10 Baby Parenting Hacks for New Parents
Having a baby definitely changes your everyday life. From your day to day schedule to your nighttime sleep patterns, your life is now focused on taking care of your little one. And while it may seem overwhelming, there are things you can do as new parents to make your life a little easier. We’ve compiled the top 10 baby hacks to help you cope with your new lifestyle. From helpful household items to clever ideas, we’ve got everything you need to make life with a growing baby a little more stress-free.
Helpful Baby Hacks Every New Mom Needs to Know
1. Coconut oil
Rub a small amount of coconut oil or almond oil on your baby’s bottom to make cleaning up their first few poops (the meconium stage) a little more manageable. The oil will help moisturize your baby’s bottom so that the poop wipes off easily.
2. Know your onesies
Who knew? Those little shoulder flaps on your baby’s onesie actually serve a purpose; they allow you to slide the onesie down your little one’s body instead of going over their head in case of a messy diaper situation. The flaps allow the head opening to get bigger so that you can avoid getting any mess on your baby.
3. Diaper hack
Before you remove your baby’s dirty diaper, place a new one right underneath the dirty one. Clean baby’s bottom with wipes and put the dirty wipes in the old diaper. Lift it up and out of the way to reveal the fresh one right underneath. This can help you save time, and if you have a boy, it can help so you have less chance of getting peed on!
4. Hospital pacifier as a tool for medicine
If your baby has a difficult time taking medicine, try using a hospital grade pacifier as a tool. These are the pacifiers that are often given to you at the hospital but can also be purchased too. They have a hollow opening which is perfect for putting the medicine dropper in. It might take a little longer, but it will help soothe your baby and make them feel better about taking the medicine.
5. Prevent slipping in the bathtub
Once baby has reached the age where they can sit up, place them in a laundry basket in the bathtub to prevent slipping. Your little one will still have plenty of room for toys and the water can flow freely in and out. It can also serve as a storage space for all baby’s toys once bath time is over.
6. White noise
When it comes to getting baby to sleep, a white noise machine or app can make all the difference. A noise machine will help to drown out any outside noise in your house while also helping soothe baby to sleep. Try one that also has a nightlight like Bubzi Co.'s Baby Sleep Soothing Owl. It plays 10 different lullabies as well as a natural bird song and heartbeat to help soothe baby to sleep. It also projects starlight onto the walls of baby’s nursery to help calm them.
MORE SLEEP TIPS: 6 Trusted Techniques New Moms Can Try To Get Baby To Sleep
7. Open-bottom sleepers
During the day, dress your baby in sleepers that open at the bottom, especially early on when diaper changes seem to be happening all the time. It will make changing diapers easier since you don’t have to button and unbutton all those tiny little snaps.
8. Layer up
It’s hard to know how many layers to dress your newborn in, especially in the colder winter months. Just keep this rule of thumb in mind: dress your newborn in one more layer than you’re wearing. To check how hot or cold they are, feel their chest, tummy or back of the neck. It’s hard to tell baby’s actual temperature from their hands or feet as they are generally colder than the rest of the body. And always remember it’s important not to overheat your baby. As much as you might want to wrap them in blankets all day long, it’s not necessary, especially on a warm day.
9. DIY stain remover
To make a great DIY stain remover, mix one part Dawn dishwashing detergent with two parts hydrogen peroxide. It will remove any stain you might encounter with your little one, from poop stains to puke stains and everything in between.
RELATED: How To Ensure Your House Is Clean To Keep Your Baby Healthy
10. No more lost socks
Baby socks are so tiny they’re bound to get lost in the wash. To make sure you don’t lose any, wash them in a lingerie bag. It will keep all those tiny socks in one place so you don’t have to go searching after every wash!
Parenting doesn’t have to be hard, as long as you’re open to using a few clever ideas for everyday tasks and household items. A few simple baby hacks can help save you hours of wasted time and let you get back to the really important things in your day – like giving your newborn plenty of cuddles and kisses!
Photo credit: Bigstock, Pixabay
