What Every Target Loving New Mom Should Know

Just when you think you have it all figured out… you finally do become pregnant and feel in over your head. Trust me, this whole world of motherhood can feel very overwhelming. As a first time mom I knew the basics of how to prepare for a baby, but there are many things I learned along the way and afterwards. Here is what every expecting mama should know all compiled into one place. Motherhood doesn’t have to feel too impossible! Also if you are a Target-aholic, this is the guide for you.

Preparing Your Home

In your last month of pregnancy, start looking into different meals you may enjoy and create a freezer meal stock. I’m such a picky person so this gave me the reassurance that I wouldn’t starve after having my baby, and I would still have a home cooked meal handy. Invest in the tin foil casserole pans and make a few of your favorite meals and store them away! Also don’t just think dinner, breastfast tacos are great to store in the freezer and keep well. If you have family and friends insisting to help, give them your favorite recipes or let them surprise you!

When it comes to the nursery, it’s either a parent’s favorite part or most dreaded. Buying things for your baby’s nursery can feel overwhelming. There are just so many furniture options and expectations put on the perfect nursery! Let me tell you, a perfect nursery doesn’t exist. Just when you finalize everything, once baby comes you’ll find that this piece of furniture makes more sense there, or you need a bigger rocker and could do without the giant changing table. Whatever it may come down to, you will find your own flow and what makes sense for your lifestyle. You only need essentials and can add your own personal flair to them. A crib, diaper changing station, clothing storage, a bouncer or swing, and a chair for you to rock your babe in. You don’t have to go overboard but these are all great things to have in your baby’s room or sleeping area.

A huge lifesaver that I learned quickly when it came to the kitchen is make a baby station. Set up a bottle drying rack, and dedicate a cabinet area to baby bottles, spare pump parts, pacifiers, brushes, and medicine, like TYLENOL®. Having this all in one central station will make life so much easier, especially for those late nights when you don’t want to be rummaging through your cabinets! You want to always be prepared, so I highly recommend sterilizing everything beforehand. This was something I didn’t even think about doing, and having to quickly sterilize all of our bottle and pump parts when our baby was here, and hungry, was no fun.

Along these same lines, wash all of their clothes, blankets, and towels. Anything your baby will be using you will want to prep first with a wash! Be proactive and don’t wait until the last minute like I did.

Baby Shower & Registry
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Now if this is your first baby, chances are you are gearing up for your baby shower. Which means, your guests would greatly appreciate you to put together a baby registry. I used Target Baby Registry and let me tell you it made life so simple! Yes there are a million options for everything, but Target has a tab for a checklist so you don’t forget anything. Some of my favorite things I added were a car seat (I’ll explain why later!), Johnson’s® Bath Discovery Set, burp cloths, bottles, diapers, wipes, boppy, crib sheets, and of course clothes. I also made the registry for my own need and marked certain items as most wanted for my guests to have as a guide, so they didn’t feel obligated to buy big ticket items. Target Baby registry does offer Group gifting though, making it easy for guests to contribute together for larger items!

The Target registry is not only great to help you stay organized and not forget anything, but it’s also amazing for saving! I’ve mentioned before in the past, you will receive a 15% off discount that will be emailed 8 weeks before baby’s arrival date to provide savings on anything left on the registry. I used this towards our car seat and it was super! Downloading the Target Registry app makes keeping your list handy so much simpler and you can even scan products if you want to add them while in store. 
You will receive a Welcome kit too. Registrants can pick up your gift at Guest Services for $50 worth of coupons & handpicked samples. This is a great way to try out different products before committing. And who doesn’t love gifts?

Shop my favorite registry items by clicking on the photo!

Packing

When it’s time for baby to arrive, you’ll want to make sure you have all the essentials to take to the hospital. I did a separate blog post on this, but basically pack yourself clothes, toiletries, slippers, a robe, nipple cream, pads, nursing bra, phone charger, camera and charger. You can download the full checklist here! Don’t feel like you have to overpack, but you definitely want to make sure you feel comfortable during your hospital stay. So if that means packing your pillow and a sleeping mask, do it! Also, during your stay you’ll most likely have amazing nurses that will give you everything to keep you comfy. Take home these pads, peri bottle, ice packs, anything they give you: take it. These supplies are going to help big time during your postpartum recovery. I’m serious about the peri bottle and ice packs, you’ll thank me later.

Along the lines of packing, go ahead and pack that diaper bag because you will be so sleep deprived when it’s your baby’s 2 day check up. Pack diapers, wipes, spare outfit(s), socks, feeding (formula, bottles, whatever you need to feed them!), burp cloths, and a blanket. I know it will feel strange packing a diaper bag for a baby that isn’t here yet, but having these essentials packed already will make it easier if you need to add anything extra that you may find yourself needing!

As a new mom, this all can make you feel in over your head. Trust me when I say, you will not be able to remember everything and it rarely all goes according to plan. This was a hard reality for me because I like things to be organized and have no surprises; boy was I in for a treat! As you are expecting the arrival of your new babe, know that you got this. Give that baby love, and don’t feel bad if some days aren’t as smooth as others. No one expects you to be completely sane on two hours of sleep, enjoy this time, and take all the help you are offered! Motherhood is the best time of your life and you are going to do amazing.