Tips & tricks for expectant parents!
I posted a story the other night on Instagram, because I want to give parents to be, all the little tips and tricks that parents learn as they go, but wish they had known beforehand. With a smaller than ever village around us at the moment, these often ‘small’ but life saving tips can just be the thing to make life so much easier as a new parent.
I by no means recommend any or all of these products, I didn’t have half the products that are listed, but hope this gives you some insight and feeling of a community here to help you! Its pretty clear that mums who have been there before are pretty passionate about making sure the new mums know it’s ok to ask for and accept all the help they can/need. Trusting yourself is also another major theme that keeps popping up.
Personally, my favourite bought products were a baby carrier- priceless-I love my ergo carrier but there are lots on the market. I loved my co-sleeping bassinet as well, but its not for everyone. I found a capsule a great investment, especially with number 2 & 3.
Spew rags (old school cloth nappies), button up singlets, and water wipes are my favourite baby items.
And my biggest advice, educate yourselves on birth & baby. Communication. What expectations do you both have and are they realistic?! Rest, don’t let guilt take over the joy, and know you are doing so much more than ’just being a mum/dad’!!
TRUST YOURSELF!
So here they are. Word for word just as other (mostly) mum’s wrote it, in no particular order.
Products that weren’t just a waste of money-
I love my thermal temp reader
A black backpack nappy bag as it meant my husband didn’t feel like he was carrying a handbag
A good breastpump!!! Especially before going home from hospital
Ergo baby carrier, made the supermarket achievable and no baby in a. dirty trolley
Frozen meals
Carrier/wrap. I wear my babies everywhere
Love to dream swaddles
Nose Frieda nose sucker for all the stubborn little snots
Velco baby bouncer
Gro egg!
Baby wrap! The magic of having hands again
Puppy pads under Bub when changing nappy! I think they make proper baby ones now!
A carrier! I still use it most days
Cloth nappies as spew cloths (she spews all the time!) and haakaa for letdown!
Nappy bin! Brilliant
Pram, walking kept me sane and the baby sleeping!
Coffee machine
Definitely a carrier!!
Wine! Baby Bjorn? Jolly Jumper!
Capsule was so handy especially one that fitted into a pram
Ergo carrier
Baby carrier! Keeps a crying baby happy and your arms free
baby bouncer!
Carrier, jogger for two children
White noise machine!
A swing for a second baby to keep them off the floor
Ergo carrier, wrap or sling! Could not function without it
Those silicone bibs that catch everything
Baby swing. Pram is a no brainer. Baby love to dream swaddles
Riff raff toy, snuggle hunny wraps, love to dream sleeping suit
woven wrap! worked from birth to toddler. Best investmentent!
Fisher Price bouncer kept my hands free
Number one tip to help adjust to parenthood?
Let your husband/partner help, 5 years in and I still rely on my teammate in this game
No one ever told me that I may not bond right away, and that’s ok
Ask for help!! (and tell them what you actually need)
Don’t be too proud for help, gather your community around you
Sitting on the floor of the shower with a glass of wine is therapy
Its smart to accept help- whether it be a casserole, an hours baby holding
Listen to your inner, your quiet knowing above others loud telling
Get through that day. Tomorrow will be different. Do what works for you and your family
Accept help, ask for help!
Trust your own intuition
Go with your gut instinct. ALWAYS
Don’t rush back into normality! Enjoy the first 8 weeks of skin to skin and slow days at home
Be kind to yourself and ask for help and also the housework can wait
Simplify….inform….support…identify Her unique needs and how they can be met…
Drop all expectations and go with the flow!
Take each hour as it comes, try to shake it off and move on. We cannot always be superwoman
You are not a bad or selfish person for feeling sad your life has changed. Its an adjustment
Trust your instincts and use a lactation nurse
Check in with each other
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
If you feel like somethings not right out probably isnt! You may need a 2nd, 3rd, 4th opinion
Don’t set high expectations, just go with it
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. weed out all the opinions for actually helpful ones
Little extra tips-
Willy down!
An elastic maternity bra over a clip up one, so much easier to manage with a screaming baby
late bed time after bath and feed when little EVERY NIGHT
Cover little boy’s willy
Don’t even bother with clothes that don’t have built in socks and mittens that can flip in/out
That onsie singlets can slide over the shoulders when there’s a poo explosion
Becoming a mum can be lonely
If breastfeeding isn’t coming naturally and you want to continue, ask for professional help
Its harder than people tell you, but its so worth it
First few weeks: bum change, feed, sleep, occasionally wash for baby and you
You know more about your Bub than anyone
Trust your instincts and don’t worry so much. it will get done.
Embrace the cuddles because they don’t last long!
Ignore those who say your ‘spoiling’ your baby letting them sleep on or with you!
Have wipes in every possible place in the house, car & bags!
take olive or coconut oil to hospital to help get off the first sticky poo
Your baby will be fine. Bottle or boob either way a baby is fed.
Get people to drop stuff at your door, bring food, fold washing.
Get up and moving.
Be kind to yourself, try not to worry about the state of the house.
Point the penis down, we ended up leaking a lot before I realised!
Its like being on school camp 24/7!
No amount of reading or classes actually prepares you
A wet nappy will slide between your fingers when you rub it. This saves changing a nappy.
Lower expectations, also the fact that the world will not end if your baby doesn’t settle from one feed to the next!
I wish I never scared myself by listening to everyones negative talk when you say your Preg- like get sleep now you will never sleep again or enjoy your life now as you know it. All that BS.
Get the flaps/edge bits out on the nappies!
So there you have it. Real parents talking real life stuff. I’d love to know if you found this helpful, and please share with any expectant parents! We all need a community, especially at the moment.
Lots of love,
Rosie x