The Cotton Babies team is growing! A few of our staff members have welcomed — and will soon be welcoming — a new baby! It’s such an exciting time in the office. Outside the 9-to-5, these parents spent a good amount of time planning and prepping for this new addition, especially those who are experiencing motherhood for the first time.
From cloth diapers to carriers to swaddles and sprayers, bringing a baby into the world can take a lot of work! So wouldn’t it be easier if you just had everything you need bundled together in one nice pretty package? Well, good news! You can.
For this week’s giveaway, one mama will win 5 bumGenius, Flip or Econobum cloth diapers, a bumGenius wet bag, a pack of bumGenius Flannel Wipes, and bumGenius Bottom Cleaner.
To enter, tell us how you can prepare for a baby stress-free.
Eligible entries must be posted no later than midnight Eastern time, Thursday, Sept. 17. residents only. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to win. Winners will be drawn after the close of the contest and notified via email. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. We hereby release Facebook of any liability. All prizes must be claimed within 30 days of end of giveaway. Solid colors only.
About the Author
Brittney is a social media coordinator for Cotton Babies. She has three sisters, loves pizza and enjoys listening to obscure bands no one has heard of. Outside of posting on the Cotton Babies Facebook and Instagram pages, she babysits a few cloth diaper-wearing kids and likes playing with her dogs.
Comments
104 Comments
My daughter just turned 6 weeks old and I did my best to prepare in advance, however I’m not sure there is anything you can do to make bringing home your first baby truly stress free! We washed the baby clothes, diapers and linens, packed our hospital bags and prepared the nursery, but the very best thing we did to make bringing home baby easier was to prepare and freeze meals, muffins and snacks. This made those crazy “I’m starving and just need food” moments a little easier to deal with.
Not trying to make everything perfect. The most important thing that any baby needs is their parents. Just prepare slowly with the essentials and enjoy this exciting time.
Have everything ready a month before baby due date have stuff set up have hospital bag ready make meal and freeze take all the help u can get!!! and sleep NOW lol
I don’t think a parent can ever e fully prepared. Only with love and happiness. (And maybe some patience) And the rest is sure to come.
Don’t wait until the last trimester or months to do everything! I always felt best in 2nd trimester and used my energy to prepare!
You don’t have to do EVERYTHING before baby is born. You don’t need much for a newborn, and as baby grows you find out new things you need/have to do along the way.
Take your time. And remember nothing has to be perfect. All that baby needs is your love (and food and clean diapers of course. lol) (:
There is no total stress free I think, at least not for me, but I tried to plan for all reasonable scenarios.one of my biggest was to be sure my other children were with family and happy while our new little one was arriving.
To keep it stress-free, don’t focus on material things. Babies really don’t NEED much, so you can save stress and money but just getting the essentials 🙂
Taking some deep breaths and being slow to acquire things is good. Beyond diapers, some clothes, a safe place to sleep, & a boob! (or bottle), your baby won’t need anything right away.
I also love Craigslist for finding good deals on used baby items that you only need for a few months–like a bouncer or a bassinet.
By remembering babies need loving and dishes can wait
I think having a few items on hand helps to ease the way for baby. We bought a bassinet/playard with changing table so that all could be taken care of in one place. Some comfy sleeping gowns and swaddling blankets along with diapers of choice make the coming home cozy spot ready for baby!
I think starting early and slowly is a great way to do it stress free. If you create a list of your wants/wishes and your budget, things pop up for sale on craigslist or friends are giving them away and they just fit right in
I would just try to keep expectations to a minimum and go with the flow
I am not sure about stres-free and baby being used in the same sentence! 🙂 But, I would say not to overthink things. So much information gets thrown at you, lots of unsolicited advice. Just follow your instincts, don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Keep it simple. babies don’t actually need much!!!
For me, I think the more I prepared and the more I did the less stress I felt before the baby came!
I always make a list and don’t stress over stuff. You don’t need all the toys and equipment and everything else they sell at babies r us.
Buy stuff while you’re pregnant in preparation! Also realize what you really NEED and what you don’t!
dont get caught up in all the gimme gimme consumerist hype. babies dont need much.
The best thing that I did to keep everything stress free was to buy a little bit every paycheck. That way I wasn’t waiting until the last minute before baby arrived to get something, and wasn’t buying everything at once and spending too much.
