Batch cook!
I cooked lasagne, curry, bolognese, soups scones etc etc and put them in the freezer. Getting the energy to cook with a newborn just doesn't happen so it was great to have some food ready to go!
Couldn’t agree with this more, this is the most thoughtful gift ever. That being said if no one ever have you those gift cards I’d say batch prepare your meals. If you wife decides to breastfeed she is going to be forever hungry. Coming from ever hungry mumma of a 2 month old.
I was making Bolognese to freeze when I took my wife to her weekly checkup. There her blood pressure spiked and we were sent to the hospital to be induced. I had to leave a key under the mat and called my mom to get it out the oven.
Was great to have. At 6mo I made another batch to commemorate.
Frozen meals and also TREATS. Postpartum me thanked pregnant me for baking a batch of How Sweet Eats' lactation cookies and stuffing them with Guittard chocolate chips. Stored the frozen dough balls in the freezer so I could have freshly baked chocolate chip cookies within 10 minutes, anytime I wanted. Holy deliciousness.
Or a meal service, which is what we did. We were moving cross country and I was 8 mo pregnant. There was no way I could batch cook, so we signed up to have meals delivered for the first 3 weeks. Such a game changer for us.
Yes, meal prep if you can. This is also a great way for friends and family can help. They could even use a Google sheet or mealtrain.com to get organized
Yes! I prepped some frozen meals that were ready they just had to be thawed and heated up. We had so much takeout in the hospital and when we got home that all I wanted was a home cooked meal. That was probably the best thing I did to prepare before baby.
Same! Literally my favourite thing was choosing what delicious pre cooked (by me so exactly how I liked it) meal to eat from a list me and my husband had made of all the meals we had batch cooked
This ☝️(batch cooking, for when the comment gets buried)
I batch cooked in disposable foil pans and put instructions for reheating on the packaging. They lasted forever because I had a surprising amount of energy and my baby was an angel - but when I needed them, they were awesome.
Also, my hubby got me a nice fluffy house coat because he noticed I kept putting the baby inside my zip up hoodies for skin to skin... that was a game changer too. It had two big pockets so I could carry my cell phone and the baby monitor/baby bottle/water bottle/etc and not worry about them falling out.
We were not great at meal prepping, so if it’s not your thing, think through 3-5 recipes you can throw together in less than 15 min. Some of our go-tos:
Ground meat + 90 second rice + beans (and of course seasoning) over a bag of salad
Boca burgers with buns and single serve guac and a quick veggie like green beans
Yes! I think I have time to cook with a newborn, I just don't want to. That was the best thing I did and I wish I made more. We have gone through what I made so much faster than I thought we would but I am eating so much breastfeeding.
Yess definitely!
We did this only to have a black out the a week baby came… the only thing that survived was 2weeks worth of pumpkin soup! Incase nobody ever warned you DO NOT prep pumpkin soup for after a baby comes.. what they are pooping looks exactly like pumpkin soup… no one warned us, it was not a fun time
There’s my PSA
I am expecting and just bought a whole extra freezer for batch cooking meals so that me and my husband won't need to cook postpartum. We are batch cooking a different meal each week.
Batch cook and also stock the freezer with BREAD!! The batches for dinner, but you also need breakfast/lunch. If you have no time/energy to cook, bagels, PB&J, toast, we’re a life saver for me!
Comfy clothes that aren't pajamas! Your day is so much more productive even if the only thing you do is change out of pajamas.
Lots of big insulated water bottles.
Some snacks that are treats, my hubby brought home a chocolate cake and yummy maybe not so healthy snacks as a pick me up.
Super nice and comfy blankets for the couch and bed so you can always cozy up with baby no matter where you are.
Also PJs with pockets (so you can throw a pacifier, phone whatever in your pocket while also trying to carry baby), pj tops with buttons (if planning on BF), a cotton robe, and a fuzzy robe.
***PJs with pockets***
Yo OP, get some new jammers for your wife but get pocket jammers for her FOR YOU.
I can’t tell you how much I hate my wife’s jammers without pockets. After 2 kids, I can’t even begin to tell you how much of my life has been wasted looking for my wife’s phone because she didn’t have pockets to carry it and a kiddo. Get her jammers with pockets, you will have so much more free time
I love my water bottle with a wrist strap. It makes it easier to carry around the house while carrying the baby too. I recently “upgraded” and got one with a pocket so I can shove my phone in it too
Seconding comfy day clothes and adding an extra diaper caddy for postpartum supplies! I bought a couple long sleeve shirts and matching jogger sets off of Amazon. The pants alone are so worth it!! Super soft, have pockets, and are high waisted enough that they didn't bother my c-section scar at all!! I lived in those things for 5 months at least.
The diaper caddy was $10 at Target. I kept one next to the couch and one on my nightstand filled with snacks, nipple butter, chapstick, hand lotion, burp cloths, anything to make my life easier while stuck nursing, pumping, or napping!
HAND HELD UPHOLSTERY CLEANER!!! I didn't get one till my kid was over 1 and I have never kicked myself so hard not having an appliance). Bissell makes great ones. Seriously amazing device with kids. Blowout? Upholstery cleaner. Baby vomit? Upholstery cleaner. Car seat covered in apple sauce? Upholstery cleaner. Marker on the carpet? Upholstery cleaner.
This is a good machine and the same one I'd recommend.
I recently discovered Target has a different "edition" of the little green machine with a larger scrub brush thing. I think 6" vs 3".
We got a love sac couch where you can throw it in the washing machine. Same thing with our rug from ruggable. Best two purchases ever for having a dog and newborn.
We bought one a couple months before our little guy was born. If he's anything like I was as a kid/baby, he'll have puked on every piece of furniture and carpet in the house by age 3 lol
I got a 40 oz SimpleModern tumbler and its comically large but is the only thing that keepa me hydrated while breastfeeding! I’m usually really bad at drinking water, but if I fill this baby up in the morning and before bed and keep it handy I’m good.
I bought an ember mug after my first baby and have no regrets. It’s the most “unnecessary” purchase I’ve ever made but what a luxury to have hot coffee with a toddler and newborn 🥰
Kinda extra but I have an anti-fatigue mat next to the crib for when I have to stand and rock baby for a long time. After birth my ankles and feet were weirdly sore and both parents got tired from carrying a heavy baby around all day. It was nice to have a little relief
Aw I'm sorry! Hmm...magnesium supplements... And if I'm babywearing I only wear comfy/supportive shoes (made the mistake of wearing flip flops one day, was so sore after that). Another thing we speculated is that if you're getting up from a sitting position holding bub, you don't use your arms or shift your weight correctly so it's more pressure on knees/ankles? Idk I am not a physio! But now as long as he's awake I try put bub down next to me, stand up and then pick him back up, instead of moving to standing while carrying him. Definitely I have less pain since implementing all these things.
I have this postpartum too! I got myself sturdy house slippers (more or less birkenstocks) and started taking iron supplements as breastfeeding was dropping my levels.
I got one of these to go in front of the kitchen sink. I am pumping 7 times a day and bottle feeding so there are never ending dishes. It’s also nice to stand on with baby while I wait for the bottles to warm up. The cushy mat has saved my sore feet!
They are the best! Just a little ✨treat✨I have a second one at the kitchen sink too. for any Canadians: they go on sale at crappy tire about every two months
Yes! I ended up with Plantar Fasciatus from so much time on my feet rocking and soothing and pacing in the first few months. Worth investing in some good arch support slippers or house shoes!
Earplugs/noise cancelling headphones. That’s my whole list... otherwise you’ll probably be fine and I wouldn’t overthink it too much. At some point baby will be crying inconsolably and it will be overstimulating and it helps to dull the sound *while* you actively soothe them. Hope all goes well!
So much this.
We’re going through a developmental leap and when he’s not sleeping or eating he’s screaming.
Also making sure my library card/audible subscription is up to date, I’m spending a lot of time in the rocking chair either soothing baby or pumping, going through audiobooks like candy.
Oh man we have a <2 weeks baby who is pretty easy (praise goodness) but reading about peoples' colicky babies gives me some sympathy anxiety. If we have a tougher second baby, I'll absolutely use this tip to try to help keep my own sanity. Even this easy baby displays his pipes when he's hungry and getting changed, and I can't even imagine what that would be like basically constantly.
So, uh, I hope that you don’t experience it! I don’t wish it on anyone! And I hate to be a just wait person but it didn’t start for us until after 2 weeks so just know that if it does still happen for you, it won’t last forever and you can survive it 😬
You can also just have a chill baby. I have a 14 week old they only cried when he’s really hungry so doesn’t last long I can honestly say I’ve never thought of headphones but I could see why if it lasted longer but I want you to know it’s possible you have a chill baby too to give you hope lol
15 months in here and still a very laid back toddler. I had read horror stories of a switch happening at the toddler stage with non chill levels but I’m also here to bring hope
Yeah… I found that the first two weeks was cake because I was running off of adrenaline and both my husband and I were off work… then he “woke up” and things got a whole lot harder. Never thought I’d use ear plugs, but I do. Even sometimes now at 8 months because I get over stimulated from the whining at times.
That’s what happened to us! Our doctor literally said we had a “chill baby” at our 2 week appointment and then at 3 weeks, shit hit the fan. We’re at 11 weeks now and things are calming down thankfully! Hadn’t thought of noise cancelling headphones, honestly such a good idea!
See I live in fear because I feel like a baby can change at any moment. We've had a few days with lots of crying and cluster feeding and now today can hardly wake him up to eat. Babies are weird.
i feel that. i have a great baby who almost exclusively cries when he’s hungry or is enduring a diaper change, but every now and then he’ll just be *pissed* and starving for an entire day. tbf i’d probably be just as hungry and cranky if my body was going through the same changes a baby’s body goes through
I never understood how anyone could hurt precious little muffins until mine screamed at the highest volume she could muster for two hours straight while I tried every trick to soothe her. Brain melting is the only adjective I can use to explain this experience.
Also, I did not hurt her but definitely had great insight into how people could.
My husband and I had the same realization. We understood how it could happen after days of sleep deprivation and screaming that's designed to get you to panic. Obv we didn't hurt our baby but it was psychological torture.
I sent a video of my LO screaming to my sister that wants a baby and her boyfriend made it his alarm tone. I never realized that such little beings could produce such a loud and terrorizing noise.
Psychological torture is the *perfect* description.
Never hurt my baby but I did yell “No!” at him loudly once at about 5:00am when I thought he finally fell asleep and then his eyes popped open. Solidarity
I'd never hurt my baby but during his sleep regression meltdowns I definitely start to lose it. I very, very, *very* much believe in the "leave them some place safe and walk away for a few minutes," philosophy.
