Ten tips for new moms who are bringing a baby home #LysolMoms

My boys are 2 and 3 years old but it feels like just yesterday I was bringing them home from the hospital.  I remember with my first child especially how crazy I was about germs and preparations.  We just had two friends that had babies last month and I admit to having “baby fever.”  We are in a new house now and I have already been thinking about how I would do things had I had a baby in this house. New moms especially need help because there is so much to do and so much they will probably overdue or just not even think about.

Here are 10 Tips for a New Mom Bringing a Baby Home:

1.     Have the nursery set up early.  My second child was a month early and I was no ready at all!  My husband was actually putting together and cleaning the bassinet after the baby was already home!  I would recommend maybe two months or so before you are due to have the bassinet, changing table, and crib (if you can it is an extra spot to lay the baby down to be safe) all ready for baby.  You also get tired and cranky farther into the pregnancy, or at least I did, because you get to a point where you just want the baby out and may not feel like doing too much.

2.     Have all the baby clothes, blankets, sheets, washcloths, and burp clothes laundered in Dreft or another non-scented detergent.  It is especially important to use a non-scented formula because newborns are so sensitive to begin with.

3.     Have all the bottles, pacifiers, and baby toys (like rattles) all steamed and disinfected, especially for the first time.  I know how hard it is to keep steaming them but when you first get them they usually have a plastic smell and taste that you need to get rid of.

4.     Have some meal ideas at hand.  I am not one to cook ahead of time and freeze meals, but if you can that is even better.  I actually had a stocked freezer with store-bought meals and ideas for quick meals.

5.     Buy Thank You cards. You will no doubt get gifts and it is nice to send off a thank you card right away so you don’t forget!  Mommy Brain kicks in pretty fast!

6.     Have formula or a breast pump ready.  I did both and it was nice to have them cleaned and purchased already.

7.     Stock up on diapers whenever they are on sale but don’t buy too many smaller diapers (like Newborn size) since babies grow pretty quickly.  I actually recommend buying diapers from Amazon or Diapers.com because you don’t have to lug heavy diaper boxes from the store and I can actually buy them cheaper online than in stores!

8.     Have anti-bacterial and hand soap ready for all those guests that come over and want to hold the baby.  Don’t be afraid to tell everyone to wash their hands before holding the baby.

9.     Keep some LYSOL on hand for the diaper pail and to use after people leave.  My first son was born in January and everyone had colds, I used to use LYSOL on the doorknobs and faucets to try to eliminate germs.  I also sprayed the diaper pail with LYSOL because of germs that lingered around there.

10. Start baby proofing whenever you can, it is never too early.  Before you know it your baby will be mobile and moving around.  Never leave your baby alone on the bed or couch, as they roll very easily and very quickly!  My cousin was just two months old when he rolled off the bed (he was fine)!  You don’t need to go too crazy but keep in mind, especially if you purchase furniture after the baby is born – my husband wanted a glass coffee table and I was like “Are you crazy?”

Hopefully these were ten helpful tips, I am sure I can come up with more but I think these are a good start.  I am a mom of two so I have been there and done that, but kids can definitely surprise you and throw you for a loop!  Also, don’t drive yourself crazy and listen to other moms and smile and nod if you disagree.  Moms love to give advice and feel the need to do it to new moms, so just listen and don’t be afraid either to disagree if it is something you feel strongly about.

Mama’s Money Savers Disclosure:  I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Lysol® Wee Wisdom blogging program, making me eligible to get a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.