It’s funny how much our world changes when we have a baby. Suddenly, just about everyone wants to give us advice! From friends and family members to bloggers and books, it seems like the whole world is eager to help out first-time parents. But there are some tips that are better than others – here are 9 things you should know before your baby arrives.
1) Get ready for sleep deprivation: You can’t prepare for this one – but make sure you get plenty of rest before the big day. Try getting into bed at least an hour earlier each night; even if you can’t fall asleep, you’re still doing yourself (and your partner!) a favor by resting up as best as possible beforehand. In truth though like I said at fir
2) Buy a car seat before the baby comes: You’ll likely be given lots of advice about what to buy for your child, but one thing you should definitely have on hand before he or she arrives is a car seat. Make sure it’s one that’s easy to install and will last your little one through several years of growth.
3) Get your finances in order: If you don’t already have one, open up a savings account for your child and start adding to it every once in a while. It’s also good to know what financial resources are available in case anything happens to you during the pregnancy or after the baby is born.
4) Prep your home for a baby: If you have pets, make sure there are safe zones that they can retreat to if the new baby makes them nervous. If you have stairs in your house, you may want to install a gate. Keep any harmful cleaning supplies out of reach and try to get rid of any clutter so it’s easier to see the floor.
5) Get a car seat and stroller ready: You’ll want to have both of these ready to go before the baby comes, even if you live in a city where you don’t plan on using a car very often. When it comes time to pack up for your hospital trip, everything will be much simpler if you have these two key items already installed in your car.
6) Research daycares: Once the baby arrives, you’ll need to enroll it at a daycare or nursery school so mom can return to work. If you don’t know where to start, do some research before the birth and find a local facility that fits your needs. You can also ask friends and family members for recommendations if they’ve been to a place nearby that they liked.
7) Get a video monitor: While it’s not mandatory, having a video monitor is much easier than constantly going in to check on the baby every time you hear a rustle or peep from the other room. Not only can you see them, but you can talk to them as well. You may not be able to afford it right now, but pricing things out before the baby gets here will help prepare you for what’s coming down the line.
8) Talk to your insurance provider: You’ll want to find out if there is a time limit on your health insurance during the pregnancy and if it’s possible to stay on your parent’s policy for a certain period of time. You should also find out what equipment is covered by the plan so you have an idea of how much things are going to cost as they come up.
9) Make sure you have some time off: You may have some accrued paid time off, but it’s a good idea to have at least two weeks of vacation days saved up for your new arrival. Your partner will need time to rest before the baby is born and you’ll both benefit if you’re able to take some extra time after he or she arrives.
How much money should be saved before having a baby
It’s about time for you to start saving for when you have a baby, but what amount of money should you save before the baby arrives? Here are some tips on how much you should save before having a baby:
-Create a budget and add in increased expenses such as diapers, wipes, clothes, etc.
-Add about $1,000 to cover the cost of labor and delivery. This includes doctors’ fees and hospital charges.
-Put aside an emergency fund equal to three months of your monthly expenses (so you’ll be prepared for whatever happens) and include in it your maternity leave time if you want it!
-Open up a 529 College Savings Plan account for your baby.
-You may want to invest in life insurance if you are older or have a family history of illness or death. Talk to your employer about this option!
-And finally, try to pay off all outstanding debt before having a baby so that you can rest easy with no worries!
When should you start preparing for a baby
It’s not too early to start preparing for the baby. Just know that even if you start the day you find out you are having one, you will still be doing some last minute things in the end……. the stress will be much lower though.
Therefore the best time to prepare is now because there are many things that can be done that will make life easier later on. For example, figure out how to put the car seat in. One of my first kids I can remember being at home all excited to bring mom and baby home. Then I spent 45 very sleepy minutes fighting with the car seat while mom sat in the hospital waiting. Things like painting the room can’t be done the night before due to the fumes. Believe me I have painted the room the day before and it took me a week before I felt comfortable putting the baby in there.
Not everything needs to be done before the baby comes home. You have time for putting the little plug covers over the receptacles and covering corners. I know it’s hard to believe but the baby won’t be getting into things….. for a little while. On the other hand, they go from never moving to crawling in the blink of an eye. So I changed my mind put in the baby receptacle covers.
Conclusion
Preparing for a new baby can be stressful and chaotic. The funny thing is that the more prepared you are, the less stress you’ll feel when your little one arrives. From saving up money or time off to getting insurance sorted out, it’s important to take care of these things now so life becomes easier after they arrive. If you’re expecting, start preparing by checking with your employer about maternity leave options-you may not want to go back any sooner than necessary! And don’t forget to make sure that if possible pay off or down some debt before having a child too-they grow up quickly but also require lots of expensive items! Finally, whether it’s funny tips on how dads can help moms in raising their kids or an article about what parents should expect on their child’s first day of school, Parents.com is the perfect website for parents!
