Given time I could probably list a lot more things I can’t live without, ya know now that I’m a Mammy….nights out…with straightened hair…wearing ridiculous shoes…drinking alcoholic drinks…sorry I digress. This post is about Mammy related things that I reeeally appreciate exist!
So here we go;
- The Premium Quality Bottle Brush from Poundland. Yep! Poundland! We gratefully received a Tommee Tippee steriliser set (turns out our son is not a boob guy!) as a gift, which was brilliant.HOWEVER, I dreaded the bottle brush supplied. The shape of it wouldn’t fit into the teeth to clean it and the weird, ridged, rubber bit that was supposed to be for teeth cleaning did nowt! I finally found this old school style one in Poundland…thank the Gods! The sponge really helps get around the bottom of the bottle and it’s got an extendable mini brush for teeth cleaning. Yay!!!
- Ok so once I’d decided Small Monkey was hardened enough be able to cope with everyday germs, I packed up my steriliser and washed his bottles in the sink. Lord God, it would drive me nuts having the bottles standing on the
draining board drying (for aaaaages). All you had to do was look at them and they’d fall over, until I seen a friends Poundland bottle drying rack. Of course they had none when I went looking for one so I ended up buying the Munchkin Bottle Rack. THE BEST £7.50 I EVER SPENT!! HAH!! In yo’ face bottles!
- L’oreal Kids Tangle Tamer….I lovvvvve yoooooou!! Small Monkey has gorgeous curly hair but at night a small bird, or maybe a fieldmouse comes in and creates a snuggley nest in the back of it. One or two squirts of my trusty tangle tamer and a little comb through and a ruffle and it’s curl city again. You can use the spray in damp or dry hair and it’s non greasy too. Be warned though, your child may not appreciate having to sit there an extra few minutes while you sniff their head…the spray is pear scented and smells amazing! You’re welcome!
- Dry shampoo. I will admit, pre-baby I used to think people who used this were maybe a little bit lazy…just wash your hair like!! However, I’ll now apologise, these people surely have kids and time is of the essence. I am now the proud owner of a larrrrge can of Batiste Dry Shampoo. It’s just so handy for when I’ve gone to bed at night, saying I’ll get up early and wash me hair then I don’t and my hair looks like poop. Just spray it on the problem area, “ruffle” it in, brush ‘n’ go.
- Mugshots! Pasta in a mug, pour boiling water on, wait a couple of minutes, eat! Quick, easy, handy food, great for busy Mammy’s or Daddy’s in a hurry. I know it’s not ideal but sometimes there is just no time for eating yourself.
- Mini raisin packets. A good healthy, snack or bribe for when you’re out and about. I have packets of these in nearly every bag, Small Monkey is a big fan and at least I know he’s getting some of his 5 a day down him.
- Mini Magnetic scribbler. OMG!!! Thank God for this little piece of plastic (although it is also the cause of many a row, even between older kids). It’s also a great bribe tool for luring Small Monkey into the buggy when we’re needing to get somewhere quick.
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These cups are also available in Superdrug & Asda Munchkin Non-Spill Cup. I only discovered this a couple of months ago and it’s brilliant. I bought it mainly for when we’re out and about as it doesn’t leak all over my bag. I went through loads of “pop-up straw” type ones but they all ended up leaking, plus I was a bit concerned Small Monkey would get lazy when it came to using a regular cup. I’m not going to tell you how it works as it’s funny trying to figure it out (hubby threw out the packaging before I could read it), but I will say, I nearly lost the head half way down the Old Kent Rd one day when little man was looking for a drink and this fecking cup wouldn’t work!
- Lidl Wetsuit & Wellies. A friend of mine has twin boys, a similar age to Small
Monkey, and staying in because of the rain (within reason) is sometimes not an option, so she has a supply of wetsuits and wellies for them. Inspired by this I went in search of one for my little sausage and lo, Lidl answered my call. The smallest sizes I could see available in the wetsuits was from one & a half upwards, the wellies a size 7, both came in various colours and the wellies light up. You can get a trouser bottom or a dungaree to match the jacket, I chose the dungaree, which have adjustable soldier straps, with two fasteners on the waist area to tighten it slightly. There’s also an elasticated strap to go under the foot to hold them in place. Both the coats and the bottoms have elasticated sleeves and ankles and are fleece lined. The boots are also fleece lined. The suit itself has a cute car print on it and reflective strips, I have to say I really am delighted with this purchase and I think Small Monkey is too. He knows I won’t give him grief if he jumps in puddles wearing this get-up annnnd his boots light up! When I bought mine the jackets and coats were £8 each or two items for £14. The wellies were £7. (They had some in my local store again today so go check your local out). - Mattress protectors. By day I sell beds so I can tell you having a mattress protector on your bed should be as normal as having a sheet on it for various reasons. Last week though, my poor baba had a vomiting bug, and although I did have to change the beds (mine twice, his once) my waterproof mattress protectors saved the puke seeping into our mattresses. FYI…it’s always useful to have more than one mattress protector.
So there ya go now, I hope you found some usefulness in this post and please do feel free to share your “lifesaving” bits ‘n’ pieces with me too.
Love Donna xx
totallydonnamarie 