Lifestyle and Savings Tips to Adjusting to Life with Baby
Having a new baby is an exciting and joyous time for new parents. However, adjusting to your new life can be stressful. Things get more complicated for the 75% of moms who return to work after having a baby.
Tammy Gold, parenting expert and author of the book, Secrets of the Nanny Whisperer, has some great tips. She shared how to achieve the right balance of a happy baby and a happy mom!
What is the biggest stressor that new moms face?
Infant feeding is the biggest responsibility that confronts new moms. It is easy to keep your child warm and diapers changed, but feedings can be difficult.
Why is feeding your new baby such a huge stress, and what tips do you have to cope and help alleviate that stress?
Some common stressors when it comes to infant feeding include failure to thrive. Your child may also experience stomach pain or react to something that mom eats. With baby formula, people get hung up on the brand of formula or the advertised brand they are given at the hospital. All baby formula brands meet the same FDA requirements for safety and nutrition. If moms are breastfeeding, stress can potentially cause problems with latching.
What is the difference between advertised national brands and store brand infant formulas? Why don’t they give store brand formulas to new moms in the hospital?
If moms do a little research, they will discover that all infant formulas are nutritionally comparable and meet the same FDA requirements. Store brand formula is pediatrician recommended but is not involved in free hospital sampling programs. The makers of store brand infant formulas do not want to influence a mom’s decision to breastfeed in the hospital. In addition, the savings store brands provide are passed along to retailers and their loyal shoppers. Hospital sampling programs are too expensive, so from an economic standpoint, it just doesn’t make sense.
Sometimes when a baby cries, you just have no idea what the cause is. How do you crack the code of why a baby is crying? Parents should keep a feeding log so they can recognize problems and keep information for their child’s pediatrician. If an infant seems to cry the same time daily after being fed or with added spit up, there could be a problem and his or her parents should consult with a healthcare professional. Your days merge from one day to the next. But if you keep a log or journal, you can be more helpful to the doctor.
When you have a new baby, it seems like every second of your life now belongs to that baby. Why is making time for yourself so important? New moms need time for themselves. Sleep deprivation and stress can make baby’s cortisol rise. Take time to shower. Take a walk around the block. Fatigue causes mistakes. Ask friend for help. Don’t worry about a clean house. Nap when they nap. Don’t stress out with baby formula. Choose a store brand formula. Your baby will receive high quality nutrition and it won’t hurt your bank account.
Here are some other ways you can save on baby:
- Buy clothes used. Infants grow so quickly that they don’t have time for clothes to get worn out. Find a thrift or consignment store and pick up clothes at a fraction of the cost.
- You don’t need everything. There are so many gadgets and things for baby. Sure, they might be nice to have, but you don’t really need them. You really only need the basics such as a crib, car seat and perhaps a swing or bouncer for your baby.
- Consider using cloth diapers. There is an initial investment to purchase them, but they can quickly pay for themselves. Of course, if you have a little one in day care this is not an option while you are away, but you could use them in the evenings and weekends. Every little bit can help!
Just know that you are the best mom your baby knows. He or she loves you and bonds with you no matter how you feed them. Don’t allow yourself to be stressed. Do what works for you and don’t let anyone try to make you feel badly for the decisions you make. After all … this is YOUR baby!
This is a sponsored post on behalf of StoreBrandFormulas.com. All opinions are my own and were not influenced by any parties.