After bringing your beautiful bundle of joy home from the hospital the real fun begins — 3 a.m. feedings, never-ending diaper changes, that tiny little voice crying out for you, and your life turned upside down to make your newborn comfortable and content. As new moms, we are in survival mode for the first year of our babies’ lives to ensure they are healthy and happy.
To make parenting a bit easier, here are the top ten hacks I pulled together from fellow mamas and my own experiences with two little ones. Hopefully, you will find them helpful as well!
Hack #1: If your baby is congested, run a hot shower to steam up the bathroom and sit with baby for 10-15 minutes to loosen the mucus. Then, rub Vicks VapoRub on the bottom of his or her feet and cover with socks or footed jammies.
Hack #2: If you are unsure if your baby is hungry, look for these cues: stirring, rooting, mouth open, hand-to-mouth movement, and crying.
Hack #3: The onesie’s open-neck design allows you to take it off down over the shoulders, instead of over the head for the major poopy diaper blowouts!
Hack #4: To sooth a teething baby’s gums, freeze a pacifier in an ice cube tray with breastmilk, formula, or water.
Hack #5: For less fuss when giving medicine, cut a hole in the tip of a pacifier and put the dropper through it.
Hack #6: Get some hands-free baby time by using a quality baby carrier like Beco, ErgoBaby, or Moby, which also allows your baby to feel close to you.
Hack #7: Don’t want to misplace baby’s accessories? Stick a 3M hook on the back of the high chair to hang bibs and burp cloths. Also, clean out a junk drawer and turn it into a place to store nipples, pacifiers, and lids.
Hack #8: Keep light snacks and a drink for yourself in baby’s room for middle-of-the-night feedings, and remember, it's important to feed your baby on demand in the beginning. As he or she grows, try to be as consistent as possible with feedings and naps.
Hack #9: To clean baby’s spit up off the furniture, wipe up the mess as best as possible, make a paste of baking soda and water, and then spread over the stain. Then, let it dry and set overnight, and simply vacuum it away.
Hack #10: Try a shower visor to keep water and shampoo out of baby’s eyes when bathing.
These hacks will likely come in handy — I know a lot of them did for me. As a new parent, you will continue to get lots of advice from others, which is great, but what works for one may not work for another. Keep in mind that no one knows your baby better than you, so take in all the feedback, but go with what feels right for you and your baby.
Tawnya Burket lives in the northern panhandle of West Virginia, raising two kiddos with her husband. She has a master's degree in communications and produces Weirton - Steubenville Macaroni Kid for her community.
