Postpartum Sitz Bath Herbs
Calendula, witch hazel, lavender
Why we picked it
Nobody thinks to buy this for a new mother, and the women we know who had it were glad of it. A short, recognizable ingredient list and ten quiet minutes that belong only to you.
Who it may be useful for
Women in the early weeks after a vaginal birth, once their midwife or OB has given the go-ahead to soak.
Good to know
- Wait for your provider's clearance if you had stitches or a caesarean
- You'll need a basin or a clean tub
Educational only — please discuss with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional before deciding whether it suits your circumstances.
Lanolin-Free Nipple Balm
Olive oil and beeswax base
Why we picked it
It doesn't need wiping off before a feed, and the ingredient list is short enough to read in the shop. It also works on chapped cheeks and knuckles, which is most of winter.
Who it may be useful for
Women in the first weeks of nursing, and anyone with a wool sensitivity who can't use lanolin.
Good to know
- Balm soothes soreness — it does not fix a shallow latch
- If feeding hurts beyond the first seconds, an IBCLC is the better spend
Educational only — please discuss with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional before deciding whether it suits your circumstances.
A Plain Lined Journal
Nothing clever, just paper
Why we picked it
Several women in the Village said the same thing: the guided journals made them feel behind. Blank pages ask nothing of you.
Who it may be useful for
Anyone who wants somewhere to put their thoughts without a prompt telling them how.
Good to know
- Lies flat, which matters more than it sounds
Maternity Belly Support Band
Adjustable through growth
Why we picked it
This is the most-asked-about item in Lissa's inbox. It lifts some weight off the lower back and pelvis, and one band adjusts across both trimesters rather than needing replacing.
Who it may be useful for
Women in the second and third trimester experiencing lower back, hip or pelvic pressure.
Good to know
- Intended for a few hours at a time rather than all day
- It eases a symptom — a pelvic floor physiotherapist addresses the cause
- Sizing runs inconsistently; read the chart rather than the label
Educational only — please discuss with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional before deciding whether it suits your circumstances.
Gentle Iron (Bisglycinate)
Non-constipating form
Why we picked it
Bisglycinate is the form women tell us they can actually tolerate. Low iron after birth is common and, when it is the cause, addressing it makes a real difference to how the weeks feel.
Who it may be useful for
Women whose blood work shows low ferritin — and only after that conversation with a provider.
Good to know
- Ask for a ferritin test, not only haemoglobin
- Too much iron is genuinely harmful; this is not one to guess at
- Absorbs better with vitamin C, and poorly alongside coffee, tea or dairy
Educational only — please discuss with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional before deciding whether it suits your circumstances.
Red Raspberry Leaf Tea
Organic, single ingredient
Why we picked it
A long tradition of use in the third trimester, and a warm caffeine-free ritual at the end of a long day. We'll be straight with you: the research on it is limited and mixed.
Who it may be useful for
Women in late pregnancy whose midwife or OB has said it's appropriate for them.
Good to know
- Evidence is currently limited and inconsistent
- Not for the first trimester — ask your provider when, and whether, to begin
Educational only — please discuss with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional before deciding whether it suits your circumstances.
One-Piece Silicone Teether
No beads, no filling
Why we picked it
Cold plus counter-pressure is the most dependable comfort there is, and a single solid piece has nothing to come apart or puncture.
Who it may be useful for
Babies from around three months who are chewing on everything.
Good to know
- Chill in the fridge, never the freezer — rock-hard makes sore gums worse
- Buy two so there's always a clean one
All-Purpose Baby Balm
Calendula, olive oil, beeswax
Why we picked it
One tin replaces about four bottles on the changing table. No fragrance, no dyes, and a list you can read without a search engine.
Who it may be useful for
Newborns onward, for dry cheeks, dry hands and the diaper area.
Good to know
- Not a barrier cream for significant diaper rash — that needs zinc
- Beeswax base, so not vegan
Simple Gripe Water
Four ingredients, not eleven
Why we picked it
One of the shortest ingredient lists on the shelf, with no sodium bicarbonate and no alcohol. Honestly: the evidence here is thin, and we'd rather say so than sell it to you.
Who it may be useful for
Babies over one month having a hard evening, where a provider has said it's fine.
Good to know
- Evidence is currently limited
- Not a colic treatment — nothing is
- Avoid formulas containing sodium bicarbonate or alcohol
Educational only — please discuss with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional before deciding whether it suits your circumstances.
