The Unforgettable Journey: Welcoming Your Newborn Home

The Unforgettable Journey: Welcoming Your Newborn Home

The day has arrived, etching itself in your memory forever—the day you embark on the journey of taking your precious bundle of joy home for the first time. As you leave the confines of the hospital, a mix of excitement and nervousness fills the air. You, as parents, are now solely responsible for your baby's well-being. Anticipation builds as you eagerly anticipate introducing your newest family member to the world.

To ensure a smooth and safe first car ride for your baby, here are invaluable guidelines that will help you navigate this momentous occasion flawlessly, allowing everyone to arrive ready to bask in the joyous celebration.

Prioritize Safety

Safety is paramount when it comes to your baby's travel, even from the earliest days. It is mandatory to use an approved car seat, specially designed for newborns. You have options like a capsule or a rear-facing convertible car seat. For added convenience, consider a versatile travel system, such as the Maxi-Cosi Mico 30, Carbiofix, or Pebble Pro i-Size, which can be seamlessly integrated with a compatible pram.

Pro Tip: It's a wise idea to practice installing your car seat in advance, even before your baby arrives. You can gain confidence by simulating the process using a bag of flour or a doll. This way, you'll be well-prepared to efficiently and correctly secure your precious passenger when the long-awaited day finally dawns.

Ideally, position the car seat in the center of the rear seat as it minimizes the risk of injury in case of a side-impact collision. However, practicality may dictate otherwise, as the center seat can be elevated due to the drive shaft and less accessible from the curb. In such cases, the right or left side of the rear seat is a suitable alternative. Many parents opt to install the car seat on the passenger side, as it provides easy access from the footpath.

Pro Tip: If you find yourself uncertain about the installation process, consider using Isofix fittings for your car seat. Most modern vehicles are equipped with Isofix, a user-friendly system that simplifies the installation of car seats compared to the traditional seatbelt method. Cars with Isofix have lower anchors, which are metal bars found in the seat's crease where the upper and lower cushions meet. Isofix significantly reduces the risk of improper installation, ensuring enhanced safety for your little one.

Pro Tip: Remember, never hold your baby in your arms while traveling in the car. Not only is it illegal but also extremely dangerous. Always secure your baby in an appropriate car seat.

Ensure Comfortable Travel

Babies are delicate beings who can quickly become either overheated or chilled. Strive to create a cozy and comfortable environment for your little one during the car ride. While keeping them warm is essential, be cautious not to overdress or add too many layers that may lead to overheating.

Pro Tip: During hot weather, remember to use sunscreens to protect your baby from harmful rays, even when traveling in the car. However, avoid swaddling your baby before placing them in the car seat, as this can hinder their comfort and safety.

As you embark on this unforgettable journey, may these guidelines serve as your compass, ensuring a safe and comfortable first car ride for your precious baby. Embrace the joy, cherish the milestones, and create beautiful memories as you welcome your little one into the world.

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Your Tommee Tippee Bottle Questions Answered

Choosing the right bottle for your baby takes more thought than most people expect. Below we've answered the questions Kiwi parents ask us most often about Tommee Tippee. If you need more help, our team at Babies.co.nz is always happy to assist — call us on 09 274 3099 or visit our Auckland showroom in East Tamaki.

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Both use the same wide, breast-shaped teat design — the difference is in how they handle air reduction. Closer to Nature has a built-in anti-colic valve in the teat that reduces air ingestion during feeds. Advanced Anti-Colic goes further, with a heat-sensing tube at the bottom of the bottle that actively vents air out of the milk before it reaches your baby. For most babies, Closer to Nature is plenty. For babies with more significant colic, wind, or reflux, Advanced Anti-Colic is the better choice.

Yes — the Closer to Nature range is one of the most recommended bottles for combination feeding. The wide, breast-shaped teat encourages the same broad latch breastfed babies use at the breast, reducing the risk of nipple confusion. Always start with a slow flow teat for a breastfed baby regardless of age, and introduce the bottle around three to four weeks once breastfeeding is well established.

For many parents, yes. The Natural Start glass bottle is made from premium borosilicate glass — odour-free, heat resistant, and very easy to sterilise. It's particularly practical in the newborn period when you're sterilising frequently and mostly feeding at home. The main trade-offs are weight and the risk of breakage. Many parents use glass at home and plastic when out and about.

Start with slow flow for all newborns — whether breastfed or formula fed. Move up to variable flow when your baby shows signs of frustration, takes too long to finish feeds, or falls asleep before finishing. Fast flow suits confident, efficient feeders from around six months. Always let your baby's cues guide the decision rather than age alone.

Yes — both ranges include anti-colic features. Closer to Nature has a built-in anti-colic valve that reduces air ingestion. Advanced Anti-Colic takes this further with an active venting system that removes air bubbles from the milk during the feed. For babies with significant colic, the Advanced Anti-Colic bottle is the stronger solution. For a more powerful anti-colic system, Dr Brown's bottles use a fully internal vent system that is clinically proven to reduce colic.

The Perfect Prep Machine makes a fresh, perfectly mixed, body-temperature formula bottle in under two minutes — safely. It delivers a shot of hot water (over 70°C) to kill bacteria in the formula powder, then tops the bottle up to the correct volume with filtered water at room temperature. The result is a safe, correctly mixed bottle at the ideal feeding temperature, every time. The Day and Night version adds a quiet pump and soft night light for night feeds. It requires replacement filters every three months — available at Babies.co.nz.

As a guide: 2–3 bottles for occasional bottle feeding of a breastfed baby; 4–6 for combination feeding; 6–8 for exclusive formula feeding. The Closer to Nature 260ml 3-pack is the most practical starting point as it gives you enough bottles for a full day without constant washing.

Yes — all Closer to Nature, Advanced Anti-Colic, and Natural Start glass bottles and teats are dishwasher safe on the top rack. Replace teats every two to three months or sooner if you notice any thinning, stickiness, or discolouration.

Shop the full Tommee Tippee range online at Babies.co.nz with nationwide delivery, or visit our Auckland showroom in East Tamaki. We stock bottles, teats, the Perfect Prep Machine, sterilisers, breast pumps, and the full Tommee Tippee range. Price Match available and 5% back in Rewards on every purchase.

Both are excellent, widely trusted brands. Tommee Tippee's Closer to Nature teat is slightly softer and more flexible, which some babies find easier to latch onto. Philips AVENT's Natural Response teat uses a unique J-shape that releases milk only when your baby actively drinks — a more precise mimicry of breastfeeding. AVENT also offers more granular teat flow options (six levels vs Tommee Tippee's three). If you're combination feeding and want the most breast-like bottle experience, AVENT Natural Response is worth comparing. If you want a trusted, simple bottle with strong anti-colic performance, Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature is hard to beat. Read our full Philips AVENT buying guide →

The key difference is anti-colic power. Dr Brown's internal vent system is clinically proven to reduce colic and is the stronger solution for babies with significant wind or reflux. Tommee Tippee's anti-colic valve (Closer to Nature) and heat-sensing tube (Advanced Anti-Colic) are effective for most babies but less comprehensive than Dr Brown's approach. On the other hand, Tommee Tippee is simpler to clean — fewer parts, no internal vent tube to wash — and the breast-shaped teat is widely regarded as one of the best for combination feeding. Read our full Dr Brown's buying guide →

Most paediatric guidance recommends transitioning from a bottle to a cup around 12 months. Tommee Tippee makes this easy with their integrated cup and sippy range. The transition from bottle to sippy cup is smoother when you stay within the same brand — the familiar Tommee Tippee feel and quality helps babies accept the change more readily.