What is the best piece of advice you were given about bringing home a newborn baby?

Question

Besides "Dont listen to anyones advice" ?

Answer 1

I havent brought my son home yet he is still currently incarcerated in me =] but I have also heard sleep when he sleeps ( I raised my nephew and also got this advice ), make sure you still take care of yourself as well as baby, its ok if you dont look like the moms in magazines everyone rushes out of the house sometiems forgetting to brush there teeth, dont forget to eat, dont be afraid to ask for help if you need it even if it is from family members so you can just go for a walk for 10-15 minutes, make sure you dont let this time pass you by and take it for granted, its normal to feel frustrated and overwhelmed at times, baby blues is also normal but if you have and dark or dangerous thoughts go to your doctor, have someone you can talk too even if it isnt another mom, and play dates even this young can be for moms benefit as well. Sorry i know that was a lot

Answer 2

Have a babymoon! Sort of like a honeymoon, but time devoted to getting to know your new baby.

If possible, get someone to help with the cooking and cleaning. Don't worry about entertaining guests - encourage family and friends to keep visits short and to a minimum (unless they are doing a load of laundry for you or cooking a meal while they are there!). Spend the time relaxing and recovering and focusing on the baby and as little else as possible. Hold and the cuddle the baby as much as you can because babies are little for such a short time and soon they will be big kids who want to be off doing there own thing.

Also breastfeeding will be much easier if you know more and have a support network built beforehand. So read good books about it and find out about LLL and lactation consultants in your area. That way if mom should happen to have any trouble, help will be close at hand and any little problems can be taken care of before they become big problems.

Answer 3

When you need help. Ask for it, many women feel embarrassed to ask and feel that they have to do it all themselves. Bringing home a new baby is sooooo tough, Ive done it twice. I am so thankful for not being afraid to ask for help. It makes a huge difference. I had friends come over to do the littlest things, such as cook dinner, do dishes, play with my other child or take him for the day, The best thing was when someone would come over and demand that I have a nap. My other half works out of town, so without friends I would have been a mess. I actually had a good friend stay with me for the first couple of days with my second ( her choice) and she actually got up with my baby the first night home. It was the same day that she was born and I was exhausted. I told her to wake me up if she heard my daughter but she didn't. Great friend hey? Good Luck

Answer 4

on the actual bringing home side, make sure you have a nice blanket cos newborns get cold easily. you probably wont sleep at first anyway cos you will just lie staring at your newborn baby in complete disbelief.
newborns sleep 18 hours a day so sleep isn't so much of a problem at first but when they hit about 2 months they are awake a lot longer.
it's all pretty easy really.

Answer 5

Sleep Sleep Sleep when you can. That was a mistake i made. I was sooooo worried about the baby i could not sleep. Your baby and you will be fine. Let your worries go and get as much rest as you can. Trust me you will hear your baby cry. Just make sure you take in every little moment. Pictures Pictures once they grow up you wish for nothing more then for them just to be lilttle again and sleeping in your arms. Good Luck and Congrats

Answer 6

No, you mustn't have a toddler now. Get some extra coaching, and once you have already got jobs (you and the boyfriend) with stability and good wages, besides as an excellent place to stay and a few funds saved, then have a toddler. you will no longer be apologetic approximately waiting, yet having a toddler at this sort of youthful age will replace your lives invariably, and you will never have the skill to pass lower back to the place you have been.

Answer 7

wear your baby. I know it sounds wierd but I had a preemie and all babies full term or not have weak immune systems. The idea behind it (other than the baby feels secure) is that if you are out in public shopping or whatever and baby is in a stroller or baby carrier, all sorts of people with germy hands will touch your baby and get in his face and just get their germs all over him. If baby is in a sling then people will respect your own personal space and not want to get that close to you (especially your breast where baby will be) and they will just look at baby instead of having to touch him. Then you can decide who can touch him and at least if someone does it's more likely to be someone who you know alittle better. Good luck!

Answer 8

Always make the baby feel super-safe and secure and treasured, and respect the fact that the baby is a separate little individual who is not a part of you and not your possession.

Talk (and sometimes sing) to your baby from the day you bring him or her home.

Remember that even though he/she doesn't do much that doesn't mean his/her brain isn't on high-speed development; so don't wait until the baby starts to "do things" or "show personality" before you start thinking about brain development.

Answer 9

Common answer that everyone will say... sleep when baby sleeps! I found that tough to do with both my kids - but then I was blessed with kids who started sleeping overnight at 3 weeks and 6 weeks old.

My personal advice.... pictures, pictures, pictures! Snap them like crazy! Nothing melts my heart like looking back at baby pictures and remembering all these memories. If you're a crafter - make scrapbooks!

Answer 10

I like the four S's my friend told me, they take care of both of you :Sleep when baby sleeps, Shushing, Shaking(bouncing gently up and down, not really shaking) and Swaddle. The first applies to mom, and the other three are the top three ways to soothe a newborn. Enjoy your little one!