Knees Up

One of the many things nobody warns you before you become a mother is exactly how much time you’ll spend prone at your little emperor’s feet, attending to his every whim. Take bath time, for instance. The amount of hours spent bending over to wash baby inevitably leads to not only a sore back but calloused knees and elbows.

That’s why smart mums go for the Aquatopia Bath Time Kneeler. This genius little gizmo is a cushioned resting pad with a non-slip rubber bottom that sticks to the bath with suction cups. It also features side pockets where you can place baby’s bath essentials within easy reach. Do your knees a favour and order a Bath Time Kneeler from The Baby Catalogue.

We dream of genii

Pregnancy and sleep go together like, well, new babies and sleep. It’s hard enough freeing your mind of the thousand and one thoughts that run through your head as soon as you find out you’re knocked up. But finding a comfortable position as your bump grows proves to be a Herculean task.

What you need is a good maternity pillow like the DreamGenii Pregnancy Pillow. Winner of the Practical Parenting Pregnancy Product of the Year 2007, this pillow manages to support your bump, back and knees without taking up all the space in the bed and enraging your partner. It allows you to lie on your left side encouraging maximum blood flow to your baby and stops you rolling onto your back (not the best position for baby). Even better, after the birth you can use the pillow as a comfy nursing cushion. UK customers can pick one up at Mothercare; for a list of other stockists visit the DreamGenii site.

Yummy Tummy

Watching your bump grow is one of the joys of pregnancy. But watching the stretch marks that sometimes grow along with your belly can deflate your new mama pride. If you’re itemising goodies for an upcoming baby shower, don’t forget to put a little something for mama on your wish list.

We recommend the Tummy Honey 3-Piece Gift Set which includes not only prevention butter and stick but also a fading cream to help zap those pesky marks. All Tummy Honey products include a powerful cocktail of skin-loving ingredients like Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Emu Oil, Vegolatum (plant-based alternative to petrolatum), Aloe Vera and Vitamin E. Go on, give your tummy a little honey. Available online at Due Maternity and selected retailers.

Hot Milk does a body good

There’s something about the phrase maternity bra that calls up images of chunky straps and boulder cups of the ilk that might be sported by head matron in Carry on Nurse. Two words: Not Sexy.

But a bold New Zealand company, Hot Milk, is raising temperatures worldwide with its provocative and mama-affirming line of maternity lingerie that you would actually want your partner to see (and touch and tease…).

With names like Whisper Sweet Wickedness and Baby Doll Delicious, this exquisite range of maternity and nursing bras, panties, camisoles and nightwear screams in-your-face decadence and has courted more than its fair share of controversy (some outraged mothers who received Hot Milk catalogues cried ‘soft porn’).

If you’re the type of puritan who’s offended by the sight of bumpalicious babes celebrating their earth mama sensuality, then look away. But if you’re ready to throw out that greying, saggy upholstery for under garments that will help you reclaim your inner sex goddess (no matter what stage of new motherhood you’re at) then you definitely need a taste of Hot Milk. We could drink it by the gallon.