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Pregnancy is an exciting time, but it can also be overwhelming! From the nursery to doctor’s appointments, there is much to do and learn as you prepare. Planning for your baby’s arrival should not be stressful, and Child Care Answers is here to support you! Browse below for tips and resources to help you navigate your baby to-dos!
A childbirth education class will teach you everything you need to know about labor and childbirth and help you prepare for the birth with confidence. Infant care classes cover topics like breastfeeding, safe sleep, bathing, and swaddling. They also have similar classes for grandparents! Ask your doctor or delivering hospital for a list of classes and how to register.
If you’re planning on going back to work, you’ll need to plan your child care sooner rather than later. Options include child care centers and ministries, homes, nannies, and care provided by family members. Many quality programs operate on fairly long waitlists, so getting started sooner, rather than later, is ideal. Connect with our team of specialists to help you make the right choice for your family.
Most parents don’t plan for their baby to be in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). In some cases, you might not have much time to plan for it. Once you know your baby will have a long stay in the NICU, you will also need to consider someone else’s well-being: yours and your family’s.
If your baby is staying in the NICU, you’ll have to make some life adjustments. It can be an uncertain time but doing some logistical and emotional prep-work can improve your time in the NICU and allow you to focus on your baby. Kid’s Health by Nemours has resources and tools on preparing for the NICU stay.
You’ve gone through pregnancy, labor, and delivery, and now you’re ready to go home and begin life with your baby. Preparing ahead of time for things like sleep, feeding, and diapering can help even the most nervous first-time parents feel confident about caring for their new baby.
Start preparing as early as possible. Here, we’ll outline things you can do before baby’s arrival to make the transition as smooth as possible.
Introduce your toddler to other babies, both real and pretend. Visit a friend with a baby, practice holding them, and start taking care of a baby doll at home.
Show pictures and videos of them when they were a baby.
Spend one-on-one time together and make a point to continue this after baby arrives.
Introduce the early stages of sharing: waiting and turn taking.
Make meeting baby a big deal. Give them an enthusiastic greeting and focus attention on them first, then introduce them to their sibling.
Present your toddler with a gift “from the baby.” This is a great way to show your child that they’re important while starting things off on the right foot.
Teach your toddler empathy towards baby. From teaching “gentle touches” to responding to cries, this will help your child see their new sibling as a “real person” with feelings just like them.
Sending your newborn to child care can be difficult for families, but choosing a quality program can make the transition smoother.
Whether adding new furniture to your home, or creating a nursery, do so in small stages to allow your pet time to adjust. Pets rely on consistency, and even small changes to their environment can cause considerable stress. When the various areas are finished, play with your pet in those spaces to help build positive feelings about them.
It can be exhausting to supervise pets while caring for an infant – especially when you’re home alone. One easy way to manage this is to keep your pets on another level or area of your home by installing gates or closing doors. Whether your baby is sleeping in your bedroom or a nursery, be sure to keep the door closed to limit your pets’ access. If your pet typically follows you around the house or sleeps in your room, gradually practice keeping them separated so they’re accustomed to it by the time baby comes.
A baby’s crying and screaming can be disturbing to animals, so preparation is key. YouTube has plenty of videos of baby noises to help you. Play the recording at a low volume while your pet is eating or playing. With each session, raise the volume just a little until your pet appears more comfortable with the sounds. Expose your pet to various baby toys and other sound-making devices before baby arrives, teaching them the difference between baby toys and their toys.
Begin to associate the smell of baby detergent, lotions, powders, and other products with high value treats. This will form a positive association to your baby before they’re even born. After baby is born, introduce your pet to your baby’s smell by giving them a blanket or cloth that smells like baby. It can be helpful to have a friend or family member introduce your pet to this before you ever come home from the hospital.
While everyone is busy with a new baby, try not to neglect your pet.
Never leave a baby or small child unattended around an animal. No matter how young the child or gentle the animal, too many things can go wrong, and both parties could get hurt. When the baby grows into a mobile child, supervision will be more pressing than ever. Your child can never be allowed to grab, chase, or pick up your pet, so keep them separate (behind a locked door, if necessary) when supervision isn’t possible.
https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/behavior/preparing-your-pet-new-baby
https://www.thebump.com/a/preparing-toddler-for-sibling
