13 Must-Haves for the Fourth Trimester

My third (and final!) baby has just turned twelve weeks old. Now that the newborn haze has lifted ever so slightly, I thought I’d share my list of mum and baby must haves for surviving the fourth trimester.

1. Silverette nursing cups

If I could only recommend one thing for new mums, it would be this. I had so much trouble breastfeeding the older kids when they were newborns and gave up with both after a couple painful weeks and so many issues. These just sit in your bra and heal cracked and sore nipples. You don’t need any creams or ointments. They’re a little pricey but I’d happily pay it again for the relief, both physically and mentally, that these gave me. These will be my go-to baby shower present for anyone planning to breastfeed.

2. Nappy caddies in every room

We have one in our bedroom, the lounge room and Casper’s room. Saves lugging all your things around from room to room, or shouting out for the nappy cream you’ve left behind. This one was a big help post c section when my movement was still minimal.

3. OiOi changing pouch

While we’re on the topic of nappy changes - this one was a great addition. I never used a travel change mat for the girls but now that I’ve got one I never go anywhere without it. The change mat is thick enough to be comfortable for him, can easily fold it and pack it away with one hand, and it has enough room for wipes, the change mat and 5 or 6 nappies.

4. OiOi nappy backpack

Fact: all nappy bags should be backpacks. We’ve got the faux leather oat backpack and it’s so comfortable to wear while still being big enough to pack everything we need without being bulky. It comes with straps to clip it onto the pram which I use every time. So many beautiful colours as well, I’ve got the tan one from nearly 4 years ago and it’s still in great condition - I only got a new one so I could have options in colours. Plenty of different compartments to keep things organised inside the bag too.

5. Baby audio and video monitor

We got the Vtech one that has sound and light features, so we set up the red light and white noise for sleep. You can also add the camera to your phone and get notifications when there’s sound or movement. The camera quality is great and you can go back on the notifications and keep the recordings.

6. Water bottle

Never would have thought I could justify spending $60 on a Frank Green drink bottle but I never go anywhere without it now. Breastfeeding makes you beyond thirsty so it’s super important to keep hydrated. And it’s more important to keep hydrated with a neon pink drink bottle!

7. Baby sleep suits

The Love to Dream ones are perfect for babies that like to sleep with their hands up by their face. Saves the hassle of swaddling during the night. Easy 2 way zip for nappy changes and they have plenty of sizes including transition sleeping bags with zip off arms for when bub starts to roll.

8. Wrap carriers

We used a Vixsa one this time around and it has been great. Means I can be hands free while juggling the school drop/ dinner time/ playing with the older 2. He has the best naps of his life in there. They’re a little fiddly at first, but once you get the hang of them they’re super easy and comfy to wear.

9. Silicone breast pump

I built up my freezer supply with this Haakaa pump alone. I’d pop it on one side while I fed Casper on the other and would catch so much that would have otherwise just filled up breast pads. Honourable mention to Milo and Anzac biscuits for boosting my supply when we were in the early days or if I ever felt like he wasn’t getting enough/ my supply was dropping.

10. Electric baby nail file

We use the Rite Aid one. It includes a few different types of files and it stops if it hits skin. Cutting baby nails makes me super stressed, but this doesn’t run the risk of nipping their fingers.

11. Leak-proof nursing bras

Saves messing around with breast pads. My Bonds Milk Leak bras are super absorbent and comfy, and the clips are easy enough to manage with one hand. Colour range is pretty minimal, so hopefully they add more soon, but I’ve got a few of both the black and white and wear them everyday.

12. Period underwear

I got the full brief ones to come up over my c section scar. Perfect for when you’re out of disposable nappies or maternity pads, but not brave enough to go without anything yet. Really comfortable and full coverage.

13. Postpartum ice packs

The Body Ice Woman Pack includes two breast gel-bead packs and a perineum cooling pad that I used for my c section scar. Eases the discomfort and pain in that area, especially if you aren’t resting as much as you should be. I used the breast packs when I stopped nursing my second daughter while my milk was drying up and it really helped with the pain.

Three kids is a lot of kids, and the early newborn days can be tiring no matter what. But after trying so many different things over the past 6 years, these are what have made the transition for me so much easier this time around. This was my third caesarean so I wanted to be as prepared as possible when it came to managing pain and just making life easier overall.

We hope that you enjoyed reading this blog article. Special thanks to Cheyenne @chey_mb for writing her wonderful guide and sharing these treasured photos from her own family road trips. OiOi is a family run Australian business who have built a strong reputation over 25 years for designing Australia's best nappy bags and pram accessories. Follow us on Instagram @oioi_global for daily inspiration or subscribe to our newsletter for beautiful fortnightly emails.

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