Recently, we saw those two little pink lines and, now, we’re feeling that overwhelming anxiety over the fact that our lives are about to be changed forever. Becoming a parent for the first time is, well, let’s not sugar coat it–freaking terrifying.
According to a study conducted in 2016, while women experience anxiety and stress more frequently than men, they found that both mothers and fathers experience a lot of anxiety and stress during the transition to parenthood. The findings also suggested that resulting post-pregnancy depression was directly influenced by the stress and anxiety levels of both parents (i.e. it was often influenced by how well their partner was coping as well as how well they were coping themselves).
The unfortunate reality is that there isn’t a lot we can do to prevent the naturally occurring stress, anxiety, and depression that can often be associated with becoming a parent for the first time. Besides, of course, being there for each other and taking it one step at a time (and getting medical help if either of these issues become serious).
However, luckily, there are all kinds of great resources out there to help us prepare before our little one officially makes their adorable little appearance in this big world. This will help alleviate some of the inevitable anxiety that we will face once we’re adjusting to life living with our little one. Check out these 3 things to consider to us prepare for a new baby:
Get a life insurance policy
Let’s be honest about it–nobody lives forever. And, we don’t get to know when our “time is up”. Therefore, it is vital, before the new baby comes, to make sure that our family is protected by having life insurance. By getting a Life insurance quote from iSelect, we can compare life insurance policies to find the one that will best fit the needs of our family (including whether we should consider disability insurance).
Get a great car seat
A lot of times we get focused on the “first outfit” we will bring our baby home in, but what’s even more important is what car seat we will carry our baby home in. When choosing a car seat for our new baby, we are going to want to pick one that is above all else – the safest. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, too many parents are installing their children’s car seats inappropriately. This is devastating considering that car accidents are the “leading cause of death for children.” Luckily, they have found that car seats can reduce the chance of fatal injury in the event of a crash by as much as 71 percent when used correctly.
Therefore, taking safety and ease of use into account when choosing the best infant car seats on the market is key to keeping our babies comfortable and safe. Plus, a lot of these types of websites will help us find car seats for every stage of development that are approved by people that are already parents.
Pro Tip: consider an infant car seat that fits into a stroller for ease when transporting the baby.
Nursery checklist:
Let’s be honest–the baby doesn’t need his/her own room right away. In fact, it may not be advisable for them to sleep too far away from us right away. According to RaisingChildren, having our baby sleep in the same room as us in their own safety insured crib, bassinet, or cot can reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Regardless of whether a traditional nursery is set up, there are things that will make the adjustment to this new life run smoothly. Some handy items a new baby will need include:
- A safe and cozy crib (with a firm mattress, plastic liner, and a cotton fitted sheet)
- Two cotton blankets
- Multiple seasonal appropriate outfits (at least 6 clean at a time) to change into (babies spit up and poop a lot)
- Gentle laundry soap to wash blankets and clothes
- Two boxes of diapers
- Lots of baby wipes
- Rubbing alcohol
- Cotton swabs
- Baby bath soap
- At least four clean receiving blankets at a time
- At least six clean burping cloths at a time
- Six bottles with newborn nipples
- A brush to clean bottles
- Breast pump and nursing bras (if you plan on nursing)