Top 5 extreme lounging essentials for new parents

When you become a new parent, your life changes overnight. Suddenly, you're spending hours holding your baby, feeding them, and trying to catch a few minutes of rest whenever you can. Your baby needs you, and you need comfort to care for them. Being tired and sore is hard, so good things around you make it easier.

That's where ‘extreme lounging’ comes in. It is about making your home extra cosy so you can easily chill out and bond with your baby, without feeling stressed.

Let’s introduce you to five lounging essentials for new parents, so you can focus on enjoying those sweet moments with your little one.

1. The Ultimate Nursing/Feeding Chair

This chair is super important. You'll spend a considerable amount of time in it, feeding your baby every few hours for long stretches, especially if you're breastfeeding.

What makes a good feeding chair?

Your chair needs good armrests. Your arms will get tired holding your baby, and you need somewhere to rest them. The armrests should be the right height so your shoulders don't hurt.

The back of the chair should support you well. You'll be leaning back and sitting forward, so you need good support for your spine.

Extra features to look for

Look for chairs with pockets on the sides. You can keep things like your phone, water bottle, or burp cloths right there with you. Some chairs can lean back like a recliner. This is great for those times when you want to rest while your baby sleeps on you.

2. Multi-Level Side Table or Caddy

When you're holding your baby, it's hard to move. Your baby might be asleep, eating, or finally quiet. If you get up, you could disturb them. But you still need your things nearby. So, get a small table or cart that you can keep right next to your chair. It should have different levels or compartments so you can organise everything you need.

What to look for:

A table or cart with wheels is handy because you can easily move it wherever you need it, from room to room, especially when you're with your baby. It's also great for keeping things tidy with its different shelves so that you can separate your drinks, baby items, and your own belongings.

What to keep on it?

• A big water bottle or cup with a straw (you'll get thirsty a lot, especially if you're breastfeeding)
• Your phone charger
• Burp cloths and bibs
• Snacks that you can eat with one hand
• Hand sanitiser or wipes
• Any medicine you might need
  

3. The Perfect Throw Blanket Collection

As a new parent, blankets become incredibly useful, more so than you might expect. You'll use them for feeding, quick clean-ups, and staying comfortable during feedings.

Why do you need different types?

You can't use the same blanket for everything. It's good to have a few different types ready for different needs.

Soft blankets: These are special blankets for your baby's skin. They need to be extremely soft and made from gentle materials, such as cotton or bamboo, so they don't irritate sensitive skin. These materials also let the good air flow.

Easy-to-wash blankets: Babies can create a mess! You'll need blankets that can be washed easily in the machine without getting ruined.

Think about temperature

Adjust blankets for warmth: Use lighter blankets when it's warm and heavier ones when it's cold. Hormones and tiredness can make you feel hotter or colder, so having choices is good.

Match blankets to the weather: On warm days, use thin blankets. On cold nights, use thick ones. Your body temperature can vary a lot because of hormones and being tired, so it's good to have different options.

4. Hands-Free Entertainment Hub

When you're holding your baby, your hands are busy. This means you can't easily read a book, use your phone, or even change the TV. That's why hands-free entertainment is so helpful.

Phone or tablet holder: Get a stand or mount that holds your phone or tablet at eye level. You can put it on your side table or clip it to your chair. This way, you can watch shows and scroll through social media.

Wireless earbuds: These are amazing for late-night feeds when you don't want to wake anyone else in the house.

Voice-controlled speaker: This is like having a helpful assistant. You can ask it to play music, tell you the time, set timers, or even answer questions—all without using your hands.

For the book lovers: If you prefer reading, get a book holder that props your book open and turns pages easily. Or switch to an e-reader with a big screen and buttons you can press with one finger.

5. The Snack and Hydration Station

Caring for a baby is demanding and requires a lot of energy. But when you're busy with the baby, it's hard to grab food or a drink. You might even forget to eat or get thirsty. Sometimes you'll feel extremely hungry and weak, but you don't want to wake your sleeping baby to get something to eat.

Water is very important: Use a big water bottle with a straw so it's easy to drink without lifting it. If you're breastfeeding, you'll need even more water, so a large bottle is best.

Smart snacking: You need snacks that you can eat with one hand and won't make a mess. Think about foods that won't drop crumbs on your baby or make your hands sticky.

Good options include:

• Granola bars or energy bars
• Crackers in individual packages
  Nuts (if you're not worried about allergies)
• Dried fruit
• String cheese
• Baby food pouches (yes, they're for babies, but they're also perfect for tired parents!)

Make it easy to reach: Keep snacks close by, right next to your chair. Use a basket or drawer in your side table to hold them. Organise them so you can easily find what you want without searching.

Stock up: Buy a variety of snacks and store them in different areas of your house. That way, you'll always have food handy wherever you are with your baby.

You may also like to read: Understanding sleep regression - A guide for tired parents

Summing Up

Being a new parent is tough, and you should be comfortable while doing it. These five items aren't just luxuries; they're essential tools to help you through the demanding days and nights. When you're comfy, fed, and have things handy, you can enjoy your time together. Don't feel bad about making things easier or wanting comfort. Taking care of yourself helps you take care of your baby.