Best Way for Hubby to Prepare for New Baby? - Attn Moms and Dads Both!

.

I took my husband to a newborn care class. It showed him how to diaper, give baths, etc. He felt really prepared and ready after that.

Work out a "break" schedule!!!

Some ideas:

- 1 weekend day for each of you. That way both of you get to sleep in at least 1 day a week.

- "Coming home from work". Both the WP and the SAHP NEEDS this the vast majority of the time. And you'll read over and over and over that this is a huge bone of contention / source of fights / feeling unappreciated on BOTH sides of the fence.

My suggestion is this: The WP *does not come straight home*. Instead... they come *almost* home. Stop at a coffee shop, library, cafe, whatever within 2-5 minutes of home. Change clothes in their restroom (seriously). Splash water on your face. Sit and read and have a coffee... or zone out on a laptop with a nosh... or make some phone calls. WHATEVER your "coming home from work" routine currently is... just a few minutes away from home. Then, 15-20-30 minutes later, recharged, head home. The WP will be ready to "dive in"" and the SAHP can escape for THEIR break. Take a shower, change clothes, read a book, etc. in the house away from daddy and baby. 15-20-30 minutes later *emerge*, rested and happy. Happy family. Instead of "I just got home from work! I need to unwind for a minute!" meets "I've been with the baby ALL day, I'm exhausted, I haven't even had a chance to _________."

((Stopping close to home is vital in the WP scenario... because if you stop near work, you still have to drive all the way home -or bus or train- and the travel itself negates the relaxation))

Coming "home" is a valid need for both people, but they can't be taken at the same time. I only know one couple EVER who was able to trade "winding down" under the same roof. The "OMG he/she's HOME!" feeling is an almost impossible reaction for most people to have. Under the same roof whoever goes "first" feels pressure to "hurry up".

Love the suggestion below...also to consider:

- Have your carseat installed now (Middle seat, rear facing), then take it to your hospital and have them check it. Super important for the certified person to do it, then show you and hubby because most are not.

- Both of you could also take an infant CPR class. Great idea for grandparents too.

- Make a list of your emergency numbers for sitters and family watching your baby and post on your frig.

- Baby proof your home. Better to do ahead of time when you HAVE time (:

- Check with your insurance company about procedure for adding baby to your health, dental (yes, add now) and life policies

- Freeze meals. You will be so sleep deprived you won't know which end is up for a few months.

Good luck and prayers to you!

Make sure you have plenty of things in the house that he knows how to cook. It's all going to be just fine. A little routine will begin on it's own. Just make sure he knows where everything is, so when you ask "bring me the powder, or the wipes, or a diaper, or a spitup cloth, or a blankie he knows where to go ;)

All of the below answers are AWESOME ideas. We had our first ten months ago, and nothing could have prepared us for it. Just wanted to add that the books I bought just sat......he never read them. So, I started hitting the mute button during commercials and reading bits of the books to him.....soon enough we were taking an hour out of each night and I would read him a new chapter our of a new baby book.....it helped a lot, and gave us lots of bonding time before baby! Congrats and good luck!