Making Your Home Newborn Ready
Are you about to bring home a newborn? Here is how to make your home ready for your newest addition.
Although infants are small and fairly immobile, there are many factors involved in getting your house ready to bring one home to live with you. The more you can take care of in advance, the happier you’ll be because sleep deprivation is real. Take care of what you can, so you can relax with your little one after he or she arrives.
Subscription Services
If you’ve ever wanted to try a few subscription services, sign up for them now, so you can test the products in advance of the big day. Even if you don’t stick with the service forever, having items delivered to your door will help relieve the stress of taking a newborn to the store. Along with pre-portioned dinner boxes such as Green Chef or Hello Fresh which make meal prep easier, there are other types of subscription services to take advantage of. Keep your air fresh and free of allergens with deliveries from Filter King because, seriously, who has time to think about air filters with a new baby at home? Cut the heartache now by pre ordering a box of used clothes one size up from your normal size from ThredUp. In the first few weeks after the baby is born, the last thing you need to worry about is getting your pants zipped. When you’ve shed those baby pounds, re-donate the clothes to a local Goodwill.
Make Space in Your Kitchen
Before you bring home bottle equipment, create space on your kitchen counter, so nothing will get knocked on the floor (and have to be rewashed). If you have a small kitchen, it is especially important to plan out where all your baby paraphernalia will go. Give yourself and your all-thumbs partner a fighting chance to keep everything clean and sanitized from pacifiers to pumping bottles. Check now that the outlet for your bottle warmer won’t blow out your toaster if they’re plugged in at the same time.
While you’re in “making space” mode, clean out your refrigerator or freezer. No doubt your well-meaning neighbors and friends are going to load you up with tuna casserole and Chinese take-out. Dump anything that’s expired and wash the refrigerator shelves because it may be five years before you get another chance.
Set Up Baby Stations
When babies are infants, we tend to keep them with us wherever we go, so make a baby station in each room of your house. The front room is a great place for a stroller, so it’s handy for walks but can also double as a place for baby when you have to sign for a package or deal with a handyman. Cribs are perfect for the nursery, but place a bassinet in another location or on a different floor, so you have the option of keeping your baby closer to you if you need to work in another part of the house. Swings, tummy-time blankets and bouncy seats can be spread out among your living area to create stations. As the baby gets fussy, move him to a new locale, and you just might buy yourself 15 more minutes to complete your project.
Think About Yourself
It’s very important to always take care of yourself first, if possible. If the baby is crying, use the bathroom and get your glass of water before you pick her up. Everything is more difficult one handed! Next to your nursing or rocking chair, make sure you have a water bottle, extra pillows, a phone charger, book, lamp, and burp clothes within easy reach. If you get cold easily, keep a pair of socks nearby. Once you and baby are settled comfortably in position, it’s going to be a huge pain to get up again for a tissue or the TV remote.
It’s amazing that creatures that small can wreak so much havoc on your life, but they do. Infants are beautiful tyrants, so make sure you give yourself and your home a fighting chance.
About the Creator
Keep reading
More stories from Robert Cordray and writers in Families and other communities.
Decorating for Christmas
Christmas is one of the most exciting and wonderful times of the year. While there are those who say they do not like the holiday, there are plenty of others who love it. One of the best parts about it is being able to decorate for it. If you’re not sure how to do that, here are some ideas.
By Robert Cordray3 years ago in Families
"Innocence Broken: The Tragic Reality of Abused Children in Minnesota's Broken Child Welfare System"
As a society, we often like to think of ourselves as protectors and advocates for the most vulnerable among us – our children. However, the harsh reality is that even in a developed country like the United States, children are not always safe from abuse and neglect. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Minnesota child welfare system, where numerous instances of abuse and mistreatment have been reported, raising questions about the effectiveness and ethics of the system. One of the most alarming issues within the Minnesota child welfare system is the high rates of re-abuse. According to a report by the Star Tribune, nearly a quarter of the children who are placed in foster homes by the state are abused or neglected again within five years. This is a devastating statistic, as these children are already victims of abuse and neglect, and it is the responsibility of the child welfare system to ensure their safety and well-being. However, it seems that this system is failing in its duty, leaving these vulnerable children at risk of further trauma. Moreover, there have been several cases of physical and sexual abuse in foster homes, further highlighting the flaws in the child welfare system. In one shocking case, a 10-year-old girl was sexually abused by her foster father, who had been convicted of child pornography before being approved as a foster parent. This raises serious questions about the vetting process for foster parents and the lack of oversight in the system. How is it possible that a convicted abuser was allowed to be a foster parent and harm a child in the state's care? Another concerning issue is the overrepresentation of children of color in the child welfare system. According to data from the Minnesota Department of Human Services, African American children make up only 5% of the state's child population, yet they account for 20% of children in out-of-home care. This disproportionate representation raises questions about racial bias in the system and whether children of color are being unfairly targeted and removed from their families. Furthermore, the Minnesota child welfare system has been criticized for its high caseloads and inadequate resources. Social workers in the state are often overwhelmed with heavy caseloads, which can result in delayed response times and inadequate assessments of vulnerable children's situations. This lack of resources and support not only puts children at risk of re-abuse, but it also puts a strain on the already overburdened social workers, leading to burnout and high turnover rates. The consequences of these issues within the Minnesota child welfare system are grave. Not only are children being re-victimized, but their chance of living a stable and fulfilling life is also significantly impacted. Studies have shown that children who experience abuse and neglect are more likely to struggle with mental health issues, educational difficulties, and even criminal behavior in the future. By failing to adequately protect these children and provide them with the support they need, the child welfare system is setting them up for a lifetime of challenges. In conclusion, the abuse of children in the Minnesota child welfare system is a serious and ongoing issue that requires immediate attention. The system's flaws, including high rates of re-abuse, inadequate resources, and bias, have left many vulnerable children at risk and failed in its fundamental duty to protect them. It is the responsibility of the state to address these issues and make significant changes to prevent further harm to its children. Every child deserves to be safe, loved, and cared for, and it is time for the Minnesota child welfare system to live up to that duty. Start writing...
By Katie Stangel6 days ago in Families
Comments
There are no comments for this story
Be the first to respond and start the conversation.