Baby tips....I know every Mom has one or two things they just love to share...?

Question

Any tips or scheduals....things you feel you couldn't have done without and such....thank you!

Answer 1

Take all the advice, and then do what you feel is best.

For us, bottle feeding worked best. Twins, two parents, two bottles, 2 people getting 2 babies up at the same time=2 babies fed, 2 parents losing 30 minutes sleep each time up=less stress.

Get a cam-corder! They change so fast, and you forget so quickly. Pictures are nice, but you miss the movements, the little sounds they make. Even if you have to borrow and only get 30 second shots, it's worth it.

Also, feeder bottles...when they're ready for solids. If they don't like something, mix it with something else till they do like it. Get the nutrients in them. My babies only ate peas mixed with plums...looked gross but it worked.

NO cow's milk till they're 2! Food allergies are so prevalent these days. And once they start off with one food allergy, it's only a matter of time before others show up.

Receive help graciously. And make sure to each spend time alone with baby. It's good for everyone if there's one on one bonding time for baby and parent.

It's good to take a real break! If you never relax, the baby will feel that. Play music' watch tv, hum, dance, drive, cook.

Create a routine that works for all of you, and stick with it. Kids are all about routine....until they're pre-teen and think they know everything. (And even then routine matters, you just have to get more creative.) Routine creates security, and security is needed in this chaotic world.

Have fun! Dr. Spock hasn't always been around, nor has "What to expect....", but parents having babies...that's been around since the beginning of time!

Answer 2

A couple things...
1) You can never have enough
a. burp rags
b. breast pads (if breastfeeding, these are obviously a must-have--get the disposable kind, unless you want to be washing 24 hours a day. And get a lot in advance--you do NOT want to run out)
c. sleep--but you can't do too much about that, you're pretty much at the mercy of your dear child there.

2) Invest in a bouncy seat, and, for later on, an exersaucer. They are sanity preservers. When my son was fussy, sometimes all be wanted was to be put in his vibrating bouncer. Weird, I know, but it worked. And when you're desperate for some sleep--you don't care.

3) Make sure you make time for your husband. He can feel left out easily during the time you're spending a lot of time with the baby.

Answer 3

Good question! You are so right, every mom has a favorite tip or two to share. Here are mine:

1) If your baby will not stop crying, change the environment drastically, like walking outside with the baby. Even if it's freezing out, the big change seems to make them think, "Hey.... where are we, what's going on?" and stop crying. It worked well (and still does) with both of my kids.

2) Make sure you have a low cabinet full of Tupperware or other non-breakable things your baby can play in while you are in the kitchen. I couldn't live without this!

Answer 4

for me...it's the habituation/associational conditioning of my child.
get the routine and the toys/blankets/songs ready for the child so that the baby will know it's time to go to sleep.

1) give bath around 8:30pm
2) rub down with lotions
3) turn on pacabell canon in D
4) get blanket (as they get older...doll or stuffed animal)
5) get bottle and start singing ABC, twinkle twinkle, bah bah black sheep (they use all the same melody...so you won't get bored with the words and the child will get used to the melody)
6) pray to God that this child will go to sleep and not wake up till morning...if not...have second bottle ready to go (either just add water or just add powder or something...when you are 1/2 asleep...gotta KISS (keep it simple stupid) it.

good luck you new parents...just remember to divide and conquer when you have more than one kid ;) it will make life a bit easier ;)

Answer 5

I do not think it is a good idea for baby to sleep in bed with you. I see some people had said to co sleep that is the worst thing you could ever do.

my first daughter...i let her sleep in bed with me. She wouldn't nap unless she was in bed with me. I 'd have to lay there until she fell asleep. It was a pain. But not only that...when she was two and three she wouldn't sleep in her bed at all. She didn't want anythign to do with her own room. All she wanted was to sleep in bed with me. Even if i let her fall asleep in my bed and then move her to her own, if she woke up she was back in my room. She did this until she was about 4 and 1/2. Finally i just got her a big bed and told her that was it. I mean in the middle of the night she owuld sneak in my room just because she didn't want to sleep in her own bed. It was terrible. Talk about no privacy.

Now I just had another baby and believe me I won't be doing that again.

You learn from your mistakes...don't make mine or you'll regret it.

Answer 6

a schedule is really important, it was for me anyway. it took a little bit for it to come together but that's only because i have five children. after i had my second child a had to get a schedule going. especially since i wasn't getting any sleep. everything had it's time even when i fed the baby so he could sleep right after. this helped me with getting in a few cat naps while the baby slept. that really helped me out since i wasn't getting any sleep at night. but for every mother it's a different thing. just try to put a little of alot of ideas together until you find your own groove.

Answer 7

Co-sleep. Honestly I am not a fan of being crowded in bed, but it is the only way I would ever get any sleep!

Oh and get a good baby carrier. I like Mei Tai and wrap styles, sling put too much weight on one shoulder.

But above all else, do what feels right for you and forget all the advice, parenting books and even your doctor. Nobody but you knows what works for you and your baby and it isn't any one else's business either!

Answer 8

I loved co-sleeping with all 3 of my children. It was also a big deal to tend to my children whenever they needed me because they have become confident. I also never fed on schedule, only on demand. And definitely don't make a child finish their plate. Of course you want to make sure that they eat some of everything, but let them quit when they are full (just don't let them lie to avoid eating those veggies!!)

Answer 9

There's this thing called the Baba Bib. It holds the bottle for you and we don't go anywhere without it! I've only seen it at Baby Depot inside Burlington Coat Factory. It has been a lifesaver whenever we go out to eat, to the store, etc. It's $12.99 and is worth every penny.

Answer 10

The book
Baby Signs
My son told me what he needed LONG before he could talk.
A must read for a new mom.