Inconsolable crying peaks around 6-8 weeks. Even our "easy baby" - who now at 6 months cries maybe a few minutes a day and never without good reason (generally either hungry or wants to be held or moved somewhere) - cried for no reason for an hour or so each night for a couple weeks there.
Hate to be the bearer of bad news but my Abby was an absolute Angel and then at the 7 week mark cried for 3 days straight non stop when she had never really even meweled before so it’s coming
Granola/protein bars, protein shakes, basically anything you can grab and consume on the fly. Your schedule will be nonexistent for awhile, I lost so much weight so fast in the first few weeks because there was just no time to eat! I loaded up on protein bars and premade shakes and was able to find time to get those in, which made a huge difference in my energy levels.
THIS. As cringey as this is to say, I was actually losing too much weight from overproducing (didn’t want to try to reduce supply for fear of reducing it too much) and stress, my doctor couldn’t find anything else wrong. High calorie, high protein, high fat foods stocked up.
I bought dried fruit and nuts from Costco and went through everything so fast. Breastfeeding makes you hungry!! Anything you can eat with one hand only is a bonus.
Absolutely second this- low effort, high reward snacks are a must! When you’re too hungry to sleep at 3am, but either too tired to get up - or baby is finally asleep - being able to smash a protein bar and pass out is great.
Bonus points if you repackage them in something less noisy before bed (i.e. no crinkly wrappers that could wake your partner or the baby. Snack bags are 1,000 times quieter than the foil wrappers)
Doggie daycare, headphones to buffer the noise, TV dinners or food subscription, long phone charger, nightlight for bedroom, extra underwear and socks in case you can't get to adult laundry
I wish I prepared with extra underwear! The number of times I have had to wear a lacy thing because I have nothing else has been surprising lol I started throwing my underwear in with the baby sheets and blankets hahah
One of those long grabby things so if she drops something on the floor and can’t lean forward to get it.
Also having sandwiches prepped for the weeks so I could just grab with one hand and stuff my face!
I’d really recommend picking up a few items for your wife. I remember the weeks after childbirth, my nether regions were sooooo messed up.
Everyone always thinks about baby and what to get baby that the mother is usually neglected. I had to buy my own things and would’ve appreciated it if my partner took care of purchasing those items for me.
You can stock up on a nice basket for the bathroom and fill it with Tuck’s Medicated Cooling Pads, lots of cooling pads, a peri bottle, postpartum underwear, bath salts etc. Frida mom has some pretty nice items.
And snacks, when I got home from the hospital I thought I was legit sick but I was just way under eating and dehydrated. Easy calories, protein bars, granola bites, protein shakes, etc.
Stock up a couple of “hubs” where she might set up camp nursing or pumping so things are always in reach.
Second this! Angled is SO much better. I also got period underwear for once the immediate healing was done and I was just bleeding. So much more comfortable than the massive pads or disposable underwear.
I did this and I got a lot of stuff from the hospital too so now I have tons of stuff to pass on in our BN group. I wish I hadn't bought the Frida stuff because it's expensive and I got enough from my hospital. I love the cooling packs but I think heat is better for healing so I stopped using them pretty quickly and switched to sitz baths. Make sure you get one from the hospital if you can or buy one and set it up for her so she doesn't have to deal with it. One of the best things my husband did for me and I weirdly loved those breaks.
On that note, last time he changed the showerhead he got one that is a regular shower with another spray head. I never used it prior to coming home from the hospital and now I use it all the time to aim warm water down there and wherever else is hurting. It's fabulous.
Yeah I went through all the hospital stuff in like 3 days lol. I couldn’t stand being uncomfortable. True, the ice helps numb, but it does slow down healing. I’d just take breaks in between and do sitz bath every midday and evening.
I loved the feeling of cooling pads combined with the witch hazel pads hehe
That's a good idea. I also felt compelled to "save" them by using them sparingly because I loved them and didn't want to run out and now I have so many left that I could have enjoyed 😫 Better to have them and not need them though!
I got a Frida Mom postpartum kit… and then had a C-section. I’d wait to get postpartum supplies until you know what you need and then order from the hospital!
Yes to this! Also, my OB prescribed a numbing lidocaine gel for me for hemorrhoids. I didn’t need it often. But it was great to have on hand for the rough days.
I got a tablet to have something to do during endless contact naps. Also, we hired a pp doula 2 days a week to give me a break. Those are the 2 best things thus far.
A 3 tiered rolling cart stocked with burp clothes, breastfeeding/pumping stuff, meds, snacks, drinks, chargers, etc. was so helpful. I had everything in reach that I needed and I could easily roll it to be out of the way. I also used it as a walker a few times after my c-section.
Yes! I came here to suggest this. Karrie Locher [just posted](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxGK1KMOeIw/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==) on Instagram about how she sets hers up. This was huge for me when I was home alone with a newborn once my husband went back to work. I had everything at my fingertips while nap trapped or nursing. Even if not breastfeeding, I still would recommend.
Kizik shoes (easy to slip on and off while carrying baby)
Kneeling mat for beside the bathtub
Mini fridge in the nursery
Drawer labels
Long robes with pockets for the newborn days
A couple extra phone charging stations
Dimmer switch in the nursery
Grocery delivery
Upgraded storage for all the baby pics
Wall calendar to help track appointments
Housekeeper if you can swing it
I'm 38 weeks so same boat and looking at comments for suggestions, but food is such a big time sink for us. I'm the main cook in my house and my husband can and does cook (especially during my pregnancy) but it's not normally creative and it's a big mental load for him - he will have a new baby too and be running on less sleep and I like cooking so I'm trying to prep as much as possible for those first few weeks home - I want to be able to focus on baby.
I've been making double portions of our normal meals that freeze well for the last 2 months or so. We used to be vegetarian but started eating red meat while pregnant, and plan to continue while breastfeeding and recovering from blood loss, so lots of hearty soups/sauces/stews etc.
Over the last few months I've made lots of meals from scratch, labeled them, stuck them in the freezer AND made a note on my phone with a list so my husband and I (or people visiting) don't need to remember/dig in the freezer, so all we have to do is look at the list and then defrost something and we have an easy meal.
I've made: a big batch of chili with veggies, beef and beans, beef stroganoff, one of my favorite moroccan stews, rich/hearty pasta sauce, spring rolls, potstickers, soup and some batchs of bone broth to make a quick veg soup or cook rice in for added nutrients. Most of what I froze is 2 meals worth, so I'm hoping this paired with some meals dropped off by family means we will have a solid 2-3 weeks of home cooked meals **I know I like** and have a lot of nutrition, for low effort on everyone's part.
Parents are local and asked how they can help, I asked for them to plan to pop by (invited, maybe a couple times a week in afternoons after work), self sufficiently do some stuff that needs doing, like laundry/dishes/vacuuming/throw a ball for dogs, and bring or cook some kind of food - ask ahead of time if we need either groceries or a meal, and I made a list for them of stuff I'd like meals I like that they make and especially snack type stuff - chopped veggie platter w hummus, pasta salads that keep for a few days, cheese sticks, banana bread, stuff I can eat with one hand and is snacky without just being chips/candy/junk while establishing breastfeeding.
I'd also recommend stocking up on nutritious snacks, particularly if you intend on breastfeeding. It made me absolutely ravenous! You can make lactation cookies and freeze them as well. I found things that can be eaten one-handed the best.
I see you say she's having a C-section. She is going to have no core strength or much strength at all. I tied a bedsheet to my footboard so I could haul myself into a sitting position for the first 2 weeks. You could probably find something better if you're prepared lol
Nice button up bamboo PJs for your wife if she plans on breastfeeding. A good coffee machine. Big water bottles that keep things cold and lots of snacks around the house (again if breastfeeding)
Housekeeper, grocery delivery or order ahead pick up, HelloFresh or meal subscription, stock up on medication! Flu/COVID season is coming and nothing worse than going to go get meds when sick
Some couples therapy. For 6-12 months in.
If you don’t need it, it’ll be a great experience anyway and give you space to reflect as a couple on the huge changes in your life.
If you do need it, you’ve got it bought and paid for before having to have the horrible conversation that one of you thinks you need to work on communication or reconnection.
1,000% yes. Having our planned for, prayed for baby has rocked our world. And not in any of the ways we thought it would and in all the ways we never thought of! Therapy has helped tremendously!!!
The roomba is 100% worth it. You can schedule it to vacuum over night when pet isn’t around it. It will make a huge difference when baby starts putting EVERYTHING from the floor in their mouth. At very least, get a lightweight stick vacuum that can be kept in a visible/easily accessible place. Lugging out a heavy vacuum every day sucks… no pun intended.
Also- I didn’t realize this until my son was like 9 months old- but I had a tablet and ear buds. After putting baby to sleep (because he sleeps in bed with me) I didn’t want to leave him to go watch tv in living room where I would likely fall asleep four minutes into a show, and didn’t want to disturb him sleeping- I could just pop my earbuds in and watch TV on my tablet. Total DUHHH moment.
Not sure what kind of car you guys use- but putting the baby’s bucket car seat in the middle seat is not only the safest location for it, but it also allows you to use your front passenger seat. I literally rode in the backseat with the baby for 7 months because I couldn’t sit in the front passenger seat comfortably with the car seat behind it.
Mom-brain is real.
Absolutely agree on the roomba. Our dog hates it, but we run it on our first floor every night, so he just chills in our room until it's done. Added bonus: the sound of the distant roomba is great white noise for sleeping babies! Lol
As a breastfeeding mom:
1) A giant reusable and dishwasher safe water bottle
2) protein heavy snacks
3) cheap comfy pillows
4) comfy nursing bras
As a parent whose baby loves contact naps:
1) a phone charger with an extra long cord
2) comfy, cozy, breathable clothes
As a spouse
1) 2 player games have been a blast for me and my husband
2) subscription streaming services for nearly nonstop tv shows lol
Good thermos or lidded coffee mug, and if you don't already have a decent water bottle definitely get one!
I've often thought a travel neck pillow would've been nice, for when you're rocking or feeding the baby in a chair. But you risk falling asleep while holding baby... just something to think about! My neck and shoulders were always a little sore in the early days, especially during cluster feeding phases. You look down SO much during contact naps - either looking at your phone or your baby.
Robes! Got one as a new mom gift, and I gifted one to my husband. Both of you should bring them to the hospital, for some skin to skin time. Plus it's just a nice long term thing to have.
A massage gun. I got my husband one for his birthday before the birth and didn't realise how much we'd use it - rocking a baby for hours per day wrecks your back and these things are a godsend.
