What did you buy/do that made the newborn stage easier?

[Genehuntssexyhands]

I know newborns are actually pretty easy as they’re not mobile but were there any things or routines or habits you got into that helped with the anxiety/night feeds/endless nappy changes and wetting through clothes etc?

The one thing I’ve found that helps us is having a nappy changing station downstairs as well as upstairs with spare clothes etc easy to grab and a little laundry basket underneath so I can chuck dirty clothes in it straight away. Doesn’t look pretty but does the job!

Good quality sling.

Which one did you go for? I’ve got a stretchy one but I haven’t used it yet as I’m not confident with the wrapping!
I’ve also got an ergobaby Omni Carrier but need to get the newborn insert

Swing chair

Look at youtube for stretchy wrap ties, my 5 week old is currently in her wrap, secure and cosy

It's not baby related but... an electric hoover and squeeze mop. DS is 1 and these still save me so much time. Also, blankets and a pillow on the sofa so when DS was down for a nap (in his travel cot downstairs) I could just nap too without grabbing stuff.

Alcohol. Just a wee nip in the evenings

A chair with vibrations, only thing she settled in other than me.

Changing station downstairs is also a life saver when you are still sore, or like I was and scared of going up and down stairs holding such a small delicate baba

Also a kettle with a temperature reading on it, so I knew once boiled when it was down to 70 etc (cheapo from Aldi)

Sling/baby carrier - given to me by friends.

Rocker - it does rock on it's own but I've never used it in rocking mode.

Poddle Pod, life saver for day time naps and easy to take to other peoples houses

My DS was a very sicky baby. I had waterproof sheets on the cot with a lovely soft cotton sheet on top. But I did 3 layers, with the last layer sheet a bright blue and the rest were always cream coloured. I could just rip a layer off one handed and get him in to a new grow bag really quickly.

I did the same with his toddler bed when we were in the bed wetting phase. Just had extra duvets on hand so I could strip the sheets and change the duvet in seconds.

Have another baby first

Seriously, I am much more relaxed about everything the second time round even though I have twins.

Also yes to a glass of wine and a rocker!

Pillow like sleepyhead was a life saver for naps downstairs and still are for my DD my DS loved his pillow when he was little and currently my DD does it's hand and you can literally plop them in it so long as your sat next to them while they sleep and not have a travel cot or Moses basket downstairs.

White noise machine handy for nap times if you have a fussy baby trying to get to nap

Changing mat for downstairs saving going upstairs to change baby

Muslin squares handy for the first couple of months when babies being sick or any spills

Bouncer handy when you want to take baby with you in different rooms you can keep an eye on them and no they are safe

Playmat handy for tummy time and stimulation for the little ones and time for you to be able to enjoy a breather from holding the baby etc

Sling. And hobnobs. In abundance.

Travel mug! I can have a cup of tea warm, even if I don’t get to it for a few hours. It also meant I wasn’t afraid to drink while I was constantly feeding her. We also had things downstairs, a little basket of new baby grows and muslins as dd was very sicky and I’d be up and down the stairs otherwise at every change. For my others a wrap sling was a godsend but my last pregnancy knackered my hips and back so couldn’t use it this time and I missed it, it would have made everything a lot easier.

Sling, well stocked freezer will ready to eat meals, friends who also have newborns.

Currently eating hobnobs as I type 😁

Automatic swing bed.
Esspecially when he was going trough the phase (at about 10 weeks old) where they cry an awful lot.

It was expensive but it has saved my sanity on many occasions.

Sling

Coffee

Bottle fed so I could give baby to visitors while I bathed, eat, socialised.

Shared parental leave.

I wish I'd bought myself a comfortable rocking chair to keep in the nursery. I would next time.

A white noise app on your phone is brilliant for naps when you're out and about.

Also biscuits.

Netflix and loads of trashy easy to read kindle books. I sat around breastfeeding for so long these were lifelines.

Plus I think I lived on that filled fresh pasta which cooks in 5 mins with pepper and parmesan on, easy to eat with one hand, not messy

Vibrating chairs

Layer up Muslims on the cot / carrycot wherever they sleep so you can whip one off if they puke and don't have to change everything

Coffee

Getting outside

Swing chair.

Rocking chair for night time feeds, its in our room at the moment but will move into the nursery when dd does.

changing station in our room, and downstairs.

Sling.

Kindle unlimited, netflix.

chocolate chip cookies and oatmeal cereal bars.

insulated water bottle.

Really long charging cables and insulated mugs with lids.