4 Things to Be Ready for With Your Newborn

One of the most exciting and yet life changing events you can ever go through in life is welcoming a new born into your space. There is endless joy, a lot of chaos, but something that’s going to be transformative for you forever. If you’re about to become a new parent, it’s completely natural to feel a little bit of excitement and nervousness.

This is the unknown, and while you may have had experience around nieces, nephews or even your friends’ babies, there’s something a bit more hard hitting having your own. You could be the master of a dinner party and balance deadlines and recipes with ease – but nothing compares to the complexity of a baby. There’s plenty of information out there on how you can be a parent and what you should expect, but there are some real things that you can expect when you bring your bundle of joy home. Here are four of them.

1. Look out for birthmarks. A little surprise on your newborn’s skin is a birthmark. Superstition and old wives tales tell you that birthmarks are marks from a previous life, and while that may not actually be the case, it’s something you should always look for. It’s a quirky part of your baby’s unique personality and can range from a freckle-like mark to a larger or more noticeable strawberry patch. Some babies are even born with port wine stains that are more obvious right away, while others might appear days or weeks later. Most of these are harmless and they fade with time so don’t panic if you see one, they are just a part of the adorable little package that is your baby.
2. You’ll survive the sleepless nights. You won’t ever believe in the moment that those sleepless nights will end, but we promise, they will. If you thought you could count on getting a solid night’s rest after pregnancy, don’t bank on it. Newborns can wake up every hour if they need to feed. It sounds very daunting, and that’s because it is. There is no such thing as putting a newborn into a sleep schedule, either because anything that tells you that you should sleep train your baby is incorrect. Babies are biologically programmed to wake up to want to feed, cuddle, and be close to you. They’ve just spent nine months in the womb, all they know is your heartbeat and your smell, so look up the 4th trimester because you’re about to enter it.
3. Babies spit up. Baby spit up and puke is an inevitability. There’s a reason why muslin cloths sell so well in the supermarkets and in the baby stores, it’s because you need them. Every surface should have a spare muslin cloth, and each of your shoulders should always carry one or two. Babies will spit up, but if you wind your baby after every feed you can lessen the risk of them spitting up all over you.
4. The grip is impressive. Newborns might be small and delicate, but their grip strength is very powerful. In the first few days of life, you’ll notice that your baby’s tiny hands are reflexively holding onto your finger with a surprising strength. It’s one of the most heartwarming moments, and it’s going to give you a memory that you’re never going to forget. It’s a grasping reflex, but it’s incredibly sweet and it’s a reminder of how connected you and your newborn already are.