My wife and I are expecting a baby girl in October, and it's been really exciting and chaotic at the same time. So many ads and never-ending "must have" lists on the internet are just overwhelming for us at the moment. For all you parents out there, what's one thing you would recommend noobie parents to do/buy/hire/? TC: 250K BTW, Moms are the real heroes in this world. Pregnancy ain't a joke. #parenting
You’re gonna hear this a million times but still, get some good sleep now while you can.
For survival purposes we researched a brand and have mostly stuck with them for our baby containers (car seat, stroller, etc). Nuna was our winner. Have been very happy with them. Otherwise it gets so overwhelming so fast. And...you honestly don’t need that much gear when you first bring baby home. Pro tip: Stick to the essentials to get started. We had a car seat, stroller, bassinet and boppy (both style pillows, both pretty cheap, they’re on our MVP list). Everything else can come later as you figure out your and your baby’s likes/dislikes. For example, our daughter is 8 weeks old and we still haven’t bought a baby monitor yet. Just haven’t needed one yet. PS. Dadverb was both my husband and my favorite baby gear reviewer on YouTube
Have your own diaper bag. Just like you have your own phone, work bag, etc. Buy something that suites you. Fill it with the tools you need to parent well, and start building a one:one relationship with your daughter on day one.
I'm one of those guys that likes to carry a bag with all things :)
Awesome. Then get some kind of baby carrier. The point is to get out with your kid and be ready to parent from the start. Don't wait, and don't let your partner do everything for you. Too many guys fall into that.
Snoo was a lifesaver for us, we actually have a new in box one (we got it under warranty) I'm selling (well once this virus thing dies down a bit)
What’s Snoo?
Wow this looks great (just googled it). Never heard of it before. Does this replace a crib? Until the baby grows out of it? We were thinking about getting the mamaroo swing, which I guess is a different category?
And... speaking as a new mom, keep up the appreciation. Like pregnancy, parenthood (and motherhood especially) can get rough. Having an awesome, supportive partner in your corner goes a long way. And have fun. We’re 8 weeks into parenthood and while it’s been a big adjustment, we’re both obsessed with our tiny human and think she’s the coolest thing on earth! PS. We have a Snoo too. It’s awesome. If you’re considering, it’s been on sale lately (30% off) or you might prefer renting. You can buy it and set up delivery for October. Worth looking into at least IMO.
Relax and enjoy the ride. Also get lots of sleep or u time cause u won’t have any of that until atleast 18 years from now.
Congrats on your baby! First- you don’t have to technically buy much. The list that you see in internet marketing. I had a used crib(which we ended up using to dry towels), a bouncy chair, stroller, and lots of hand me down toys. Friends ultimately ended up gifting a lot and I wish didn’t even buy as many clothes as I did. The only things I recommend buying new are bath tab and car seat +stroller set, though some may debate that car seat can also be bought second hand if not expired. Please also sit with your spouse and have a frank conversation about who will help out how much. For eg who will take on night duty, who / how will you manage cooking, cleaning, putting baby to sleep, washing and all other chores. Are you going to hire vs do it all yourself? Try and give the mom as little housework as possible for the first 6 weeks, as it’s a huge change to get used to. If you think pregnancy is tough, wait until the baby is born and if the mom wants to breastfeed- the late nights and constantly being available will be super draining. All in all it’s a great experience and I hope you both enjoy it.
Cherish all your parenting moments and take it as a fun!
Be a dad, not just mom’s assistant. Be proactive and don’t leave it to her to figure out every new thing and make every decision about your child. Do it together. When the baby is awake at night, it’s not just the mom’s responsibility, regardless of how you’re feeding. The sleep deprivation can really wear you down in the first year, which puts a lot of stress on your body, your relationship with your spouse, and your mental health too. Depending on whether you have good parent role models, and what your relationship with your own parents is like, becoming a parent can really shift your perspective, identity, priorities, self image, and so on. This is a really great time to start regular therapy. Not because you need help, but because it can help you become a better person and parent.
this is all spot on
Congrats!