Mini M attended his first ever wedding at 10 weeks of age. While he was super relaxed about it all, it did take his mama some effort to sort out her wardrobe situation and new mama realities.
At 10 weeks postpartum, I was still big relative to my pre-pregnancy body. I could barely fit into the clothes in my wardrobe (no it’s not an excuse) so I was all set to purchase something new to wear. Things were not quite as straightforward as it was once upon a time as I had to take breastfeeding into consideration. That on its own had taken a lot of clothes that I would normally choose out of the equation. Having fewer options unfortunately did not make things easier. In fact, it took a wrong purchase and a couple of returns to make a decision.
Taking a baby to an event can be quite intimidating especially for first timers as you just don’t know what to expect! However with a bit of prep and the right frame of mind, things can actually be enjoyable (given that the baby also cooperates ha!).
If your next event is coming up and you can’t leave baby behind, here are 3 pointers that could potentially ease your stress with baby in tow:
#1. Wear suitable clothing This is a no-brainer isn’t it? Clothes with a button-up feature, off-the-shoulder designs that can be pulled down, 2-piece ensembles or anything that would allow access to the food source without fussing around too much. Well these suggestions are theoretically sound but what if the clothes that you crave for don’t fall into the ‘practical category?’ That happened to me and I did make some wrong purchases but the fear of inconvenience ultimately outweighed my fashion desires. I opted for a pink gingham off-the-shoulder dress (a super girlie dress that normally doesn’t resonate with me) and I felt good in it. It was easy to put on and best of all, no minutes were wasted to calm mini M’s hunger pangs. What about the bra situation you might ask, strapless maternity bandeau is an option but what I did was to remove the straps of one of my normal bras for the occasion. No need to spend extra dollars that way.
#2. Plan ahead Work out where you’re going to feed the baby. Find out whether there’s a parent’s room that you could use. If not, plan where you’re going to take baby when he fusses. As for me, I just fed mini M in the car with the air-con blasting. If it doesn’t bother you, you could actually feed anywhere (in Australia that is) so do whatever that you feel most comfortable with. It is always comforting to have a game plan, albeit a small one. With regard to the nappy bag, make sure you are well equipped and have enough nappies, wipes and cloths to see baby through the ceremony and reception.
#3. Relax I guess the best thing is to accept that baby IS going to fuss. They are going to cry at the wrong time and that’s just the way it is. Mr M tried to keep mini M calm by sitting him on his lap during the reception and that worked fairly well. If need be, you could always make an exit. Just remember, there are options available to you. The other important thing, especially as a new mama is to ACCEPT the situation. Matter of fact is that you have someone attaching to your hips now and it is your responsibility to sort the little person out. I believe the more relaxed we are, the more manageable the situation (easier said than done I know).
There you have it. I hope you find these mini tips useful. They are not revolutionary but rather a reminder that we don’t have to give up fun stuff just because we have become parents. A bit of self-assurance never hurts isn’t it?
x