Don’t overwhelm yourself and take things one step at a time!
Don’t google everything :p and take everyone else advice with a grain of salt.
Gathering a little at a time throughout the pregnancy instead of relying on baby shower gifts and last minute shopping.
I have been slowly accumulating things that I need and keeping a calm/easy going attitude. Your attitude can have huge impacts on the people around you and I have found that keeping my own sense of humor has helped keep negative nellies and critics at bay 🙂
And if all else fails, Amazon Prime can have just about anything I need sent to me in two days or less, lol
Always be prepared. Have a list of things you need, and check them off. Mostly, just try to relax. 4 babies later, I’ve learned to go with the flow more than anything.
I made a list of all the major things to accomplish, and then started tackling them one thing at a time. Such as: first researched birthing choices and hospitals, then baby names, then cloth diapers and other products. At the same time, I worked continuously and steadily at organizing the house room by room to prepare for the new addition, including all the stuff. The step-by-step approach helped me to not feel too overwhelmed.
Talking to other moms with young kids helped me to realize how little “stuff” I actually needed to buy for a newborn baby. If shopping for things like bouncers, play yards, strollers, and other bigger-ticket items stresses you out, don’t do it! You can always do it later, once your child is old enough to get value from those things, and once you know what kinds of things suit your family best.
To prepare stress-free I am learning everything I can from other online moms. Which is how I learned about cloth diapering!
To prepare for a baby stress free I research what items I *really* need without getting caught up in the million extras!
I think staying stress free is all about your mind set, be flexible with your birth plan, don’t obsess over small details, and remember that babies really don’t need all the stuff marketed toward them, just love, a belly full of milk, and a clean diaper.
I don’t know yet since my baby is due this fall, but I’m loving all these comments!
I prepare for a baby with minimal stress by planning ahead! We know we want to cloth diaper, so I look for deals and steals to help build my stash over time, instead of waiting until the last minute.
I think preparing for a baby stress-free would be to not Google anything! and allow your friends and family to help 🙂
Accepting help from those who offer it goes a long way in keeping stress levels low. Remaining flexible and keeping an open-mind. Energy levels fluctuate, moods change, things don’t always go as planned. I nap whenever I can without guilt. In the end, I already have everything my baby needs. My love, my breast, my body heat, my devoted energy, my patience, and my promise to always strive to be the best mother I can be.
The way I am preparing for a baby stress-free is by buying a few baby items a month over the span of my pregnancy. That way I don’t have to stress about buying everything last minute. Also, back rubs from the hubby help too. 😉
Having just a few items on hand helps to ease the way f or baby. We bought a bassinet/playard with changing table so that all the necessities could be taken care of in one place. Some comfy sleeping gowns and swaddling blankets along with diapers of choice make the coming home cozy spot ready for baby!
Preparing myself by talking to other parents to get an idea of what was helpful for them.
I think making preparing for a baby stress-free is when you take your time with it. Set yourself a few things to accomplish every month!
I always made list to help me prepare and to keep myself organized.
start gathering baby supplies before you conceive if possible to cut down on the last-minute stress
How to prepare for a baby stress free? I’m thinking that isn’t possible, as you can be the most prepared parents but then life throws you a curveball and the next thing you know all plans are ruined. However if all goes as planned, you’ll be thankful for all the planning.
Just remember a baby really doesn’t need much- love, milk, and warmth. And diapers 😉
I’m a first time mom, but I think you can prepare for a baby stress-free by doing and gathering things little by little and also continuing to take care of yourself.
Expecting our first child and it hasn’t been completely stress free. I feel like what eliminates stress during pregnancy is the support of my family, especially my sister, and doing as much research as possible on everything I have questions on.
We would love to win this set. I am so excited to become a first time dad and would love to use these awesome diapers. I want to prove to everyone else in the family that we can do cloth diapers and this would be an awesome start.
This would be a great way to be prepared for baby stress free. With your support we can prove to the family we aren’t crazy for using cloth diapers.
To prepare for a baby stress-free I would try not to worry about all the “stuff” you need. Just focus on the essentials!
you can prepare for a baby stress free by setting small goals to accomplish throughout the pregnancy, instead of waiting until the end to get things done. buy a diaper or 2 each paycheck, for example.
