So, you’ve made a human, aren’t you clever! No doubt you’ve been thinking at length about your upcoming labour, mulling over your birth plan and debating (or going hand to hand combat) with your significant other over baby names.
There’s so much going on right now that life AFTER labour might seem all too overwhelming to navigate. Well I got you mama. I have curated the best, no nonsense tips below to help cut through the noise. Let’s begin.
1. Checklist for preparing for baby’s arrival
Breathe, you don’t need everything in the baby store. Save your pennies for:
– Car seat
– Capsule (lifesaver for when bubs is sleeping)
– Bassinet on wheels so you can move he or she from room to room
– Bouncer, I recommend a vibrating one. They are the bomb 👊
– ergoPouch Swaddles A-mazing and they transition from swaddle to sleeping bag 👏👏👏
2. Borrow what you can from friends
Forget designer brands, I know they are pretty but not necessary. Save your money. You can have a baby on a budget.
3. Keep it simple
Don’t buy jeans and fancy clothing for a newborn. Seriously, put the kid in a onesie (like the ergoPouch layers, long sleeve sleepwear) and for the love of god, make sure they’ve got zippers NOT buttons, trust me.
4. Just do you
Breastfeeding, formula or a mix of both, just do you sweetheart. Happy mama, happy bubba.
5. Ignore unsolicited baby advice
Smile and nod to all the well-meaning advice givers, then do whatever the eff you want. You know what’s best for you and your child.
6. Say YES to help when you have a new baby
When your loved ones ask you what you need, tell them dinner! Having a stockpile of nutritious, freezable meals is a huge relief. Alternatively, there are heaps of healthy meal delivery services, vouchers would make the perfect gift for new parents.
7. Say no
Allow yourself time at home with your family to heal and get to know your baby without outside pressures or stress. Visitors can wait – in fact they have to at the moment.
8. Be prepared for baby’s arrival
Make up a little medicine kit for baby with saline nose drops and snot sucker (I know, gross), paracetamol, nappy rash cream and gripe water so you’re not caught out in the middle of the night with a sick child. Google your local pharmacies online and find out who delivers. Get your hospital bag ready with everything you will need for mum and bub.
9. Implement a good night routine to help baby (and you!) sleep
Give bubs a nice warm bath, then dream feed at 10pm. You can thank me later. Our community share their newborn routines that work for their family.
10. Useful apps to help when preparing for baby’s arrival
Download The Baby Diaries quick smart. It’s a free and easy to use app (iOS and Android) that lets you keep track of baby’s feeds, sleep, change times, medical and milestone achievements. A lifesaver for a tired mama’s brain – hallelujah!
We asked our community for their tips on preparing for baby’s arrival
- We mentally prepared for the worst. Non stop crying. No sleep. Reflux. Colic. Poonamis etc. Everything was a breeze because it was never as bad as we anticipated. Lindsey
- Go with your mum gut instinct and don’t be afraid to ask for help you aren’t failing if you ask for help. Tymeka
