The first few months with a new baby at home can be overwhelming and chaotic. There were so many things I bought that I didn’t need, but also there were so many systems I put in place that I found helpful. So, I wanted to share some fun and helpful parenting hacks to get through the first few months of parenthood!
Parenting Hack #1: Create a diaper station in the area you will be the most – even if that isn’t the nursery.
When I had my children, I had c-sections and we lived in bi-level home. So, we created a diaper station in our living room where I spent most of the first weeks healing and feeding babies. I bought a small canvas basket and had it stocked with diapers, wipes, diaper cream, and extra outfits.
I also had a changing pad (the regular-sized pad that would be on a diaper table). This was all kept in the room we used the most and changed the babies there. It was so much easier than going all the way upstairs while trying to heal after giving birth! This was also helpful when we had visitors over that wanted to help with the baby. They didn’t have to fumble through the baby’s bedroom to find everything they needed; it was all in a station available to them.
Parenting Hack #2: Have multiple diaper bags.
The first time we ventured out as a family of three was to Barnes and Noble. I wanted to get out of the house and be in a quiet environment! Five minutes into our trip, we had a blowout and realized we forgot the diaper bag in our second car! After that moment (and many tears on my part) we stocked both vehicles with a diaper bag. This ensured that we never had to transfer the bag and that we would always have what we needed no matter which car we had.
Parenting Hack #3: Sleep with your baby’s crib sheet before transitioning them to a crib.
Getting a baby to sleep by themselves in a crib is a difficult task, whether it’s at home or transitioning to a crib in a childcare center. One easy thing you can do to help with a smooth transition is to sleep with the baby’s crib sheet for a couple of nights before putting it on their mattress. This will leave your familiar scent on the sheet and provide a level of comfort to the baby when you put them in the crib.
If you are starting your baby at a center and they provide the sheets, ask to take a sheet home before their first day of care and carry it around with you when you are at home. Then, give it to the provider to put on the baby’s mattress for ease of transition!
Parenting Hack #4: Install a removable showerhead for bath time.
We found one of the best investments was a removable showerhead! It makes hair washing, and body rinsing so much easier than using a cup.
Parenting Hack #5: Eat outside for easy clean up.
Once my kiddos were old enough to start eating finger foods (and once it was warm enough for us to be outside), we ate most of our meals outside (we still do and they are now 8, 6 and 5). There are fewer crumbs to clean up, they get fresh air, it’s a fun new experience, and when they are done a quick wipe down is all they need.
Parenting is a journey, and it’s not always easy, but hopefully these quick and easy hacks will make some things a bit more manageable. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us at navigation@familyfutures.org.
What are some of your best parenting hacks that you have learned over the years? Share with us on our Facebook or Instagram @FamilyFutures!
Also – looking for more parenting hacks? We’ve got an article specifically on parenting hacks for toddlers.
