ARTICLE - Top Five Pregnancy and Baby Buys ....

Having a baby in Spain can be quite daunting, in fact having a baby in any country where the language is not your own can be quite a scary proposition. I have many friends in the UK who found the whole process of pregnancy and birth confusing enough in their own country, so I take my hat off to all us girls who have been through a pregnancy and birth here in Spain. That's not to say that the information on offer is not good, nor the health care often excellent and the hospitals are certainly moving forward in terms of offering more progressive birthing techniques and options. But still doing everything in a second or unknown language in a country where customs are different to those you've grown up around is more difficult.

Knowing what to buy and not buy is also difficult and so Indybel have come up with our 'must have' baby and pregnancy wish list ... We're not talking cots and prams as of course we all need these things, but have concerntrated on the smaller and more unusual buys ...

Pregnancy and Baby Must Have's in Spain

1. The Cuddledry Towel.

Okay I didn't have one of these with my baby and now I wish I had know about them. The cuddledry is not only bigger, softer and more durable than your normal baby towel, but you can wear it too. This means that you have both hands free to bath your baby and can then snuggly wrap your baby up and lay your baby down without them getting cold .... fantastic !

2. Raspberry Leaf Tea

We heard a lot about raspberry leaf tea when thinking about stocking it and the midwife we work with down here is a big fan of it's ability to really help and move along a labour. Niether Lesley nor I drank the tea with our first babies and both had long and difficult labours. With her second baby Lesley drank the tea and had a four hour labour! We recently bumped into one of our tea customers who has just had her first baby, not only was the baby early but she also had an incrediably quick and easy labour ... enough said!

3. Natalia Baby Bottom Cream

There are a lot of baby bottom creams on the market but it's worth investing in a really good one as babies skin is so delicate, it's important to find something really gentle. The Natalia cream is all these things, not only that but Lesley has found that since using it on Olivia, not only has Olivia never suffered from so much as a little red patch, one jar ( using it generously ) lasted a good four months. So good value all round!


4. Seraphine Maternity Jeans

You can get away with a lot when it comes to maternity clothing, buying big cheap T Shirts, and large sized lycra for example! But it's a good idea to have one great staple item which will take you from 0 - 9 months and then back again! The Seraphine Jeans are this item! The fab bootleg cut and low waist means they are one of the most attractive looking ( if not the most! ) maternity jeans on the market. They are also made with a very comfy ultra soft denim designed to stretch with you and the waist is also ultra comfy. Lesley tried them on in the heat of August at 8 months pregnant and was amazed how light and comfy they felt, so if you want to invest in one item ... invest in these!

5. Kari Me Sling

This great award winning sling can be used in a variety of ways and actually works well into the toddler years. It is also designed to help you bond with and breastfeed your baby. Slings are becoming more and more popular amongst new mums, but particularly amongst those who are also rushing around after chaotic toddlers !

To find out more about buying for your pregnancy or baby in Spain, please visit http://www.indybel.com/