Lots of prayer and realistic expectations!
Do things one at a time and breathe!
Some people I think like to add more stress than is necessary, half the things they say you need you don’t, plus every baby, every mommy, every situation is different. Have a very flexible plan, realize your birth, your first month home may not go how you expect it but embrace what you are given. One thing that really helped me those first few weeks, was having go to meals(usually freezer meals) Realizing that almost every two weeks a baby is going to go through a growth spurt so right when they start to get a schedule it changes for the first 6 months. A baby will change your life, but you can choose to make the change a change for the better. I find the easiest thing is to go with the flow 🙂
To prepare for a baby stress-free, it is most important that the mama take care of herself! All the other stuff will work itself out . Having a new set of cloth diapers wouldn’t hurt either 😉
I can’t tell you that, I don’t think it’s possible.
By doing just a little bit at a time and accepting help when needed.
keep it simple
Thrift shopping helped me alot along with starting early. Made it affordable and had everything pretty much by the time he was born so I didn’t have to worry about it… Until a week and a half before he was born and I learned he wasn’t a girl after all…
Relax. Trust in your ability as a mom because your instincts will kick in and you will learn all the wonderful things that make your bAby unique
I wish planning for baby could be stress free but it never has been to me. To make it easier, I always do my research on the products I want for baby.
lol i dont know how to prepare for a baby stress free. jk. first time mom and the biggest thing that helps with stress free preperation is the supoort from family and friends. Just knowing theyre there if we need them and they cant wait to meet our angel almost as much as us, shows us we have alot of help on our side
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Having clothes pre-washed, a place to sleep set up, and diapers ready to go would take care of most of the immediate baby needs.
lol i dont know how to prepare for a baby stress free. jk. first time mom and the biggest thing that helps with stress free preperation is the supoort from family and friends. Just knowing theyre there if we need them and they cant wait to meet our angel almost as much as us, shows us we have alot of help on our side
Start preparing early and divide big purchases up throughout your pregnancy. Also figure out need vs want. If you figure out the products you want shopping sales can save you a TON of money! If money is a factor go simple you would be surprised the few things you truly need to raise a baby. Choosing cloth may seem like a big investment at the beginning but pays for its self in no time at all and the feeling of having your baby in cloth vs disposables is totally worth it!
To prepare for a baby, stress-free, you need to start early! My husband and I were working on spring cleaning tasks, home projects, etc, 6 months before the due date of our LO because we knew that once she arrived, we wouldn’t have time. We also started gathering supplies/making purchases early, at least 6 months before as well, doing lots of research, and so on. If you start early, the to-do’s don’t catch up to you and stress you out when it’s time to have the babe!
The best way to prepare for a baby stress free is to remind myself that as long as the baby is loved, fed, and clothed, everything else will fall into place.
Hopefully preparing as much ahead of time will making it stress free! Start early, stress less- that’s the plan anyway 🙂
I like to get it all done by 30 wks — still feeling good, lots of nesting energy, and no worries if baby is early!
My goal was to try to be calm and just excited for what’s to come!
keep things simple. learn what you really need and don’t worry about the rest
The best way to prepare for baby stress-free is to make sure all your diapers are washed and ready to go. Make sure you have enough for at least 2 days of diapers. 1 days worth is just NOT enough.
with the help of family
Build a stash of diapers as you’re pregnant and buy baby items a couple at a time and wait for sales when possible. This is my third baby and I had started a stash of newborn diapers when we were TTC over a year and now that i’m 20 weeks I haven’t bought a baby item yet because aside from diapers, we mostly have it all left from our first two babies.
I prepare for my baby stress free by prepping all my diapers ahead of time
Pretty sure there’s no such thing as being stress free when you’re going to have a baby… but my best advice is to a) acknowledge that there’s going to be stress and plan ahead for how you’ll manage it and b) acknowledge that a big part of your life is going to be out of your control… so get used to the idea of rolling with the punches!
The best way to prepare for your baby stress free is to know that you’ll KNOW what to do if you just listen to your mama instinct. The more you prepare, the LESS likely it’s going to go the way you planned!!