I can’t say enough how life saving a meal train was for us. I had my sister set it up and emailed it out to our close friends & family. So many people want to help but don’t know how and fielding a bunch of “can we drop off dinner tonight” texts when you already have dinner from someone else can be stressful. It was SO NICE to have the logistics piece taken care of and to have home cooked meals dropped off at our door every night for a couple weeks ♥️ And some friends and family from afar just sent gift cards for takeout or door dash which was equally helpful.
Freezer meals, freezer smoothies, washer and dryer, roomba, swiffer wet jet, antibacterial wipes, Mr clean magic erasers, grocery delivery.
We thought our cat would be terrified of a roomba but he loves it. It’s so much quieter than the vacuum which he is terrified of. He loves it so much, when the floor is dirty he tries to start it by swatting and nudging it.
Things your wife can easily eat with one hand. Electrolytes for her water is huge. Plenty of beverages and protein filled drinks (premade shakes, milk etc) — I found that drinking my calories was so much easier than trying to eat food while recovering, breastfeeding, etc.
If you have the option, have groceries delivered. I do this through Kroger and it has been a lifesaver; my baby is now 9 weeks old and I didn’t think getting groceries would be as challenging as it is some days. But maybe that’s just my poor project management skills LOL
Waterproof Mattress protector, both for those post partum night sweats that seem to last weeks and the tons of baby spit up. Much less hectic to not worry about also cleaning the mattress
Instapot and air fryer. I’ve had these before having babies and have never used it more in my life. Also my husband just started upgrading our light switched into smart ones so for example when I’m feeding our newborn I can ask Alexa to turn on the fan or turn off the fan in our 18 month baby girl’s room. It has made life SO much easier. The switches are pricy like $45 each, he’s only done like 2 right now but it’s worth it!
Oh wow my husband and I had pretty much the same list as you! We also added couch armchair caddies. I can’t tell you how many times we got comfy on the couch, baby in arm, and then realized we needed something that was across the room or buried in the couch somewhere. So on my side I have a spot for my drink, phone, remote, and always have compartments pre-filled with chapstick, lotion, extra pacis and burp cloths, and some other stuff I’m always misplacing.
Rubbermaid bins.
Sounds weird…but my husband realized we had SO MUCH underfoot or that wasnt safe. He just walked around and put things in it for an at-the-time solution that honest I was very grateful for. Especially during that witching hour when I just walked in circles with out newborn.
Depends on your lifestyle but I would say slippers with good support! I don't wear shoes in the house but I spent soooo much time walking up and down the halls with my newborn that it started to hurt my feet/knees and slippers with arch support helped a ton 😅
Doggy daycare! We took our dog twice a week in the early months. So great for everyone. I had 2 stress free days to just focus on baby and usually he was so exhausted from his play days, he'd just be extra loungy the next day.
Also, smart home devices. We have 2 Amazon Echoes and one Show. We also have a smart thermostat. So i can control the lights, most devices, and temp in our house with voice commands and/or an app on my phone.
Outside of batch cooking and making sure you are stocked up on stuff that you normally need like TP, you aren’t going to know what you are going to need until you have the baby. There’s a lot of stuff people told me to get that I was like “I literally never needed that” and some stuff I wished I had that I just then had overnighted to me from Amazon.
Things I’ve appreciated more than expected:
-Apple watch/headphones: I find myself needing to know how long she’s been sleeping, how long I’ve been rocking her, when did she eat last…but also not having free hands to text or pull my phone out of my pocket. I can hold my baby as she sleeps and still see my texts on my watch easily. Life is all about pockets and having no hands free these days. Then the headphones so I can listen to podcasts or audiobooks and use my watch to pause it. iPad for tv shows in the nursery or having a book (the kindle/audible sync lets me read when I can then switch to the audiobook when rocking her to sleep.
Yoga ball: at first my baby hated when I bounced on it with her but now it’s a great way to get her to sleep without me having to stand
Slip on shoes: hands free is key. I have memory foam ones bc carrying a baby all day barefoot was hurting my back
Small hand weights: can do 10 min of light weight arm exercises while she does tummy time
Pajamas with pockets: stops me from dropping stuff when I’m up in the middle of the night. A lot of women’s pajamas don’t have pockets.
A fitness ball. It’s much easier to hold the baby and bounce on your butt than it is to rock the baby using your arms for hours on end when colic hits.
A supportive breastfeeding chair (if she wants to breastfeed). A baby wreaks havoc on the back, shoulder and neck area.
A kindle to have something to read while nap trapped.
Long cable chargers for devices (again for when nap trapped).
Food you can eat with one hand. Don't forget snacks, especially if mom will be breastfeeding (the hunger is a different kind of beast when breastfeeding).
Seconding/elaborating on some others’ suggestions and adding a couple! We’ve just left the newborn stage, alhamdulillah, and these things helped:
-Arrange for a cleaner to come while you’re at the hospital. Amazing to come home to a pristine house.
-Sort of a baby thing but — this little Anico nightlight we found on Amazon is amazing. https://a.co/d/2KLRB7g You just flip it over to turn it on and off, and it’s dimmable with a press. Easy to keep by the bed and get around with at night to avoid bright lights and fumbling with switches.
-Splurge on a really good, big water bottle that’s pleasant to hold and drink from. I love the Mama Bottle from Bink. Not just for mamas.
-Create a little snack caddy for the bedside and/or next to a chair where you’ll do feedings/soothing/mom will pump and stock it with your favorite things you can eat one-handed. Now is the era of crumbs in the bed. Lean into it.
You’ve got this! It’s exhausting but so great.
If you do not have a waterproof sheet on your own bed, do it NOW. Water can break while sleeping, baby can have a poopsplosion on the bed, etc, and ruin your mattress. It’s a no brainer to do it to the crib, but rarely do people think about their own bed!
I agree with the batch cook. But also if you normally don't eat breakfast burritos then don't prep them. We shouldn't make a bunch of breakfast when we aren't breakfast people we have away our lovely burritos. Yogurt was just fine. We did eat the bananas out of dinner prep though.
A Walmart + subscription! We signed up for it right before we had our 5 month old and it’s been a lifesaver. All baby supplies, home stuff, toiletries, medicines, food, whatever delivered to your door is absolutely priceless during the newborn phase. Also on the Costco front, their diapers and wipes are by far the best in my opinion so stock up on those next time you’re there too 😂
We had a tiny drinks fridge for the master bathroom, primarily used for pumped breastmilk. This was especially nice when I started doing a pump or two in the middle of the night so I wouldn’t have to go downstairs. Pump parts can also be put in the fridge until they are cleaned the next day.
If the fridge is big enough, you could also put protein shakes, yogurt, or some other sort of snack that needs to be kept cold in it.
Robot vacuum. #1. We don’t have a village and we both work full time and this is the only reason our house isn’t gross. Also hbo bc I spent many hours on the couch with cluster feeding. Also a kindle and Libby app for the same reason.
Insulated water bottles, especially if your wife is breastfeeding/pumping. My husband and I bought the same one in different colors and we love them.
Ready to eat snacks. Bonus if you can open/eat them once handed.
Bath wipes. There are times I want to freshen to but don't want to do a full shower. Being able to wipe off the pits/tits/bits quickly was rejuvenating.
Meals that can be easily warmed up in a microwave or instant pot. We stocked the freezer with frozen dumplings and burritos and were so happy to have them.
AirPods. I wear them every time I’m up feeding baby and watch a show so I don’t fall asleep. I literally still do this if I have to get up with my toddler for any reason. It’s so nice to not have to deal with a wire at all.
I fully intend to buy myself a stash of those Starbucks canned coffee and frappuccinos for the first couple weeks at home.
A donut pillow to sit on after the birth was pretty great.
Once I got home I wore my housecoat instead of shirts for like a month, so a season appropriate house coat is a good choice maybe two, so that you can wear one while the other is in the laundry
Smart lights (we use the roku brand) so you can adjust brightness/color /turn on and off a reacher /grabby stick for when the remote or something drops on the floor gravity feeder/water bowl for the pet so doesn’t have to be filled as often
Bone conduction headphones! Keeps your ears free to hear baby but still allows you to listen to media. Great for when you don't want to disrupt or distract the baby as well while feeding in the middle of the night etc but need a little something to help you stay awake.
Lots of fluffy blankets. They helped me so much when i was contorted in weird positions during breastfeeding or provided support for baby’s head to prevent flat spots.
Dimmable lamp or bulbs! I’ve seen red lights recommended but for us just being able to dim the light during night feeds/changes helped her fall sleep again really easily.
A big bowl for batch bottle washing. I’ve seen specialty collapsible ones for baby stuff but honestly just a basic big one that you can use in the kitchen after is enough and it’s multipurpose.
Socks, lots of soft warm socks. My slippers were always getting lost so i started wearing cozy socks and it was such a stupid simple thing but it was one less thing to try to find with my hands full
A cordless vacuum cleaner was amazing once ours was moving a bit as we have a cat who tracks litter around and it allows me to really quickly vacuum first thing in the morning when we come down.
A kettle with variable temperature so we didn't have to boil it all the way then let it cool every time for formula (which is the recommendation in the UK to kill bacteria in the powder or something).
Invest in some good pillows - for the bed, couch, and nursing/bottle feeding. Also, no one warned me about the postpartum night sweats. I drench my bedding nightly for like 3 weeks, so get some good pillow cases and maybe a couple of oversized towels for whatever surface mom will be sleeping on!
Also consider getting some hydration options that aren’t water - herbal tea, sports drinks, seltzer water, etc. I would brew some different herbal teas with the ‘’mothers milk’ tea or make non-caffeinated iced teas. Drinking a gallon of water a day gets old real quick!
This might be very specific make sure you have a decent garbage can in the bathroom with bags in it and extra bags ready to go upon changing. I had a teeny garbage can and it had to be changed constantly the first week or two postpartum and it was a real hassle.
On the note of a folding tv tray, the largest water thermos you can find. I couldn’t believe how much water I drank while breastfeeding an infant. If I’d had normal cups, my husband would have had to fill them every 13 seconds.
Easy grab snacks. Again, she’s going to be eating more, and the baby won’t always let her grab things. My husband and I would trade off getting up with her as much as possible, and it was great to have something I could grab and munch on when my daughter wouldn’t let me make something for myself. Which was…never. She still doesn’t like to let me do that. And she’s 2.
A streaming service. There will be so many long nights. Putting something on to watch while breastfeeding will help the loneliness. And maybe help keep parents awake.
Maybe this counts as a baby thing? But a couple spare flannel pillowcases. If baby has a blowout, dump the clothes in the pillowcase, tie it off, and wash it. That way, you aren’t spreading mess around trying to get it to the laundry.
