I’ve been through the “new baby” phase twice and I it’s due time that I share some of my treasured tips which helped me through the first year with a new baby.
Check out these 12 fabulous tips for new parents! Helpful and informative! #parentingtips Click To Tweet
Save Those Instructions!
All those wonderful toys, gadgets, and baby furniture come with instructions. Instead of shoving them in a drawer, keep them handy in plastic sleeves in a binder.
You would be surprised at how many times you may reference those manuals. Plus, if you decide to sell or give away your baby items, they’re much more appealing to the new owner when the items come with instructions!
Prepare Your Pets
A few hours before you come home with baby, get your partner/family member/friend to bring a onesie (or blanket that the baby has been using) home to the family pets.
Let the pets smell the item and leave it with them for a few hours. When you come home with baby, your animals may be a little more settled, as they will already be familiar with baby’s scent.
Keep A Journal
For those first few months, make sure to keep a journal of baby’s routine… how much he/she eats, how long he/she rests for, what his/her “output” is.
All of these things come in handy when at you’re at the doctor’s office and trying to answer various questions. When you’re an exhausted new parent, it can be challenging to recall how often your baby poops.
Have A Bag Of Fun!
A bag of fun is great for outings. We have a bag with toys that our baby gets ONLY when we’re out of the house.
Have A Drawer Of Fun!
Eventually baby may dislike getting his/her diaper changed. Have a basket or drawer of assorted toys and rattles that are just given to him/her at diapering time.
Speaking Of Diaper Changes….
Prepare your diaper changing station with everything you need. Also, if the “drawer of fun” isn’t working for baby, try hanging a mobile over the change table.
Does your baby hate getting their diaper changed? Here are some great tips to handle an infant who resists diaper changes.
Laundry 101
Good grief, how can one little person produce so much laundry! I wish I thought of this earlier in my parenting career… avoid losing small items by washing all the teeny, tiny little items (like baby socks) in a lingerie bag.
Give Baby The Shirt Off Your Back
Speaking of laundry, don’t wash all of it! For the first few months of baby sleeping in their own crib, give them one of your “dirty” (smelly, sweaty) shirts to sleep with. Tie a firm knot in it (this keeps baby from getting stuck/tangled in it). They will love sleeping with something that smells like you.
Trust Your Instincts
You know your baby better than anyone in the world. Follow your instincts… guaranteed they’re more accurate than any Google search.
Speaking of Google…
When I had my first child, I often wondered how parents survived without the internet or search engines! As much as Google “helped”, it did create some unnecessary panic attacks, so use it carefully and sparingly.
Stay Away From Comparisons
I’m positive I’ve written about this before, so I apologize if I’m repeating myself.
You are a unique parent. Your child is a unique child. Avoid comparing yourself as a parent to other parents or your child to other children.
Comparisons often lead to unnecessary discontentment. Celebrate you and your child’s individuality and stay away from the “comparison game”.
Enjoy
I know it sounds cliche… but children really do grow up fast. Make sure to savour and celebrate all the little moments. Be present. Love. Enjoy.
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