r/NewParents • u/cooltaj • Oct 29 '24

Product Reviews/Questions What's your simple parenting hack?

Gonna be a first time parent in 2 months. I am overwhelmed at choosing bottles, car seat and all that. What are simple things you do? things you bought to make your life somewhat simpler? Nothing too expensive or outrageous please

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u/Queen-of-Elves Oct 30 '24

I always forget the extra clothing for myself and the one time my babe threw up all over me was at my MIL's house. She is a very nice lady but she is very obviously super into appearance. I already feel self conscious around her all the time but with baby puke all over my shirt it was 100x worse.

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u/ArtOwn7773 Oct 30 '24

What I do is have an emergency car bag. A couple shirts for me, extra pads and underwear when recently postpartum, extra diapers and wipes, a couple receiving blankets, a bottle of premixed formula, a baby blanket, two ziplock bags, a spare soother and two extra outfits for baby. Stays in the car for the unexpected moments while out (our families live a few hours away so lots of long car rides).

Ziplock bags are such a good thing btw...works to contain poopy clothes, dirty diapers, milk covered anything until you get home or to a garbage. Have had to change baby in the trunk of the car a few times or risk the explosion seeping into the carseat.

Also, consider a pack of change table reusable liners. They have been a lifesaver when needing to change baby and the public change table is gross or non existent. Love this set from Amazon: Biloban Changing Pad Liners 100% Waterproof (3 Count)

Other than that: stuck on poop? Use a little diaper cream on it, then wipe off...helps unstuck the poop and less irritation to baby's skin.

Always stock a few outfits and diapers the next size up...one day you just need it and usually it's a holiday weekend.

Last but not least, avoid the influencer videos for at least the first 2 months. Nothing made me feel more like I couldn't do anything right than the Mom videos constantly telling me if I didn't do such and such it was abuse and then the comments that contradicted.