#ForNewMoms - PART 2: Three Months & Beyond

It all started as a series on my socials called #ForNewMoms in which I shared some products, tips and experiences along the way of pregnancy and motherhood, but I soon found myself going back on my posts again when I was looking for baby shower gift ideas. So I decided for the sake of finding it all again when you really need it, to summarize it all into two articles, Pregnancy & Newborns and 3 Months and Beyond.

I am going to start with a recap from PART 1, as these are still at the top of my list every month.

Clicks Made 4 Baby Nappies & Wipes

A quick follow-up on nappies that have really impressed me: Clicks Made 4 Baby. They are soft, comfortable, and surprisingly high quality, with great absorbency, leak guards, and a helpful wetness indicator. The pull-ups are also a win, stretchy and easy for busy little ones on the move.

What truly stands out for me is the affordability. Clicks Made 4 Baby is often on promotion, and the added ClubCard cashback makes a noticeable difference over time. I only discovered them later with Markus, but now they are a staple for both my kids.

NoseFrida Nasal Aspirator

The Fridababy NoseFrida nasal aspirator honestly took a bit of mental adjustment for me at first, and it still does on occasion, but it is by far the most effective one I have used. I tried everything, from the little bulb aspirators to the more expensive electric versions, and nothing really worked well. Most of them either did not clear properly or ended up upsetting both me and the kids more than anything else.

A friend introduced me to the NoseFrida, and I finally gave it a try. Because it is manual, the suction is much gentler yet far more effective. Once you get past the mental block, it is actually very straightforward to use. There is a filter system in place, so nothing reaches your mouth, even though it feels a bit questionable at first. It is one of those tools that works from newborn stage right through until little ones can blow their own noses.

Knot-a-Bag portable nappy bag dispenser

The ultimate mom hack, and honestly my lightbulb moment. I only wish I had figured this out sooner because of how much money it could have saved. If you have a little one in nappies, you will know how expensive those nappy bin refill rings can be, and how they always seem to run out at the worst possible time. Out of pure desperation one night, I tried something different and it worked far better than expected.

The Knot-a-Bag portable nappy bag dispenser uses rolls of plastic that are very similar to what you find inside standard nappy bin refills, but at a fraction of the cost. I realised that if you keep your empty refill ring, you can open the plastic roll and fit it back inside, creating your own refill for much less. I have not bought a refill ring since. As a bonus, the bags themselves are incredibly handy to keep in your nappy bag for wet clothes and dirty nappies when you are out and about - which is what they are actually made for.

I made a reel on my socials to show how I do it. - View it here

Portable Mesh Nebuliser

This was something I didn't know I needed, until I needed it! I had a normal piston nebuliser that I inherited from family, not thinking that I would need it much anyway, but boy was I wrong!

I remember the first time I had to use it was nothing short of traumatising, for Markus and myself! My poor boy was terrified of the loud compressor and I literally had to hold him down to get him nebulised, it was absolutely horrible! I then came across this portable mesh nubuliser from @babywombworld and it has changed the game completely! Especially since we have needed a nebuliser quite a few times in the past few years and will definitely need it in the future. It is super quiet and can be recharged by USB, making it completely portable and travel friendly. I have used it on the road a few times, while camping and both my kids are so comfortable with it!

If you were ever wondering what to get a new mom that she will actually use... this is it, trust me!

Hoolies Hooliegrows

When I started shopping for winter clothing for our little man, I came across Hoolies (another amazing local brand) and instantly fell in love. Markus was about 13 months old and newly walking, which meant traditional baby grows were no longer ideal for sleepwear. I still needed a way to keep those tiny toes warm at night, and their clever design solved that perfectly.

These grows are such beautiful quality and can be worn with or without footies. During the day, he could move around freely, and at bedtime we simply folded over the feet to keep him warm through the night. The two-way zip is also a game changer for those cold changes. I was so impressed, not just with the product but with the excellent customer service too.

Because I chose neutral designs for Markus, we were able to reuse them for Jana, and they still held up beautifully enough to pass on via Yaga afterwards. It has since become one of my favourite baby shower gifts.

Yaga

Speaking of Yaga, moms… this one is a game changer! We all know how quickly kids outgrow their clothes, sometimes before they have even properly worn them. Yaga is such an easy way to buy and sell clothes, shoes, baby items and more, and honestly it just makes so much sense. It feels safe to use, and with options like PAXI and Pudo, sending parcels is as simple as dropping them off when you are already out and about.

I have managed to pick up beautiful, high-quality items from brands like Woolworths, Cotton On and H&M and even pricier pieces like Crocs for both the kids and myself at a fraction of the original cost. I have also resold items once they were outgrown, which makes investing in better quality jackets and shoes far more affordable, and a lot more sustainable too. I still donate plenty, but for those higher value items that can last another season or two, Yaga is always my first stop.

Munchkin Mugs

Both my kids moved onto sippy cups quite quickly, and I really did not want to deal with straws and spouts that get blocked and, let’s be honest, a bit gross over time. I was gifted a Munchkin sippy cup at one of my baby showers, and we are still using them today.

They seal with a silicone vacuum lid, so there is no mess and it is easy for little ones to drink from. Cleaning is also a dream. You simply remove the silicone top and pop everything into the dishwasher, with no hidden spots where mould can build up. They are pretty much available anywhere these days.

Kidokar Stroller Wagon

Moms of two or more will get this. For a while, a pram and carrier combo works perfectly, but there comes a point where it just stops being practical. I got this as a Christmas gift when Markus was almost three and Jana was about to turn one, and it quickly became one of those “how did I live without this” items.

It works as a stroller wagon but honestly does everything, from nap spot to grocery trolley to general catch-all when you are out with both kids. It can be pushed or pulled, folds down small enough for my tiny hatchback, and even has handy extras like a cooler bag and a foldable canopy. It has been a lifesaver on days when I am managing both kids on my own and do not have the luxury of a clean or available trolley. The best part is that we'll continue to use it as the kids grow for sports events where everyones stuff has to carted along. This is one of the main reasons we went with this one instaed of the fancier WonderWagon. It's lifespan and functionality is just so much longer in terms of use.

AggeToogie Toddler Tavel Beds

We love camping, and the kids have always just slotted into our routine when it comes to socialising and being on the go. We were gifted two toddler beds from a lovely local company AggeToogie by grandma, and they have honestly been used more than I ever expected.

They are nicely padded so the kids stay comfortable on pretty much any surface, and you can customise them to suit your needs. Everything rolls up neatly into its own carry bag, which makes travelling so easy, and the pillow and blanket are all attached in one piece. We have taken them camping, to braais, down to the lake for the day, and they come with us whenever we travel so the kids always have a familiar place to sleep.

Ubuntubaba stage 2

The Ubuntu Baba Stage 2 baby carrier was not something I used nearly as often as the Stage 1, but it was still absolutely worth having. It really came into its own on those days when one of the kids was not feeling their best and just wanted to be close, but life still had to carry on. Being able to keep them comforted while having my hands free made a big difference. I would say it falls more into the “nice to have” category, but if it is within your budget, it is definitely a worthwhile addition.

That's it from me for now... but who knows maybe later on there will be a PART 3.

Thanks for following along on the ride and I really hope that this has helped make motherhood a little bit easier.

xx

JO