It can be difficult to become a parent, but fortunately for new parents, we are now in a world full of baby smart tools designed to make your little one’s life as smooth as possible in their first few years. From gadgets that warn you when something goes wrong to simple, yet genius devices that solve small issues in a flash, there are now far more solutions to the problems that happen every day than ever before. There are plenty of innovative gadgets that can make your parenting experience more enjoyable and efficient. On that note, check the following gadgets to see how technology can save you and your child.

NannyPod and technology to ensure child safety

Smart Sock

Bringing a new baby home can be amazing and nerve-wracking at the same time, especially if you have little experience with babies. Whether your baby is a NICU graduate or you just need to ensure that they’re okay all the time, you need a monitor at home that can display the statistics you used to see before in the hospital. The smart sock is a wearable baby sock that measures their heart and breathing rates and pulse. You can see all this information through an app on your phone that graphs your baby's data and tracks their sleep patterns. If your kid's readings are higher or lower than normal, you will be notified by an alarm on your mobile phone.

Baby Monitor

When you finally put your newborn to sleep, you’ll probably want to check on them every five minutes to ensure that they’re okay. Because there is no bigger sin than waking up your newborn, you need a high-quality monitor to keep track of your sweet new arrival without the risk of disturbing them. There are many great monitors out there, so you should choose a good option. Based on reviews on the wifi baby monitor from Hubble, a reliable monitor should always have crisp video and rich features. This device’s camera provides a panoramic view of your baby’s crib. It can also provide an aerial view so you don't have to keep adjusting the angle. It also comes with secure and safe mounts so you don’t have to worry about tangling cables or cords.

Pacifier Sterilizer

You don’t realize how unsterile everything in your home is until you have a baby. That’s why you need to ensure that whatever goes in your little one’s mouth is germ-free. Even though the big sterilizer that you use for your newborn’s bottles can be handy, it is impractical to carry it around when you go out. Therefore, a small pacifier sterilizer is a perfect option for you. It can disinfect a pacifier in less than a minute, which is ideal, especially when your baby starts crying in the middle of a shopping mall. In addition to its small size that makes it easy to carry around, it is very simple to use.

Infant Seat

Keeping your baby entertained, or gently rocking your baby to sleep slowly while doing other chores is exactly what you need in order to manage other tasks in your home or work. The smart infant seat is a swing that mimics the parents’ actions to soothe their baby. It can be controlled from your mobile phone and is extremely easy to set up. The instructions are straightforward and you’ll get everything up and running within 10 minutes while your bundle of joy is taking a nap. There are various infant swings that come with five movement and speed options, and four built-in white noise sounds. If you want to play specific melodies or lullabies, you can connect the swing to an MP3 player.

Wearable Breast Pump

Setting up a breastfeeding and pumping routine is a daunting challenge, so any shortcut that saves you time or energy is fundamental. Carrying a breast pump, instead of being handcuffed to one, will give you incredible relief. You will be able to use the pump while taking care of the laundry, working, calming the moody baby, and even while doing yoga. Look for a leak-free, easy-to-use portable breast pump. They might feel a bit heavy when carrying them and can make your silhouette look bigger though. However, if practicality is more important to you than appearance, use this device, by all means, to make both your baby’s life and yours much easier.

Smart Bottle Warmer

A suitable bottle warmer needs to be minimal, efficient, and easy to clean. A smart bottle warmer is a great option because it has automatic buttons and controls, as well as a slim profile that can be conveniently stowed on the countertop. Two heating levels (constant hot water bath or rapid steam heating) can be used to heat either infant milk or breast milk or to thaw frozen milk. Once you use it, you’ll be glad when the bottle comes out at the ideal temperature. Moreover, you will be able to process it without referring to the instruction manual.

Night Light

The portable nightlight is a minimalist, full-featured smart home device that can play a variety of sounds and colors to soothe your baby and put them to sleep effortlessly. Usually, most nightlight portable devices have 10 colors available, but you can customize your own. There are plenty of sounds as well including storms and lullabies. It can be controlled from your phone or through the buttons on the device itself. There are more expensive options that bring additional features, such as two-way radio, battery power, a dimmable clock, access for several users, and voice control through Alexa.

Most parents admit that taking care of their babies is probably the hardest thing they’ve ever done. As a parent, you often find yourself needing a hand to help you with all the responsibilities that come with having a newborn. However, with nowadays’ technology, you don’t need anyone. There are numerous devices that make caring for your baby a breeze. With tech gadgets, you will be able to keep an eye on your little ones when they’re not in the same room, ensure their safety through monitoring devices, and allow yourself some time to handle other chores or get some well-needed rest.

