So, you’re having a baby? Congratulations, daddy-to-be! This is a super exciting part of life, but it can also be very stressful. You’re probably wondering what you should be doing, buying, and preparing for your baby. It’s hard to say with perfect certainty what you do or don’t need to prepare, but there are a few basic things that you can do to get started.
Watch Your Health
Make sure that you’re watching what you eat, exercising, and keeping your hands clean. When the baby comes, you’ll be sleep-deprived and not able to take as good of care of yourself for a while. You also don’t want to be sick when your baby arrives. Spreading illnesses to such a young baby can be dangerous, and it might even bar you from experiencing some things at the hospital.
Speaking of illnesses, it might be good to check with your doctor and see if it’s safe to take a multivitamin and vitamin C to make your immune system stronger. The CDC also suggests that you are up-to-date on certain vaccinations before a new baby arrives. Though vaccinating is your choice, it can keep your baby and you safer.
Read a Baby Book
Reading a baby book is a great way to gain more insight into how your partner is feeling. This new found insight can help your partner transition through being pregnant to their postpartum recovery. A favorite of many is “What to Expect When You’re Expecting”, but there are many great books out there.
Get Your Finances in Order
If you don’t have one already, consider building out a budget, and stick to it. Having a new baby is stressful enough. You don’t want to worry about finances too. Consider downloading a budgeting app to watch your spending, and apply for a good credit card such as the Visa Platinum Card. Having tools like these can help you be better prepared for any expected and unexpected expenses!
Take Some “You” Time
See a movie, go to the driving range, go out with friends. Do something that you enjoy. You won’t have as much “you time” after the baby arrives.
Make Sure Your Car is Ready
Before you install the car seat, take your car in for a checkup. A few weeks before your baby’s arrival, take your car into your mechanic and have it serviced. Make sure everything is working correctly and that your oil is changed, tires rotated, etc. To ensure your car continues to operate properly, install an OBDII Monitor. It easily plugs into your car and sends data to your phone, making it easy to monitor your car’s health and identify potential problems. Keeping everything running and in tip-top shape will ensure a safer ride for your growing family. There’s nothing worse than having car trouble, when you’re trying to take a newborn home or to a doctor’s appointment.
Most importantly, enjoy the journey. Having a new baby is a fantastic thing—so try not to stress too much!
