20 Things You Need to Do to Prepare For a New Baby

Motherhood is a very special and fulfilling stage in a woman's life. However, this can be intimidating and scary at the beginning too. First time mommies are wary if they will ever be a good mom to their kids. They are nervous about caring for the fragile baby. Well all of these are understandable, so what you need to do is prepare well for the arrival of your newborn.

Here are 20 things that you need to do to prepare for a new baby:

1. Ask tips from your mom or mother-in-law - They say mothers know best, so who else should you talk to when it comes to parenting but your own parents, specifically your mom. You should seek for advices and tips especially for the first few days of your baby.

2. Read magazines and books about parenting - There are many things that a single woman does not know about being a mom so it would help to read magazines or books about parenting.

3. Watch some video tutorials - Do you actually know how to change diapers? Well you might want to check different video tutorials on how to do these things.

4. Get the baby's room ready - Most parents are excited to arrange the baby room. Of course, you need to make sure that everything here is in order - proper ventilation, safe interiors, no harmful substances and best of all decorated with baby items and toys.

5. Choose the name - This can take a long time so you might want to start thinking during the first trimester of your pregnancy.

6. Buy baby clothes - It is also great if you will start your baby shopping even before you give birth. Buy baby clothes that are made from 100% cotton.

7. Buy a baby monitor - You will surely need this to monitor the baby even when they are sleeping.

8. Prepare bath items - Babies can be very fragile so it is necessary to make sure that you will buy hypoallergenic items. Items that you should include are no tears bubble bath, lotion, baby wipes, cotton wool, nappy sacks and others.

9. Buy feeding items - It would also be great to prepare feeding bottles, pacifiers, breast pump and other items that they need for feeding. Make sure to sterilize everything before using.

10. You should stock up on baby formula - This is if you are planning to formula-feed your baby.

11. Prepare the breast pump - If you plan to breastfeed the baby but you also need to go back to work then you might want to prepare the breast pump.

12. Pack your hospital gear ahead of time - This is to make sure that you will not forget anything the moment you feel like you are ready to give birth. You should include camera, video camera, some clothes for you and for the baby.

13. Be sure you are ready for all the hospital bills - Of course you do not want to worry about hospital bills so make sure that you are prepared financially before you reach your second term.

14. Learn about the postnatal checkups and vaccines for the baby - You should learn the schedule of various vaccines to give to your newborn baby to avoid diseases and health problems.

15. Choose the hospital where you want to give birth - It is good to have a hospital in mind so you know where to run in case the schedule gets ahead of time.

16. Prepare your video camera - It would be nice if you or another family member will be able to capture the first moment of you and the baby so prepare your video camera ahead of time. Make sure your husband knows exactly what kind of shots and angles you want.

17. Prepare the announcement materials ahead of time - It is also ideal to prepare the announcement materials that you will send to all your friends the moment you give birth.

18. Read about post-partum depression - There are cases wherein moms experience post-partum depression so it would be good to be knowledgeable about the matter.

19. Arrange your schedules - If you are working in a business or office then it is essential that you arrange your schedule especially after you give birth to be able to spend quality time with your newborn.

20. Study about educational plans - This is probably too early but it would not hurt if you will study about educational plans for your baby ahead of time.

Baby Wont Sleep? Learn 3 Successful Methods of How To Get Your Little One To Sleep

So your infant won't sleep... you have to get up at all times of the evening to take care of the crying or yelling, and your mind-numbing lack of sleep is pushing you to paralyzing desperation....

What else could you do?

Mercifully there exist a number of tried and tested and practical methods in helping babies settle down into a great getting-to-sleep regimen.
1. The Way To Determine When Your Child Is Sleepy

During the very first 6 to 8 weeks your new baby most likely will not be able to remain awake for a lot more than a couple of hours. Babies can quite easily become overtired if they are not set down quickly enough - and then putting baby to sleep will become a problem.

Be on the lookout for the classic signs of child drowsiness - is she rubbing her face, fussing or perhaps tugging on her ears? Before too long, you will recognise all these signs of tiredness and be able to set your infant down for a sleep at the correct time

It's most effective to establish a bedtime regime by picking a time between 7pm and 8pm to get them quieted-down. If possible, also attempt to stick to the same times for their day time naps, although not too late as it is probable that your baby will not sleep or have the ability to settle in the evening.

2. Aid Your Infant To Comprehend the Distinction Between Day and Night

From about 2 weeks old, it is possible to assist your little one to recognize that daytime means being active and that nighttime hours is made for sleeping.

You should try to be active with him or her in the course of the day, talking or singing in feeding times and attempting to keep the environment 'normal' - ie do not be concerned about the washer noise or the door banging. Try also to help keep the day time bright and fresh. Then when the night comes, keep noises to a bare minimum and breastfeeding very low-key.

Keep to this pattern and your child will start to understand that the night time represents sleeping - an essential aspect of the best way to get babies to sleep.

3. Allow Your Infant To Feel At Ease Drifting Off To Sleep On Their Own

By about three or more months your baby ought to be capable to discover the way to drift off to sleep on her own by snuggling a baby blanket, holding a much-loved stuffed toy or possibly sucking their thumb.

Then again, if they've already got into the habit of getting snuggled and rocked to sleep, then your infant will often make the link that they need YOU to do this every single time so as to get to sleep.

Preferably it is most desirable to create a quality sleeping pattern from the outset by offering your child a chance to calm themselves to sleep. Nonetheless, should your baby won't sleep without you, look at employing the 'elastic band method'. At bed time, stay with her as normal in order to reassure her - although try to avoid eye contact.

Once your child begins to grow sleepy, relocate a small distance from their cot toward the door. Your baby may possibly realize you've relocated and begin to create a fuss, therefore go back and reassure them. If you do this again regularly, you will ultimately be able to move further and even further away - so your child shall be content to fall asleep without having you to be nearby.