4 Tips For Preparing For A New Baby

In light of my youngest turning ten years old this week, I've been looking back on where I was ten years ago. I was nervous about parenting a second child. With a four year old tugging at my leg, I wondered how would I be able to handle a newborn who required constant, round the clock care.

This little one caused me many sleepless nights! ;-)

If you are expecting, the chances are you are starting to worry about the care of your baby. Every expectant parent goes through this stage, and it’s perfectly natural. If you are starting to panic with thoughts that you won't be able to cope, stop right there. Although it’s not always a walk in the park, you will be surprised to find you cope a lot better than you expected. There are some steps you can take to make the care of your baby a little bit easier. I chatted with several of my friends and added my own input to compile a few tips from experienced mothers and fathers on looking after your new little addition to the world.


Be Prepared
You’d be surprised how many parents don’t prepare before the big day arrives. Being prepared is the best thing you can do right now. It is a good idea to prepare for all eventualities. Prepare for all possible scenarios, good or bad. It requires some upfront work and planning, but it is well worth it in the long run. The parent who has a plan is the parent who usually succeeds in raising a healthy and happy child!

Be Communal
Community is important at all times of life, but never quite so important as now. When you have a baby to look after, it is a great idea to have a support system. Go out and meet other parents. There are always plenty of opportunities to do this, regardless of where you live. Enroll in "mommy and me" classes or join a mom's group. Having other parents around you will make you feel a lot more secure. It’s like having something to fall back on. Besides, you want there to be someone to talk to when things get really tough. Who better than someone who knows exactly what you’re going through?

Forget Old Wives’ Tales
Chances are you have been inundated with countless pieces of advice from everybody in your life. It’s true - people will tell you all sorts of things about what works best. What works for one person may not work for another. The key is to focus on what works for you and what doesn't. The fact is, sometimes the old techniques don’t work. This can be the case when you are looking after a newborn or a toddler. Take a look at this for a classic example: http://www.pottytrainingsolved.com/

Be Tired
Yes, you read it right. Most mothers agree: you may as well just get used to being tired now. The care of your baby is the most important thing, so you should accept that you are going to be tired. Caring for a newborn can be exhausting, and sleep doesn't always come easily. You may be under slept for a few months to come!