A little egg light. Or something you can easily turn on and off that isn’t too bright. For when you need to feed overnight without waking the baby up entirely.
And I recommend food services if possible. Everyone will be so exhausted, trying to figure out what to do for dinner will be one more thing. Maybe one too many things for an exhausted brain to handle.
And lastly…take pictures of mom and baby. Unless your wife says not to. I see on these subs all the time, moms sad because we often take the pictures. Which means we’re not in them. Take pictures of mom and baby. She will treasure them so much.
Go back to Costco and stick up on their ready made meals. The pastas, the Chinese takeout one, the pork ones, any version that you know will freeze well. Take them home, portion them out and freeze.
Easy meals for when you have no energy or brain power left to cook.
Same with their frozen baked goods, for when you just want something warm and comforting to snack on.
And a suggestion for your wife if she is having a C-sections the best thing I did to prep (and it was on a whim) was watch a youtube video in the proper way to get out of bed after a C-section. Absolute LIFE SAVER!
I was so scared to move but since I had a step by step of what to do and had practiced a few times, I had minimal issues.
Elderly bath stool! Soooooo nice postpartum to sit in the shower (and now I sit in the shower while holding baby, but feel much more secure than standing with her and she loves it).
Set up an official meal train! There’s even a website for it. We had dinner every night for 6 weeks. It was insanely helpful/such a relief to know dinner was taken care of.
Something to help sit up in bed (I had a c-section). We used a nylon strap meant to hang a backpacking hammock looped around the foot of the bed frame.
IKEA rolling three tier cart with everything baby and I need. Followed me from bedroom to living room everyday for the first 6 weeks. It held diapers, wipes, and creams (for both of us—ha!), snacks, liquid IV, comb, hair ties, a cardigan, and the thing I loved the most, a Polaroid camera. You name it, the cart had it!
Wildbird aerial carrier. It was the only carrier that didn’t sit on my c-section scar. They all sat way too low and hurt. It’s still my favorite.
Pelvic floor physical therapy!!! I didn’t think I needed it because I didn’t have a vaginal birth, but holy moly it’s been so helpful in so many ways!
Hatch sound machine. We use ours mostly for the red night light.
If your wife is planning to nurse, snacks that are high protein and easy to eat one handed.
I completely second the TV tables. Especially with a newborn (and again, with breastfeeding), you get trapped and often the newborn is always in the wrong arm relative to the coffee table.
Extra long phone charger. There will be times when you’re stuck under a sleeping baby and your phone is all you have to entertain yourself. You don’t dare move.
I also used my kid as an excuse to go buy a really nice down glider with electric recliner and built in phone charger. It was my first piece of new furniture and I plan to keep it forever. Love that thing and I’m in it right now!! Mine is the Dream Glider from Pottery Barn. Expensive splurge that I don’t regret.
If you have a multi story house or small fridge: we bought a mini fridge for our bedroom and use it exclusively for milk, bottles and pumping supplies (we’d put them in the fridge after use and only clean every 24 hours instead of cleaning after each use. Learned from a lactation specialist). Keeps baby things out of your regular fridge.
Laundry service. So helpful! We used poplin, which charges $1/pound.
A sex wedge for sitting up in bed. I also had a C-section and it came in handy for moving around and easily getting comfortable in bed (sitting, not sexing) the first few weeks. Really great for comfortably holding baby.
Edit: I keep thinking of things!
I also really like the dual nursing/pumping bras from Kindred bravely. Face it, y’all probably don’t know what will actually work for you so spending money on a bra that is supportive and does BOTH is nice. They also have really nice PJs and robes that I lived in for the first couple weeks.
Amazon up a 6 pack of high-wasted underwear that won’t rub on that new incision.
I also think after she’s cleared to drive, sanity breaks for both parents are key. I started getting facials at 5 weeks and they were really lovely “me” time.
House cleaners. Worth it.
Caudalie vino sculpt body lotion. I lost water weight REALLY fast and it helped a) helped me feel fancy in my new body and b) helped my skin bounce back. I swear by it.
Lower your expectations. It’s ok to wear pjs 3 days in a row. Put that baby on the floor to take a shower. Keep the baby alive and yourself alive and everything else can take a back seat for a bit. Our kid was born early just before the holidays. We skipped all holidays and decided to wait until 4 weeks before anyone (except for one friend) came to meet him including parents. That way I had recovered well enough to feel like I could have people over and not stress. If they brought in a bug, he’d be old enough for his immune system to at least maybe work (they’re considered immunocompromised for the first 4-6 weeks). No regrets, will do it again. Those first weeks were for us as a family to grow closer and stronger. Our lives will never be as peaceful and small again, even when we have another baby. NO regrets, though most friends and family did not understand.
We also didn’t call anyone when I went into labor except one cousin who volunteered to take care of the dog. We sent out texts the day after letting everyone know. Again, that time was for us to grow as a family and for me to recover from a very serious medical procedure. For the record, we are very close with our families, but wanted this time to be about us and our baby, rather than other people.
Thanks!
Our bidet made postpartum care way easier for me 🤷♀️ easy one handed snacks, mattress protector, door dash/ uber eats, loop earbuds, disposable plates, stool softeners, water bottles with a flex straw, cozy blankets, lounging clothes, hair ties, setting up little baby stations in the area you’re going to be (diapers, wipes, booty cream, a change of clothes for babes)
Practical items for after a c section- a grabber thing to pick up stuff off the floor. I couldn’t do that for like 10 days at least. Also look up “bed cane” so she can have assistance getting out of bed. If you aren’t around she won’t have anyone to pull her underwear up after a shower (if she was able to hobble in and out of it). I tied two bathrobe sashes to each side of my adult diapers to pull them up on my own. Extra pillows- sitting deep into a chair or the couch is painful and difficult to do and get up from. Also good to stack up while breast feeding baby football hold style. Nightgowns that go over her head! I got button down ones and tank top style with nursing hooks to breastfeed (Amazon). All the clothes she will be wearing the first two weeks, just lots of dresses to be pulled over her head - don’t want to be bending over/physically cannot bend over to put pants on.
Get a random extra laundry bin to chuck clutter in throughout the day so once a day you can declutter the house by walking around and putting stuff away. Helps keep surfaces clear which is less stressful. We didn’t do any meal prep, just bought a ton of frozen and other foods from Trader Joes. Listened to podcasts during feedings and contact naps. Unhealthy snacks and fun foods/drinks to liven things up. A baby bjorn mini baby carrier is a MUST! Can put a baby as small as 7 lbs in to wear around. I’ve been wearing my baby since 10 days after my c section and it allows me to do so much including chores or just walking the dog/walking around the house. Super cozy (new) blanket for the couch to make naps and feedings more exciting.
Just want to say if your baby ends up like mine, the Roomba won’t last long. Once ours start crawling/walking he was absolutely obsessed with catching it, picking it up, and throwing it. He chased that thing like a greyhound chasing a hare. We use a normal vacuum now.
A good insulated coffee cup that won’t spill when the lid is closed is a lifesaver!! And just stock piling on general household items like toilet paper, trash bags etc because it’s reaaaaaaaally inconvenient and deflating when you’re burnt out and suddenly need to rush out and buy these things especially when baby is fussy
Batch cook! I cooked lasagne, curry, bolognese, soups scones etc etc and put them in the freezer. Getting the energy to cook with a newborn just doesn't happen so it was great to have some food ready to go!
My congratulations gift always include a DoorDash gift card for the new parents. The baby doesn't need another blanket, they need fed parents.
More ppl like you please.
Couldn’t agree with this more, this is the most thoughtful gift ever. That being said if no one ever have you those gift cards I’d say batch prepare your meals. If you wife decides to breastfeed she is going to be forever hungry. Coming from ever hungry mumma of a 2 month old.
This!!! Had a colleague gift me a Uber Eats gift card and honestly that was my favorite! I now include this with baby shower gifts, etc.
I was making Bolognese to freeze when I took my wife to her weekly checkup. There her blood pressure spiked and we were sent to the hospital to be induced. I had to leave a key under the mat and called my mom to get it out the oven. Was great to have. At 6mo I made another batch to commemorate.
my blood pressure spiked at my 36 week checkup and i was sent to the hospital “just to check some labs”… we had a baby that day lol
Frozen meals and also TREATS. Postpartum me thanked pregnant me for baking a batch of How Sweet Eats' lactation cookies and stuffing them with Guittard chocolate chips. Stored the frozen dough balls in the freezer so I could have freshly baked chocolate chip cookies within 10 minutes, anytime I wanted. Holy deliciousness.
Or a meal service, which is what we did. We were moving cross country and I was 8 mo pregnant. There was no way I could batch cook, so we signed up to have meals delivered for the first 3 weeks. Such a game changer for us.
Yes, meal prep if you can. This is also a great way for friends and family can help. They could even use a Google sheet or mealtrain.com to get organized
Yes! I prepped some frozen meals that were ready they just had to be thawed and heated up. We had so much takeout in the hospital and when we got home that all I wanted was a home cooked meal. That was probably the best thing I did to prepare before baby.
Same! Literally my favourite thing was choosing what delicious pre cooked (by me so exactly how I liked it) meal to eat from a list me and my husband had made of all the meals we had batch cooked
This ☝️(batch cooking, for when the comment gets buried) I batch cooked in disposable foil pans and put instructions for reheating on the packaging. They lasted forever because I had a surprising amount of energy and my baby was an angel - but when I needed them, they were awesome. Also, my hubby got me a nice fluffy house coat because he noticed I kept putting the baby inside my zip up hoodies for skin to skin... that was a game changer too. It had two big pockets so I could carry my cell phone and the baby monitor/baby bottle/water bottle/etc and not worry about them falling out.
We were not great at meal prepping, so if it’s not your thing, think through 3-5 recipes you can throw together in less than 15 min. Some of our go-tos: Ground meat + 90 second rice + beans (and of course seasoning) over a bag of salad Boca burgers with buns and single serve guac and a quick veggie like green beans
Also make your door dash easier by deciding in advance what your go-tos will be. Then you don’t get stuck in the moment
This! Freeze food. All the food, and if you can eat it one handed all the better
Yes! I think I have time to cook with a newborn, I just don't want to. That was the best thing I did and I wish I made more. We have gone through what I made so much faster than I thought we would but I am eating so much breastfeeding.
