Fatherhood Factor

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Newborn

Bedtime: 4 Tips for Keeping Your Newborn Cozy Each Night

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Every parent searches out the best ways to keep their little one bundled up and feeling cozy throughout the day. Feeling comfy makes naptime easier but gives them the sense of security they need at such a tender age. Get tips for keeping your newborn cozy each night from some seasoned parents to keep your child happy.

Swaddle Your Baby

On a chilly night, putting those cold-weather PJs on your baby isn’t enough to keep them comfortable, and you can’t rely on a blanket for that extra warmth since they can easily kick it off in the middle of the night. Keep your baby nice and toasty by swaddling them before bed; it should be tight enough that it doesn’t come undone but not so tight that it squeezes them.

Pro Tip

Some parents purchase a baby sleep sack or sleeping bag for their baby. With one of these, you won’t have to worry about swaddling, and you’ll get a great night’s sleep knowing your little cutie feels as comfortable as you do.

Buy the Right Baby Clothes

Your baby should wear PJs according to the season and how it feels inside your home. For example, if you crank up the heat on those cold winter nights, thick pajamas paired with layers of blankets is excessive. Instead of doing this, dress your baby in thin layers.

Don’t put your baby to bed in thick wool or clothing suited for the outdoors since this is uncomfortable and traps in heat. Rather, shop for quality baby blankets and clothes, such as outfits with climate control. These clothes will keep your baby warm on a cold day and cool on a hot day.

Have a Quality Mattress

Most parents recommend having a firm crib mattress. This keeps your baby comfortable and lessens the risk of serious injury if they roll over on the bed. Some little ones toss and turn in their sleep, and if they roll onto their tummy and can’t flip over, it could be catastrophic.  

Prevent Overheating

Many of these tips for keeping your newborn cozy each night have covered dressing your baby in layers to keep them toasty, but you never want to overdo this. Overheating is dangerous at any age, and a baby can’t remove layers as we would. While you should dress your little one in layers, keep in mind that they only need one more than you do.

Remain aware of the signs of overheating, such as redness, rapid breathing, and sweating. If you must dress your baby in thicker clothes, then make sure to check your baby by feeling their belly or back and remove layers if they feel hot. Sleeping becomes easier for the baby when they feel comfortable.

What First-Time Parents Need to Know

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Being a parent for the first time is an exhilarating, joyful, complicated, and often messy experience. You may feel a little lost and confused, but holding and nurturing your child makes it all worth it. As you watch your newborn grow and interact with the world around them, there are a few things to prepare for as a new parent. Here’s what first-time parents need to know; be the best dad you can be with these tips.

Bringing Home Baby

The first few weeks are chaotic. You’re on the baby’s schedule now; you sleep when they sleep. If the little one needs a bottle or a diaper change, they will let you know—and loudly. If there were complications at birth, like breech positioning or hip dysplasia, your baby may need extra care. Stay in contact with those who delivered the baby, whether that’s the hospital obstetrician or the doula or midwife who assisted at a home birth. Their specialized knowledge will lend you support during those first weeks and months.

Keeping Them Clean

For the first month, give your baby sponge baths in the sink two or three times a week (everyday baths can dry out their delicate skin). Use gentle soap specially formulated for baby skin and hair. Continue with sponge baths until the umbilical cord falls off and the navel completely heals. If you had your little one circumcised, make sure it has completely healed as well before transitioning to tub baths.

Bonding and Nurturing

Your baby needs lots of love and affection; babies who don’t receive adequate cuddles in their first two years of life can develop attachment issues later on. Take care to support their head and neck when you hold them, and always wash your hands first. Many parents find skin-to-skin contact with their baby particularly powerful in bonding. And make sure to talk and sing to them often! Babies love gentle, soothing sounds. Talking to your baby also aids in their development—get them used to hearing words.

Parenthood is a monumental undertaking, and doing it for the first time comes with a learning curve. You’ll need extra support from your community and your little one’s doctor; don’t be afraid to ask for advice. Remember: your baby is also new to all of this, so you’re having these experiences together. These reminders are just a taste of what first-time parents need to know, but keep these basics in mind as you bond with your little one.

5 Tips to Prepare Your Home for a Newborn

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Finding out that you’re expecting is truly a remarkable moment, and chances are that you will remember it for as long as you live. That second when the doctor confirms that you’re definitely with child is exciting, bewildering, and utterly inexplicable – that’s why it’s yours to cherish and remember forever. Amidst the excitement and sheer joy, numerous troubling questions arise; problems you will have to prepare for well in advance.

One of these, of course, is transforming your home into a baby-friendly environment, and equipping it with all the necessary features for a thriving family. From creating a nursery and keeping the place clean, all the way to the essential baby supplies, let’s tackle everything you need to keep in mind before bringing your baby into your home.

Safety comes first

When a new family member is expected to come home, the interior needs to portray an oasis of safety, positivity, and serenity. Without a doubt, safety is the most important element, so make sure you prepare well in advance so that you can make the necessary alterations before the baby arrives if need be.

You can start with the kitchen, making sure every cabinet and drawer is baby-proof. Don’t forget to cover all sharp edges and corners with adhesive cushioning, and make sure there are no slippery surfaces in your home. Finally, the crib should have a tall sliding fence to prevent your baby from reaching over – add a baby monitor to the nursery and you’re set!

