20 September 2025
Hey, just wanted to share a few things I wish I knew before having the baby — in case it helps! Honestly, the whole thing can feel like a blur. So much advice, so many baby products, and it’s hard to know what actually matters.
First off, sleep is going to be all over the place. Everyone says “sleep when the baby sleeps” — and yeah, sometimes that works, sometimes it doesn’t. But even little naps help. If you can, line up some help for those first few weeks so you’re not totally running on fumes.
Also, don’t go overboard buying stuff. I got way too many swaddles and bottles and didn’t even use half of them. Start with the basics — you’ll figure out what you and baby actually like pretty quickly. Same goes for newborn clothes… they grow out of them so fast. Our bubs cleared out 00000, 0000, 000 singlets and onesies within 4 months! Something that really cut down the costs was Facebook Marketplace where people were offloading boxes of outfits for almost the price of 2 brand new outfits!
One thing that surprised me: not everyone feels that instant connection with their baby. And that’s okay. It took me a little while, it was constant self doubt, feeling like I failed, but now I can’t imagine life without him. Be patient with yourself — those first months can be extremely testing and intense. If it becomes too much, do remember that there are local groups and 24/7 support lines dedicated to helping parents in this exact situation!
And seriously, trust yourself. You already care enough to prepare, which means you’re already doing a great job. You’ve got this — and I’m here anytime you need to vent, ask questions, or just share baby pics.