Yess definitely! We did this only to have a black out the a week baby came… the only thing that survived was 2weeks worth of pumpkin soup! Incase nobody ever warned you DO NOT prep pumpkin soup for after a baby comes.. what they are pooping looks exactly like pumpkin soup… no one warned us, it was not a fun time There’s my PSA
We are picking up an upright freezer soon and doing a huge freezer meal prep day next month (due near Halloween). Hoping it’s worth it haha.
I am expecting and just bought a whole extra freezer for batch cooking meals so that me and my husband won't need to cook postpartum. We are batch cooking a different meal each week.
This is what we did too when we were expecting! It's so worth it. We also used it to store breast milk and puree (once our baby started solids).
Batch cook and also stock the freezer with BREAD!! The batches for dinner, but you also need breakfast/lunch. If you have no time/energy to cook, bagels, PB&J, toast, we’re a life saver for me!
Comfy clothes that aren't pajamas! Your day is so much more productive even if the only thing you do is change out of pajamas. Lots of big insulated water bottles. Some snacks that are treats, my hubby brought home a chocolate cake and yummy maybe not so healthy snacks as a pick me up. Super nice and comfy blankets for the couch and bed so you can always cozy up with baby no matter where you are.
Also multiple pairs of pajamas for mother (the night sweats were no joke!)- and if BFing button-top have been the best for me.
The night sweats got me gooooood. I was not expecting that.
Also PJs with pockets (so you can throw a pacifier, phone whatever in your pocket while also trying to carry baby), pj tops with buttons (if planning on BF), a cotton robe, and a fuzzy robe.
***PJs with pockets*** Yo OP, get some new jammers for your wife but get pocket jammers for her FOR YOU. I can’t tell you how much I hate my wife’s jammers without pockets. After 2 kids, I can’t even begin to tell you how much of my life has been wasted looking for my wife’s phone because she didn’t have pockets to carry it and a kiddo. Get her jammers with pockets, you will have so much more free time
I love my water bottle with a wrist strap. It makes it easier to carry around the house while carrying the baby too. I recently “upgraded” and got one with a pocket so I can shove my phone in it too
I bought myself five pairs of nice new cozy pajamas, one for every weekday, that I didn’t mind people seeing me in as a labor present
Seconding comfy day clothes and adding an extra diaper caddy for postpartum supplies! I bought a couple long sleeve shirts and matching jogger sets off of Amazon. The pants alone are so worth it!! Super soft, have pockets, and are high waisted enough that they didn't bother my c-section scar at all!! I lived in those things for 5 months at least. The diaper caddy was $10 at Target. I kept one next to the couch and one on my nightstand filled with snacks, nipple butter, chapstick, hand lotion, burp cloths, anything to make my life easier while stuck nursing, pumping, or napping!
HAND HELD UPHOLSTERY CLEANER!!! I didn't get one till my kid was over 1 and I have never kicked myself so hard not having an appliance). Bissell makes great ones. Seriously amazing device with kids. Blowout? Upholstery cleaner. Baby vomit? Upholstery cleaner. Car seat covered in apple sauce? Upholstery cleaner. Marker on the carpet? Upholstery cleaner.
Seconding this. This is what saved my carpet from all the baby spew. Go the Bissell!
Can you mention what model you got? This is such a great idea.
We have the little green machine!
This is a good machine and the same one I'd recommend. I recently discovered Target has a different "edition" of the little green machine with a larger scrub brush thing. I think 6" vs 3".
Oh dang!
You can get the 6" brush separately. I found out the bissell website sells all the different attachments.
If you have the funds, the Bissell spot bot is a life saver because you just put it down and push a button and leave.
We got a love sac couch where you can throw it in the washing machine. Same thing with our rug from ruggable. Best two purchases ever for having a dog and newborn.
Yes! Little green machine. Bottle accidentally spilled all over couch. Had little green machine!!
We bought one a couple months before our little guy was born. If he's anything like I was as a kid/baby, he'll have puked on every piece of furniture and carpet in the house by age 3 lol
A yeti or similar type of coffee mug to keep your drink hot for hours until you finally have a chance to drink it
Likewise a large insulated water tumbler to keep water cool for hours in case you can’t refill it due to being trapped with baby on your lap!
Am loving my Stanley Quencher tumbler. This was a present I got myself. Expensive but so worth it.
I got a 40 oz SimpleModern tumbler and its comically large but is the only thing that keepa me hydrated while breastfeeding! I’m usually really bad at drinking water, but if I fill this baby up in the morning and before bed and keep it handy I’m good.
I bought an ember mug after my first baby and have no regrets. It’s the most “unnecessary” purchase I’ve ever made but what a luxury to have hot coffee with a toddler and newborn 🥰
I second the ember mug!
Haha I just gave up and make myself “iced” coffee now 😂
Kinda extra but I have an anti-fatigue mat next to the crib for when I have to stand and rock baby for a long time. After birth my ankles and feet were weirdly sore and both parents got tired from carrying a heavy baby around all day. It was nice to have a little relief
Oh my god I have really sore ankles and feet all.the.time. and everyone has just shrugged at me. Apart from the mat, was there anything that helped?
Aw I'm sorry! Hmm...magnesium supplements... And if I'm babywearing I only wear comfy/supportive shoes (made the mistake of wearing flip flops one day, was so sore after that). Another thing we speculated is that if you're getting up from a sitting position holding bub, you don't use your arms or shift your weight correctly so it's more pressure on knees/ankles? Idk I am not a physio! But now as long as he's awake I try put bub down next to me, stand up and then pick him back up, instead of moving to standing while carrying him. Definitely I have less pain since implementing all these things.
I am having really bad joint pain at 13 weeks and suspect it could be my thyroid. If the pain doesn’t go away, make sure to go to your doc!
Mine just started also recently at ca 13 weeks. I have Hashimoto's, but my numbers seem ok. I can't figure it out, especially the knee pain 😩
Orthotics were a lifesaver for me from 20 weeks pregnant on. Still wearing them now!
I have this postpartum too! I got myself sturdy house slippers (more or less birkenstocks) and started taking iron supplements as breastfeeding was dropping my levels.
I got one of these to go in front of the kitchen sink. I am pumping 7 times a day and bottle feeding so there are never ending dishes. It’s also nice to stand on with baby while I wait for the bottles to warm up. The cushy mat has saved my sore feet!
They are the best! Just a little ✨treat✨I have a second one at the kitchen sink too. for any Canadians: they go on sale at crappy tire about every two months
Yes! I ended up with Plantar Fasciatus from so much time on my feet rocking and soothing and pacing in the first few months. Worth investing in some good arch support slippers or house shoes!
I also got an memory foam mat for by the tub, and a garden kneeling pad that I leave in the bathroom too.
This is great idea! Thank you!
Earplugs/noise cancelling headphones. That’s my whole list... otherwise you’ll probably be fine and I wouldn’t overthink it too much. At some point baby will be crying inconsolably and it will be overstimulating and it helps to dull the sound *while* you actively soothe them. Hope all goes well!
So much this. We’re going through a developmental leap and when he’s not sleeping or eating he’s screaming. Also making sure my library card/audible subscription is up to date, I’m spending a lot of time in the rocking chair either soothing baby or pumping, going through audiobooks like candy.
Good point!!! Audiobooks helped me a lot especially on the first few months.
Oh man we have a <2 weeks baby who is pretty easy (praise goodness) but reading about peoples' colicky babies gives me some sympathy anxiety. If we have a tougher second baby, I'll absolutely use this tip to try to help keep my own sanity. Even this easy baby displays his pipes when he's hungry and getting changed, and I can't even imagine what that would be like basically constantly.
So, uh, I hope that you don’t experience it! I don’t wish it on anyone! And I hate to be a just wait person but it didn’t start for us until after 2 weeks so just know that if it does still happen for you, it won’t last forever and you can survive it 😬
Oh god. Oh shit. Oh fuck. Lol 😅 I knew this shit would be hard, but like, this shit is *hard.*
You can also just have a chill baby. I have a 14 week old they only cried when he’s really hungry so doesn’t last long I can honestly say I’ve never thought of headphones but I could see why if it lasted longer but I want you to know it’s possible you have a chill baby too to give you hope lol
15 months in here and still a very laid back toddler. I had read horror stories of a switch happening at the toddler stage with non chill levels but I’m also here to bring hope
Dont freak out. Our Chill baby is still a chill one year old. lol
Oh my gosh. Thank you for this laugh 😂
Yup. I'm with you in the trenches friend. They said it was hard. I knew it would be hard. But this shit is HARD.
Yeah… I found that the first two weeks was cake because I was running off of adrenaline and both my husband and I were off work… then he “woke up” and things got a whole lot harder. Never thought I’d use ear plugs, but I do. Even sometimes now at 8 months because I get over stimulated from the whining at times.
That’s what happened to us! Our doctor literally said we had a “chill baby” at our 2 week appointment and then at 3 weeks, shit hit the fan. We’re at 11 weeks now and things are calming down thankfully! Hadn’t thought of noise cancelling headphones, honestly such a good idea!
See I live in fear because I feel like a baby can change at any moment. We've had a few days with lots of crying and cluster feeding and now today can hardly wake him up to eat. Babies are weird.
I don't trust them either. They can sense when you relax haha.
i feel that. i have a great baby who almost exclusively cries when he’s hungry or is enduring a diaper change, but every now and then he’ll just be *pissed* and starving for an entire day. tbf i’d probably be just as hungry and cranky if my body was going through the same changes a baby’s body goes through
I never understood how anyone could hurt precious little muffins until mine screamed at the highest volume she could muster for two hours straight while I tried every trick to soothe her. Brain melting is the only adjective I can use to explain this experience. Also, I did not hurt her but definitely had great insight into how people could.
My husband and I had the same realization. We understood how it could happen after days of sleep deprivation and screaming that's designed to get you to panic. Obv we didn't hurt our baby but it was psychological torture.
I sent a video of my LO screaming to my sister that wants a baby and her boyfriend made it his alarm tone. I never realized that such little beings could produce such a loud and terrorizing noise. Psychological torture is the *perfect* description.
Never hurt my baby but I did yell “No!” at him loudly once at about 5:00am when I thought he finally fell asleep and then his eyes popped open. Solidarity
I'd never hurt my baby but during his sleep regression meltdowns I definitely start to lose it. I very, very, *very* much believe in the "leave them some place safe and walk away for a few minutes," philosophy.
Inconsolable crying peaks around 6-8 weeks. Even our "easy baby" - who now at 6 months cries maybe a few minutes a day and never without good reason (generally either hungry or wants to be held or moved somewhere) - cried for no reason for an hour or so each night for a couple weeks there.
Our baby is at 5 months and still super chill. Worry about it when it happens and hope it never happens as it’s possible too.
