, £199.95 from Snuz –
The SnuzPod3 is the new bedside crib from Snuz, winner of the Queen’s Award for innovation.
The pod, which comes in a variety of colours and is suitable for use from newborn to six months, features a reflux incline, a light lift-off bassinet and breathable mesh sides.
The pod is so light so you can move it around the house for daytime naps
Zoe Bosner
“The Snuzpod fits neatly next to your bed and enables you to easily slide your baby in and out of to feed and nurse them with minimum disruption,” Zoe Bosner, Show Director at The Baby Show, told Fabulous Digital. Buy tickets for the show .
“It is also light so you can move it around the house for daytime naps, has a handy storage area to keep nappies and essentials, plus it is chic and stylish.”
Love Island’s Tyla Rose and former Towie star Mario Falcone have snapped up SnuzPods for their little ones.
When choosing a cot, Zoe says: “Your new cot needs to conform to British Safety Standards BS EN 716:2008 and their guidelines stipulate the distance between the top of the mattress and the top of the cot sides should be at least 50cm.
“The mattress needs to conform to safety standards BS 1877-10:1997 and come in either standard or continental size and go in their equivalent sized cot. Choose one that feels firm because your baby needs support while sleeping.”
Right stripes: The trendy sleepsuits fashion conscious mums love
- Stripey Zip-Up Sleepsuit, £32.50 by Mori –
Mori creates baby clothes from sustainably sourced organic cotton and bamboo to ensure it’s soft on a baby’s delicate skin. The material is softer than silk, breathable and thermoregulating.
The sleepsuits, which are adored by TV presenter Louise Roe, come in range of stylish, gender-neutral hues and patterns.
Discussing what baby clothes are must-haves for newborns, Bonnie Takhar, CEO of LetsBab who are launching a new kidswear line, told Fabulous Digital: “Bodysuits, both short and long-sleeved with easy fastenings, and sleepsuits are absolute essentials.
“Others include hats to keep baby’s head warm or protected from the sun, and a cardigan or pram suit depending on the time of year.”
She added: “It’s nice to have a few special outfits for photos and special occasions but babies are messy so to save money I wouldn’t go crazy with too much cashmere at this stage!”
Catch some zzzs… The multi-functional pod that’s perfect for naps, rest and play
- Sleepyhead Deluxe Pristine White Baby Pod, £129 from John Lewis –
The Sleepyhead Deluxe is a pod for babies ages 0-8 months old. It’s multi-functional meaning it can be used for sleep, rest, play and to change baby’s nappy.
The pods are lightweight and portable as proven by celebrity fans Storm and Ronan Keating, who took it on their private jet, and Made In Chelsea’s Roxie Nafousi.
The pod is made from breathable, washable and hypoallergenic material, and additional patterned covers are available to purchase.
reviewed the Sleepyhead Deluxe, giving it four and a half stars out of five.
Mums claim it helped their baby nod off as it “felt like they were being cuddled”, while others think the white design is “impractical” and would recommend investing in a different cover.
Hop to it: The iconic rabbit that provides comfort for those afraid of the dark
- Miffy LED Lamp Small, £150 from The Conran Shop – buy now
Starting out as a simple picture book, Miffy has grown into a much-loved children’s character for both adults and children alike.
Celebrity fans of the small female rabbit include Imogen Thomas and Loose Women’s Linda Robson.
The charming Miffy LED lamp emits a soft, warm glow and is lovely for bedside storytelling or as a friendly nightlight for nurseries.
According to the , a nightlight can boost a baby’s brain development, help toddlers who suffer with nightmares and allow little ones to walk through a dark room more safely.
What a carry on: The Beyonce and mum blogger-approved baby carrier
- Baby Carrier Mini, £84.99 from BabyBjorn –
Beyonce, Sarah Jessica Parker and Mother Pukka’s Anna Whitehouse have been carting their little ones around with the help of a BabyBjorn carrier.
The Mini is suitable for use during baby’s first months, up to one year. It comes in a variety of fabrics – jersey, mesh and cotton – and colours, with the baby pink being our favourite.
The main thing with all carriers and slings is to make sure that it supports the baby’s hips
Zoe Bosner
Zoe says carriers can promote bonding as well as helping you transport your baby with ease.
She said: “Lightweight and structured carriers can offer plenty of back support for you and are generally easier to clip and unclip. There are lots of designs which grow and evolve with your baby so you get more use and longevity from them.
“The main thing with all carriers and slings is to make sure that it supports the baby’s hips and holds baby’s legs in the right place so they sit in the natural spread position to help benefit healthy and natural hip development.”
She is also a fan of the BabyBjorn Bouncer, which has been snapped up by Vogue Williams and Fearne Cotton.
Zoe added: “A recent survey by Which? Revealed that parents voted a baby bouncer as their number one most useful product and I can see why.
“Being able to put your baby down somewhere safe and keep them occupied while you take some time out to make a cup of tea or grab some lunch is a godsend.”
- Bouncer Bliss 3D Jersey, £144.99 by BabyBjorn –
She added: “One of the most important rules of baby bouncers is to check the weight and/or age guidance. Most of them can be used from birth, but may not be suitable for premature or low birthweight babies.
“At the other end of the scale, make sure you know when your baby will outgrow the bouncer. They usually have a weight restriction, but also state that you should stop using the seat when your baby can sit, roll or crawl – a milestone that may come before your baby gets too heavy for it.
“The Babybjorn bouncer is a great choice (minimum weight 8 lbs/3.5 kg) and can be used up to the age of two.”