10 Things to DO/BUY before the baby ARRIVES
By: Heba Salama
Tags: Stroller, Baby, First Time, Moms, Must Do

As a new mother , just immigrated to a different continent with my husband away from family and everyone where I was expecting my baby alone. For me , that was a challenge, to be unable to reach out if I needed help from family or friends. ANYYWAAAYY, here I’m with a 2 year old baby doing just fine. But here are the things that made me go through it.

1. Pacifier :

I can’t stress enough on how important it is. At the beginning, I heard all the “don’t give it to him, as he will get used to it and it will be hard to get rid of it”. Although, the midwife at the hospital said it was fine, but you do listen to the majority of people. I went through days of SUUFFEERR. Unstoppable Cries of a well-fed and well-burped baby is an unknown mystery. But Pacifiers are the third greatest invention after electricity and epidural. GET IT and USE IT. As they grow you can gradually reduce it as they start to get distracted by toys. Get different types, and start experimenting with them, till they choose the ONE.

2. Sleep in the Baby Cot

Whether a regular cot or a travel cot, my advice is one thing. USE IT! It gets tiring during the night specially with their little tummies to feed them almost every 2 hours , so it looks appealing to keep them beside you on the bed. But NO, avoid doing that at all times. I understand its very tiring, but on the long run getting him/her used to sleep in their bed, will make it easier for you to return back to your bed as they get older.

There are cots beside bed like the Chico next 2 me, which can make it a bit easier, but for me I didn’t get it as it wasn't suitable (space wise) to get a cot for every phase.

3. Gripe Water

Yes, Get it !. With all the unknowns that happen with these little creatures, Gripe water has a lot of magic to it. So get it. After feeding, burping, sleeping and putting on the pacifier and still they keep on crying. Then Gripe water is your weapon.

4. Swinger

If you can’t really afford it , then thats fine. But if you can, then get it. It helps, just to put him/her in the swinger and have your dinner in PEACE.

5. Baby bag

Better than birkins when having a baby !. I got mine from AliExpress, if you have time, its way more cheaper than Amazon and here we are two years later, still going Strong. This is a MUST. It helps to organize the diapers, bottles, wipes, extra clothes, toys etc. So when the time comes you have everything you need outdoor. P.S. it has more than space than it looks.

6. Shower Sponge

There are multiple options to buy from, based on do you have a bath tub? or can your baby fit in the kitchen sink?. For me, I didn’t have both, I had this small cute shower box, took my baby in my lap and showered him. The most important thing is to have the shower sponge, a big one and multiple ones, to be beneath him as they have a lot of unexpected moves.

7. Reflux

Always check with your GP, but my baby was crying non stop and I didn’t know that the babies can have reflux, so just have gavescon sachets for babies reflux around and consult your GP before you use them. Symptoms can include vomiting and coughs after feeding, also while carrying them they tend to throw themselves backward.

8. Baby bottles

If you are not purely breastfeeding, than don’t buy bulk from one type of baby bottles. Yes , babies have preferences and yes there are different types of nipples for different types of babies. So, no bulk, just get different types and time will show their preference, then buy in the amount you want !.

9. Easy Stroller

That goes without saying, but also again due to space issue, I’m going to say all the strollers works fine believe me, you don’t need this 1000 EURO stroller. A stroller suitable for their age group is enough!. The most important thing is to make sure that they can be compact when stored. Always, close and open the stroller multiple times before buying it to make sure that its easy and comfy to YOU. As you will opening and closing it multiple times later.

10. Skin to Skin

Best is for last right? Have plenty skin to skin contact, this beautiful moment is what will make the hard time go through. You both charge when you hug him/her. A one of a kind intimate feeling.

No one said its easy, but its definitely WORTH IT. Good Luck.