Raising children is a wonderful, meaningful experience that can present both joys and challenges. Caring for an infant is a very unique journey on its own. Every baby has different needs, wants, and preferences, so adopting a routine that works for you and your baby is definitely a learning curve.
Even if you aren’t a first-time mom, it is very possible that caring for your second or third newborn will feel like your first time around. Let’s erase the stereotype that only first-time moms are allowed to struggle! Here are 3 tips that will help alleviate some of the stress of caring for a newborn.
-
Have Your Baby Bond with Dad
Especially at first, your baby may find comfort with you and no one else. After all, you did spend 9 months emotionally bonding with him or her, so you two have gotten to know each other!
Your husband is undoubtedly excited about the arrival of your new child. However, the reality of fatherhood might be one that was more recently made real for him with the actual delivery of your child.
Encouraging the bond between your baby and dad will help the two of them grow closer. Have your husband participate in bottle-feeding and comforting the baby at night. Also, your husband can carry your baby in a sling on a walk and schedule daddy-baby playtime as part of the baby’s regular routine.
Taking these steps will make your child more comfortable with your husband and establish trust between the two of them. This will allow you to have an equal, reliable partner who can be hands-on with the care of your child and give you a break when you need it.
2. Involve Your Other Children
Feelings of jealousy can take root in your older children when a newborn enters the picture. Don’t allow unnecessary fits to take place due to a lack of attention. Take all of your children with you to the grocery store. Nurse your baby while on the floor of your older children’s playroom. This constant exposure of your newborn to your older kids will allow them to adapt to life with one more kid in the house.
Also, take this big life change as an opportunity for you to teach your kids the value of responsibility and hard work. Assign them age-appropriate chores they can complete with their varying levels of dexterity. Even one chore a day will keep your child busy, make your them feel valued, and take some weight off your workload.
3. Make Sure You Have the Right Equipment In Advance
Having a baby is like taking up an expensive and skillful hobby: they require a set of very specialized equipment. Do your research prior to your baby’s birth on what you may need. The My Traveling Baby website has reviews on the best bassinets, car seats, and strollers for the on-the-go family. This will save you time and money, as well as the stress that may ensue if you are lacking an essential item once your child has arrived.
To save even more money, consider getting hand-me-down clothes and other items from relatives and friends with now-older children.
With all enthusiasm devoted to your baby’s needs, it can be easy to neglect yourself when purchasing the necessary equipment. Make sure you have nursing bras and nipple cream to make nursing easier. Also, meal prepping in advance for the first few weeks of your child’s life will take care of a basic need and free up more time for you to bond with your child.
Make caring for your newborn a simpler and more enjoyable experience by considering these tips!
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
Speak Your Mind