5 Tips to Remember When Preparing for Baby

Planning for a baby is exciting, fun and stressful all at the same time and no matter how much energy, time and effort you put in, it won’t always go according to plan. The week my daughter was born my husband and I had planned to do everything that following weekend. We were going to get the house in order, pack all the bags, prepare her bedroom (at least the crib was in place), and even cook some meals to freeze for later. I was even going to get my hair braided so I wouldn’t have bed hair while at the hospital. We were still debating whether I should take a week off before delivery.  But the baby had other plans; she decided Tuesday was a much better day for her to enter into our world. I even missed my “surprise” baby shower at work! She came a few weeks earlier than we bargained for but it all worked out and we quickly learned that it was her turn to run the show.

For those of you who are expecting a baby and overwhelmed with the planning remember that everything will work itself out -- even if it’s not in your birth plan. Below are my five tips to remember when preparing for baby.

Pack the Essentials and Don’t Expect a Miracle.
When packing for the hospital only grab the essentials. Are you really going to be in the mood to spend hours curling your hair? Leave your pre-pregnancy jeans at home and pack something comfortable and stretchy for yourself. Bring two different sized “coming home” outfits for baby in case the doctors were off by their size estimates. Pack snacks and energy drinks for the husband. And most important, especially if you’re a tech junkie, make sure you have a cell phone charger, fully charged camera, and a Wi-Fi card so your husband can easily update friends and family of your progress.

Don’t Buy in Bulk, Yet.
While it’s safe to stock up on baby blankets, bodysuits and other baby essentials, try to avoid stocking up on bottles, pacifiers, formula and diapers until you are sure your baby approves them. Some babies have sensitive stomachs and may only take a certain formula and you can be sure it will be the most expensive and difficult one to find. Every baby is different and so is every bottle; your child will TELL you which one they prefer in their own way. 

Let Go and Sleep.
Everyone will tell you to sleep when the baby sleeps and that’s easy to "say" but actually "doing it" when you have a pile of dishes in the sink, a pile of clothes that need washing and a toddler in the other room. It’s next to impossible. Nonetheless, it’s okay to let the laundry pile up for another day and its okay to let your toddler watch Cars or any other movie one more time, if it means you can get a few extra minutes of rest.

Trust Yourself.
At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter that your mother-in-law gave your husband rice cereal at 2 weeks old. It doesn’t matter if your best friend’s baby started sleeping through the night in a month or that your mother only breastfed you in the mornings. Trust yourself and your first instinct because it’s often the most accurate.

Be Flexible.
Remember that it doesn’t matter how much planning and organizing you do and it doesn’t matter how much money you spend. At the end of the day you will always do what works best for the baby. So don’t get frustrated if your baby finds it more comforting in your bed instead of the crib you spent thousands on.

Lifetime's unscripted series “One Born Every Minute” is back!  Don’t miss the Season 2 premiere November  29 at 10 pm/9c. Watch a preview: