If you are going to be having a baby soon, congratulations! A new life is always going to be super exciting, but it’s important that you are doing your best to get ready for this. Even if you have become a parent before, that doesn’t mean that you are ready for the responsibility of handling two or more of them now.
The good news is that we’ve got some advice for you. Now, we know that a lot of people come at you with a lot of unwanted advice when you’re pregnant, so if you don’t want to read what we have to say, that’s okay. But, if you are interested in hearing what we’ve got for you, then you can keep reading down below.
Do You Want To Breastfeed?
The first thing that you’re going to need to think about is whether or not you want to breastfeed. Now, we know that there is a lot of debate around this topic and it’s super controversial, but we do want to say one thing over everything else. You do not have to breastfeed if you do not want to. You do not owe a single person an explanation for this, and it’s completely your choice. Some people want to but they are unable to, or they don’t produce enough milk so they end up combination feeding. Some people simply don’t want to, but others love to breastfeed.
As the mother, you are going to need to do whatever is best for you and your baby, nobody else. If you want to allow other people to feed your baby and you are breastfeeding then you can always pump your milk so that they can have it from a bottle. Do be aware though that there are some breastfed babies who have no interest in a bottle. Whatever you want to do, figure it out and go with that, you know best.
What Are You Going To Need For The Baby?
You also need to make a list of all of the things that you are going to need for the baby. For example, you are going to need to purchase bottles, a sterilizer, clothes, and a whole load more. Another thing that you should be looking at is somewhere for them to sleep. Some people prefer to go straight to a cot next to their bed, others prefer to co-sleep, while some prefer a bassinet. If you’re opting for the latter, we recommend looking at a smart bassinet buyers guide so that you get all of the information that you need. When it comes to sleeping, we strongly recommend looking at guidelines on safe sleep.
Once you have your list sorted, you can start going through and ticking off items. Make sure that you’re not ticking off anything until you have got it, just to be on the safe side. You don’t want to accidentally mark off something you don’t have, and then end up going without for a while.
Start Stocking Up On The Essentials
The essentials are something that you’re going to need to start stocking up on as soon as you can. If you are not going to be breast feeding then we do recommend you start purchasing formula when you have some spare cash, just so that it’s less of a stress after the baby arrives. Of course, check the expiration dates before making a purchase because the last thing you need is to buy formula that won’t be any good by the time the baby comes.
You also need to be sticking up on diapers, clothes, blankets, sleeping bags and more. The more that you can get, the less stressful it’s going to be when the baby arrives as you will have everything ready to go.
If You Have Other Kids…
If you have other kids, then you need to explain to them what is happening. You will need to explain to them that you are having another baby, so they are going to have a sibling, and what this is going to mean. Assure them that this does not mean that you love them any less, but that you are just expanding your family and there is going to be one more person to love.
It might take a few conversations, and you need to be as open and honest as you can throughout this process. Answer any questions that they may have, let them know that a lot of the time babies are loud, and prepare yourself for and them for what is to come to the best of your ability.
You Can Never Be Fully Prepared
The final thing that we’re going to say is that you can never be fully prepared for having a baby. Whether it’s your first, second, or third baby, you can never be fully prepared for what is to come, and that’s okay. If you already have kids then you have some idea of what to expect, but there is nothing to say for sure that the next one is going to be the same. It’s a challenge, it’s a process, and it’s something that you just have to take one day at a time.
We also want you to know that it’s okay if you struggle. There are people out there who know how you feel, and you are never alone, even if it may feel like you are.
We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that you actually need to do to prepare for a baby. At the end of the day, nothing is ever going to completely prepare you for parenthood, even if you have done it before. Each child is different, and it’s up to you how you prepare for what is to come. Just remember that it’s all worth it, every single second.
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