Hmm… I’m getting ready for Baby #3 and still trying to figure that out! I do know that already having two kids leaves very little time to stress over a new baby 🙂
I don’t think there is anyway to prepare for a baby stress free, but I would suggest being flexible with the birth plan so that you won’t be disappointed if it doesn’t go exactly as planned.
I don’t know if stress free exists! But it helped me a lot to attend LLL meetings, babywearing meetings, etc. While I was pregnant to get comfortable with the lingo, with other moms, and to hear great advice about gear, strategies, and so forth.
We just had baby #2 6 weeks ago. I think it is important to take a step back while comparing and think about what you actually “need” for baby. With our first daughter I went kind of crazy making spreadsheets and lists of what we had and what we still “needed” and was super stressed about getting everything ready before she got here. With this daughter my husband set up our crib and the only things I felt necessary to buy were a car seat and newborn diapers. So much less stress 🙂 Oh, and I did a mega grocery shopping/meal prep weekend before she came so I wouldn’t have to worry about dinners for some time 🙂
I think having freezer meals and hiring someone to clean the house helps to lessen some of the stress of having a new baby.
To prepare for baby stress free, I’d recommend doing a few things here and there and not leaving everything until the last month! Prepare a few meals in advance and put them in the freezer.
Enlist help and do it bits at a time.
getting prepared for when i have grandkids. search blogs,write a list of stuff to get and be prepared
Don’t overdo it on the researching. Sometimes it leads to more stress!
Is that even possible?? LOL. Start early, make lists of things you need and things to do, enlist help as far as doing things around the house, shop thrift stores and yard sales, and prep freezer meals for after the baby’s born.
Sleep as much as possible
To be stress free while preparing for a baby, it would be helpful to take it slow. Don’t overwhelm yourself trying to figure everything out all at once. Make a plan. Make a list of things to do in each trimester. Do some research on baby essentials, and make another list of things to buy that you would find useful. Get help from loved ones and family. It can be super stressful doing everything by yourself. Don’t wait until the last minute to do everything. Give yourself plenty of time, so you’re not stressing out to finish everything before the baby is born.
I think the best way to prepare for a new baby stress-free is to do it slowly throughout your pregnancy. It would be very stressful to wait until the last minute to get everything done!
This comment is for the diaper give away. To get ready stress free my advice is relax. For the first month or so you need very little so get the basics. Register for everything else. Pamper yourself.
Plan as best as you can but realize it’ll be ok!
with the new mom’s cloth diaper kit! 🙂
Sweet gift to a family in need 🙂
I think there is a balance between doing appropriate research for baby related products and info but if you do too much it can be soooo stressful. Finding that balance is the hard part!
Do a little each week! One thing I did was buy a $10 gift card every time we went to target or walmart. Helped save up for last minute baby items we needed after baby finally came!
How to prepare for a baby stress free:
Start from early, get the basics needed for the first few weeks of life – some place safe for baby to sleep, diapers, wipes, simple all in one outfits (onesies), wash cloths…
Comfortable clothes for you, precook a few meals over a month prior…
Ask for help!
I registered for everything I thought I needed and then each month made purchases from it saving the big things that could wait (so I could get the registry discount) and things (like clothes) that I thought other people would probably purchase.
I think doing a little at a time is helpful — and asking for help if you need it rather than trying to be a superhero!
I think the best way to be stress free for a baby is to have everything ready and just be flexible. Things do not always happen the way you want so sometimes you just need to go with the flow!
I LOVE COTTON BABIES
Great way to prepare for baby stress free :p
After TTC for almost 8 years, we have found ourselves “unexpectantly” expecting Baby #2. So at 39 years of age I’ve realized that we plan as best as we can for a baby stress-free, but we prepare ourselves for those moments, days, even weeks that may be filled with stress. May we remember to slow down and really treasure all the moments…even the ugly ones. This time with this new little one will pass us only once. We’re not going to get all this baby/child rearing stuff right…a little secret, none of us do:)
The best way to not stress over a new baby is to just do what you can and then nap!
Take care of yourself, make sure you have the big/obvious need items like diapers and know/accept that no matter how much you plan or think you are prepared, when it comes to babies you can never be 100% prepared. They love to throw monkey wrenches into the mix 🙂
Realizing that baby really only needs 3 things: a safe place to sleep, diapers, and food. Everything else you can deal with later.