16 Postpartum and Parenting Hacks You Must Know
This post was lovingly written by Postpartum Doula Rebekah Martinez
As the saying goes, “Parenting doesn’t come with a manual.” That may be true, but sometimes little tips and tricks can help make things easier and help you come up with your own manual. Many of us have heard some of the tried and true tips: Wear your baby while you do chores or make a snack, use a white noise machine or swaddle to help baby sleep, make padsicles to help with postpartum soreness and swelling. Those are all great tips, but here are a few hacks that you might not know…
Car seat carrying trick to save the day.
That infant carrier car seat can be heavy and cumbersome. It keeps bouncing against your leg, your wrist is contorted, and your fingers and forearm are all sorts of tired. Never fear! There’s an easier way to carry that infant car seat. Loop your arm around the side of the handle closest to you and use your hand to carry the weight at the hinge of the handle. Check out this YouTube video for a better visual.Buy pajamas that zip in both directions.
Many brands now make footie pajamas that zip both ways. This allows you to keep baby zipped in and keep their arms warm while you change their diaper, especially in the middle of the night.
Here are some brands that carry 2-way zip pajamas:
Carters: https://www.carters.com/two-way-zip-sleep-and-play
Kyte Baby (the softest PJs you will ever buy): https://kytebaby.com/collections/footieUse a caddy to hold essentials for both mom and baby.
Your cute little caddy doesn’t have to just be for diapers and wipes. Chances are, there are going to be times when you are stuck on the couch for a little while. Throw a few granola bars, trail mix, some pain relievers, and a water bottle into the caddy. I even started sticking the remote and my phone charger in there so it was close when I needed it. Get in the habit of carrying the caddy with you to the couch or to bed so that the things you need are just within arm’s reach.Use a mug to warm baby’s bottle.
It’s never a good idea to warm baby’s bottle in the microwave. Whether it be breastmilk or formula, the microwave can destroy some of the vital proteins in the milk and hot spots may burn baby’s mouth. But what are you to do when you’re desperate? Maybe your baby only takes a warm bottle, or the stove takes too long. You may not want to (or can) spend money on one of those fancy bottle warmers. No problem! Fill a mug up halfway with water and throw it in the microwave for a minute or two until it is hot. Then, place the bottle into the hot water and let it sit for a few minutes. The hot water will allow the bottle to warm up quickly, easily, and safely. As always, check the temperature of the milk on the inside of your wrist to make sure it’s not too hot.Doggy bags for dirty diapers and blowouts.
Have you ever been stranded with a dirty diaper and no trash can? Or that sweet little onesie you absolutely love suddenly looks like you submerged it in hot mustard? You know if kept it in the car, the smell is bound to linger, and you run the risk of spreading the mess. Never fear!
No need to spend money on wet-bags or sandwich bags. Next time you’re near a store with pet items, purchase a small pack of doggie doo-doo bags and stash a couple of rolls in the car, diaper bag, the stroller, or wherever you might need them. Doggie bags are generally inexpensive and one roll is fairly compact and lasts quite a while. Keep those stinky diapers contained until you can get to a trash can and keep those sweet little outfits from getting everything else dirty until you can get them home to wash them.Two for you, one for me. Extra shirts are a must.
Speaking of blowouts…most parents make sure to keep an extra outfit or two in the car or diaper bag. If you’re anything like me, you have probably experienced a blowout or spit up incident that left YOU feeling (and possibly looking) less than fresh. I have learned to always keep an extra shirt for me and one for my husband in the glove compartment, just in case. I almost always choose something simple and black so that no matter what bottoms I’m wearing, it is bound to match.Use a baby wipe as a “pee-pee teepee”.
I think just about everyone is familiar with the fountain boys can produce when their diapers get changed. In my personal experience and the experience of my poor sweet husband, girls are just as capable of making a big mess and taking their parents by surprise during diaper changes. You can remove the diaper and immediately put it back on to give baby time to tinkle, but it’s still a possibility they will wait until they are completely exposed. Instead of spending money on a fancy “pee-pee teepee”, try this trick instead…
Cover the baby's private areas with a baby wipe while you wipe down their bum and other areas. After they are nice and clean, remove the baby wipe, cover, and finish cleaning before placing and securing the new diaper. Voila, you have just saved yourself, your baby, your changing pad, and possibly even your walls from needing an extra cleaning.Socks over footie PJs.
