There’s a lot to think about if you’re planning to bring a kid into the world. This isn’t just a one-day thing, and the rest is plain sailing. You really need to work hard and be dedicated to do the best you can for your kids. And the way to achieve that is to make sure you are fully prepared for whatever might come your way. Here are some suggestions to help you prepare for the arrival of your little bundle of joy.
Choose a Name
One of the biggest decisions you’re going to have to make is coming up with a name for your baby. This is really major because they’re going to carry this name with the hem for life. As such, you need to make sure that it’s a pleasant name! The best thing to do is to agree on two girls names and two boys names between you. Check out this list of celestial baby names to help you make a decision. There’s a lot in a name, and you have got to think hard and really make the right decision here.
Stop Worrying
It’s easy to say, but you need to try to stop worrying as much as you can. It’s not healthy for you, or the baby’s, if you’re getting worked up all the time. Worries are natural for every new parent, of course, they are. But, you need to try to stop agonizing over every little thing. And stop going online and reading about what other people have had happen to their babies. This is not going to be helpful to your situation, and will only freak you out more. You need to be calm and stress-free when it comes time to greet your baby, and deal with being a mommy!
Hit the Thrift Stores
Here is a big tip for you, always make sure you hit the thrift stores. You’re going to have a lot of stuff you’ll need to get for your baby. Things like clothing, toys, a crib, etc. Now, these are not going to be cheap. You also need to realize that the baby is going to outgrow most of the stuff you buy in a matter of weeks. So there is no point in buying really expensive brand new clothes. You might as well hit the thrift stores, and see what you can get for a lower price. It might surprise you to know just how many bargains you can unearth by shopping this way. It really is the best way to go shopping for baby bits.
Prepare Financially
The biggest shock to the system and something you’ll need to get used to is the added cost. Having a baby can add huge financial strain to your life. So, it’s really important that you try to sort out some kind of preparation to deal with this. You need to take a look at an online financial services website to get some advice. You might also wish to meet with an accountant or financial advisor. This is really important to sort out, and will give you financial guidance. Anywhere you can save money or generate a bit of extra income will be useful. It’s important that you are financially ready to actually have a baby before you do so. Don’t leave this until the last minute; make sure you get it sorted out right now.
Sort Out a Rotation
One thing that is going to be really helpful is to come up with a rota for when the baby arrives. That way you can determine who is going to do what, and when. If you work different shifts, it might be an idea to get this sorted as soon as possible. You also need to be sure you take it in turns every night or so. It’s really important to share the load where you can because this helps in the bonding process. And it means one person is not completely overwhelmed by all of it. By sorting out a rota, you each get a chance to rest, and to spend time looking after the baby too.
Make a Decision About Maternity Leave
Okay, so, you need to make a big decision, and that is thinking about maternity leave. You should receive up to a year of paid maternity leave, but it may depend on the job you do. Of course, you don’t have to take all of this time, and a lot of women will elect not to. But it is important to try to take as much as possible. You need to focus on bonding with your baby as much as you can. And, the best way of doing this is to take your full amount of maternity leave. However, you and your partner might want to figure something out between the both of you.
Get Baby’s Room Ready
It’s important to have a room ready for the baby and make sure they have somewhere nice to stay. So, you have to start preparing the room before they are born. That means making sure you have a crib in there, as well as a mobile. Ensure the room is well lit, but can be kept dark if necessary. You’ll also want to think about the color of the walls. Generally, the color scheme for a room will be pink for a girl and blue for a boy. Yellow is generally considered a neutral color, but you might disagree. Come up with a color that you define as being neutral and go with that. The room is going to play a huge role in the development of your child, so it needs to be well prepared.
Preparing for the arrival of a new life is an exciting time for you and your partner. Your family is going to grow, and you will have so much joy in your life. But, it’s also important for you to make sure you prepare and ready yourself. There’s a great deal of work involved in welcoming a baby into the world. And you don’t want to be caught unawares, do you?!
This is such great advice! Love this post!
A rotation! Wish I thought about that with our first child! Though it was difficult with my husband being deployed.
Pingback: Fundamental Postnatal Home Hacks For The New Mom