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Any parent will tell you that they wish they could make newborn life easier! Well, believe it or not, among all the crying and lost sleep, you can! With some organization, supplies, and a bit of help from others, you can settle into being a new parent pretty smoothly.
Help Get the Baby to Sleep
As you will be well aware, sleep is a distant memory now! It’s pretty common for new parents to struggle with sleep since newborns really don’t care about yours, only theirs. Feeding time usually tends to be at the most inconvenient times of the day and night, and it can take its toll. But babies can also be finicky, and you may not know what to do if your baby won’t sleep in their bassinet. Lullabies, cuddles, and even white noise machines can help your baby drift away.
Make Newborn Life Easier with a Baby Carrier
What can you do when the baby needs looking after? Take them with you, of course. Around 26% of new mothers return to work after two months either because they need the money or they can’t wait to get things back to normal. So you need baby carriers to get around. But even if you are taking some time off, a baby carrier is a Godsend. Whether you need to buy groceries, get some work done, or even take a shower, a baby carrier ensures they are always with you.
Provide Comfort with a Swaddle
We yearn for freedom as we get older. But newborns love the feeling of security from being held tightly. Lots of cuddles from a loving family make for a happy baby! However, you can’t always hug your bundle of joy all day long! So what can you do? Swaddles are an excellent way to provide the feeling of security a baby needs. They’re also safer for the baby as they can’t move their arms to injure themselves. Swaddling also keeps the baby calm, so you can relax a little!
Keep Diapers With You At All Times!
You’re probably well aware that a baby is basically a poop machine! Unlike humans, baby digestion doesn’t hold food for very long. And what goes in must come out! Diapers are fundamentally necessary, whether you buy disposables or use cotton garments. Always ensure you have clean and accessible diapers to cope with the ungodly amount of bodily waste that comes from a baby. Local community services can help if you struggle to afford the costs.
Ask for Help to Make Newborn Life Easier
Further to struggling, you’re not alone if you are finding it hard to look after your newborn baby. Everything changes when a little one arrives, so it’s expected that you can face challenges. But there is always help available. You just have to look for it and never be embarrassed to ask:
- Express why you need help and for how long your baby needs to be looked after.
- Find support from various sources, including friends, family, and online groups.
- Hire a professional nanny or childminder if you can afford to do so.
- Look after yourself first, or you can’t even hope to provide care to a baby.
- Keep a list of chores and to-do’s handy so you can get through them quicker.
- Use a meal service to provide easy-to-cook food to save time with the baby.
- Don’t be afraid to ask a stranger for help, such as getting a stroller up some stairs!
Most people around you would be delighted to look after a cute bundle of joy! New parents need some time to themselves, and this actually helps your baby. You can’t provide the best care to your baby if you aren’t able to stock the kitchen, do the laundry, or take some time for yourself.
Buy a Portable Changing Pad
Life still goes on after you give birth. Chores still need to be done, groceries still need to be purchased, and coffee shops are begging to be visited! Although coffee shops will generally have baby-changing facilities, most public places don’t. So you need a portable changing pad and a diaper go bag! Without these, you can and probably will be caught short and without any way to clean a cute yet stinky baby! Fortunately, they are cheap and will save a lot of stress!
Plenty of Burp Cloths
Just when you thought needing diapers for the poonamis was bad enough, guess what? Stuff also constantly comes out of a newborn’s mouth! Babies spit up all the time, especially when you are feeding and burping them. Like diapers, you need plenty of burp cloths to wipe away whatever comes out. And there is often a surprising amount! Fortunately, these are also cheap and easy to carry around. Kitchen roll will help but burp cloths are softer on skin and reusable.
Make Newborn Life Easier with Baby Gowns
Another thing you need to change often is the baby’s clothing. Along with regular diaper changes, it is recommended to change the baby’s clothes around 2 to 4 times per day. Of course, all babies are different, and some are surprisingly clean. However, leaks happen, babies spit up, and they are somehow always sticky! Having plenty of gowns at home isn’t really an issue. But it always helps to take a couple with you when leaving the home for longer periods.
Keep Up with Pediatrician Appointments
Newborns face many challenges, and need constant care. A better way to provide care is to ensure you see a pediatrician often. Doctors can advise you on how to take care of the baby as it grows and can also alleviate your own fears. There are many things that can cause distress to a new parent, such as whether the baby is developing properly. Doctors have all kinds of tests they can perform to track the growth of the baby and make sure everything is going as it should.
Summary
Mastering a sleep routine is one of the most effective ways to make newborn life easier as a new parent. Asking for help can be hard, but it is a powerful way to ensure your baby gets the care they need. Both your and the baby’s health will be monitored with regular doctor visits.
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