Important things for young parents?

Question

my brother and his wife are expecting, they're young and not quite out of college so it might be a bit hard, I really want to help, so are there any must-haves for young parents? Anything you needed especially but might not have thought of? Advice for during pregnancy? Anything helps! God bless!

Answer 1

Clothes are definitely the most fun thing to buy.. but that's what they'll be getting a lot of at the shower and from other friends. If you're talking about a general gift I would go with books on dealing with children while in school, having children while you're young, what you need for newborns (what to expect when you're expecting is a fail safe book ALWAYS). Other than that, encourage your sis-in-law to register for her baby shower and when she registers it will suggest everything you need for a new baby. Believe me...there is SO MUCH that you need for a baby but also a lot that you really don't need. I'm sure they'll appreciate ANYTHING you give them. It's great to see people giving just for the sake of wanting to give..I'm about to be a first time, single mom and believe me. Just knowing people really care and want to help is the best gift you can give any mom to be.

Answer 2

I am currently a college student and expecting my first with my fiance, and what I've found that helps BOTH people during pregnancy is patience. A lot of people say patience if a virtue and not a lot of people understand or agree, but when you're young (or whatever age) if you don't have patience for the one that is carrying a heavy load and going thru changes and likewise for the one who has to watch that person go thru the changes, and help them get comfortable, and be happy, it can be a very frustrating and long 9 months. We've recently discovered that we both need our own space, but at the same time need to understand how the other feels and their needs. So that is tip one:):)

As for things that parents need...space...if you crowd each other or crowd the baby's room with a lot of unnecessary stuff but stuff you got because it was cute and one of you liked it and the other didn't but you got it anyways, then you nor the baby is going to have enjoy what the real gift is because you'll be fighting over space all the time. If you were wanting to get them something, I would suggest bath stuff and a baby hammock (baby bath tub)...a lot of people don't think about stuff like that. My fiance thought giving a baby a bath was putting them in the sink haha...but some soothing bath stuff for the baby, or a nice gift for his wife like a massager and some soothing bubble bath, so afterwards, she can relax and relieve some stress while your brother takes care of the baby for a while. One of my friends gave me a a bath kit with bubble bath and a massager and just some good aroma therapy stuff..it was real thoughtful and I'm sure she will appreciate it. For your brother, maybe you could get him some "daddy gear" like a diaper bag that's not so girly, or some daddy tees, make him feel excited and needed. for the baby you can't really get much unless you know what the people you're getting for are planning and want. Just ask them and see if there's anything in particular they need or anything you can do to help them. depending on how far his wife is, or anytime really, i would suggest having your brother rub and massage her legs, knees, calves, and ankles...as she gets further along, like I've found out, those areas tend to swell and your knees become a little delicate...squatting and bending may hurt and her knees will crack and pop, and also a good hand massage for her wrists bceause when those swell it's hard to move and bend fingers, especially in the morning after she's been sleeping. Tell her not to wear rings at night, when her fingers swell they wil tighten around the ring and may numb them or cut off circulation.

if you want to help her out, you can always, spend a day with her or them and help her do little things around the house that can be tideous and a little more diffcult now that she's pregnant, like lifting and moving things, or vaccuuming, just simple stuff that may strain her and wear her out and make her tired or sore. and try to keep her comfortable...it's going ot be hard but make sure she gets the right lower back support and elevates her legs to keep from swelling. you may also be able to help her with sit ups and leg exercises, if she still works out/does work out while she is pregnant.

good luck!!

Answer 3

I really appreciated money. If you feel comfortable that your brother and his wife would put it to good use, that is. When people asked us what we needed, if we told them clothing, or toys, or whatever item we thought of, they may have a totally different style than us, where with money, we could go spend it on whatever we needed. Maybe diapers, if you really want to actually buy something. We didn't have to buy diapers until our daughter was 3 months old, and it was great!! Just ask them what kind they plan to use, in case they have a preference, or might use cloth diapers, etc. If you live near them, and feel like it, offer babysitting, once a month, or twice a month, maybe even make coupons (Good for two (three?) free hours of childcare, exp. 1 year after due date, or something like that, Must give 1 week notice to redeem) that they can turn in to you. We really needed time alone to just talk and remember we were not only parents, that we were a couple, etc. Advice for during pregnancy, and beyond, for that matter- just accept what they do as parents, unless it's completely unsafe. Don't judge their opinions on anything, just let them do their thing. If they ask for advice, then go ahead, but be careful. Ask your sister in law how everything is going, let her vent to you if she wants, then just let everything she's said fly out the window. Pregnancy hormones can be a crazy thing, but I bet she'd appreciate just letting it out. Hope this helps!

Answer 4

Throw a baby shower and make a list of htings they will need. Is she planning to breastfeed? If so she'll need a pump, nursing pads and lanolin cream for sore nipples. She'll also need bottles and a bottle brush regardless if she breastfeeds or not. Pumping and bottle feeding at night is a nice break for a new mom and a good way for a new dad to bond with his baby. They will also need clothes, lots of onsies, cute outfits, socks, and a snowsuit if the baby will be born when it's cold. Don't forget the carseat, and toys to go on it so if the baby gets bored he/she has something to play with. A playpen or bassinet are nice to keep baby close by in the early months, I would reccomend the playpen with a built in bassinet, it'll last longer and have more uses. A vibrating bouncy or swing also help to soothe a fussy baby, so she'll want one of those.

Answer 5

Lots and lots of wash cloths for baby messes, burpee cloths, tons of receiving blankets, baby towels. You can usually get a stack of wash cloths, like a dozen or more at Sams Wholesale and at WalMart in the kitchen items dept. that are cheaper than buying the fancier ones from the bath dept. These are indespensible. The receiving blankets come like 5 or 6 in a package, even the cheaper quality ones are great as they end up getting used to swaddle the baby and usually to clean up spit ups when the baby is feeding. You will be surprised how many clean ups of little messes you have in one day.
A baby diaper pail is also great to have.

Answer 6

They need to find other parents they can seek good advice from. I would highly recommend hiring a doula. She can answer any questions about labor and delivery, and newborn care, that may not be discussed in the classes or with their doctor. It helped me quite a bit in labor with my 3rd baby, and I learned quite a bit even after having 2 children before!

Answer 7

I gave some of friends a crockpot and a cookbook full of recipes that were easy to make and gift cards for stores they shop at. I also gave them my number in case they needed to talk or a babysitter after the baby was born so they could get some much needed sleep.

Answer 8

Check the Search Engine under "Young Parents', 'Parents', 'Care For babies of Young Parents' and so on... It will help a great deal

Answer 9

Baby books are a huge plus. Blankets, shoes, clothes, and--above all--money. Of course, they also need food for themselves, so getting them a grocery store gift card would also be good.

Answer 10

Like others have said Patience.....I sure wish someone have given that to me when I had my son lol...He is 5 years old now...And I have absoultely no patience...I am due with my second baby on January 9th....and am hoping to recieve some patience somewhere...lol