Erika, I'm so glad Fair Play was helpful to you! Also, this was a great list of helpful items! It's been a longggg time since I had a baby, but some stuff is timeless (shoutout to the Bjorn bouncer!). Good luck with the return to work. It's hard! It gets easier!
As one who used to provide prenatal and delivery care, I am amazed at the resources and organizational skills of my very talented niece. Obstetricians and Doulas everywhere rejoice whenever a patient considers a third of your suggestions. Congratulations on another well-prepared advice piece on your substack.
My sick toddler is contact napping on me as a write this, so I'm a big further out from those days... But this is such a great, comprehensive list and I loved so many of these items!
Other things I'd add are:
- A kindle that glows for midnight feedings so you don't accidentally fall asleep while nursing
- A nursing/pumping cover for those weird car/public feedings/pumpings
- Rompers all the way-- clothes that will support your changing body, bc it's a LONG journey back to jeans
-Premade meals. We used a local place. It's a game changer.
- Drool bibs and then, once feeding solids, silicone bibs with a bucket thing on them. Also silicone placemats.
- Therapy. Lol. Lots of therapy.
- Having all adults in the home take a PPD test every week and a plan for if scores tank.
- A nice baby carrier and a stroller for every car you own.
These additions are fantastic. The screaming baby meant I never had to worry about falling asleep accidentally⎯ever⎯but the lighted Kindle is a fantastic selection for people with non-colic babies!
Jeans. Thank you for saying that. This comment arrived just as I was squeezing into the jeans I bought immediately postpartum, 6 months ago, that are +2 sizes from my usual. And they are still tight⎯at 6 months postpartum. I can attest that the journey is longer for some than others, and that breastfeeding did not help me with an ounce of weight loss.
Therapy. Therapy. Therapy. I will add this to the list.
I didn't add carriers and strollers because I figured everyone would have thought of this, but perhaps I was wrong.
Bibs: I did get this incredible barber shop style wipe-down shirt to put on kiddo when feeding solids. It is 5000% more effective than the silicone bibs. Nothing in the neck folds! Thanks for tipping me off, I'll add that too.
Oooo I didn't know about the wipeable shirts?! We need this.
About jeans: 2 years later, despite only just getting back to my pre-baby weight, I am not very comfy in my old pants size. I've come around to it. Yoga pants are amazing. Those waist extender stretchy button things are amazing. Dresses. Jumpsuits. Loose jeans with a stretchy belt (they exist!!). Once your a bit further out go in person and try on a ton of different fits (low waist is better for me) and find something that works for your new body.
Erika, I'm so glad Fair Play was helpful to you! Also, this was a great list of helpful items! It's been a longggg time since I had a baby, but some stuff is timeless (shoutout to the Bjorn bouncer!). Good luck with the return to work. It's hard! It gets easier!
That bouncer has bounced at least one trip and the globe, for sure. Thank you for the well wishes about returning to work 😬
As one who used to provide prenatal and delivery care, I am amazed at the resources and organizational skills of my very talented niece. Obstetricians and Doulas everywhere rejoice whenever a patient considers a third of your suggestions. Congratulations on another well-prepared advice piece on your substack.
Thank you Uncle Jeff! My biggest supporter, as always!
My sick toddler is contact napping on me as a write this, so I'm a big further out from those days... But this is such a great, comprehensive list and I loved so many of these items!
Other things I'd add are:
- A kindle that glows for midnight feedings so you don't accidentally fall asleep while nursing
- A nursing/pumping cover for those weird car/public feedings/pumpings
- Rompers all the way-- clothes that will support your changing body, bc it's a LONG journey back to jeans
-Premade meals. We used a local place. It's a game changer.
- Drool bibs and then, once feeding solids, silicone bibs with a bucket thing on them. Also silicone placemats.
- Therapy. Lol. Lots of therapy.
- Having all adults in the home take a PPD test every week and a plan for if scores tank.
- A nice baby carrier and a stroller for every car you own.
These additions are fantastic. The screaming baby meant I never had to worry about falling asleep accidentally⎯ever⎯but the lighted Kindle is a fantastic selection for people with non-colic babies!
Jeans. Thank you for saying that. This comment arrived just as I was squeezing into the jeans I bought immediately postpartum, 6 months ago, that are +2 sizes from my usual. And they are still tight⎯at 6 months postpartum. I can attest that the journey is longer for some than others, and that breastfeeding did not help me with an ounce of weight loss.
Therapy. Therapy. Therapy. I will add this to the list.
I didn't add carriers and strollers because I figured everyone would have thought of this, but perhaps I was wrong.
Bibs: I did get this incredible barber shop style wipe-down shirt to put on kiddo when feeding solids. It is 5000% more effective than the silicone bibs. Nothing in the neck folds! Thanks for tipping me off, I'll add that too.
Oooo I didn't know about the wipeable shirts?! We need this.
About jeans: 2 years later, despite only just getting back to my pre-baby weight, I am not very comfy in my old pants size. I've come around to it. Yoga pants are amazing. Those waist extender stretchy button things are amazing. Dresses. Jumpsuits. Loose jeans with a stretchy belt (they exist!!). Once your a bit further out go in person and try on a ton of different fits (low waist is better for me) and find something that works for your new body.
I just remembered: Leather leggings. Stretchy + fancy for the win.
Now I know why all the influencer moms I see are wearing faux leather leggings.
Hooray for 99th percentile babies that never fit into newborn clothes anyway!
We're already enrolling him in baby basketball 🏀
Everybody wants us to put ours in hockey and football but I like his teeth and brain so I guess he’s stuck playing tennis or being a product manager
Basketball is a nice middle ground. They keep their 99% of their teeth, you just need to worry about their knees.