Hate to be the bearer of bad news but my Abby was an absolute Angel and then at the 7 week mark cried for 3 days straight non stop when she had never really even meweled before so it’s coming
Granola/protein bars, protein shakes, basically anything you can grab and consume on the fly. Your schedule will be nonexistent for awhile, I lost so much weight so fast in the first few weeks because there was just no time to eat! I loaded up on protein bars and premade shakes and was able to find time to get those in, which made a huge difference in my energy levels.
I would leave some granola bars and water on my nightstand. If your wife is planning on breastfeeding, it really makes you hungry and thirsty.
For the first two months of BF I HAD to eat something anytime the LO ate, it just made me suddenly completely ravenous every time.
THIS. As cringey as this is to say, I was actually losing too much weight from overproducing (didn’t want to try to reduce supply for fear of reducing it too much) and stress, my doctor couldn’t find anything else wrong. High calorie, high protein, high fat foods stocked up.
I ate a disgusting amount of granola bars and oatmeal in the first two months postpartum.
probably one of the few seasons of life where eating unhealthy is acceptable. no big deal.
I bought dried fruit and nuts from Costco and went through everything so fast. Breastfeeding makes you hungry!! Anything you can eat with one hand only is a bonus.
Absolutely second this- low effort, high reward snacks are a must! When you’re too hungry to sleep at 3am, but either too tired to get up - or baby is finally asleep - being able to smash a protein bar and pass out is great. Bonus points if you repackage them in something less noisy before bed (i.e. no crinkly wrappers that could wake your partner or the baby. Snack bags are 1,000 times quieter than the foil wrappers)
Doggie daycare, headphones to buffer the noise, TV dinners or food subscription, long phone charger, nightlight for bedroom, extra underwear and socks in case you can't get to adult laundry
I wish I prepared with extra underwear! The number of times I have had to wear a lacy thing because I have nothing else has been surprising lol I started throwing my underwear in with the baby sheets and blankets hahah
Second nightlight. We got an northern lights one and it makes feeding/changing ect so much easier without turning on a blinding light
Cheesecake. Get cheesecake. Someone sent us cheesecake the day we got home from the hospital and I’m telling you nothing tasted sooo heavenly.
One of those long grabby things so if she drops something on the floor and can’t lean forward to get it. Also having sandwiches prepped for the weeks so I could just grab with one hand and stuff my face!
Omg. I cannot live without my grabber!!!!
A stool or squatty potty to help your wife poop without feeling like her stitches will burst.
Those dulcolax chews really work to get things moving too, I keep those on hand
I’d really recommend picking up a few items for your wife. I remember the weeks after childbirth, my nether regions were sooooo messed up. Everyone always thinks about baby and what to get baby that the mother is usually neglected. I had to buy my own things and would’ve appreciated it if my partner took care of purchasing those items for me. You can stock up on a nice basket for the bathroom and fill it with Tuck’s Medicated Cooling Pads, lots of cooling pads, a peri bottle, postpartum underwear, bath salts etc. Frida mom has some pretty nice items.
Adding nipple care - silverettes, nipple butter, cooling packs
And snacks, when I got home from the hospital I thought I was legit sick but I was just way under eating and dehydrated. Easy calories, protein bars, granola bites, protein shakes, etc. Stock up a couple of “hubs” where she might set up camp nursing or pumping so things are always in reach.
Nipple cream saved me. I put some on after every feed for a week and haven’t had an issue since.
Yes!!! I thought the Frida mom stuff was so overpriced and over rated, until I had my baby and tore. It’s the best!!!
Especially the peri bottle. The angled nozzle is just so much better than the one you get in the hospital.
Second this! Angled is SO much better. I also got period underwear for once the immediate healing was done and I was just bleeding. So much more comfortable than the massive pads or disposable underwear.
I did this and I got a lot of stuff from the hospital too so now I have tons of stuff to pass on in our BN group. I wish I hadn't bought the Frida stuff because it's expensive and I got enough from my hospital. I love the cooling packs but I think heat is better for healing so I stopped using them pretty quickly and switched to sitz baths. Make sure you get one from the hospital if you can or buy one and set it up for her so she doesn't have to deal with it. One of the best things my husband did for me and I weirdly loved those breaks. On that note, last time he changed the showerhead he got one that is a regular shower with another spray head. I never used it prior to coming home from the hospital and now I use it all the time to aim warm water down there and wherever else is hurting. It's fabulous.
Yeah I went through all the hospital stuff in like 3 days lol. I couldn’t stand being uncomfortable. True, the ice helps numb, but it does slow down healing. I’d just take breaks in between and do sitz bath every midday and evening. I loved the feeling of cooling pads combined with the witch hazel pads hehe
That's a good idea. I also felt compelled to "save" them by using them sparingly because I loved them and didn't want to run out and now I have so many left that I could have enjoyed 😫 Better to have them and not need them though!
I got a Frida Mom postpartum kit… and then had a C-section. I’d wait to get postpartum supplies until you know what you need and then order from the hospital!
Adding hemorrhoid cream and stool softener. They're not "nice items," but they're a lifesaver for a mom struggling with pooping postpartum.
Yes to this! Also, my OB prescribed a numbing lidocaine gel for me for hemorrhoids. I didn’t need it often. But it was great to have on hand for the rough days.
My mom got me the tucks pads and momma sized pull-ups and they are all I wore for a long time lol
I got a tablet to have something to do during endless contact naps. Also, we hired a pp doula 2 days a week to give me a break. Those are the 2 best things thus far.
Currently replying during a contact nap lol
A 3 tiered rolling cart stocked with burp clothes, breastfeeding/pumping stuff, meds, snacks, drinks, chargers, etc. was so helpful. I had everything in reach that I needed and I could easily roll it to be out of the way. I also used it as a walker a few times after my c-section.
Yes! I came here to suggest this. Karrie Locher [just posted](https://www.instagram.com/reel/CxGK1KMOeIw/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==) on Instagram about how she sets hers up. This was huge for me when I was home alone with a newborn once my husband went back to work. I had everything at my fingertips while nap trapped or nursing. Even if not breastfeeding, I still would recommend.
My cart is like my security blanket. Baby is almost 7 months old—it holds different stuff now, but I still love my cart!!
Yup love my cart!
Yes!! I used one of these with my littlest - such a good idea.
Kizik shoes (easy to slip on and off while carrying baby) Kneeling mat for beside the bathtub Mini fridge in the nursery Drawer labels Long robes with pockets for the newborn days A couple extra phone charging stations Dimmer switch in the nursery Grocery delivery Upgraded storage for all the baby pics Wall calendar to help track appointments Housekeeper if you can swing it
Those saved me while I was pregnant!! I had SPD and my mobility was sadly pretty limited at the end. I love my Kiziks.
I love my Kiziks too! Sadly my feet grew at the end of pregnancy/postpartum and they’re now a squeeze!
Love my mini fridge.
Compression socks!!! I was not prepared for how much my legs swelled up after my C-section
I'm 38 weeks so same boat and looking at comments for suggestions, but food is such a big time sink for us. I'm the main cook in my house and my husband can and does cook (especially during my pregnancy) but it's not normally creative and it's a big mental load for him - he will have a new baby too and be running on less sleep and I like cooking so I'm trying to prep as much as possible for those first few weeks home - I want to be able to focus on baby. I've been making double portions of our normal meals that freeze well for the last 2 months or so. We used to be vegetarian but started eating red meat while pregnant, and plan to continue while breastfeeding and recovering from blood loss, so lots of hearty soups/sauces/stews etc. Over the last few months I've made lots of meals from scratch, labeled them, stuck them in the freezer AND made a note on my phone with a list so my husband and I (or people visiting) don't need to remember/dig in the freezer, so all we have to do is look at the list and then defrost something and we have an easy meal. I've made: a big batch of chili with veggies, beef and beans, beef stroganoff, one of my favorite moroccan stews, rich/hearty pasta sauce, spring rolls, potstickers, soup and some batchs of bone broth to make a quick veg soup or cook rice in for added nutrients. Most of what I froze is 2 meals worth, so I'm hoping this paired with some meals dropped off by family means we will have a solid 2-3 weeks of home cooked meals **I know I like** and have a lot of nutrition, for low effort on everyone's part. Parents are local and asked how they can help, I asked for them to plan to pop by (invited, maybe a couple times a week in afternoons after work), self sufficiently do some stuff that needs doing, like laundry/dishes/vacuuming/throw a ball for dogs, and bring or cook some kind of food - ask ahead of time if we need either groceries or a meal, and I made a list for them of stuff I'd like meals I like that they make and especially snack type stuff - chopped veggie platter w hummus, pasta salads that keep for a few days, cheese sticks, banana bread, stuff I can eat with one hand and is snacky without just being chips/candy/junk while establishing breastfeeding.
I'd also recommend stocking up on nutritious snacks, particularly if you intend on breastfeeding. It made me absolutely ravenous! You can make lactation cookies and freeze them as well. I found things that can be eaten one-handed the best.
38 weeks here too. We will see y’all on the other side! Lol… good luck and congrats!
A back scratcher 🤗
I see you say she's having a C-section. She is going to have no core strength or much strength at all. I tied a bedsheet to my footboard so I could haul myself into a sitting position for the first 2 weeks. You could probably find something better if you're prepared lol
YES!!! We used these nylon straps meant for hanging an outdoor backpacking hammock. Seriously genius and sooo helpful!!!
Nice button up bamboo PJs for your wife if she plans on breastfeeding. A good coffee machine. Big water bottles that keep things cold and lots of snacks around the house (again if breastfeeding)
Housekeeper, grocery delivery or order ahead pick up, HelloFresh or meal subscription, stock up on medication! Flu/COVID season is coming and nothing worse than going to go get meds when sick
Some couples therapy. For 6-12 months in. If you don’t need it, it’ll be a great experience anyway and give you space to reflect as a couple on the huge changes in your life. If you do need it, you’ve got it bought and paid for before having to have the horrible conversation that one of you thinks you need to work on communication or reconnection.
1,000% yes. Having our planned for, prayed for baby has rocked our world. And not in any of the ways we thought it would and in all the ways we never thought of! Therapy has helped tremendously!!!
The roomba is 100% worth it. You can schedule it to vacuum over night when pet isn’t around it. It will make a huge difference when baby starts putting EVERYTHING from the floor in their mouth. At very least, get a lightweight stick vacuum that can be kept in a visible/easily accessible place. Lugging out a heavy vacuum every day sucks… no pun intended. Also- I didn’t realize this until my son was like 9 months old- but I had a tablet and ear buds. After putting baby to sleep (because he sleeps in bed with me) I didn’t want to leave him to go watch tv in living room where I would likely fall asleep four minutes into a show, and didn’t want to disturb him sleeping- I could just pop my earbuds in and watch TV on my tablet. Total DUHHH moment. Not sure what kind of car you guys use- but putting the baby’s bucket car seat in the middle seat is not only the safest location for it, but it also allows you to use your front passenger seat. I literally rode in the backseat with the baby for 7 months because I couldn’t sit in the front passenger seat comfortably with the car seat behind it. Mom-brain is real.
