Learn As Much As You Can About Newborns
I honestly think the best way to mentally prepare for a new baby is to learn as much as you possibly can. Learn about different types of baby poop, what is normal baby behavior and whats not, how much should they be eating and sleeping, etc. Read books, listen to podcasts, read articles, watch youtube videos. After you have a baby you will instantly start to worry about every little thing and arming yourself with knowledge will help ease that worry a little bit.
Prepare For A Baby With Your Employer
First tell your supervisor at work you are pregnant. This way if you are sick, have restrictions, or are not yourself, they will understand why. Second, if your job is strenuous on the body, there are restrictions for pregnant women and they need to know your job may need to change. Lastly, contact human resources to see what you need to do to prepare for maternity leave. Check on what is covered and the different options that are available.
Figure out if you will return back to work after the baby or be able to stay at home.
What Clothes Does A New Baby Actually Need
May 24, 2020 by Kami
Planning your babys closet and deciding which clothes to add to your baby registry is fun and exciting. Baby clothes are cute and your baby will look cute in them! Although as a new parent, there are things to learn when it comes to baby clothes and you may have some questions. How many clothes of each size should I get? How fast will my baby grow? What should I register for? What clothes does a new baby actually need?
These are actually hard questions to answer and every baby is different. Babies are born at different sizes and grow at different paces. Generally, you do not need as many baby clothes as you may think.
I see websites and baby registry helpers recommending way too many baby clothes to expectant mothers. Half the items they recommend your new baby will never wear. Besides, I dont believe in buying clothes to have just in case your baby needs it. Everything that was in my babys closet they wore .
Read on to see how baby clothes work and why there are not many clothes a new baby needs. Furthermore, I will share tips on how to save money when it comes to baby clothes.
Also Check: What Books To Read To Newborns
Build A Strong Support System
Sabrina Greeneâs husband is in the military, and until recently, she was too. They, and their four kids, ranging from 1 to 8 years old, have had to move around a lot. That experience taught the Norfolk, VA, mom that âestablishing a support network of friends and family is extremely important. All moms and dads want the best for their kids and want to be there for them, and unfortunately, that’s not always possible,â Greene says.
Try to always have someone on standby that you can call for last-minute child care, even if itâs just to give you and your partner a chance to have a quiet dinner alone. If you donât have loved ones nearby, look for a parent group to join. You may also be able to turn to neighbors for help.
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Choose A Healthcare Provider
As soon as you see those two pink lines appear, its time to start shopping around for an OBGYN or a midwife depending on the type of birth experience youre hoping to have. A midwife can help you have a more personalized and natural birth with fewer medical interventions, while an OBGYN is your best choice if you have a serious medical condition or plan on having a C-section.
Other factors you should take into consideration are recommendations from friends, your personal connection with the provider, and whether your health insurance covers their services.
For more tips, read: How to choose an OBGYN
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Best For Use In Showers: Summer Foldaway Baby Bath
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Needs to be inflated
No tub? No problem! This baby bathtub can be filled in the shower for your little one to use for bathtime. The liner needs to be inflated, but provides a soft cushion for baby to stay comfortable while staying safe with skid-resistant vinyl.
The tub can also fold in half, making it perfectly compact, especially if you only have a shower to work with. You can store it under the bathroom sink or take it with you while on the go.
Dimensions: 5.4 x 15.4 x 17.7 inches | Weight Limit: Not Listed | Product Weight: 3.8 pounds | Material: Plastic and vinyl
Life With Your Partner
Your partner probably feels a bit fragile after the rigors of childbirth. Whether they gave birth by C-section or vaginally, they will be sore and may have some bleeding and vaginal discharge for several weeks. They may have painful urination or involuntary leakage of urine, called urinary incontinence. On top of all that, they may have problems with constipation or hemorrhoids from the strain of delivery. If they delivered vaginally, bleeding could last longer if they had a vaginal tear. Recovery from a C-section requires that they limit their activity for a few weeks. It’s enough to shorten anyone’s fuse.
What you can do:
- Pitch in as much as possible.
- Help out by doing the household heavy lifting: grocery shopping, laundry, and meals.
- Be patient, especially when it comes to physical contact. It may take anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks for them to heal completely, and even then they may not be ready for sex. Let them take the lead, and show affection with your hugs and kisses. They also may appreciate the occasional foot rub.
Breastfeedingmay not be a breeze. While it seems like it should come naturally, breastfeeding isn’t easy for all moms and babies. Your partner may get frustrated if your baby has trouble feeding. They may have sore nipples at first while your baby learns to latch on properly. Some women get clogged milk ducts, which can be a painful problem. And because the baby needs to eat every 2 to 3 hours, mom isn’t getting a lot of sleep either.
What you can do:
Also Check: How To Help A Constipated Newborn Baby
Watch For Baby Item Sales & Deals
Start watching for deals and sales and stocking up on baby essentials like diapers and wipes. It may be hard to know exactly which diaper your baby will use as not all diapers work for all babies, however at first babies go through so many diapers you will surely use them. Furthermore, get to know the prices and what is a good deal or sale on baby essentials like diapers and wipes.
Breastfeeding Vs Formula Feeding
Decide if you are going to try breastfeeding or formula feeding. For more on how to prepare for breastfeeding click here. Also think about if you will you be pumping at all. If you will be going back to work and breastfeeding you will need to pump at work . Lots of insurances cover the cost of a breast pump so check into your insurance and see what they offer.
