Sunday, March 1, 2009

10 Ways to stress-free baby in today's economy

Being a second time mom, and inclined to do thorough research on every possible child-related topic, I think I can now come up with a list for new moms-to-be to keep their life stress free. So here it is:

  1. Don't worry about the little things, cooking, cleaning, laundry. Do it as you need it. After a while, things will return to normal. Just keep your cool till then.
  2. Make baby and yourself the priority. Take care of yourself and baby, let everyone else fend for themselves. They didn't just go through childbirth, they're not sleep-deprived, they can take care of themselves.
  3. Always have enough diapers in the house. You never know when you'll suddenly run out.
  4. If you're breastfeeding, then have a manual pump handy for emergencies. If you're using formula, then have extra formula, bottles, nipples, bottle brush in the house.
  5. The only thing you need, required by law is a car seat. Everything else is extra. Don't stress yourself about how much the baby will cost. Babies need attention more than cool toys and a perfectly coordinated nursery. The most important person in their life is "mommy".
  6. Use freecycle or other sharing groups if your budget is tight. Kids grow out of things very quickly and there's always someone clearing their home of these things.
  7. Have the pediatrician on speed dial. Emergencies happen so be prepared. Have a plan with your partner as to what you would do in an emergency so that you're not wasting time talking about this at the time of the emergency.
  8. Have basic medicines like fever reducer, cough/cold at home. Also keep a list of home remedies handy as small babies cannot take these medicines.
  9. Have a diaper bag (this can be an old backpack) ready at all times even if you're not going anywhere. Every 2-4 weeks, update the bag, especially the first few months of a baby's life.
  10. Lastly, when you're feeling stressed, take a deep breath, have a glass of water, sit down and think about what's best for baby and yourself.

There will be advice coming out of everyone, especially when you didn't ask for it. Don't listen to everything and think about it before you follow the advice. And if this blog doesn't help your situation, then forget about it and do what you think is right. Follow your maternal instinct. Its there for a reason.

Enjoy your first baby. There's nothing in this world that compares to the baby's first smile when he/she looks at you.