Appliances for a new baby
July 23rd, 2013
As you have no doubt already heard, new royal baby boy has been born, with all of the associated pomp and ceremony expected of such an occasion.
Proud parents, immortalised in fridge form.
While we’re sure that Prince William and Duchess Kate are thrilled at the arrival of their son (name unknown as yet at the time of writing [EDIT: HRH Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge!]), we’re equally sure that their lives are soon going to be turned upside down by the experience. If the endless photos and stories that fill my Facebook wall every day are anything to go by, newborns take a lot of looking after, no matter your walk of life.
“Ma, I want THAT one from Appliances Online!”
If you’ve got a bundle of joy on the way, know someone who’s about to have one arrive, or are wondering how to best help a struggling new family, here’s our basic guide to the kind of appliances most suitable to a home with a new baby – if you’re reading this Buckingham Palace, take notes!
Washing Machine with antibacterial and anti-allergen settings
Remember how I said that my Facebook feed is seemingly flooded with photos of babies from family and friends?
Those Anne Geddes images? NOT TELLING THE WHOLE STORY.
Those photos are typically accompanied by harrowing tales of the mess that these young people can make; messes that are impressive in both their variety and their quantity. We’ll spare you the details…
5kg Front Load Euromaid Washing Machine WM5
New parents would do well to invest in a decent washing machine when a baby’s joining the household, to not only keep their little romper suits clean, but to protect your own garments from the spread of nasties as well. An antibacterial mode can disinfect your laundry of any germs to keep everyone healthy, and an anti-allergy mode can also be helpful.
Induction Cooktop that doesn’t get hot
Newborns tend to be pretty sedentary, at least in the beginning, capable of not much more movement than some general grasping and sucking motions. But it’s not long before they start mastering their new limbs, and not long after that they start wanting to put them where they don’t belong.
“MAAAA! I wanna make the souffle!” (Source: Museum Victoria)
What’s more, your usual home routine is practically guaranteed to be disrupted by the arrival of an infant, and you could very well find yourself multitasking once simple household tasks while looking after a bundle of joy on one arm.
Westinghouse Induction Cooktop PHN644DU
So to reduce the risk of any kitchen accidents, an induction cooktop would be a great choice. As the cooking zones don’t actually get hot while in use, it greatly reduces the risk of any accidental burns for anyone in the house. Several induction cooktops also integrate auto-off modes so that if you are caught doing baby-maintenance for longer than you expect, you can be confident that your cooking will switch itself off if pots start to boil over.
Dishwasher with a baby-bottle setting
Following up on the whole “babies are adorable little filth machines” point from earlier, you’ll need to take extra effort to ensure that their environment remains clean, and that includes whatever they’re eating and drinking out of.
“No more for me – I’m driving.” (Source: Kidspot)
If your baby uses a bottle, you’ll want to keep it free of germs to prevent any nasty bacteria from getting into their developing immune system.
Thus, a dishwasher with an antibacterial baby bottle setting is ideal for young families, as this high-temperature mode can sterilise Junior’s favourite sippy cups so they’re nice and pristine when the time comes for them to slobber all over them again.
Food Processor for making baby food
Once the bub starts moving up to solids, there are many options, from commercial tubs of baby food to sorting out the youngster’s diet yourself.
“…what?”
By taking a collection of simple fruits and veggies and placing them in a food processor, you can reduce them to the kind of mushy consistency that’s best enjoyed by someone with no teeth.
Breville Food Processor BFP400
With a powerful enough processor, just about anything can be reduced to the consistency of paste in this way, though there are limits – we wouldn’t recommend doing it to a steak dinner, for example.
PVR for busy parents
There’s a fair bit of controversy and debate over the relationship between kids and TVs, but that’s primarily a concern for a few years later in their life.
While they’re still infants, reliant on their parents to fulfil their every need, kids are more likely to be the ones preventing the parents from getting their fix of telly time.
Humax HDR-7500T HD Digital Video Recorder 500GB PVR (HDR7500T)
Adding a PVR to your home theatre setup is a great idea when you’ve got a newborn demanding your attention at all hours of the day and night, as their time-shifting and recording features will let you catch up on your favourite shows in your own time, no matter how many feeds and lullabies you get called away to sort out.
Aircons and Air Purifiers for relaxed, healthy homes
When summer rolls around and the heat gets unbearable, the baby will let you know how displeased it is at the top of its lungs. Likewise when it gets bitterly cold in the winter.
“Read my lips: It. Is. Too. Hot!” (Source: Carole Arsenault)
And they don’t usually respond well to reasonable explanations for these regular seasonal changes – they want to feel comfortable, right now!
Mitsubishi 3.5kW Reverse Cycle Spilt System Inverter Air Conditioner MSZGE35KIT3
A reverse-cycle air conditioner can be really handy for keeping a small child content though the tougher seasons, not to mention the parents, and if you invest in a model with HEPA filters, you can also keep allergens and bacteria out of the home’s air to better manage childhood asthma and the like.
Vacuums for a more hygienic home
We’ve already mentioned a few times how keeping you home clean is important for ensuring that your newborn stays happy and healthy. After all, once they start crawling, you don’t want them to be covered in dust every time you pick them back up, right?
If the ads of yesteryear are to be believed, babies can get very dusty and need regular vacuuming, not unlike dogs.
So a decent vacuum cleaner is great for keeping the nasty dust, dirt and germs out of your carpets and other surfaces, to limit the amount of filth the kid’s likely to crawl through.
Plus, as the above video shows, they’re great for entertaining the little tykes.
Wine Storage Cabinet for parental relief and long-term investment
After a long day of taking care of Junior, you might find one of these very inviting.
35 Btls Vintec Wine Storage Cabinet V30SGMEBK
One idea could be to pick up a bottle of wine suited to a long-term maturation when the kid is born, and use a wine storage cabinet to preserve it under controlled conditions for the next eighteen years, whereupon you can proudly present the vintage bottle to your offspring – who probably will be very confused and would actually much prefer a car.
Got any baby advice for the royal couple? Was there anything you wish you had when you were raising a new baby? Let us know!
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