Source: Unsplash
First-times are a very exciting yet pressurising experience. Since young, we would have had many first-times to celebrate as milestones, from our very first time ordering food ourselves to our very first time speaking on stage and finally we come to this: our first-time as parents. Oh my the pressure… writing this as I foresee myself over preparing for the arrival of my future baby. This article is for my future self and to all my fellow anticipating parents.
Packing For The Hospital
I know the temptation to over pack is real ya know, we just want to be safe than sorry, but really, we do not have to pack our entire house for a few nights stay there. If you suddenly feel the need for something, you could always have someone bring it over to the hospital for you or purchase one from the nearest mart. Moreover, hospitals will provide your basic needs (toiletries, food and water) so what’s the worry? But just to be safe, here’s a checklist for you:
Bedroom slippers
Cardigan for some extra warmth
Maternity bras and underwear (p.s. I would recommend you use disposable underwear)
Nightwear (Make sure it’s nursing safe)
A plastic bag for your used clothing
Don’t worry, I did not forget about your baby. Here is a checklist for your baby:
A baby bag
Clothes for your baby to wear back home
Disposable diapers
Wet wipes
Rash cream (For their sensitive bums)
Pack in required quantities and you should be good to go. If you want to know what you should pack in your everyday infant care bag, click here for more.
Handling A Newborn
Now, I can’t be the only one who has never actually held a newborn baby before. What if I hurt him? Don’t worry I got you. Here are a few tips to get you started. As you spend more time with the baby, the fear would slowly disappear without a sight.
Support the neck and head - Always make sure your hand is placed at the back of their neck and head while lifting them up or cradling them as they are not able to support themselves just yet.
Clean hands - Especially now with the novel coronavirus around, it’s a known rule to sanitise and wash your hands frequently. The baby will not have such a strong immune system yet so this is very important. Here are some other tips to give a boost to your child’s immunity!
No rough actions - Please do not, ever, shake your baby in any event. If you wish to wake your baby up or you wish to play with him/ her, please refrain from doing so. This can lead to serious consequences. We do not want that.
Diapering
The nasties! I am looking forward to these but it’s inevitable. Let’s see how we can make this easier for us. Babies go through diapers so quickly, and have to be on task all the time. Make sure you always keep your diaper changing supplies (your toolkit) nearby you at multiple spots around your house at all times. We do not want to have the nasties leaking out of the diaper and make a big mess. We want to stop it before it gets worse. Not only that, changing diapers immediately after a nature's call will reduce the chances of your baby getting a diaper rash. Diaper rash is a typical concern so do remember to change them immediately. Also give their bottoms some ‘diaper-free’ time to air the area. Constantly being wrapped up can also irritate their bottoms.
When cleaning, gently clean their bottoms and make sure to use a washcloth or wet wipes to clean the area. Also a tip, for boys please be careful because sudden exposure to air will cause nature to make its call (you know what I mean). For girls, remember to wipe from the back to front to avoid Urinary Tract Infection (UTI).
Conclusion
Well, that’s all for this article. I hope this article gave you some useful insights and even made you feel a little more confident about being a first time parent. Anyone who has any other know-hows for our first-time parents do comment below and share this article with anyone you think would need this guide!
If you are a working mom, you might want to go to this article for different ways to entertain your toddler as a WFH mom!
Genesis Childcare 1989
Being a first time parent is definitely not easy. Every new mom and new dad needs some help. Well, Genesis Childcare 1989 is here for you. In our Tampines childcare, we have an infant care for infants aged 2 months till 18 months old. We provide early childhood education and care for our little ones.
Genesis Childcare 1989, our preschool Tampines, has had over 30 years of experience in caring for your little ones. We are dedicated to caring for your child, and we are certain that your child will be in our safe hands. Check out our Facebook for photos of our happy kids!
In our kindergarten Tampines, our teachers have gone through many rounds of stringent selection and training. Our teachers are loving, caring and patient. Click here to read our Google reviews.
If you are keen on enrolling your child in our Taman Jurong childcare, visit our Instagram to take a look at our virtual school tour on our IG TV!
Here’s our location!
Genesis Childcare (Taman Jurong)
Blk 153, Yung Ho Road, #01-41 (S) 610153
Tel: +65 9666 4141
Genesis Childcare (Tampines)
Blk 433, Tampines Street 43, #01-63 (S) 520433
Tel: +65 9666 4141
Nurture Infant House (Tampines)
(2 to 18 months Infants)
Blk 433, Tampines Street 43, #01-61 (S) 520433
Tel: +65 9666 4141