Motherhood is a tough job, even for women who have been doing it for twenty years. But for mothers who are just starting out, it can be overwhelming! No matter how much we love our little angels, the endless feeding, lullaby-singing and diaper-changing—not to mention aching breasts and sleepless nights—can take its toll on the best of us.
Unfortunately, we can’t share your workload. But to help lighten it a bit, we’ve collected the most helpful gear we can find, and listed them down for you:
1) Sling
Babies love to be carried: they cry less and sleep better when they can smell you and hear your heartbeat. Also, studies have shown that babies who are carried all the time grow up more secure and more independent than those who are not.
And what’s the best way to carry your baby with you all time? Slings!
- Slings let you carry your baby hands-free.
- They are designed to distribute your child’s weight properly so your back won’t hurt.
- Unlike front-carriers, they are ergonomically designed, resting baby’s weight evenly on his back and hips.
- Unlike strollers, slings are easy to use on stairs and escalators when you go to malls.
- Slings can also double as blankets or changing mats for your baby when you go out.
So if you have to choose only one of the products that we’ve listed, get the sling. No other labor saving device is so helpful as this one.
2) Diaper Changing Table
For some moms, this may seem like a luxury at first. But consider that in baby’s first six months alone, you will need to change his diaper at least TWO THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED SIXTY TIMES!
Without a changing table, you need to clear a space somewhere, gather the things you need, and clear up again afterwards. It’s hard enough to do this twelve times a day, but consider also that four times daily, you have to do them in the middle of the night while you’re only half-awake!
With a changing table, you can lay baby down in a place where all supplies are within easy reach, change him from a comfortable height, and go back to bed without having to keep anything away beforehand. You can use the time you save to get some more much-needed sleep.
3) Breast Shells
As if fatigue and sleep-deprivation and weren’t enough, new moms are also plagued by another physical discomfort: leaking milk, engorged breasts and sore nipples.
Sometimes, their pain is enough to make mothers stop breastfeeding. That is a shame because the discomfort usually lasts only for a month or so, while the benefits of breastfeeding last a lifetime.
So don’t stop breastfeeding your baby. Instead, use breast shells.
Breast shells compress the breast to squeeze out extra milk and relieve the pain of engorgement. They also catch milk leakage so your clothes don’t get wet. In addition, they allow your nipples to get aired without anything chafing them, to help them heal faster.
Breast shells are also washable and reusable, so they are not only more hygienic than breast pads, they are also more economical.
4) Fever Kit
Fever is something all babies go through. At the very least, he will experience it when he receives some of his immunization shots.
A feverish baby can be fussy and harder to care for. So be sure you have the following tools to help you:
- Digital Thermometer
Some babies dislike having anything pushed up their bottom, or even stuck in their armpit, and who can blame them? If you use a regular thermometer, you have to keep it in place for quite a while to make sure that the mercury reaches the correct temperature. With a digital thermometer, you at least get a warning beep to let you know it’s done so you can take it out in the soonest time possible. - Medicine Syringe
It is very important that you give your baby the right dose of medicine.
The trouble with medicine droppers is that they don’t push all the medicine out so your baby receives a dose that is less than what he should get. Also, the biggest medicine droppers hold no more than 3 ml, and as your baby grows, he usually needs 5 ml doses. This means you have to refill your dropper while baby tries to run away. And sometimes, while your struggling to hold you baby still, the medicine in the dropper drips.
Medicine syringes, on the other hand, push all the medicine out completely, and they seldom drip. In addition, they can usually hold up to 5 ml, making it possible for you to administer the required dose in one easy squirt. - Gel-Filled Cold Pack
This works the same way your old-fashioned ice bag works: it cools the head to avoid convulsions from very high fever.
But unlike the ice pack, it doesn’t drip water and get your baby all wet around his head. You don’t have to fill it with ice either, so it’s more convenient. Just keep it in your freezer until you need it.
5) Unisex Diaper Bag
You may ask, “What in the world is a ‘unisex diaper bag?’”
It is really nothing more than a big bag with lots of compartments, and without any of those cute designs that husbands usually hate so much. A good example of a unisex diaper bag would be a mountaineering knapsack.
The advantage of having a bag like this is that your husband wouldn’t mind carrying it around for you all the time, and you can even excuse yourself, saying it looks much better on him. Gee, it even makes him look macho.
Just don’t forget to fill it with a diaper changing mat, baby wipes, bibs, bottles (if you use them), spare clothes and diapers.
