Headed home from the hospital

In a little over a month, I will be heading home from the hospital with my newborn baby. Although I’ve done this once before, I thought it’d be good to share with first-time parents what they should expect for the car ride home.

I recently received this e-mail from Graco (the people that make the majority of the car seats we use to haul around the five-and-under crowd). It had to so many great tips I thought I would just post them verbatim:

1. Before the big day, do an installation run-through of your car seat. Like any new parent, you won’t want to leave anything to chance. Practice installing your car seat (and even buckling it) so you won’t get caught frantically trying to figure out which straps go where at the hospital. (Chance are, both mom and baby are just going to want to get home!)

2. Dress the part: There is no doubt you’ve packed several cute outfits for your new baby. But, what about something clean, comfy and new for you? This is a time to celebrate and you should dress the part. If make-up is your thing, be sure to pack it. This is also a great time to switch your digital camera to black and white mode. This will soften any puffiness and dark circles that sometimes accompany both you and your baby during childbirth.

3. Bring the essentials: Be sure you’re prepared with the necessities for your little one, too. Most hospitals supply you with knit caps to keep your baby’s head protected during these first days, so use them. Receiving blankets, socks, a pacifier and a burp cloth are also handy things to have as you make your trip home.

But most importantly, drive safely!