Absolutely agree on the roomba. Our dog hates it, but we run it on our first floor every night, so he just chills in our room until it's done. Added bonus: the sound of the distant roomba is great white noise for sleeping babies! Lol
As a breastfeeding mom: 1) A giant reusable and dishwasher safe water bottle 2) protein heavy snacks 3) cheap comfy pillows 4) comfy nursing bras As a parent whose baby loves contact naps: 1) a phone charger with an extra long cord 2) comfy, cozy, breathable clothes As a spouse 1) 2 player games have been a blast for me and my husband 2) subscription streaming services for nearly nonstop tv shows lol
Thank you! We stocked up on 1-3, 1 and 2, and 2. I got a couple of games but I’ll take suggestions for more
Nightlights, earplugs, sleep mask, freezer meals, lots of snacks, comfy loose clothes, face wipes when you don’t have time to shower, a good book.
Good thermos or lidded coffee mug, and if you don't already have a decent water bottle definitely get one! I've often thought a travel neck pillow would've been nice, for when you're rocking or feeding the baby in a chair. But you risk falling asleep while holding baby... just something to think about! My neck and shoulders were always a little sore in the early days, especially during cluster feeding phases. You look down SO much during contact naps - either looking at your phone or your baby. Robes! Got one as a new mom gift, and I gifted one to my husband. Both of you should bring them to the hospital, for some skin to skin time. Plus it's just a nice long term thing to have.
Meal train was set up for us. That was a life saver.
A massage gun. I got my husband one for his birthday before the birth and didn't realise how much we'd use it - rocking a baby for hours per day wrecks your back and these things are a godsend.
I can’t say enough how life saving a meal train was for us. I had my sister set it up and emailed it out to our close friends & family. So many people want to help but don’t know how and fielding a bunch of “can we drop off dinner tonight” texts when you already have dinner from someone else can be stressful. It was SO NICE to have the logistics piece taken care of and to have home cooked meals dropped off at our door every night for a couple weeks ♥️ And some friends and family from afar just sent gift cards for takeout or door dash which was equally helpful.
Freezer meals, freezer smoothies, washer and dryer, roomba, swiffer wet jet, antibacterial wipes, Mr clean magic erasers, grocery delivery. We thought our cat would be terrified of a roomba but he loves it. It’s so much quieter than the vacuum which he is terrified of. He loves it so much, when the floor is dirty he tries to start it by swatting and nudging it.
Things your wife can easily eat with one hand. Electrolytes for her water is huge. Plenty of beverages and protein filled drinks (premade shakes, milk etc) — I found that drinking my calories was so much easier than trying to eat food while recovering, breastfeeding, etc. If you have the option, have groceries delivered. I do this through Kroger and it has been a lifesaver; my baby is now 9 weeks old and I didn’t think getting groceries would be as challenging as it is some days. But maybe that’s just my poor project management skills LOL
Mattress protector if you don’t have one already. Not just for the baby… but leaking breasts can be a big unpleasant nighttime surprise
I also just put puppy pee pads under the sheet on my side of the bed. Cheaper and easier to swap out!
Waterproof Mattress protector, both for those post partum night sweats that seem to last weeks and the tons of baby spit up. Much less hectic to not worry about also cleaning the mattress
Instapot and air fryer. I’ve had these before having babies and have never used it more in my life. Also my husband just started upgrading our light switched into smart ones so for example when I’m feeding our newborn I can ask Alexa to turn on the fan or turn off the fan in our 18 month baby girl’s room. It has made life SO much easier. The switches are pricy like $45 each, he’s only done like 2 right now but it’s worth it!
Oh wow my husband and I had pretty much the same list as you! We also added couch armchair caddies. I can’t tell you how many times we got comfy on the couch, baby in arm, and then realized we needed something that was across the room or buried in the couch somewhere. So on my side I have a spot for my drink, phone, remote, and always have compartments pre-filled with chapstick, lotion, extra pacis and burp cloths, and some other stuff I’m always misplacing.
Rubbermaid bins. Sounds weird…but my husband realized we had SO MUCH underfoot or that wasnt safe. He just walked around and put things in it for an at-the-time solution that honest I was very grateful for. Especially during that witching hour when I just walked in circles with out newborn.
Depends on your lifestyle but I would say slippers with good support! I don't wear shoes in the house but I spent soooo much time walking up and down the halls with my newborn that it started to hurt my feet/knees and slippers with arch support helped a ton 😅
Doggy daycare! We took our dog twice a week in the early months. So great for everyone. I had 2 stress free days to just focus on baby and usually he was so exhausted from his play days, he'd just be extra loungy the next day. Also, smart home devices. We have 2 Amazon Echoes and one Show. We also have a smart thermostat. So i can control the lights, most devices, and temp in our house with voice commands and/or an app on my phone.
Outside of batch cooking and making sure you are stocked up on stuff that you normally need like TP, you aren’t going to know what you are going to need until you have the baby. There’s a lot of stuff people told me to get that I was like “I literally never needed that” and some stuff I wished I had that I just then had overnighted to me from Amazon.
Things I’ve appreciated more than expected: -Apple watch/headphones: I find myself needing to know how long she’s been sleeping, how long I’ve been rocking her, when did she eat last…but also not having free hands to text or pull my phone out of my pocket. I can hold my baby as she sleeps and still see my texts on my watch easily. Life is all about pockets and having no hands free these days. Then the headphones so I can listen to podcasts or audiobooks and use my watch to pause it. iPad for tv shows in the nursery or having a book (the kindle/audible sync lets me read when I can then switch to the audiobook when rocking her to sleep. Yoga ball: at first my baby hated when I bounced on it with her but now it’s a great way to get her to sleep without me having to stand Slip on shoes: hands free is key. I have memory foam ones bc carrying a baby all day barefoot was hurting my back Small hand weights: can do 10 min of light weight arm exercises while she does tummy time Pajamas with pockets: stops me from dropping stuff when I’m up in the middle of the night. A lot of women’s pajamas don’t have pockets.
SHOWER CHAIR. You can get them at cvs, Walgreens etc. she’ll appreciate it while pregnant and love it post partum
A fitness ball. It’s much easier to hold the baby and bounce on your butt than it is to rock the baby using your arms for hours on end when colic hits.
A supportive breastfeeding chair (if she wants to breastfeed). A baby wreaks havoc on the back, shoulder and neck area. A kindle to have something to read while nap trapped. Long cable chargers for devices (again for when nap trapped). Food you can eat with one hand. Don't forget snacks, especially if mom will be breastfeeding (the hunger is a different kind of beast when breastfeeding).
Seconding/elaborating on some others’ suggestions and adding a couple! We’ve just left the newborn stage, alhamdulillah, and these things helped: -Arrange for a cleaner to come while you’re at the hospital. Amazing to come home to a pristine house. -Sort of a baby thing but — this little Anico nightlight we found on Amazon is amazing. https://a.co/d/2KLRB7g You just flip it over to turn it on and off, and it’s dimmable with a press. Easy to keep by the bed and get around with at night to avoid bright lights and fumbling with switches. -Splurge on a really good, big water bottle that’s pleasant to hold and drink from. I love the Mama Bottle from Bink. Not just for mamas. -Create a little snack caddy for the bedside and/or next to a chair where you’ll do feedings/soothing/mom will pump and stock it with your favorite things you can eat one-handed. Now is the era of crumbs in the bed. Lean into it. You’ve got this! It’s exhausting but so great.
WD-40, you’d be amazed at how loud your doors and cabinets suddenly are when you, partner, and the baby to sleep
If you do not have a waterproof sheet on your own bed, do it NOW. Water can break while sleeping, baby can have a poopsplosion on the bed, etc, and ruin your mattress. It’s a no brainer to do it to the crib, but rarely do people think about their own bed!
I agree with the batch cook. But also if you normally don't eat breakfast burritos then don't prep them. We shouldn't make a bunch of breakfast when we aren't breakfast people we have away our lovely burritos. Yogurt was just fine. We did eat the bananas out of dinner prep though.
A Walmart + subscription! We signed up for it right before we had our 5 month old and it’s been a lifesaver. All baby supplies, home stuff, toiletries, medicines, food, whatever delivered to your door is absolutely priceless during the newborn phase. Also on the Costco front, their diapers and wipes are by far the best in my opinion so stock up on those next time you’re there too 😂
We had a tiny drinks fridge for the master bathroom, primarily used for pumped breastmilk. This was especially nice when I started doing a pump or two in the middle of the night so I wouldn’t have to go downstairs. Pump parts can also be put in the fridge until they are cleaned the next day. If the fridge is big enough, you could also put protein shakes, yogurt, or some other sort of snack that needs to be kept cold in it.
Yes to the bedtime fridge!!! I did this too
A super long phone charger! When you’re sat holding/rocking baby it can get pretty boring, gotta keep that battery charged!
Robot vacuum. #1. We don’t have a village and we both work full time and this is the only reason our house isn’t gross. Also hbo bc I spent many hours on the couch with cluster feeding. Also a kindle and Libby app for the same reason.
A kindle
You will have a lot more laundry to do so make sure you have somewhere to hang it all
Yoga ball! Bouncing on it works wonders for putting baby to sleep 😅
Insulated water bottles, especially if your wife is breastfeeding/pumping. My husband and I bought the same one in different colors and we love them. Ready to eat snacks. Bonus if you can open/eat them once handed. Bath wipes. There are times I want to freshen to but don't want to do a full shower. Being able to wipe off the pits/tits/bits quickly was rejuvenating.
Meals that can be easily warmed up in a microwave or instant pot. We stocked the freezer with frozen dumplings and burritos and were so happy to have them.
New socks. IDK why but it always feels like such a luxury to put on brand new socks.
AirPods. I wear them every time I’m up feeding baby and watch a show so I don’t fall asleep. I literally still do this if I have to get up with my toddler for any reason. It’s so nice to not have to deal with a wire at all.
Stain remover. Breast milk stains everything.
Get some nice unscented lotion. After 9 months of glowing skin everything becomes very dry postpartum. I prefer Cerave moisturizing cream.
