... you wish you knew as a first time parent (think... totall newbie ;)) that you learned with subsequent children :)


I'm putting together a little card/book for my friends Jenn and Andrew... they are such first timers ;)

I'd love to know some things you put in there :lol since i am such a newbie to this whole thing

SLEEP WHEN THEY SLEEP!!!

same here since i'm a new parent too but it's not a bad thing, everyone started out as a NEW parent at one point

SLEEP WHEN THEY SLEEP!!!
Exactly!!!!!

Learn to do everything with one hand (while baby is in the other arm)

do what you feel is right. Not what your mom says or some book.

cloth diapers aren't as hard as they are made out to be. They are so much better for the environment and your baby, consider using them.

Don't be afraid to let them cry a little.. Never change their diaper (as a newborn) before you feed them... Our first night home I went through so many diapers it wasn't funny. Housework can wait, GET SLEEP.. you'll need it! Oh, and all Baby Einstein products ROCK.. they're great for letting mom get a few minutes to do dishes or something.

SLEEP WHEN THEY SLEEP!!!

Learn to do everything with one hand (while baby is in the other arm)

:yes :thumbsup
And yes, you CAN spoil a baby to much (after a certain age of course).

Oh yeah: ETA.....
You do not need a quiet house when you have a sleeping baby. If you get them use to normal noise then your life will be so much easier.

:yes :thumbsup
And yes, you CAN spoil a baby to much (after a certain age of course).

Oh yeah: ETA.....
You do not need a quiet house when you have a sleeping baby. If you get them use to normal noise then your life will be so much easier.


I totally agree with that!!

sleep when they sleep

dont always sush the house when they do sleep

invest in a sling not a snuggli, they are bad for newborn hips. You can do wraps and ring slings, more info can be found at www.thebabywearer.com

Cloth diapers can be frustrating but they save you sooooooo much money.

Buy bulk at warehouse stores like costco and sams club.

When you nurse clip a pin on the strap of your bra on the side you last nursed on. Nursing always hurts when you first learn, just keep in there and meet with a LLC if you need help.

If you cant breastfeed its not the end of the world.

Babies do not have to have a bath everyday.

Its ok to hover over a sleeping baby to make sure she is breathing :lol

If you need to get a shower put the baby in the swing/bouncy in the bathroom with you. Usually it ended up putting my kids to sleep.

Swings are going to be your best friend.

It's okay for a baby to cry sometimes. All three of mine had a hard time falling asleep and staying asleep unless I let them fuss for a bit to "blow off some steam", so to speak. Crying is natural and it does not always mean a baby is uncomfortable or in pain. Sometimes they are over stimulated or just need to let some steam out.

Do not tip toe around in silence when the baby is sleeping. Keep the house going like usual. The baby will learn to sleep through the noise.

Put a fan close to their bed (bassinet or crib) but facing the opposite way, and turn it on at least medium for the white noise. Most babies sleep SO much better with white noise than in total silence.

Ocean wonders aquarium for the crib is AWESOME for babies 3+ months who are learning to fall asleep on their own and self soothe...

Your swing will be your best friend :giggle

these are great, guys, keep them coming!! :D

~trust your instincts....99.9% of the time you are right
~travel at night.....you will be so happy you did!
~books, books, books....you can never have too many!!
~it's ok to buy clothes just a little bit too big....even a day can make a difference when it comes to growing
~you don't have to spend lots of $$$ on baby detergent....any free and clear brand works good and you can use it on your clothes too
~powder formula is your best friend when your on the go!!!
~crying isn't a bad thing!
~make sure to take a moment for just the two of you atleast once a week.....even if it means a baby sitter, you will appreciate it in the end!!!

sleep like you'll never sleep again BEFORE the baby is born.
Take a short vacay with your hubby to make a few more BEFORE BABY memories.
Dont be afraid to nurse in public. Its your right.
Dont worry about your house not being as clean.
ENJOY everything. Your baby is only a baby ONCE.

those were sooo good girls :D

These girls gave some really good advice. Sleep when they sleep is almost a must.

