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Great New Tips
When you are bringing home a newborn, remember - you won't have time to cook! Pre-prepare batches of meals before baby is born that you can freeze and heat for quickly on the go!
Keep the tags on your newborn baby's clothes until they are ready to wear. Babies grow so quickly that sometimes they will be too big for an outfit before they get a chance to wear it! This way, you can swap it for larger size if need be.
If you want kids to eat healthy, set a good example. Kids are not going to munch on carrots, if you are munching on chips.
Keep all your gift receipts from Baby Shower gifts. Each child is different, and some may never like or use that crib/swing/toy you got for them!
Give up all ideas about what type of parent you'll be! Baby will dictate how it will go.... they may only sleep if they co-sleep or be allergic to breastmilk and have to be formula fed. Be prepared to be flexible in your approach to raising your child and everyone will be happy.
Always have food ready for a Newborn. If they drink formula, keep sterilized bottles in the fridge. If your nipples are sore from breastfeeding, keep a pumped supply available. The worst thing in the middle of the night is a screaming, starving baby!
Make sure to take a shower daily when you have a newborn. Get a family member or friend to take the baby for 10 minutes so you can freshen up - it will make you feel human again!
They say sleep when baby sleeps..... but this can be tough! Take shifts sleeping when you have a newborn. If Mom takes a few hours here, and Dad a few hours there, everyone will be a lot happier!
Don't be afraid to ask for help and advice. Being a new parent is hard! Accept support from family & friends.
Don't get your newborn used to sleeping in a silent house. Babies who grow up in a normal, noisy environment are much less likely to be woken by the smallest things!
Trust your instincts with your newborn.... Mom & Dad know best!
Give kids a 10 minute warning before it’s time to start getting ready for bed, then set a timer. When it goes off everyone knows it’s time for bed.
Find ways to empower kids with choices as they get ready for bed. For example, you can let them choose which pajamas to wear or whether they’d rather bathe or brush teeth first.
Consider having an older sibling read a bedtime story to the younger ones, this promotes bonding, empowers young readers and allows you to get something else done while you listen in.
When bedtime is near, stagger tasks that need parental help with those that kids can do independently so that one child can do something alone while you help another with a task that needs your attention. Then you can switch off and help the other child.
If your child struggles with anxious thoughts when it is time to go to sleep, consider giving him/her an idea of something pleasant and calming to think about. Ask him/her to think of all the animals you can find at the zoo or all of the things in your house that are yellow.
Playing soothing music at a low volume as kids wait to fall asleep can set a restful mood and discourage talking between siblings who share the same bedroom.
End your bedtime routine with a favorite (sleep promoting) activity like reading a story together or 15 minutes with a special quiet toy. Have a set lights out deadline in place. If the child isn’t ready for bed by the deadline, then the final activity gets cut from the routine.