Preparing to be a parent for the first time can be both exhilarating and overwhelming. You are flooded with information from friends, family and healthcare professionals, in addition to mailings, flyers and parenting magazines. It can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to preparing your home and family for the arrival of a newborn. Here is a list of tips to help make the first few weeks easier on you, so you can spend time bonding with your newborn instead of worrying about these extra details.
Tips for Surviving the First Few Weeks with a Newborn
- Consider prepping and freezing meals ahead of time to lessen the amount of time you spend in the kitchen those first few chaotic weeks. When you are exhausted from caring for your newborn, you will be relieved to have a meal that can be quickly heated up, taking one chore out of your already busy day.
- Take a class at your local hospital on caring for a newborn. It will teach you basic care skills such as diapering, bathing and swaddling. It will help you feel more at ease when you are handling your tiny newborn the first few times.
- Accept help when offered. Caring for a newborn can be draining, and it’s important that you take time for yourself when you can. Allow someone else to do the dishes or rock your newborn while you take a bath or go for a walk. In this time of adjustment, remember that self-care is important and don’t neglect yourself.
- Nap when your newborn naps. If you can, try to take a nap when your baby naps. You will feel more refreshed and more prepared when three in the morning comes around and your newborn needs held and fed.
- Call a family member or your newborn’s pediatrician when you have a question about your baby’s health. Don’t let yourself worry needlessly. Reach out for the information you need to have peace of mind that you are caring for your newborn correctly.
- When in doubt, bring in a professional. There are some situations best handled by a professional. If you notice pests in your home, for example, contact Lexington Pest Control as soon as possible. A professional pest control company will put you at ease, letting you know that your pest problem will be handled quickly, safely and efficiently. You can count on a professional application that will be safe for both you and your newborn, letting you put your focus back where it belongs, which is on your family.
If this list of tips along with the information that you’ve already received overwhelms you, just pick one suggestion to focus on. Perhaps start by asking for help. You can get more done together. There’s a reason African folklore says that it takes a village to raise a child. Parenting a newborn isn’t meant to be a solitary endeavor. Follow these suggestions and also remember to take time to enjoy the memories you make. They’ll last you a lifetime.
Leave a Reply