Just because Daddy isn't doing something like Mommy, doesn't mean it's the WRONG way...

Changing a wet diaper in the middle of the night stimulates them, and the cold air on their bottom helps wake them up, and keep them up..

Even though he woke up every 2 hours to nurse, I didn't change him every two hours..

Sleep when the baby sleeps. I always tried to do housework and ran myself down bigtime.

Accpet help when offered. Its hard at first

Make nighttime dark and quiet and daytime loud and bright. This helps them not get days and nights confused. Also when night wakings happen, dont talk, coo, turn lights on etc. Use a dim nightlight, change and feed and get them back to sleep

Babies do not form bad habits until usually after 4 months. So if your baby will only sleep in a swing, arms, or whatever then go for it. Let them sleep. Start a routine and crib/bassinet later on if they wont sleep in it at first

Its ok if your house is messy and laundry is backed up. You are just learning your groove. Make sure you and baby are well taken care of first and formost.

Not all diapers are the same. If they leak try a different kind. Also when they start to leak and have blowouts it usually means it is time to move up a size.

If you feel stressed, like your gonna burst when the baby is crying and not consolable then put the baby in a nice safe place and take a minute or 2 to gather your thoughts. Babies can sense frusteration and tends to make them fussier

Nighttime is usually the time babies get the most fussy.

All babies are different and learn things at different speeds. Never compare how your baby is doing to someone elses baby. Whats normal for yours may not be normal for someone elses.

Trust your instincts. They are almost always right. Mommy intuition is real.

Don;t always tell your hubby that they are wrong or doing things wrong. This will only frusterate him and make him feel like he cannot do anything right. If the baby is fed, happy and all is well then he is doing it right

Men can go thru post partum depression too. After all it was all about mommy and baby for 9 months and then all about baby now. Make sure you are sensitive to how daddy feels too. Talk about your frusterations to one another

Get them used to noise (my mom taught me that trick), sleep when they sleep, don't buy toys they don't use them and when they get a bit older 6 months - 18 months (even older LOL) they have just as much fun playing with a box, a spatula, a mixing bowl, and measuring cups, etc. If you read the parenting books or get advice from family and friends take what works for your family and ignore the rest, always trust your gut.

Sleep when they do!

Don't worry about the house being clean 24/7!

DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP!!!

Enjoy every single second, because they fly by!

It's ok to put the baby down and do something. It's ok for them to fuss a little.

Get them into a routine from DAY ONE! Make night time a quiet routine.

Read to them when they are itty bitty, it makes a huge difference.

Don't rock them to sleep all the time. It can make it hard for them to fall asleep on their own.

thank you so much, guys!

it's ok if you're house looks like a wreck the first few months
Trust yourself and not other parents or books. DO what feels right for you!
Feeling the urge to rip you're hair out and scream from the mountain top is NORMAL mommy behavior just please refrain from getting on the roof of you're house and screaming there.
Just b/c baby is sleeping does not mean you all walk around on tippy toes. MAKE NOISE! You want you're baby to get used to sleeping with noise. (I used to be able to vaccum IN THE ROOM while the kdis slept)
Don't be afraid to ask for help

Sleep when they do!

Don't worry about the house being clean 24/7!

DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP!!!

Enjoy every single second, because they fly by!

It's ok to put the baby down and do something. It's ok for them to fuss a little.

Get them into a routine from DAY ONE! Make night time a quiet routine.

Read to them when they are itty bitty, it makes a huge difference.

Don't rock them to sleep all the time. It can make it hard for them to fall asleep on their own.

ITA with this list!!!
Except for the sleep when they do. I could never do that. I have OCD so when the kids were sleeping I was cleaning like a mad women...LOL

When my mom was pregnant, she started getting the babies on schedules by taking naps..

