Six big family moments that matter – and the products that make them easier to navigate

From nursery products for the home to stylish baby and children’s wear, toys and tech, these picks will help your growing brood navigate the memorable moments of family life.

Bringing home your baby

Becoming a parent is a life-changing moment, and bringing home your baby can be both exciting and daunting. However, there are some key newborn essentials that will make life with a baby easier.

As a new parent it’s natural to want to keep a close an eye on your child. A baby monitor is an essential gadget that can give you peace of mind and reassurance that everything is right with your little one, even when you’re not by their side. The Vtech RM7767HD Smart Video Baby Monitor (£199.99) has an HD camera with adjustable tilt and zoom that is controlled via a video app from your phone, meaning you won't miss a moment, even at night. To help settle your child, there is a two-way intercom and selection of lullabies and ambient sounds. There are also temperature, sound, movement and humidity sensors meaning you can ensure everything is just right, even when you’re in a different room.

Another key item to stock up for when you bring your child home is baby sleepsuits, a newborn staple. The John Lewis ANYDAY range has a variety of single and multipacks of long sleeve sleepsuits. Made of simple cotton with zip and popper fastenings, the suits are practical but durable and available in variety of colours, from neutrals through to bold patterns.

Making family mealtimes special

When your child moves on to solid food, it can be a positive step to involve them in meals at the table from the start. Those first tastes are a huge milestone, and they lead to lots of fun (and mess) in the months and years to come. Eating family meals together is a great bonding opportunity, and spending this time together is a special family tradition that lasts from the baby years and beyond.

To help mealtimes be a shared experience, the classic Stokke Tripp Trapp chair (£219), launched in 1972, is a highchair that fits at your dining table. As your child grows, the adjustable design coverts to a chair they can use at the table right up to adulthood. Available in a variety of colours and finishes to suit every stylish home, this design is a firm favourite that will grow with your family and stay in your home long past the baby and toddler days.

If you're on a tighter budget, consider the John Lewis ANYDAY Geo folding high chair, a snip at £31.50.

Your first family holiday together

Holidays will inevitably change once you have children, as you wave goodbye to relaxing breaks with hours spent round the pool, for now! But family holidays can still be a wonderful experience where special memories can be made.

Once you've got the fun stuff like kids swimwear sorted, it’s likely your first break as a family might also pose some trickier questions, like sleeping arrangements for your little one. What will the bed be like? What about the mattress? Have peace of mind on your holiday by taking your own travel cot. This means you can relax on your break stress-free and secure in the knowledge that your little one will have a safe and comfortable bed.

The Baby Bjorn Travel Cot Light (£220)

is a light and durable portable bed and mattress that makes safe sleeping away from home a dream. Weighing 6 kilos with no extra loose parts that need to be attached, it’s easy to set up and put down, and comes in a handy carry bag for when you’re travelling. The mesh sides are breathable for safe sleep, and mean you’re easily able to see the baby. You can also use it for a secure play pen when you’re away.

Moving your child from a cot to a toddler bed

Transitioning from your baby’s cot to their first toddler bed can seem like a big step, for both them and for you. Wondering when you should make the move? Some families think about this transition from around 18 months old, but many children sleep better staying in their cot until they’re closer to 3. It really does depend on your child and your family.

However ready your toddler seems, as a parent it’s natural to feel emotional at this step and apprehensive about how making such a big change will impact on their sleep and bedtime routine.

Ease the cot-to-bed transition by making sure your toddler is snug and secure in their new sleep space with the John Lewis Leon Toddler bed (£140). Thoughtfully designed with little rollers in mind, the bed has elevated sides to ensure there are no accidental falls out of bed and to give you and your child peace of mind as they move to the next stage of childhood. Sold in two different colourways, the simple, minimalist style of the Leon Toddler Bed will work with most room themes.

You can also help your child pick out their own set of bedding. The John Lewis little home range has a range of colours and patterns every toddler will love to cosy up in at night, starting from £10, and the ANYDAY range also offers some great affordable bedding options.

Moving to a bigger family home

As your family grows, it’s likely that you will need a home with more bedrooms and storage. Moving when you have small children can be hectic, but it’ll be worth it when you’re all settled in to a new place with lots of extra space for all the toys, games and play equipment.

When you’re buying new furniture for your new house, it’s a good move to invest in smart storage solutions for your children’s toys that will keep your new home tidy, organised and looking smart. It’s also helpful to have storage your kids can access themselves. This offers them more independence when it comes to picking what toys to play with, and – hopefully - tidying them up.

John Lewis offers a variety of storage options for bedrooms or playrooms in the little home range. Multi-purpose storage baskets are ideal for storing anything from toys to spare cushions and throws. The knitted storage baskets in the little home range are crafted from cotton and carefully designed with friendly animal patterns like the Lion Knitted Storage Basket (£22). They are easy to transport around the house to wherever play is happening.

Spending special time together as a family

As your children grow into the tween stage, family life becomes busy. Clubs, sports and after-school activities start to take over your evenings and weekends. Make the most of the family time you do get to spend together with fun activities everyone will look forward to, especially things that get you out and about exploring, having fun and staying active – you're never too old for an aqua slide (£29.99) or a round of Swingball (£24.99).

No doubt your older kids will also be active online, and as parents navigating this new life stage with your children, John Lewis is there to support and help with a new partnership with Internet Matters.

Nintendo Switch (from £259.99), a versatile gaming console that can be used as a portable, handheld gaming system or connected to a television for you to play as a group. The Nintendo Switch has a wide variety of games to suit all ages and tastes, from multi-player racing games like Mario Kart to competitive sport games like Nintendo Switch Sports. Or challenge your dance-loving tween to a dance-off with Just Dance 2023.

Warning, it could get competitive!