Grass-Fed Ghee
High smoke point, shelf stable
Why we picked it
If you change one thing in your kitchen, the everyday cooking fat reaches more meals than anything else. Ghee holds up to real heat and lives beside the stove rather than in the fridge.
Who it may be useful for
Anyone doing most of their cooking on a hot pan. Often tolerated by dairy-sensitive households.
Good to know
- Milk solids are removed, but it is not suitable for a true dairy allergy
- Costs more per jar than a bottle of seed oil
Grass-Fed Beef Tallow
For hard searing and roasting
Why we picked it
The guide already sends you to tallow for anything that needs real heat, so it belongs on the shelf rather than only in the advice. It is stable at temperatures that would ruin a delicate oil, and a spoonful is enough for a whole tray of potatoes.
Who it may be useful for
Roasting, searing and anything cooked hot in a cast-iron pan. Naturally dairy-free, unlike ghee.
Good to know
- Rendered beef fat, so not suitable for vegetarian households
- Keeps for months in the cupboard, longer in the fridge
- It will smell savoury in the jar — that does not carry into what you cook
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Dark bottle, harvest date printed
Why we picked it
The best-studied fat in the world, and two rules will keep you from ever buying a bad bottle: dark glass, and a printed harvest date.
Who it may be useful for
Dressings, drizzling and gentle heat, in any kitchen.
Good to know
- Olive oil mislabeling is common — the harvest date is your tell
- Better below a hard sear; use ghee or tallow for that
Virgin Coconut Oil
Unrefined, cold-pressed
Why we picked it
It does double duty — baking and medium-heat cooking downstairs, dry skin and cradle cap upstairs. The most useful thing in the house under ten dollars.
Who it may be useful for
Households wanting fewer, more versatile things on the shelf.
Good to know
- The coconut flavour carries in unrefined versions
- Goes solid in a cold kitchen
Magnesium Lotion
Topical, cream base
Why we picked it
The lotion doesn't sting the way the oil spray does, which decides whether anyone keeps using it. Rubbing it into your calves at the edge of the bed becomes a wind-down in itself.
Who it may be useful for
Adults who find leg cramps disruptive at night and have checked with their provider first.
Good to know
- Absorption through skin is less studied than oral forms
- Ask your midwife or OB before using anything topical in pregnancy
Educational only — please discuss with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional before deciding whether it suits your circumstances.
Vitamin D3 Liquid Drops
Per-drop dosing
Why we picked it
Liquid drops let different people in the same house take different amounts from one bottle, which is both more accurate and considerably cheaper than buying three products.
Who it may be useful for
Households whose provider has advised vitamin D — the right amount depends on age, weight and blood level.
Good to know
- Ask your provider what's appropriate for each person rather than scaling a dose
- Fat-soluble, so it absorbs better taken with a meal containing fat
Educational only — please discuss with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional before deciding whether it suits your circumstances.
A One-Year Bible
Dated daily readings
Why we picked it
Dated pages remove the decision. On the mornings when you have four minutes and no capacity to choose, the page is already chosen for you.
Who it may be useful for
Anyone who has started and stopped a reading plan more than once.
Good to know
- Large-print editions exist and are worth it for bedside reading
Scripture Cards
For the windowsill and the diaper bag
Why we picked it
Something to prop against the kettle on a hard morning. Small, physical, and it doesn't require finding your phone.
Who it may be useful for
Anyone who wants encouragement somewhere other than a screen.
Good to know
- Look for a set with a stand if it's living on a counter
Family Wall Planner
One column per person
Why we picked it
The mental load gets lighter when it's visible to everyone rather than living in one person's head. A column each does more for a household than another app.
Who it may be useful for
Households where one person is quietly holding the whole schedule.
Good to know
- Get the one with more columns than you think you need
A Grippy, Forgiving Mat
Thicker than a studio mat
Why we picked it
Most postpartum movement happens on a living room floor with a baby nearby. A little extra cushioning makes that far more likely to actually happen.
Who it may be useful for
Anyone easing back into movement at home rather than in a class.
Good to know
- Check with your provider before restarting exercise after birth or surgery
Educational only — please discuss with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional before deciding whether it suits your circumstances.
Dinner Conversation Cards
Questions better than “how was school”
Why we picked it
Teenagers answer a card more readily than a parent. It's a small trick and it works more often than it doesn't.
Who it may be useful for
Families with school-age children and teens who have gone quiet at the table.
Good to know
- Look for a set aimed above the age of your youngest, not below