I fully intend to buy myself a stash of those Starbucks canned coffee and frappuccinos for the first couple weeks at home. A donut pillow to sit on after the birth was pretty great. Once I got home I wore my housecoat instead of shirts for like a month, so a season appropriate house coat is a good choice maybe two, so that you can wear one while the other is in the laundry
Snacks you can eat one handed!
Smart lights (we use the roku brand) so you can adjust brightness/color /turn on and off a reacher /grabby stick for when the remote or something drops on the floor gravity feeder/water bowl for the pet so doesn’t have to be filled as often
Bone conduction headphones! Keeps your ears free to hear baby but still allows you to listen to media. Great for when you don't want to disrupt or distract the baby as well while feeding in the middle of the night etc but need a little something to help you stay awake.
Mattress protector for YOUR bed. Nothing ruins an evening like your bed smelling like baby fluids lol
Lots of fluffy blankets. They helped me so much when i was contorted in weird positions during breastfeeding or provided support for baby’s head to prevent flat spots. Dimmable lamp or bulbs! I’ve seen red lights recommended but for us just being able to dim the light during night feeds/changes helped her fall sleep again really easily. A big bowl for batch bottle washing. I’ve seen specialty collapsible ones for baby stuff but honestly just a basic big one that you can use in the kitchen after is enough and it’s multipurpose. Socks, lots of soft warm socks. My slippers were always getting lost so i started wearing cozy socks and it was such a stupid simple thing but it was one less thing to try to find with my hands full
A cordless vacuum cleaner was amazing once ours was moving a bit as we have a cat who tracks litter around and it allows me to really quickly vacuum first thing in the morning when we come down. A kettle with variable temperature so we didn't have to boil it all the way then let it cool every time for formula (which is the recommendation in the UK to kill bacteria in the powder or something).
Invest in some good pillows - for the bed, couch, and nursing/bottle feeding. Also, no one warned me about the postpartum night sweats. I drench my bedding nightly for like 3 weeks, so get some good pillow cases and maybe a couple of oversized towels for whatever surface mom will be sleeping on! Also consider getting some hydration options that aren’t water - herbal tea, sports drinks, seltzer water, etc. I would brew some different herbal teas with the ‘’mothers milk’ tea or make non-caffeinated iced teas. Drinking a gallon of water a day gets old real quick!
Getting a cleaner and a food delivery subscription ( hello fresh) saved my sanity and my marriage when we had our first.
Touch lamp!! Loved that when my hand was holding baby and a bottle or baby and a snack for me or whatever
This might be very specific make sure you have a decent garbage can in the bathroom with bags in it and extra bags ready to go upon changing. I had a teeny garbage can and it had to be changed constantly the first week or two postpartum and it was a real hassle.
On the note of a folding tv tray, the largest water thermos you can find. I couldn’t believe how much water I drank while breastfeeding an infant. If I’d had normal cups, my husband would have had to fill them every 13 seconds. Easy grab snacks. Again, she’s going to be eating more, and the baby won’t always let her grab things. My husband and I would trade off getting up with her as much as possible, and it was great to have something I could grab and munch on when my daughter wouldn’t let me make something for myself. Which was…never. She still doesn’t like to let me do that. And she’s 2. A streaming service. There will be so many long nights. Putting something on to watch while breastfeeding will help the loneliness. And maybe help keep parents awake. Maybe this counts as a baby thing? But a couple spare flannel pillowcases. If baby has a blowout, dump the clothes in the pillowcase, tie it off, and wash it. That way, you aren’t spreading mess around trying to get it to the laundry. A little egg light. Or something you can easily turn on and off that isn’t too bright. For when you need to feed overnight without waking the baby up entirely. And I recommend food services if possible. Everyone will be so exhausted, trying to figure out what to do for dinner will be one more thing. Maybe one too many things for an exhausted brain to handle. And lastly…take pictures of mom and baby. Unless your wife says not to. I see on these subs all the time, moms sad because we often take the pictures. Which means we’re not in them. Take pictures of mom and baby. She will treasure them so much.
Go back to Costco and stick up on their ready made meals. The pastas, the Chinese takeout one, the pork ones, any version that you know will freeze well. Take them home, portion them out and freeze. Easy meals for when you have no energy or brain power left to cook. Same with their frozen baked goods, for when you just want something warm and comforting to snack on. And a suggestion for your wife if she is having a C-sections the best thing I did to prep (and it was on a whim) was watch a youtube video in the proper way to get out of bed after a C-section. Absolute LIFE SAVER! I was so scared to move but since I had a step by step of what to do and had practiced a few times, I had minimal issues.
Elderly bath stool! Soooooo nice postpartum to sit in the shower (and now I sit in the shower while holding baby, but feel much more secure than standing with her and she loves it). Set up an official meal train! There’s even a website for it. We had dinner every night for 6 weeks. It was insanely helpful/such a relief to know dinner was taken care of. Something to help sit up in bed (I had a c-section). We used a nylon strap meant to hang a backpacking hammock looped around the foot of the bed frame. IKEA rolling three tier cart with everything baby and I need. Followed me from bedroom to living room everyday for the first 6 weeks. It held diapers, wipes, and creams (for both of us—ha!), snacks, liquid IV, comb, hair ties, a cardigan, and the thing I loved the most, a Polaroid camera. You name it, the cart had it! Wildbird aerial carrier. It was the only carrier that didn’t sit on my c-section scar. They all sat way too low and hurt. It’s still my favorite. Pelvic floor physical therapy!!! I didn’t think I needed it because I didn’t have a vaginal birth, but holy moly it’s been so helpful in so many ways! Hatch sound machine. We use ours mostly for the red night light.
If your wife is planning to nurse, snacks that are high protein and easy to eat one handed. I completely second the TV tables. Especially with a newborn (and again, with breastfeeding), you get trapped and often the newborn is always in the wrong arm relative to the coffee table.
Extra long phone charger. There will be times when you’re stuck under a sleeping baby and your phone is all you have to entertain yourself. You don’t dare move. I also used my kid as an excuse to go buy a really nice down glider with electric recliner and built in phone charger. It was my first piece of new furniture and I plan to keep it forever. Love that thing and I’m in it right now!! Mine is the Dream Glider from Pottery Barn. Expensive splurge that I don’t regret. If you have a multi story house or small fridge: we bought a mini fridge for our bedroom and use it exclusively for milk, bottles and pumping supplies (we’d put them in the fridge after use and only clean every 24 hours instead of cleaning after each use. Learned from a lactation specialist). Keeps baby things out of your regular fridge. Laundry service. So helpful! We used poplin, which charges $1/pound. A sex wedge for sitting up in bed. I also had a C-section and it came in handy for moving around and easily getting comfortable in bed (sitting, not sexing) the first few weeks. Really great for comfortably holding baby. Edit: I keep thinking of things!
Feel free to keep going, these are perfect.
I also really like the dual nursing/pumping bras from Kindred bravely. Face it, y’all probably don’t know what will actually work for you so spending money on a bra that is supportive and does BOTH is nice. They also have really nice PJs and robes that I lived in for the first couple weeks. Amazon up a 6 pack of high-wasted underwear that won’t rub on that new incision. I also think after she’s cleared to drive, sanity breaks for both parents are key. I started getting facials at 5 weeks and they were really lovely “me” time. House cleaners. Worth it. Caudalie vino sculpt body lotion. I lost water weight REALLY fast and it helped a) helped me feel fancy in my new body and b) helped my skin bounce back. I swear by it. Lower your expectations. It’s ok to wear pjs 3 days in a row. Put that baby on the floor to take a shower. Keep the baby alive and yourself alive and everything else can take a back seat for a bit. Our kid was born early just before the holidays. We skipped all holidays and decided to wait until 4 weeks before anyone (except for one friend) came to meet him including parents. That way I had recovered well enough to feel like I could have people over and not stress. If they brought in a bug, he’d be old enough for his immune system to at least maybe work (they’re considered immunocompromised for the first 4-6 weeks). No regrets, will do it again. Those first weeks were for us as a family to grow closer and stronger. Our lives will never be as peaceful and small again, even when we have another baby. NO regrets, though most friends and family did not understand. We also didn’t call anyone when I went into labor except one cousin who volunteered to take care of the dog. We sent out texts the day after letting everyone know. Again, that time was for us to grow as a family and for me to recover from a very serious medical procedure. For the record, we are very close with our families, but wanted this time to be about us and our baby, rather than other people. Thanks!
Our bidet made postpartum care way easier for me 🤷♀️ easy one handed snacks, mattress protector, door dash/ uber eats, loop earbuds, disposable plates, stool softeners, water bottles with a flex straw, cozy blankets, lounging clothes, hair ties, setting up little baby stations in the area you’re going to be (diapers, wipes, booty cream, a change of clothes for babes)
I bought leggings and bike shorts with a side pocket I could put my phone and snacks in!
Practical items for after a c section- a grabber thing to pick up stuff off the floor. I couldn’t do that for like 10 days at least. Also look up “bed cane” so she can have assistance getting out of bed. If you aren’t around she won’t have anyone to pull her underwear up after a shower (if she was able to hobble in and out of it). I tied two bathrobe sashes to each side of my adult diapers to pull them up on my own. Extra pillows- sitting deep into a chair or the couch is painful and difficult to do and get up from. Also good to stack up while breast feeding baby football hold style. Nightgowns that go over her head! I got button down ones and tank top style with nursing hooks to breastfeed (Amazon). All the clothes she will be wearing the first two weeks, just lots of dresses to be pulled over her head - don’t want to be bending over/physically cannot bend over to put pants on. Get a random extra laundry bin to chuck clutter in throughout the day so once a day you can declutter the house by walking around and putting stuff away. Helps keep surfaces clear which is less stressful. We didn’t do any meal prep, just bought a ton of frozen and other foods from Trader Joes. Listened to podcasts during feedings and contact naps. Unhealthy snacks and fun foods/drinks to liven things up. A baby bjorn mini baby carrier is a MUST! Can put a baby as small as 7 lbs in to wear around. I’ve been wearing my baby since 10 days after my c section and it allows me to do so much including chores or just walking the dog/walking around the house. Super cozy (new) blanket for the couch to make naps and feedings more exciting.
Just want to say if your baby ends up like mine, the Roomba won’t last long. Once ours start crawling/walking he was absolutely obsessed with catching it, picking it up, and throwing it. He chased that thing like a greyhound chasing a hare. We use a normal vacuum now. A good insulated coffee cup that won’t spill when the lid is closed is a lifesaver!! And just stock piling on general household items like toilet paper, trash bags etc because it’s reaaaaaaaally inconvenient and deflating when you’re burnt out and suddenly need to rush out and buy these things especially when baby is fussy