New Parent Hacks and Tricks

New parents using helpful parenting tips.

Embracing New Parenting

Do you have a new baby? Congratulations! New babies are amazing, and even though people told you before you became a parent, you probably were unprepared for how much you’d love this little person. Unfortunately, even though people probably also told you how overwhelming parenthood can be, you might have been fully prepared for that, either. Being a new parent is a wonderful gift, but it’s also hard, and if you are feeling frustrated, you’re not alone. Don’t worry! We have some hacks and tricks from experienced parents to help you navigate this brand new experience with your brand new little person.

Care and Keeping of Baby

• Bathing your baby in the kitchen sink means you don’t have to bend or kneel to reach the bathtub.
• Cradle cap can be managed by moisturizing it with a little bit of coconut oil and then using a baby comb to gently remove it.
• If you don’t have baby nail scissors, nose-hair scissors with rounded tips are the perfect substitute. Whatever you do, don’t bite your baby’s nails! Another nail tip: cut your baby’s fingernails when your little one is sleeping or feeding, to make it easier.
• When you need to give your baby medicine, stick the medicine dropper in a bottle nipple and administer the dose while your baby is happily sucking the nipple.
• Layer few covers on your changing pad, so that you can easily change to a clean one. Alternately, skip the covers and buy a simple changing pad you can wipe clean.
• Fold your newborn’s diaper waistband down to keep it away from the umbilical cord area while it’s healing.
• Swipe a wet wipe under your baby boy’s belly button immediately before a diaper change. That way, he’ll get a cold sensation that causes him to pee the diaper before taking off the diaper allows cool air to prompt the same reaction and cause him to pee on you!
• Olive or coconut oil on a newborn’s bottom will help make cleaning sticky meconium easier.
• Before you take off your baby’s diaper, put a fresh diaper underneath it, just in case.
• Rather than a diaper pail, you can use a regular trash can, keeping plastic bags in an empty wipes container so that you can throw away poopy diapers conveniently.
• When the inevitable blowout happens, pull the onesie down instead of over baby’s head. That’s why onesies have those little folds on the side of the neck hole- to widen the neck area and make them easier to pull down.
• Make foaming baby wash with equal parts baby wash and water in an empty bottle of foaming hand soap.
• Start tummy time with your baby on your chest or belly, so they get the benefits while also feeling close to you.

Sleepy Time

• Instead of onesies or PJs, use newborn nightgowns in the early days.
• When choosing sleepers, pick the ones that zip instead of snapping. All those little snaps never seem to line up correctly when you’re trying to change your wiggly baby in a hurry.
• Make swaddling easy with a swaddle that has Velcro.
• Get your baby into a good day and night routine. Interact with your little one during the day, making it easier for everyone to sleep at night.
• Use a white noise machine so that your baby won’t wake up with every noise. You’ll be glad you did when your child is a sound sleeper.
• Dream feed your baby, waking your infant for a feeding right before you go to bed for the night.

Hushing the Fuss

• Hold on to the exercise ball you got for labor so you can bounce your baby during fussy times.
• If your baby fusses at bath time, try swaddle bathing, wrapping the baby in a tight blanket and carefully unwrapping one limb at a time to wash, rinse, and rewrap.
• Learn the 5 S’s. Swaddling, shushing, swinging, sucking, and side laying are the perfect techniques for calming a fussy baby.
• Gripe water is a lifesaver and the fastest way to ease a baby’s gas to quiet a fussy tummy.

Out and About

• Keep your hands free by using a backpack instead of a diaper bag. This is especially helpful if you’re wearing your baby.
• Pad your car seat handle with a cut-up piece of pool noodle to make the heavy car seat easier to carry in the crook of your arm.
• Bring a change of clothes for yourself as well as your baby, in case of a spit up, diaper, or breastmilk incident.
• Use a baby hammock to hold your baby in a grocery cart so that you can shop and your baby can be comfortable.

Making Your Life Easier

• Stash wipes all over your house and in your car, because baby messes can happen anywhere.
• Create a portable diaper changing station to keep near you so you don’t have to keep running back to the changing table. This is particularly useful if you live in a multi-level home.
• Breastfeed while lying down so that you can get some rest while the baby eats.
• Grab a water before you breastfeed, to keep from getting dehydrated.
• Sleep when the baby sleeps is not a cliché. Even if you feel like you need to get things done, it’s better to get some rest whenever you can when you have a new baby.
• Learn to wear your baby. This can promote bonding while also leaving your hands free so you can get things done while your baby is awake.
• Keep a pack and play nearby. Set up your pack n play in a room you use frequently, so that you can set your baby down safely when you need to get something done.
• Take help that is offered to you. This is perhaps the best tip we can offer to new parents! When people offer help, let them do something for you, whether it’s bringing you dinner, watching the baby long enough for you to take a shower, running an errand for you, or helping you with housework. Other parents understand how hard it can be when you have a new baby, and their offers to help are sincere, so don’t wear yourself out trying to do it all on your own.

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