Read Also: How Much Formula Should You Feed A Newborn
Feeding And Burping Your Baby
Whether feeding your newborn by breast or a bottle, you may be stumped as to how often to do so. Generally, it’s recommended that babies be fed on demand whenever they seem hungry. Your baby may cue you by crying, putting fingers in his or her mouth, or making sucking noises.
A newborn baby needs to be fed every 2 to 3 hours. If you’re breastfeeding, give your baby the chance to nurse about 1015 minutes at each breast. If you’re formula-feeding, your baby will most likely take about 23 ounces at each feeding.
Some newborns may need to be awakened every few hours to make sure they get enough to eat. Call your baby’s doctor if you need to wake your newborn often or if your baby doesn’t seem interested in eating or sucking.
If you’re formula-feeding, you can easily monitor if your baby is getting enough to eat, but if you’re breastfeeding, it can be a little trickier. If your baby seems satisfied, produces about six wet diapers and several stools a day, sleeps well, and is gaining weight regularly, then he or she is probably eating enough.
Another good way to tell if your baby is getting milk is to notice if your breasts feel full before feeding your baby and less full after feeding. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about your child’s growth or feeding schedule.
If your baby tends to be gassy, has gastroesophageal reflux, or seems fussy during feeding, try burping your little one after every ounce during bottle-feeding or every 5 minutes during breastfeeding.
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Clothing On Baby Registry
Don’t register for too many clothing items in small sizes. Your newborn will outgrow them quickly! If you add clothing to your registry, make sure to choose some clothing in bigger sizes so that you’re prepared later on as your baby grows.
Chances are you’ll receive tons of newborn sized clothing as gifts anyway. Don’t cut the tags off just yet! Sort through what you receive and choose what items you’re most likely to use. Anything extra can be exchanged for bigger sizes as you need them.
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Gear You Can Practice With
You might not use this stuff on day one , but having it ready and testing it out can be better than trying to learn it after your baby comes along.
A stroller. You will definitely want a stroller. Babies love stroller rides, you will love going for walks for fresh air and getting out of the house.
A baby monitor. Parents were just fine for millennia without baby monitors, but they are pretty darn handy. We go deep on baby monitors here, along with our picks for best baby monitor across several key categories.
Assorted other baby gear. Baby carriers, bath supplies, a nasal suction devicetheres lots of handy stuff out there. Poke around, get educated.
We break down our battle-tested list of baby and newborn essentials here.
How Often Do You Want To Do Laundry
How often you want to do laundry can also determine how much clothing your baby needs. As I mentioned earlier, you may go thru 3 outfits some days. So depending on how often you want to do laundry could determine how much clothes a new baby needs.
Although please note, poop and spit up stains wont come out well if they sit for a week first so some laundry cant wait for a few days to be done.
Recommended Reading: When Is Best Time To Give Newborn A Bath
Get Ready For Sleepless Nights
Its pretty common knowledge that the second you say hello to your new baby you say goodbye to a decent nights rest for the next 6 months to a year or two if you decide to co-sleep like I do. So how can you prepare for sleepless nights? Here are some ideas: Both parents should get lots of rest in the weeks leading up to babys due date, make some energizing smoothies in batches and freeze them, stock up on your favorite caffeinated tea or coffee, stock up on these 27 foods that give you more energy!
The Whole Home Stockpile Basic Bottom
When youre recovering, not sleeping and figuring out how to exist that first week or so, likely even the thought of going out in public will send you back under the covers in sweatpants. The idea of taking a trip to get weekly groceries wouldnt have even been funny
Heres another live and learn circumstance I WISH I would have done and will not mess up this second time around now that we are awaiting the arrival of baby #2. Do your future self a giant favor and grab these household necessities a few weeks, at least, before your due date.
Also, having a delivery service ready to ship things to our door within 48 hours wasa breath of fresh air. We were able to order anything from food to diapers and have it at our doorstep without leaving the house. Thank you, Amazon. Auto-order for things like wipes and diapers while saving money is fantastic too. Check out Amazon Prime here.
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Read About Being A Father
One of the best things a soon-to-be father can do to prepare for a newborn is lots and lots of reading. This is especially important for first-time fathers because there is so much information they are clueless about when it comes to pregnancy and newborns. Here are some great book recommendations for new fathers: Dude, Youre Gonna Be a Dad!, Dads Pregnant Too, and Its a dad!
Preparing For Baby: 10 Things To Do Before You Give Birth
Whether you are expecting your first child or your fourth, giving birth can be a roller coaster of emotions. Having a new baby can be pure bliss, but it can also be equally exhausting and overwhelming. Particularly during the newborn phase, you may find once routine tasks difficult due to either lack of time, lack of energy or both.
To help you prepare for baby, here are 10 things to do before you give birth that will help you savor those precious, fleeting newborn moments.
1. Prepare All the Baby Gear
Before the baby arrives you should have certain things purchased, assembled, and tested to make sure they work and you know how to use them. Were firm believers in the less is more philosophy when it comes to baby gear. The most important essentials are a properly-installed car seat and a safe place for baby to sleep such as a bassinet or crib. If you plan to use other items like an infant swing or changing tables, youll want to assemble those as well. Some things you will not use until the baby is bigger such as an exersaucer, but if you have the storage space you may want to assemble everything you can while you have time.
This does not have to be seen as a huge chore as many people find decorating and furnishing a nursery enjoyable. Some women have nesting urges while pregnant, and this is the perfect place to funnel that energy. Having a completed nursery, plenty of seasonally appropriate clothes, diapers and wipes will give you peace of mind.
2. Make and Freeze Meals
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