NannyPod provides long term nanny matches and short term occasional date-night babysitters and infant care on demand, at an affordable price. Our service is convenient, safe and secure for families and our staff. Parents can request childcare instantly by using the NannyPod App or find a long term nanny through the NannyPod Boutique service. Get started with NannyPod today and find babysitters or nannies for your childcare needs!

You don’t need to have gone through it before to know that preparing for a new baby makes for an incredibly exciting and anxious time. On the one hand, nothing in life quite compares to expanding your family and welcoming a new baby into the world. On the other though, there’s an endless list of things to prepare for, and your life is about to change permanently!

Among those things to prepare for are the financial hurdles that come with a new baby. Because as you’re no doubt aware, babies cost money! This is an unfortunate reality, but something it’s wise to recognize in advance — because with strategic preparation, you can lessen the financial burden. And that’s what brings us to the tips we’re offering below.

Explore Working from Home

It’s important for new parents to take time off if and when they’re able to. Maternal and paternal leave are essential for the good of the baby and the family. However, for those who may have the option, it’s also a good idea to explore the idea of working from home. Working from home while parenting gives parents the ability to continue hands-on care even after maternity and paternity leave time expires. It’s not easy, but financially it can be a strategic move, as you get to keep on working and have a continuous income stream.

Analyze Costs Honestly

Interestingly enough, one of the most important financial steps you can take to prepare for a new baby is to get real about the costs. As we said above, you’re undoubtedly aware that babies cost money — but going beyond the cliché and analyzing costs honestly and thoroughly is the best way to prepare yourself for what’s coming. Estimates indicate that middle-aged, middle-income parents should expect to spend over $230,000 raising an individual child from birth to college age. Now, that sum is spread out over time, so it’s not as if you need a spare $200,000 when the baby arrives. But being real about this sum is the best way to start addressing it.

Buy Less

There’s a temptation among new parents to buy all of the baby things. After all, when you’re preparing for a child (and your friends and family can’t talk about anything else), it’s easy to get caught up in all of the cute baby things you can do: themed wallpaper, giant stuffed animals, unlimited adorable onesies…. Some of this is certainly fine, and you should get what you need to make sure the baby has a happy, healthy, and comfortable environment. But if you simply buy less — avoiding turning a new baby into an excuse for an expensive shopping spree — you’ll have more money on hand for the important stuff.

Know Your Healthcare Situation

Healthcare costs are also baby costs, and if you plan to have a baby (or are already pregnant), this is something you’ll want to consider right off the bat. Last year a story surfaced about a mother who didn’t realize until too late that her health insurance didn’t cover her pregnancy — resulting in some hefty, unexpected bills. While one woman led to this story, it’s a problem that affects millions every year. Solutions to the problem can vary depending on your coverage and financial means — but checking what your health insurance will and won’t cover is an important part of your financial preparation.

Start Saving for Education

When we talk about saving for education, the term “college fund” comes to mind. This is certainly an important part of raising a child, and it’s something for which you might want to set up a specific savings account or investment fund. But saving for education means early education (or even daycare) also — and the costs can be hefty. If you can start setting a little bit of money aside here and there, even before the baby arrives, you’ll be better equipped to meet those costs a couple years later.

Get Help from Family & Friends

Now is also the time to get help from family and friends! The people around you are likely to be eager to help where they can, and it’s perfectly acceptable to embrace that help. One way to do so is by accepting hand-me-down clothes, accessories, and toys that can actually save you quite a bit in the early going. Another is by updating the baby shower concept, such that you start a “honeyfund” rather than a gift registry, or have friends sign up to bring meals when the baby first arrives (rather than sending gifts). These are small steps, but they can save both money and hassle in your earliest days as new parents, and help set the tone for a strong financial approach.

In the end, having a baby is still expensive, and there’s no way around it. But by being honest about the costs you’re facing and taking steps to address them early; you can be adequately prepared.

Article exclusively written for www.nannypod.com

By Rae Jeanne

NannyPod provides long term nanny matches and short term occasional date-night babysitters and infant care on demand, at an affordable price. Our service is convenient, safe and secure for families and our staff. Parents can request childcare instantly by using the NannyPod app. Get started with NannyPod today and find babysitters or nannies for your childcare needs!

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Why Should You Use Technology to Ensure the Safety of Your Child?

How New Parents Can Financially Prepare for a Baby