4 Great Hacks for New Parents

In a few weeks, you are going to welcome a brand new little person into the world.

Yes, you and your beloved are about to be parents for the first time and you are already over the moon in love with your baby.

While going from a couple to parents is definitely exciting, taking care of a newborn does have its challenges. To make the experience as stress-free as possible—and yes, to help you maybe even catch a few Z’s now and then—consider the following tips:

1. Say Yes to Help

Grandparents, close friends and beloved neighbors down the street will all be delighted to meet your little one—and many of them will offer to help you. While you may be bound and determined to handle everything on your own, try accepting these offers of assistance and/or letting your loved ones know what you need. Having your BFF come over for an hour and hold your infant while you take a blessedly long shower and then maybe dash out for coffees to go for you and your friend will really do a lot for your new parent morale.

2. Automate Your Home

For couples who have been thinking about investing in some smart home services that save money, parenthood is an ideal time to do this. First of all, that adorable newborn you are about to hold can be a spendy little guy or gal—diapers and wipes add up quickly. Fortunately, you can save money with: a smart home thermostat, smart light switch, smart plug, home lighting automation and other devices. Some smart home thermostats are able to adjust the temperatures in your home based on your habits and preferences, which can lead to savings on your power bill. 

You will be very busy taking care of your baby, so anything you can do to make household tasks easier will be a huge stress reliever. Imagine a night several weeks from now and you have finally gotten your infant to fall asleep. You crawl under the covers ready for a few hours of snooze and you realize you’ve left the coffee pot and the downstairs lights on. Rather than drag yourself back out of bed, smart home devices will allow you to switch off everything from an app on your phone.

3. Don’t Stock Up on Diapers Quite Yet

Speaking of diapers, you might be tempted to stock up on a bunch of Pampers, Huggies or Luvs—especially if you spot them on a great sale at the store. While this will be a great idea once your baby is here, resist the urge until your newborn arrives and you see which brands do the best at holding in your baby’s business. Believe it or not, diapers are not created equally and you may find that your little man does better in Pampers or your little lady is a Huggies girl. Buy small packages of different types including store brands and test them out on your newborn.

4. Bring a Change of Clothing for You When You Go Out

You will fill your diaper bag with all sorts of essentials that will make it easier for you to bring your little one out to the store, grandma’s house and other locations. In addition to bringing an extra onesie or whole outfit for your baby, pack a change of clothing for you and your spouse. If your infant spits up or has a diaper blowout and it gets on you, you can quickly duck into a restroom stall or your mom’s bathroom and change both you and your baby into new duds.

Congratulations and All the Best to You

You are about to start one of the most amazing experiences in your life: parenthood. By accepting help, making your home as smart as possible, testing products like diapers before buying in bulk, and bringing extra clothing along for all of you when you go out, parenthood may also be a bit easier and less stressful.