Baby food machine for unskilled housewives

Product name: Philips AVENT SCF870/21 Combined Baby Food Steamer and Blender (http://www.avent.com/)

What is it?A blender with a built-in steamer function that makes it much easier for mothers lacking in housewife skills to make ‘proper’ baby food

Why did it catch my attention?My brother-in-law had found this item on Amazon long before my baby reached the age of weaning and asked if he wanted one for Christmas. Knowing my complete lack of housewife genes it was an offer that I could not resist!

How old was my baby when I bought it?He was 6,5 months and had been weaning for 1,5 months when we got this into the house, but it is relevant from the day the baby starts weaning

What value does it add for us?My son gets to eat ‘real’, vitamine-rich food once in a while and I feel better than when giving him ready-made stuff only

What does it replace?The lengthy process of steaming and blending healthy food for him the normal way and doing the lazy mother and giving him something I bought from Ocado instead

How did my baby respond to it?Looking at it, he thinks it is a toy and wants to chew it. When it comes to food, the first thing we tried was avocado and that went down very well with him

How much does it cost?£56 on Amazon UK

Can I see any drawbacks?It was probably just bad luck, but on the first one we got the steamer was defect, so we had to return and get a replacement. Otherwise no drawbacks noticed so far – it is a very handy and easy product to use!

A tandem tooth brush to teach babies how to brush their teeth

Product name: MAM Learn To Brush Set (Mam Learn to Brush Set, 6 Months, Colors May Vary)

What is it?Two baby tooth brushes – one with an extra long handle that parent and baby can hold simultaneously so that the baby can be guided in how to use the brush correctly and one ‘normal’ brush for the baby to use alone once he/she has gotten his/her head around what to do

Why did it catch my attention?The day I found the first tooth in the bottom gum of my son’s mouth I realised that I did not have anything in the house that could be used to clean it! I found this brush at our local Boots store and liked the idea of learning together before he gets old enough to be able to brush his teeth himself

How old was my baby when I bought it?He was 6 months old, but the relevance of this product is linked to (a) the arrival of baby’s first tooth and (b) timing for weaning. The Scandinavian sources I have read recommend to start cleaning your baby’s teeth from the moment the first one appears

What value does it add for us?I was able to brush my baby’s teeth while making him feel included. The pedagogic effect is yet to be proved over time…

What does it replace?Other tooth brushes, alternatively using a cotton stick to clean your baby’s teeth

How did my baby respond to it?In the same way as he does with weaning spoons – he grabbed it and wanted to play with it!

How much does it cost?Around £2-2,50 at my local Boots in West London

Can I see any drawbacks?With a baby grabbing the toothbrush to ‘help’, the process is not especially smooth – but at least with my baby this would be an issue regardless of toothbrush!

My own phone to chew and play with

Product name: Sassy Phone of My Own Toy Teether Rattle (Sassy Phone Of My Own Developmental Toy)

What is it?A plastic mobile phone with a build-in teether part and buttons to press to hear people speak in different languages

Why did it catch my attention?At about 5 months of age, my son started to get fascinated by our phones and remote controls, wanting to grab, bite and press buttons. When I found this in a buggy store I couldn’t resist buying him his own phone to play with

How old was my baby when I bought it?He was 5 months old, but the producer recommends this product from the age of 6 months

What value does it add for us?This has become another favorite that keeps him entertained for a while, alongside Freddie the Firefly and Sophie the Giraffe

What does it replace?Playing with real phones and remote controls

How did my baby respond to it?Love at first sight!

How much does it cost?£6 at Amazon UK

Can I see any drawbacks?Parents and carers might get tired of the noises, although I have to say that compared with a lot of other toys the sounds of this product are relatively parent-friendly

Pack-away waterproof trousers

Product name: Pack-away Waterproof Trousers (www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/sp+Pack-away-Waterproof-Trousers+B2710)

What is it?Lightweight waterproof trousers cleverly designed to fold up to a carry pouch to make it handy to store them away or bring them along in a changing bag

Why did it catch my attention?During a rainy week in London I needed rain pants for my little one and loved the innovation when I found this product in our local JoJoMamanBeBe store

How old was my baby when I bought it?He was 2-3 months, but they are produced in sizes from 6 months and up. I had to fold up the legs in the beginning

What value does it add for us?They are light, keep him dry and are easy to store away + that the geek in me loves how clever the ‘pack-away’ design is

What does it replace?Other rain pants

How did my baby respond to it?No clear response, but they keep him dry

How much does it cost?£14 at JoJoMamanBeBe

Can I see any drawbacks?The material does not breathe, so keep them away from babies who can grab and pull them over their face

A rolling tivoli to make baby want to crawl!

Product name: VTech Crawl and Learn Bright Lights Ball (www.vtechkids.com)

What is it?A rolling ball full of buttons to press to make it do different noises and movements. It is designed to make babies want to crawl after it

Why did it catch my attention?I had noticed the start of something that looked like crawling when my son was lying on his tummy on his playmat and wanted something that would get him going

How old was my baby when I bought it?3 months, but the manufacturer recommends it from 6 months

What value does it add for us?It makes tummy time fun and I can see how the tendency to crawl gets stronger every day. It is also a very enjoyable toy to play with when sitting on a parent’s lap or lying in the cot. Like many VTech toys it is full of buttons to press and different shapes and lights to be fascinated by

What does it replace?Other toys that are made to help encouraging a baby to start crawling are mirrors, animals that move and rollers – this is the only one I have tried so far

How did my baby respond to it?He reaches out for it and wants to touch all the exciting buttons and shapes

How much does it cost?£11 on Amazon UK

Can I see any drawbacks?There really is a lot of stuff on this ball, and I would not be surprised if babies easily get overstimulated by this toy