As baby gets a little older and starts moving, grooving, and kicking their feet more, you will notice a period where they routinely pull their feet out of their footie pajamas. They will inevitably wake you up in the middle of the night to express their frustration when both feet end up in the same leg-hole of their PJs. While baby is in their footie PJs, try slipping some long socks on over top! These will help the PJs sit snugly on the feet and will keep them from slipping out of their comfy homes in the middle of the night.Use the car seat cover for breastfeeding.
First, let me say that I’m a huge advocate for public breastfeeding. I feel that normalizing breastfeeding is important in our lives and in our culture. However, not every mom feels comfortable nursing openly and some babies focus better when distractions around them are limited. If you prefer to cover and have ever gotten stranded without one, use the car seat cover! Some covers you can buy today are even meant to be used for both car seats and breastfeeding. Car seat covers are generally more breathable than blankets and easier to maneuver as needed.Apps to track feeding and diapers.
When you go to see the pediatrician for the first several months, you will inevitably be asked how many times a day baby is eating and how many times they are having wet and dirty diapers. If you’re sleep-deprived and can’t even remember the last time YOU ate, it might be helpful to download an app. Apps like BabyTracker, Sprout, and Baby Connect are just a few among many apps that can help take the stress out of keeping track of baby’s daily input and output.Swap the baby book for a photo app.
We all wish we had time to keep up with that sweet little baby book Grandma got us for our baby shower, but it’s just another thing we don’t need to keep us up at night. Did you know they now have apps for these too? Qeepsake is just one example of an app where you can take mobile photos and journal about different memories and milestones right from your phone. Then, when you’re ready, you can have them all printed into a book and shipped right to your door. It’s as easy as that.Bento box snacks to refuel your healing body.
The days when moms don’t have the time or energy to feed themselves can be a thing of the past! When you’re delegating tasks to your postpartum doula, or when a family member or friend offers to help with you or the baby, give them this simple task…
Provide them with a list of your favorite fruits, veggies, nuts, or other one-handed snacks. Ask them to purchase a few (or pick up a grocery order that you’ve placed), cut or chop them as needed, and deliver them to you in baggies. Then, spend a few short minutes splitting them into bento snack boxes and storing them in the fridge. Now your snacks are grab-and-go! You can even grab a bento box and drop it in your convenient caddy (see number 3 above) with a water bottle and go plop yourself on the couch while you snuggle your precious baby.Warm rice pack on the bassinet/crib before bedtime.
Baby is all warm, cozy, and sleeping like, well, a baby. Then you go to lay them down in their crib or bassinet and they suddenly are wide awake and inconsolable. This could be happening for lots of reasons, but one might be because their bed is colder than your arms. Before bed, warm a rice pack and lay it on the bassinet or crib mattress. Remove it about 30 seconds to a minute before you put baby to bed to ensure the surface isn’t too hot, and be sure to check the temperature before laying baby down. Pre-warming the bed helps make the transition to the new environment much more comfortable.Chocolate milk for a boost of energy.
Some athletes swear by chocolate milk as a post-workout drink because it contains a lot of electrolytes and a little extra protein. As long as you or your baby doesn’t have any dairy sensitivities, a little glass of chocolate milk could be just the trick to boost your energy and help your body stay hydrated.Bouncer in the bathroom.
I have lost count of how many times I’ve needed to go to the bathroom, but my kiddo just doesn’t want to be put down. If you are having a hard time letting them cry, but you need a little extra time to take care of your business, bring the bouncer into the bathroom. Baby can still see you and enjoy your company without being held or lying on the floor. I’ve also used this trick while bathing the dog or getting ready in the morning for work. (Remember that the bouncer is always safest if placed on the floor and never on an elevated surface like a counter.)BONUS: Turning PJs around when toddlers start undressing themselves.
There are few days as a parent that I remember being more grossed out than the day I walked into my daughter’s bedroom to find her completely naked with her poo smeared all over her crib. It’s that moment no parent wants to live through twice, but my husband and I learned this invaluable trick! He told me I absolutely had to include it for everyone reading.
When your kiddo starts learning to undress themselves, especially at night, keep them in their PJs with one simple twist, literally. Buy footless PJs or cut the feet off of their footie PJs and turn them around so the zipper is in the back. They will still be warm and covered, but won’t be able to reach the zipper to undress themselves.
We hope these hacks help make your life with a baby a little simpler. What parenting hacks have you uncovered? We’d love to hear about them!