TILTHW- Quick clean-up

Things I Learned The Hard Way- Consider getting plastic bins, baskets or buckets to use while cleaning.  Keep one with cleaning products (carpet cleaner and a cloth for spit up stains, dust cloth, paper towels, glass cleaner, etc).  Take your cleaning basket and an empty bin or basket with you to the first room, pick up everything that doesn’t belong in that room and put it in the empty basket (some of us need large laundry baskets for this).  Finish cleaning the room, then move to the second room.  Take everything out of the catch-all basket that belongs in room #2 and put it away.  Pick up everything in room #2 that doesn’t belong there and place it in the basket.  Complete cleaning room #2 and move on.  This saves valuable time moving from room to room putting things away.  It is also easy if you get interrupted, to put the baskets up out of your child’s reach or in a closet until you can get back to them.

TILTHW- Hooray for video monitors!

Things I Learned The Hard Way- Consider purchasing or registering for a video monitor with an intercom from the beginning.  You won’t really need the video or intercom aspect early on, but it becomes very useful if you have a climber (you can figure out how they are getting out of the crib), or when you switch up to a toddler or big kid bed (you can tell them to get back in bed when they try to get up repeatedly).  As your child gets older, you may be able to ask them what they need when they awaken at night saying “mommy, mommy, I need you”.  They may just need to hear the sound of your voice and know that you are close by.  Video monitors are also a great way to just watch your sweet baby sleep peacefully or to figure out just what they are doing in their crib when it sounds like a tumbling routine in their room before they fall asleep.  When you no longer need the monitor in the child’s bedroom, you can move it to their play area to keep tabs on them while you use the bathroom, prepare lunch, or throw in a load of laundry!

TILTHW- baby monitors

Things I Learned The Hard Way- When you purchase or register for a monitor, consider paying a little more for one with two cordless receivers.  You can keep one in your bedroom after the baby moves to their own room and keep the other wherever you spend most of your time (or carry it with you around the house).  If the one you are carrying runs out of batteries or gets broken, you always have an extra.  If your home has two floors, consider keeping one on each level.  If you have two receivers from the beginning, you won’t risk needing to go out and purchase another later.

TILTHW- No more binky hunting in the dark

Things I Learned The Hard Way- If your child takes a pacifier, consider buying multiple extras to sprinkle around in the crib at night.  This increases the likelihood that your infant will be able to find one if they wake up.  You’d be surprised at how early they can actually find one and get it back in their mouth!  This was suggested to me by a friend who is a Pediatric Sleep Specialist and has been a lifesaver for me.  Worst case scenario- they wake up with a pacifier stuck in their ear!

TILTHW- Easy crib sheet changes

Things I Learned The Hard Way- Consider purchasing quick zip crib sheets ( www.cloudsandstars.com ).  They are more expensive than regular crib sheets, but you only need one full mattress wrap and about 2-3 top flat sheets with zippers.  Plus, they are MUCH easier to change, especially if you’ve had a cesarean,  if you plan to get pregnant again before your first child is out of the crib (usually around age 2), when you lower the crib mattress to the lower levels, or if you are less than average height.  You won’t have to lean over the crib rail as much, putting pressure on your abdomen or chest, depending on your height.  Plus, you won’t have to completely or partially remove the crib mattress to change the sheet which is a lifesaver on laundry day or for leaks.

TILTHW- Lost socks

Things I Learned The Hard Way- Pin socks, mittens, and other small items together with diaper pins or safety pins as soon as you take them off your child.  Tiny socks are easily lost in the wash and you won’t have to sort through an entire load to find a match, or have one get stuck inside a sleeper and get lost.  You can also pin outfits together, but pin them through the tags so you don’t snag the fabric.

TILTHW- Baby wardrobe

Things I Learned The Hard Way- Buy all clothing in outfits or pair them up and fold or hang them together.  This prevents wasted time sorting through separate stacks of tops and bottoms to find an outfit.  If you don’t, by laundry day, you’ll find you are left with items that don’t match or you’ll have multiple items that you never use.  This works well for toddlers as well.  They can quickly pick out an outfit that matches!

TILTHW- Clothing

Things I Learned The Hard Way- Buy some extra white or solid color long-sleeve onesies to fit your child in the cooler months.  You can layer them under short sleeve shirts, dresses, or other off-season clothes so you can use them in the winter before they grow out of them.  This practice can potentially double your child’s wardrobe or allow you to use clothing handed down from other siblings or relatives that may be off-season for your child’s size during colder months.

TILTHW- Diaper bags

Things I Learned The Hard Way- Consider purchasing multiple small, inexpensive diaper bags.  You may be able to borrow some, or purchase them used if they are easily cleaned.  The type given away free to new moms when they are discharged from many hospitals (donated by formula companies) are perfect.  On the weekend, pack all of the bags for daycare or the babysitter to last all week.  Include an extra change of clothes, diapers, bottles, bibs, burpcloths, bottled water (if you use it), baby food, snacks, or anything necessary.  Even if you don’t get a chance in the evening to unpack that day’s bag, the next day’s bag will be ready in the morning.