The tips on what to get organized for the coming of your baby in my article entitled “Baby Checklist For Soon-To-Be-Moms” will surely provide you more ideas.

When I got pregnant with my first,  I started buying cloth nappies, white or neutral colored singlets, baby towels, bibs, bottles, steamers etc. as early as the fourth month.  For some, this might be too early, but I can say that it was just the right time.  By the time I approached my seventh and eight month I still felt like the time was not enough to organize everything.  At seventh month I have already organized the entire room with baby cot/bed and all the baby’s things were in place.

When my daughter came, everything seemed to be organized.  With my sister, mom and dad with me in the house, I was able to manage really well.  I realized that the most important thing that a new mom like me needed at that point in time was the love and support from my own family.  With them around, every bit of my daily routine with my daughter was so manageable.

Elders always say that when the new-born baby is asleep mother should take that opportunity to sleep as well or take a rest.  Most of the times I did that, especially during the first few months of the baby.  But since I was also breastfeeding, I also used the time to pump much breast milk while the baby is asleep.  I bottled the milk and put them in the fridge.  When the baby wakes up, my sister or my mom can feed the baby with the bottled breast milk while I do some other things like laundry or tidying up.  If nobody’s around to assist me, I can feed the baby while the bottle was leaned on a side ‘hotdog’ pillow and at the same time I can move around, keeping my eyes on the baby, and do something like organizing things inside the room.

It is very important to calendar errands and appointments where you need to leave the baby at home.  The best thing to do of course is to find someone to look after the baby on that particular day.  Giving the carer at least a couple of days notice will give you an assurance that someone will be there while you are away.  If I had to go to the bank or to my appointment with the ob-gynecologist  my sister or my mom always made sure that they have no appointment to meet or nowhere to go to at the same day.

It is also wise to do most of the things that you can do whenever you get the opportunity to get a carer and leave the baby at home.  After every visit with my ob-gynecologist, I used to do my banking, grocery shopping, or go to the salon to give myself a nice hair wash and head massage, dye and haircut, or go to my dentist for some procedures.  By the time I get home, which was almost afternoon, I was so glad and thankful that I made the most out of the few hours I spent outside home.

Most moms can hardly manage to eat on time.  True?  But the thing is eating your meals on time, aside from eating good and nutritious food that will boost your energy, is what makes us moms going and going and going.  It is a good idea to have easy-to-prepare recipes which will not take too much of our time.  One of my favorites is a ham or chicken caesar salad sandwich.  I consider them a complete meal considering that there’s protein, carbohydrates and lots of fiber in it.  You can even prepare this in advance, in the morning, while the baby is still asleep, put them in the fridge and reheat them at lunch time or afternoon tea time, or eat them as is.  Aside from having rest or nap whenever we can, eating adequately is our way of recharging and keeping ourselves healthy and strong.

Babies are demanding of our time until their first couple of years but at the end of the day parents usually are amazed by themselves on how they were able to manage everything.  I have been there and I know how it was like.  Even now that Ivana is 5 and Alvin is 3, I can say that the demands are still the same BUT more manageable.  I am starting to think sometimes that I have become a parenting expert in my own right, and, oh well, in my own space and home.

Looking back, when I was expecting Ivana, I was very organized with everything I needed.  From baby clothes, nappies and upto the bottles, sterilizers and the like.  I have two other sisters who were already moms at that time, and so I got lots of help in preparing for that most awaited day.

Here in LMC, I will provide a checklist, especially for first time moms.  I got this checklist from my favourite shop in Manila and it was very helpful to have this and get ready for everything.  This is a complete list, but you don’t necessarily need all of the things mentioned here.  It’s good to have an idea though on what to purchase and get ready with.

FOR SLEEPING:  BEFORE THE BABY ARRIVES: Crib bassinet, mattress cabinet, chest with drawers, changing table, mosquito net, lamp, fitted sheets, comforters, water proof sheets, lap pads, mattress coverings, crib blankets, bolster cases, clothes hamper, diaper stacker, hangers, thermometer, baby monitor, diaper pail, vaporizer/humidifier, crib bumpers, pillows, bolsters, pillow cases

AFTER THE BABY ARRIVES:  Pajama sets/frog suits, sleeveless shirts, short sleeved shirts, long sleeved shirts, sweaters, abdominal binders, mittens, bonnets/caps, gauze, diaper liners, disposable diapers, socks/booties, bibs, receiving blankets

FOR LEARNING:  Crib toys, crib mobile, musical toys, rattles, parenting/baby books, musical/educational CDs/DVDs/VCDs/VHS/Casette tapes

FOR CARING:  BATHING & GROOMING:  Bath tub, rubber mat, sponge, wash cloth, basin, bath thermometer, organizer tray, mild soap, liquid bath soap, baby shampoo, baby powder, baby oil, baby alcohol, baby lotion, baby cream, baby cologne, petroleum jelly, diaper ointment, diaper rash powder, mosquito repellant, baby wipes, cotton swab, cotton balls, finger toothbrush, nasal aspirator, nail cutter, soap case/powder case, bath toys/squeeze toys, baby hair brush, hooded bath towels

BOTTLE FEEDING:  4oz nursers, 8oz nursers, silicon nipples, milk containers, cups & rings, bottle brush, nipple brush, bottle warmer, sterilizing tong, sterilizer, sterilizer rack, bottle keeper/holder

BREASTFEEDING:  Breastpump, nursing pads, nipple cream, nipple shield, breastfeeding pillows

FOR PLAYING:  OUTDOOR ACCESSORIES & ASSORTED TOYS FOR PLAYTIME:  Carrier, Car seat, head support pad, car and go bag, stroller, nursery bag/bottle bag, changing pad, stroller pad, portable crib/play pen, portabed, insulated bottle keeper, high chair, soft bite spoon, plate warmer, baby bowl, training cups, food maker, stroller toys, activity/educational toys

The aforementioned items are needed from the time the baby was born and some are useful even until toddler years.  Keep this list and pass it to your friends who are pregnant or first time moms…they will surely be happy to be reminded.