Build a healthy, organic nursery

Moving on, there is a need to address the biggest of all challenges for a new parent, and that is building a nursery imbued with health, flexibility, and day-long positivity. After all, you will be spending a whole lot of time here during the day, so making it as cozy and healthy as possible should be your no.1 priority. Luckily, there are several key ways you can easily make this happen.

First up is the crib. Not only does it have a tall fence, but the crib itself should be made out of healthy, sustainable materials such as bamboo wood. Make sure the linens your bundle of joy will sleep with are hypoallergenic and made out of natural materials as well.

The same should go for all accessories around the room, so choose natural jute rugs instead of synthetics that collect dirt and dust to create a comfy spot for your feet under the nursing chair. Throws and blankets should also be hypoallergenic and easy-to-wash and don’t forget to have a separate set of clean clothes just for the nursery. Finally, ensure there’s plenty of natural light in the room to banish mites and bacteria and consider improving the air quality by installing an air purifier.

Cleanliness is non-negotiable

You might have been fine with using proprietary cleaners in your home up until now, but that’s all about to change. The toxic chemicals in these products are the last thing you want your baby to touch through the fabric or worse, inhale. So, don’t think about it, just throw it all out. Instead, use natural, homemade cleaners for all your cleaning needs and you will have no problem building a healthy, chemical-free home.

Keep your home free of clutter

Physical clutter has no place in a family home, especially if you have a newborn on your hands. Not only is household clutter filled with choking hazards and is completely unsanitary, but living in a messy environment can also affect you as a parent.

Keep in mind that physical clutter quickly becomes emotional and psychological stress, so just throw away everything you don’t need and enjoy your time in a clean, clutter-free interior. Before you move on, though, remember that preserving such a living environment will require regular decluttering when the baby arrives as well.

Stock up on supplies and baby products

Lastly, there are two golden rules you need to follow: buy everything you need for the baby well in advance and never let the father make that shopping list. Be an active part of the shopping process, research the best products on the market and browse through the stores for the best toys, hygiene equipment and amenities for your new bundle of joy. When you bring all that stuff in, don’t forget to organize everything into their corresponding storage units or you will clutter up the place pretty quickly.

Becoming a parent is one of life’s greatest blessings, but there are numerous precautions to take if you are to enjoy the new chapter of your life to the fullest. Follow these steps, and you will have created a baby-friendly home in no time.

Self-Care After Bringing Home Your Baby

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When you bring a newborn home, it’s easy to get caught up in the craziness. After days with little sleep, dealing with uncontrollable crying, and mountains of dirty diapers, you may find yourself completely giving up on caring for yourself as you try to keep up with your baby’s needs. However, if you are not practicing self-care, you are not truly doing everything you can for your baby’s good. When parents are healthy and happy, they are better able to take care of their kids. This allows you to be more attentive, patient, and mindful when spending time with your baby. During the first months of being a parent, here are a few acts of self-care that you can incorporate into your life.

Appreciate the Little Things… Like Hygiene

It’s not uncommon for new parents to wake up one morning and realize it has been days since they last washed their hair, so don’t beat yourself up if you find this happens to you. However, practicing your daily hygiene routine is a little time you get to spend on yourself. While you probably took things like properly brushing and flossing for granted, now you have the opportunity to really appreciate these moments as the acts of self-care that they are. Take your time when you care for yourself and don’t be afraid to splurge on products that you really enjoy using. Grab that nice-smelling shampoo, a luxurious face lotion, or that really good toothpaste—it’s a small thing for you in a world where everything else is about the baby.

Save Time With Grocery Delivery

If you are breastfeeding, you know it is important to eat nutritious foods in order to stay healthy while nursing. Even if you are not breastfeeding, you want to eat well as a new parent so you can be properly fueled and functioning at your best for your child. However, planning a grocery list, going to the store, shopping, and preparing meals can be super overwhelming and way too time-consuming when you are caring for a newborn.

Make the whole process simpler by spending a few extra dollars on getting your groceries delivered. Many supermarkets now offer their own delivery programs as a way to compete with online mega-retailers like Amazon. Or you can use grocery delivery apps to connect with personal shoppers who will go to the store of your choosing. While this may eat into your household’s grocery budget, in the end, it is worth it both for the health of home-cooked foods as well as the convenience it provides.

Move Around

We are not saying new moms should start training for a triathlon days after giving birth, but getting in some sort of physical activity can be a huge help for new parents in general. First of all, exercise releases endorphins, dopamine, and other helpful neurochemicals that help beat stress, reduce pain, and can even help with feelings of postpartum depression. A little physical activity can also help you achieve deeper, more restful sleep—when you can get any at all.  Instead of pushing yourself to do something crazy or difficult, start with light yoga, neighborhood walks, and simple isometric exercises you can do around the house. Fit fitness into your routine as you can with the goal of feeling better overall rather than losing weight or building muscle.

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Parents often get swept up in the chaos of living with a newborn, but it is important to practice self-care in order to be your best for your baby. Upgrade your daily hygiene ritual with your favorite products and savor the small amount of time dedicated solely to yourself. Eat well even with your crazy schedule by paying a little extra for grocery delivery. Finally, try and fit in exercise as much as you can to help beat the stresses of parenthood while promoting a positive attitude.