What To Prepare For Newborn

Things To Consider When Deciding How To Feed Your Baby

If you have not decided how you will feed your baby, its important to discuss this with your midwife, doctor or nurse first. The list below has things to consider before you decide.

• Breastfeeding is the best way to feed your baby.
• The cost of infant formula and feeding equipment on your household budget.
• The time involved in preparing formula compared to the convenience of breastfeeding.
• Giving infant formula to a breastfed baby will reduce your breast milk supply.
• If you decide not to breastfeed or to stop breastfeeding, it is possible to restart but it will be difficult.
• For some women, establishing breastfeeding is more difficult than for others, but with the right support, most mothers can breastfeed.

Healthy eating while breastfeeding is important, but if you are worried about the quality of your diet, dont let that stop you from breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is still the best option for your baby see Eating for Healthy Breastfeeding Women , available at www.healthed.govt.nz

Check One Thing Off At A Time

After you go through this post, I hope you have clarity on how to prepare for a newborn. If you still feel overwhelmed with everything you have to do, my tip for you is to check one thing off your new baby checklist at a time and start preparing early. I even created an actual new baby checklist you can print out and keep on your fridge, sign up to receive it below. Just take a deep breath, dont stress, and check things off as you go. You got this!

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!

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Select Your Healthcare Provider

ou can call and make an appointment while you are still pregnant. This will give you a chance to begin getting to know one another. You can also ask any questions you have about your baby’s care, such as:

• How soon after you’re discharged from the hospital should you bring your baby in for a first visit?

• Does your provider’s office have scheduled telephone hours for non-emergency questions?

Baby Stuff Youll Want Ready To Go On Day 1

Your babys crib or bassinet. Theyve gotta sleep somewhere, and somewhere safe. Buy a crib or bassinet that meets safety standards, or if you want to splurge for more sleep, check out the Snoo smart sleeper bassinet.

Car seat. Again, youve got to get your baby home from the hospital, and then transport them around. And we hate to break it to you, but if you have two cars, youre probably going to need 2 car seatsmoving them is a hassle, and can reduce safety if youre hurriedly trying to install them before each ride.

A one-month supply of diapers, wipes, clothing, and supplies. Youre not going to want to be running out to the store frequently for baby stuff. Undoubtedly you will, but the more stock you have the better . Quick clothing note: you dont need fancy stuff. Babies grow fast, people will likely buy you clothes. That 5-pack of onesies from target will be just fine, your baby will still be super cute in them.

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What Does A Night Nurse Do

You may have heard about night nurses. A night nurse gives your baby bottles and changes their diapers overnight.

If youre breastfeeding, a night nurse may bring baby to you to feed, then change them and put them back to sleep. Or you can choose to pump and have your night nurse give your baby bottles overnight if you choose.

The cost for a night nurse may range from $25 an hour to several hundred dollars per hour, depending on your location and the experience of the night nurse.

Raw Milk Baby Formula

Makes 36 ounces.

Our milk-based formula takes account of the fact that human milk is richer in whey, lactose, vitamin C, niacin, and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids compared to cows milk but leaner in casein . The addition of gelatin to cows milk formula will make it more digestible for the infant. Use only truly expeller-expressed oils in the formula recipes, otherwise they may lack vitamin E.

The ideal milk for baby, if he cannot be breastfed, is clean, whole raw milk from old-fashioned cows, certified free of disease, that feed on green pasture. For sources of good quality milk, see www.realmilk.com or contact a local chapter of the Weston A. Price Foundation.

If the only choice available to you is commercial milk, choose whole milk, preferably organic and unhomogenized, and culture it with a piima or kefir culture to restore enzymes (available from G.E.M. Cultures 253-588-2922.

Ingredients

1. Available from Radiant Life 888-593-8333, www.radiantlifecatalog.com.2. Earlier versions of this web page called for 1 tsp of bifidobacterium infantis and 1 tsp of acerola powderthese were typos.3. Use only recommended brands of cod liver oil. See our recommendations here.4. We do not recommend collagen hydrolysate, but only recommended brands of gelatin listed in our Shopping Guide.

Instructions

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Newborn Checklist: Preparing For Your Baby

Welcoming a new baby is one of the most joyous experiences in life. It also can be one of the most overwhelming. If you are wondering what all you need to care for your newborn, theres no need to panic. With a little planning and using our checklist of essentials, youll find yourself prepared for your babys debut.

• Choose the right pediatrician:

You should choose a pediatrician by the seventh month of pregnancy. This allows you to make an informed decision versus one made in the haste and excitement following birth. Schedule a get to know you meeting with any prospective pediatrician. Childrens Physicians pediatricians do not charge for this initial visit.

• Install a secure car seat:

Nebraska law requires that newborns be secured in a car safety seat when leaving the hospital, so buying and installing a car seat is a must when prepping for your new baby. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all infants ride in a rear-facing car seat or rear-facing convertible seat from the moment they leave the hospital until age 2. Remember: never place a rear-facing car seat in the front seat of a car that has an airbag.

