Are you a new parent in Nashville? If so, congrats! Here are nine tips to make your journey into parenthood a bit easier.
🚘 Car Seat Checks
Have your car seat inspected by a technician to ensure it’s properly installed. Call ahead for an appointment, and I recommend doing it at least a month before the baby is due, in case things move along faster than planned (speaking from experience).
🧷 So. Many. Diapers.
- If your baby is covered by TennCare or CoverKids, they’re eligible for the TennCare Diaper Benefit, which provides up to 100 diapers per month from participating pharmacies.
- Nashville Diaper Connection partners with local organizations to provide families free diapers.
- Cloth diaper services: Smile, Mommy! and Wee Care.
👭 Facebook Support
Don’t have a Facebook account? You might want to reconsider that. Local Buy Nothing Facebook groups can be a great resource for finding free baby stuff, and neighborhood Mom groups can provide support and advice.
🤱 Breastfeeding Help
Having trouble breastfeeding? You’re not alone. Try calling the Tennessee Breastfeeding Hotline. Vanderbilt, St. Thomas, and Centennial all offer breastfeeding clinics and support, too.
👶 Nashville Strong Babies
Any Davidson County resident who is pregnant or has an infant under six months old, regardless of income, can sign up for the Nashville Strong Babies program. This program pairs new parents with a specialist who can help in a variety of ways, from breastfeeding support to insurance enrollment assistance.
📚 Nashville Public Library
Find your closest Nashville Public Library branch, and regularly attend its infant storytimes. This is a great way to meet other local parents with newborns and form a community. The library also hosts breastfeeding support classes.
📖 Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
Speaking of books, your baby can get a free book every month until they’re five through Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, regardless of your income.
🚸 Finding Child Care
Tour and sign up for child care and daycare programs as soon as possible. If you’re on a waiting list, call regularly for updates. Finding infant care before you start back to work can be tricky! You might need to think outside the box with nanny shares and mother’s day out programs.
🦒 Memberships
It’s easy to get stir crazy staying home with an infant all day. Getting a membership can help break up the monotony, if you can swing it. I had a Nashville Zoo membership as a new mom, but Cheekwood would also be a great choice.
