There’s hardly a more exciting or more stressful time in your life than when you and your spouse are expecting. You may have thought the wedding was stressful, but oh boy momma (or dad), watch out! A new baby adds a whole new level of stress to any couple or family’s dynamic. You have less time in the day, less sleep in your system, and more little hands to keep occupied for fear of outbursts. It’s the time in your life when you’re stretched thinnest and you’re in the most need of help. Now for some, that help is easier to come by than others. If you’re lucky enough to live close to friends and family, can afford to hire a nanny, or are lucky enough to manage working from home, you might be catching a bit of a break, however, regardless of the extra help you’re getting, there are some key products that make every new parents life that much easier. We don’t want you to have to suffer until your second kid so we’re here to let you in on a few secrets that will make the day-to-day with your new baby that much easier, help or not.
- A lightweight collapsible stroller.
You may think this is for your new baby but it’s not. It’s for you! You’re going to be cooped up caring for your newborn for quite some time and when that little baby can finally be out and about more, that’s all you’re going to want to do! If you get a big clunky stroller it’s going to be a pain to lug around and nearly impossible to take with you when you’re on your own with baby in one hand, diaper bag in the other and stroller somewhere in between. Another great benefit of having a lightweight stroller… You can exercise with your baby and start shedding those extra post baby pounds. - Palmers Coco Butter Formula for Stretch Marks.
Not to say you shouldn’t own your stripes mama-tiger, because you should. However, if you’d like to fade said stripes and just generally moisturize your skin the best way you can post-partum, Palmers Coco Butter is the way to go. We recommend getting it even if you’re not concerned about stretch marks because it’s also a great addition to a nice foot massage from dad after a long day of rocking the baby to sleep. - A good and reliable fan.
This can be a great addition especially when your new baby decides to show up around summertime, however, it can actually be a great asset no matter the season. A good fan (not on pointed towards the baby of course) can be a great source of white noise to lull your newborn (or you) to sleep. - The Halo Sleep Sack
This is a must-have for new parents who are struggling to get their baby to sleep or to sleep through the night. This sleep sack keeps them comfortable but also safe, meaning they (and you) get to sleep soundly all night long! A miracle! - Premade or an Easy to Make Meal Kit Service.
Some moms might be lucky enough to have grandparents of their babies that bring over a whole casserole just as an excuse to see the little one, if you’re not one of the lucky few however, you’re going to want to save some of your time by having a meal kit service ready to go. While there may be some that are better for specific dietary restrictions than others, they all run about the same price for roughly the same idea. The important thing is that is saves you time in prepping dinner and you’re taking care of yourself by eating healthy and nutritious meals. - A New Purse.
Okay, maybe not really a purse like a Michael Kors purse, but a diaper bag that will have your friends guessing if it’s a purse or a diaper bag will make carrying the thing everywhere that much easier on your stylish soul. You’ll be taking your diaper bag pretty much everywhere you go so make sure it’s a bag that’s functional but also stylish and something you like (or at least don’t mind). This is an item that’s worth splurging on. - Disposable Pee Pads
We bet you thought you were done with these when you finally house broke the new puppy, didn’t you? Babies actually pee more than puppies and take a lot longer to train not to do so everywhere in the house. While a plethora of diapers is a no brainer, a solid stock of pee pads to use when changing the little one will save you from having to clean up a lot of messes. - A Yoga Ball
Yes, you might already have one of these, but we’re here to tell you how to utilize it to do the impossible: to get your baby to go to sleep! By bouncing on the yoga ball you stimulate what baby felt in the womb. This will soothe most babies to the point where they nod right off. The bonus? That your yoga ball can double as a great tool to get your core strength back (or a great place to rest your pretty head once baby finally goes to sleep!)—because when there’s a newborn in the house, anywhere works!
The next few months (years) will be the most exciting, stressful, and tiring of your life, but with the right tools (and a cheery attitude) in your pocket, you can make the most of the start of your new families beautiful life together.
