The Ultimate Toolkit: Resources Every New Parent Needs
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Welcome to the ultimate guide for new parents! Navigating this exciting, yet stressful, time of your life can feel overwhelming. Whether you are eagerly waiting for your little one’s due date, or you have already welcomed your baby to the world, this blog post will help you find a few (or more) resources that can help you on this journey. Let’s dive in!
Websites/Articles:
“Pregnancy Beauty: Everything You Need to Know” by 15 Minute Beauty
This is a helpful site for pregnant and nursing moms who want to be careful with their skincare and beauty products. Items are broken down by companies and then organized by which are safe for pregnant women and nursing mothers. I felt more confident about what was going into my body while I was pregnant. For example, Tula skincare and Bare Minerals makeup were safe for me.
“How Many Diapers Do I Need for Baby’s First Year?” By Babylist
This article was super helpful for calculating how many diapers to add to your registry. It can also help when managing your finances and creating a budget for the baby for the next year. I know it seems like a lot, but try not to be overwhelmed—you can always return unopened boxes of diapers or exchange them for the next size up to accommodate your growing baby.
“How to Clean, Sanitize, and Store Infant Feeding Items” by the CDC
When in a brain fog, this was a great breakdown of how to keep the little one safe with all the feeding materials that come along with newborns. The Baby Brezza Baby Bottle Sterilizer and Dryer was extremely helpful in giving me peace of mind that each bottle was clean for my little one.
Youtube Channels:
This channel includes some awesome exercises and routines to practice after your delivery, and while pregnant, catered to each specific trimester. The creator is a Registered Dietitian
Yoga & Fitness Instructor, and Certified Pregnancy and Postpartum Exercise Specialist. One of my favorite coping skills is exercise and this helped my mental health. Some days were challenging and I didn’t have the energy to do a full workout. Just do what you can that day and be gentle with yourself.
This channel is a hub of all things motherhood, from breastfeeding 101 to baby names. It helped to have ideas of what to expect each week of the baby’s development. I’m currently learning baby sign language. The creator is a childbirth educator and breastfeeding advocate. I would highly recommend the channel!
Courses:
Labor and Delivery Preparation Course by Mommy Labor Nurse
This is the online course my husband and I used to prep for labor and delivery. There is SO much information in here! I liked that we could start and stop the course at any time to understand and absorb the content at our own pace. There’s even a section for partners to prep and support the moms. There’s also so much free information on the website.
Products:
I researched baby bags far and wide, and this was my favorite by far. Yes, it’s a splurge. Yes, it’s worth it. This was the bag I got. My husband and I can both use it without a second thought. It has tons of space and pockets for organizing. My favorite part is that it has carabiner clips to hook onto any stroller or a sturdy pocket to slip over the handle of a suitcase. We used this while traveling abroad with my little one and it was a breeze. Not to mention, it’s neoprene and easy to clean, which is an amazing plus.
Social Media Accounts/Bookmarks
This account has blunt and humorous truths about motherhood. Watch it all—you will love it! Take note, she does curse every now and then. If you’re offended, move along. Also, check out her organized birth and postpartum binder link. We have similar brains in planning it all out beforehand.
This account was super helpful in prepping for international travel with my little one! There are posts on what items to pack, how to get a seat for your baby on an airline, how to entertain them on a long flight, and how hotels can help out with accommodations. I learned so much from this account. I first got hooked when I learned about what luggage you can bring on a plane for the baby for free, I was shocked.
This is the method we chose for sleep training. The account has super helpful blog posts about getting your baby on a schedule for sleep, feeding, and sanity. I had so many questions about how to attempt a routine, how many naps were needed, what the heck a wake window was, and more. Her writing is encouraging and educational. The fact that all these sleep schedule examples are free on her site, is a blessing.
This account reassures followers about little ones and sleep, and will help keep you feeling positive, even when things get frustrating. This post recently was encouraging for me that sleep and little ones don’t always mix, and that’s normal! This reel was a great reframe to a “sleep progression” rather than a “sleep regression”. Little ones are learning new skills!
I hope these resources have been helpful to you! At times, new parenthood can feel lonely and maybe you’ll experience imposter syndrome. You’re not alone! Feel free to share your favorite resources in the comments below or email me rachel@sagecounselingtherapyandwelness.com
To discuss how therapy could help you during this season of your life, please contact me or schedule your free 15 minute consultation.
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