Getting ready to have a baby? Here are some of the things you need to know

Are you getting ready to have a baby? If you are, then you need to prepare as best you can. There are quite a few things that you have probably heard a lot about from others, but we bet that you have never gotten the full story. There are always things that people forget to mention, and there are others that some people just don’t think are important to talk about, but it’s all important.

In this article, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the different things that we think you need to know when you’re getting ready to have a baby, so keep reading if you would like to find out more.

Stock up on diapers and wipes

We’re going to start by suggesting that you stock up on diapers and wipes. You might not think that you’re going to need that many, because how many diapers and wipes could a tiny baby go through, right?

Well, the answer is a lot and you don’t want to underestimate this. The best thing that you can do for yourself here is to purchase as many as you can in the first two sizes so that you have a nice little stock. This helps ensure that you don’t have to try and push yourself to go out when you’re freshly postpartum, and instead can stay home with your little one.

Also, wipes are good for other uses other than wiping them. They are good for wiping up any sickness that gets anywhere, for wiping their faces after they’ve had some milk and so much more. The more you can get, the easier your life will be for a while.

Learn about milestones (but don’t put too much pressure on!)

It’s a good idea to learn about milestones before you have your baby, but make sure that you’re not putting too much pressure on them to meet them. Each baby is different, and while it’s a good idea to learn as much as you can about when they should roughly start doing things, this is by no means a ‘they have to’. Each little person will learn at their own rate, and they will do things in their own time. So, if they can’t walk by 12 months but you know someone else with a baby that could, you don’t need to panic. It’s only if they are significantly delayed that you should start to seek out help, but even then it’s not necessarily a bad thing.

This is the same as they get older, you just need to be patient with some kids. Help will be there if you need it, but you don’t need to panic too much because your baby isn’t solving quadratic equations by the time they’re 2!

Babies are colder than we are

What a lot of people don’t know is that babies are colder than we are. Because they do not have the ability to regulate their body temperature, you need to do it for them. If you are cold, then your baby is probably freezing.

It’s a good idea to go with at least one additional layer for your child than you are wearing, sometimes two depending on how much you feel the cold. However, the only time this isn’t true is when they are sleeping. When they are sleeping, you don’t want to wrap them up so tight and warm, but you do want them to be at a good temperature. A thermostat for their room is a good idea so that you can decide what to dress them in. Remember, a cold baby cries, but a hot baby dies.

Understanding breast VS bottle feeding

Everyone has heard the saying breast is best. However, the actual saying is fed is best and this is the truth. It doesn’t matter where your baby’s milk comes from, as long as they are getting the right amount each day to thrive. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to breastfeed as things could go wrong at the last minute meaning you aren’t able to feed your child. This can then lead to you feeling like a failure and that isn’t true at all.

There are many pros and cons to each of these feeding methods, it is down to whichever one works for you as a family. Stock up on bottles, breast pump, and a steriliser just in case you prefer one over the other.

If you want to breastfeed but you have trouble with the amount you produce or your baby’s latch then there are specialists out there who you can speak to.

Other information to look up

Finally, there may always be questions and queries you want answers to when you have a baby. This could be something like is this cough normal, if you are ever concerned then you should take your beautiful baby to get checked out at the doctors. You never know when something could be seriously wrong and if you ignore it then it can get a lot worse.

You may also want to check out various milestones along the way like when does a baby’s hair grow. Most articles will tell you this can vary between each child and that’s true, some will be born with a head full of hair while others could wait a couple of years.

If you are ever unsure about where your baby should be developmentally then you could speak to your health visitor or pediatrician about this. They won’t think you are silly for asking questions, you simply care about your child’s health, wellbeing, and life.

We hope you found this article helpful and that it gave you some ideas on what you need for your impending arrival. Try not to panic about having everything you need right away, you can buy some of the non urgent items further down the line. As long as your baby has something to wear, a car seat, and somewhere to sleep then you are already doing a wonderful job. ____________________