Baby No. 3 On The Way? 5 Changes To Make Before They Arrive

Baby No. 3 On The Way? 5 Changes To Make Before They Arrive

All parents had their fair share of preparing for their first baby. At that time, everything’s about learning and doing things for the first time. From getting the car ready for the baby, preparing the nursery room, learning how to change diapers, and a whole lot more — all parents had to go through these things.

Come your second child; you’re now more knowledgeable thanks to your experiences with your eldest. However, how you prepare for baby number two is still a different story. And that’s because you still have your toddler (who doesn’t seem to run out of energy) to take care of.

Time goes by so fast, and before you know it, you are now expecting your next child. With the arrival of baby number three, you will not only have to prepare but also make changes as a family. After all, your family’s getting bigger and you now need to pay attention to three small human beings with different needs.

That said here are five changes that you can to make to prepare before he or she arrives.

• Double strollers with a third seat attachment

When it was just you and your first child, strolling and running errands were still pretty easy thanks to a stroller. With your second baby around, things are a little challenging but still manageable. Thanks to double strollers that have a third seat attachment, having three kids in tow is not so hard a task.

There are different options out there when it comes to getting a double stroller. However, there are two important factors that you need to consider before buying. First, it should be compatible with infant car seats. Second, the stroller should grow as your family does.

Whether you plan on having a big family or not, it’s always nice to be ready. That said, it’s advisable to get a single-child stroller that allows for a second seat to be attached. Additionally, this stroller needs to have a third seat attachment for your eldest if he or she is not walking long distances yet. This attachment can be an actual seat or just a platform where he can stand on.

• Get a high-quality car seat

Everyone knows the significant role that car seats play in the safety of children when they’re inside a vehicle. And in this world where almost everyone is on the go, it’s only natural that you would want your child to use only a good car seat.

It’s understandable that you don’t want to spend so much on a car seat but don’t worry because a high-quality car seat doesn’t always mean expensive. Besides, you can also make use of the car seat that was used by your second or even your eldest child (if they’re already in a front-facing or booster seat). If you decide to use an old car seat though, there are things that you need to check for.

First, you need to know very well how long car seats are good for. Car seats are made of plastic and metal — the former becomes brittle, and the latter rusts over time. Second, you need to make sure that the car seat wasn’t a part of any recall. Unless you are 100% certain that the car seat is not yet expired and wasn’t recalled, it’s a lot safer to get a new one for your next child.

• Reuse and recycle

Before the arrival of your third bundle of joy, make an inventory of all the baby stuff that you have. If your children are close in age, check if there are things that baby number three can use from his or her older siblings.

Playpens, cribs, bouncy chairs, etc. can all be used by your next child provided that they’re still in good condition. If the children’s clothes you have are colourful and unisex, you will not have to buy many new items for your third baby, even if the gender is different from the first two.

This is also the best time to think about making changes to the nursery room. You may want to change the color and designs of the room to suit your third baby. You can also consider replacing the carpet in the older siblings’ room (or rooms) with wood to make cleaning a lot easier for you.

• Keep the older children in the loop

Before the ‘big day,’ it’s very important that you prepare the elder siblings for their new roles as big brother or sister. One good way to do this is by letting them think of a name for the third baby, though let them know you’ll make the final choice.

Another thing that you should also do is to always talk to them about their new sibling whenever there’s a chance. As early as possible, give them an idea of what an older brother or sister should be like. This will make the transition much smoother and will also encourage a strong bond between all three of them.

The biggest mistake that you can do is to let your two older children feel left out. It’s understandable that you’ll have to focus more on the new baby especially when he or she arrives. However, see to it that they understand well that having a third baby in the household doesn’t mean that you love them less.

• Create a simple routine for the whole family

Taking care of three children is not an easy feat and not having a routine will only make it more difficult for all of you. One reason that having a routine is essential is that kids tend to be calmer and less likely to throw fits if they know what will happen next.

Having a routine will also benefit you since it eliminates the need for you to think of the next thing that you should do. You already have so much on your plate and without a routine to follow, you are bound to go off-track and feel stressed out.

That said, see to it that there’s a schedule for everything in the household. From waking up to eating breakfast, play time, lunch, brushing their teeth, bedtime stories, etc. — all of these activities should follow a simple schedule to help the day run smoothly.

• Conclusion

Don’t worry too much about bringing home baby number three or even baby number six (if that’s how big of a family you want). Yes, there will be challenges along the way, but each addition to the family has its way of fitting in. Follow the tips provided here and you can rest easy knowing that all of them will grow up loving each other.

Guest Article.