These days, most soon-to-be parents have an idea of what they are getting themselves into. However, the reality of being on-call 24/7 and sacrificing even the most basic of pleasures can be a bit of a shock to the system — even for the most prepared mom. You can say goodbye to fifteen minutes of yoga, a hot beverage that is actually hot, and being able to go to the toilet alone. The good news: there are some practical strategies that will help make parenting easier. Keep reading to find out what they are.
Buy Clothes With Pockets
One of the most straightforward things you can do to make your life easier as a mom is to invest in some clothing that has pockets. Whether you choose cargo pants, a roomy jacket with pockets, or even a decent rucksack or baby bag, you will need to carry plenty of stuff around with you.
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Once the baby arrives, you’ll be carrying baby wipes, diapers, tissues, water, and more. The more room you have, the better organized you can be, making it easier to find things. Some parents pack a baby bag with everything they need and keep it by the front door, so they can simply grab and go if there’s a sudden need to leave.
Find a Good Pediatrician
To keep your baby safe, you need to find a good pediatrician — one that is welcoming, friendly, and has plenty of qualified staff on hand to help you with any concerns you may have.
Fortunately, it’s not hard to find the best pediatricians in your area. You can ask for word-of-mouth referrals, and even look for reviews online. Just remember not to head to their office on a Monday (unless it’s an emergency), as that is when all the little ones that fell sick over the weekend will be coming in. If you go then, your baby could end up coming out with more than they went in with!
Stay Hydrated
When you have a job as important as looking after a child, staying hydrated is vital. This is particularly the case when you are nursing, as your body will use up plenty of water to make your milk!
Investing in a reusable water bottle and keeping it topped up is a smart idea. Even better: invest in a few, fill them all up at once, then store them in the refrigerator. This way, you can just grab one and go when you need it!
You can even get bottles that show you how many bottles you have consumed in a day. This is something that can be particularly useful for busy parents who are active for long stretches of time, with only short naps in between.
Make Friends With Moms
Good mom (or dad) friends are invaluable when you are a parent, even if you have a wide and reliable circle before the baby arrives. This is because only parents of children around the same stage your baby will truly be able to understand and empathize with what you are going through. They are also the only people that will genuinely care past five minutes into the conversation, especially when you are talking about things like how many times your baby gets sick each day.
Moms and dads of babies the same age as yours are also likely to be the only ones of your friends that will be up at night as much as you are (for the first few years at least). The great thing about this: you can message them at any time of the day and get some company when you’re awake at 4 am trying to nurse the baby back to sleep.
Invest In A Great Dishwasher
Unless washing up is what gets you going in the morning, investing in a top-quality dishwasher is one of the most sensible decisions to make your life easier.
With a decent dishwasher, you can put dirty dishes away and out of sight as soon as they are done being used. This is something that will stop those precarious and depressing piles of used kitchenware from forming in the sink and around the kitchen. Yes, it may sound like a very small thing, but staying on top of the dishes in this way can do wonders for your mental health as a parent!
What helped you the most as a first-time parent? Let us know in the comments!
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