Growing your family is exciting, and at the same time overwhelming. Second-time parents have a hard time welcoming their newborn, especially if the firstborn is still a toddler. Preparing yourself for the baby and preparing your firstborn to become an elder sibling can feel a little too much. However, it can be the most joyful time of your life.
If you are expecting your second child any time soon, here are some tips to prepare for the welcome and make things a little easier for yourself.
1. Start Preparing The Firstborn
You should start preparing your firstborn child for the baby-to-come. Involve your first child in the preparation, such as setting up the nursery, baby shopping, and thinking of names. Tell your child that they are going to be an elder sibling.
When your firstborn is excited about their sibling-to-come, they will react much better when the baby finally arrives. You can tell your firstborn about the responsibilities of an elder sibling. Ask them how they are going to play with their baby sibling, and what they want to name them.
2. Be Kind To Yourself
As a parent, you might be too overwhelmed with the fact that your responsibilities are increasing. You might have to check in with your financial situation and move things around to manage your budget. These things are valid worries, however, try not to be too hard on yourself.
Spend this time enjoying the arrival of your new member of the family instead of worrying about their college tuition fee. You have enough time to worry about their future. Let things fall into place by themselves.
3. Reuse The Newborn Things
There is no shame in reusing some of the items from your firstborn child. If you are already on a budget, you have a lot more financial worries than buying new clothes. You can reuse some of the baby clothes from your firstborn.
Babies grow quickly therefore most of their clothes have not been born too many times. You might even have some of the brand new clothes as well. Wash them and fold them neatly for your newborn. You can also reuse some items like nail clippers, a cot or crib, and even bottles. Just make sure to sanitize everything properly.
4. Invest In Smart Baby Gears
Baby gears are the most expensive item you have to buy for your babies. Try to reuse baby gears from your firstborn. For example, you can reuse a carry cot since it is of no use to your firstborn now.
Strollers are one of the pretty expensive items but a must-have item. You can find double strollers at Maxi-Cosi New Zealand. This can be very helpful for you as you can put both of your kids in one stroller. You do not have to worry about keeping two strollers every time you go out. Such smart baby gears can be much more beneficial for you as they are more manageable and budget-friendly at the same time.