She would make dinner early in the afternoon, put it in the oven, then lay down and nap while dinner cooked and everyone else ate.

Then after the babies were born, they would nap during dinner so she could sit down and eat..

I really do not have much I can add to those lists. They are great already. I do not remember seeing it but always have a camera ready. You never know when you will want to make a moment a forever memory.

my number one

THEY LIKE THEIR ALONE TIME TOOO!!! me and DH have a lot of family and Ellie is ALWAYS being passed around and she HATES IT!! I try to explain that she likes to be left alone and to try and get around on her own and that she will let you know when she wants you to hold her, but it doesnt always sink in lol!

Do not be afraid to let them sleep on their tummies. It actually helps them develop their lungs. If you are uncomfortable with it, then just do it when they are taking naps during the day so you are awake to check on them.

If you can't breastfeed, DO NOT STRESS! Formula is not poison! They will thrive on it! and if you are uncomfortable breast feeding, then you can always pump, but make sure you have lots of BF pads in the diaper bag (and try and get the ones that are lined or else you'll just leak through).

Dont let some one else raise your child!!! If some one starts to but in on you being that baby's mom, you kindly tell them to back off! its your baby, they had their chance with their own!! :teehee

I'm not pregnant but I still made mental notes of all of this for the future! haha

This are wonderful!!! thanks for sharing!

If someone offers to help, TAKE IT!
Your house will be a wreck for a couple months, and its OK!
Do not leave home without a change of clothes for baby.
Formula feeding is definatly not the end of the world.
Just because dad does something differently, does not mean it is wrong.
Babies do not need to be held 24/7, laying in a swing, seat, crib, etc. will not hurt them.
Sam's Club is great for disposable diapers and wipes.
Enjoy the cuddling, they grow up so fast.

SLEEP WHEN THEY SLEEP!!!

:yes

I enjoyed meeting moms with infants while preggo to find out their take on the latest gadgets to find out what were great finds and what was a waste of money. New things r always coming out or being improved on so moms with older kids might not even know some gadgets exsist.

It's important to find a pediatrician you like and TRUST. U'll be spending a lot of time with this doctor and if ur baby gets sick, u need to know they'll make the right call in care for ur baby. If u feel like the dr is condescending or doesn't listen, don't be afraid to find a new dr. If u think there's something wrong with ur baby, u need to feel like the dr. is taking ur concerns seriously even if it turns out to be nothing.

If you don't think u'll be able to handle a house full of people soon after the birth, let everyone know before. And don't let them make u feel guilty or feel bad about staggering their visits or making them stay in hotels instead of ur house-it's about u and ur new baby/ur new family and adjusting to the new addition. Getting no sleep with a newborn is exhausting enough without having to take care of a house full of guests or even having that much noise/people around while u try to sleep during the day when baby sleeps. Not to mention learning to breastfeed every couple hours around people u don't want seeing ur breasts (cuz u won't be good enough at that point to have learned how to do it with a blanket covering u, and who wants to have to run to another room every time they need to feed, especially if ur in a 2 story and had a c-section and don't really have another place to go).

these are wonderful tips ladies-I'm going to keep note of these for when I need them!

Some tips I got from my mom was:

*Don't feel bad for asking for help or someone to come help you in the beginning it's HUGE adjustment for you.
*Sleep when that baby sleeps because as tired as you are now you'll never know how tired you'll truely be after the baby is here so sleep a lot during your pregnancy you'll never get it back.
*my mom told me she'd put me down for bed then do a load of laundry, pick up the house, prepare bottles for the next day, make sure clothes for me were ready and the house was ready since she didn't have time during the day(my mom is still likes this she picks up before bed because she hates starting the day with a dirty house)
*Always bring a few change of clothes for the baby because they WILL make a mess
*Trust your instincts it's almost always right
*don't be afraid to let them cry it's healthy(obviously after a certain age)