• Prepare a sleeping space for baby:

• Purchase necessary breastfeeding or bottle- feeding supplies:

• Purchase the necessary supplies:

• Nice-to-have items:

How Can Mothers Prepare Themselves For A Newborn Baby

Bringing a new baby into the family is a big deal for everyone, but lets be honest here its the hardest on the mother! Not only does she carry the baby for 40 plus weeks and give birth, but the postpartum stage for new mothers is extremely hard both physically and mentally. Being sufficiently prepared for everything that happens after the baby is born can be very helpful. Here are a few things I think every mother should do to prepare themselves for a newborn baby:

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My Mission For This Post Is To Help Out Overwhelmed Soon

Those first few newborn weeks will mostly be spent at home. The only time you will be leaving the house is to go to doctors appointments, maybe run some errands or go for walks. So you dont really need much when it comes to travel. I do think you need two things and an optional third.

1. Car Seat // You cant leave the hospital without an infant car seatso its a must-have, obviously. If you are having a home birth, you still need a car seat. If there is an emergency or you need to leave the house for some reason, you need a car seat right from the start.

2.Diaper Bag // I debated if I should add a diaper bag to the need list because I have yet to own an actual diaper bag for my 19-month-old and we are surviving just fine. However, you do need some kind of bag to keep diapers, wipes, change of clothes, etc when you leave the house. That bag could be a paper bag, I mean I dont recommend that , but the bottom line is you will need some kind of bag to keep your babies things in.

Optional: Stroller // I honestly dont think you need a stroller those first few newborn weeks. Personally, I never wanted to put my baby down for long periods of time. If you want to go for a walk, you can always wear your baby. The only time I would say a stroller is absolutely needed is if you had a c-section and shouldnt be carrying your baby for long periods of time. Otherwise, you could probably wait a few weeks before purchasing a stroller.

Things To Do Before Having A Baby

In my final weeks of figuring out how to prepare for baby #2, I am remembering some things that I did or WISH I had done last go-round.

Theres the initial freak out of,

Oh my gosh, I only have 3 weeks left, Ive got to get stuff done!

You frantically finish the nursery and clean the bathrooms. Then suddenly comes,

Oook, he was due 3 days agoIm readywhat do I do now?

Know the feeling???

Well, whatever stage you are in your preparing for baby checklist, Ive got some tips for you.

This is a very detailed baby preparations checklist

So if youre wondering what to do while waiting for baby, this third trimester checklist should cover all your bases.

Checking these tasks off of your to do list before baby comes will pay off, Mama. Thank yourself later.

Getting organized now will make settling into your life with a newborn much less stressful.

If youre looking specifically for last minute baby ITEMS to buy before birth, be sure to check out my other post when youre done with this one: Practical Baby Items to Buy Before Birth

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+ Weeks From Due Date

Get your hospital bags together. Youll want some essentials. Youll want them ready to go, like a secret agent grab bag.

Create a gameplan. What are you doing with the dog? How will you get to the hospital?

Consider freezing some meals. Time is not going to be your friend when the new baby comes. Neither is energy for cooking. A few weeks of meals in the freezer can be a lifesaver.

Your Bathroom Postpartum Bathroom Survival Prep

Preparing a postpartum care kit for your bathroom is essential for a quick and healthy recovery after labor and delivery. Stock up on a few items and check out 10 Unbelievable Postpartum Recovery Tips For Healing After A Vaginal Birth for more helpful tips and a more in-depth look at the necessities. Below are 10 basic necessities for recovery after a vaginal delivery. Trust me, you dont want to be running to the store after youve had a baby for more pads or Dermoplast.

Prepare your kit at least in your third trimester. Here are 9 absolutely necessary items:

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Do Essential Home Repairs

Patching holes in the wall and replacing lightbulbs? Who has time for that with a newborn! Get all those home repairs and minor renovations done before baby arrives. If you and your partner arent handy, consider hiring a handyman.

Airtasker is a great place to get competitive quotes for any job you need done. If you plan on having any painting done, remember to do your research on safer, Low VOC paints in order to protect you, your growing baby and the rest of your family. Here is a great resource for non-toxic paint vendors.

Safely Preparing Formula For Your Baby

Formula Video and Formula Tip Sheets

A Formula Preparation Video entitled Safely Preparing Formula For Your Baby and a series of 6 Tip Sheets are designed to assist families with the safe preparation of infant formula. Videos are available in English and French.

The 6 Tip Sheets cover the following topics:

• Tip Sheet #1- Informed Decision Making
• Tip Sheet #2- Getting Ready To Make Formula
• Tip Sheet #3- How To Prepare Ready-To-Feed Liquid Formula For Healthy Babies
• Tip Sheet #4- How To Prepare Concentrated Liquid Formula for Healthy Babies
• Tip Sheet #5- How To Prepare Powdered Formula For Healthy Babies
• Tip Sheet #6- How To Bottle Feed Your Baby And Transport Formula

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Supplying Your Home Appropriately For Your Newborn’s Arrival

It is recommended that you have the following items on hand before you bring your newborn home. However, you can purchase the minimal amount and always add more.