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birdynumnums
writes:One of our agony aunts is going to have a baby soon, so I thought it might be nice to send her our best wishes and our tips, the practices on parenting that we have learned from our experiences! I'll start the ball rolling - - If you don't want a ten year old child jumping on the bed, then don't let a one year old do it! A child doesn't understand WHY he is suddenly not allowed to do it (and he probably won't stop...)- Make up the crib in "layers" - a waterproof sheet, a flat sheet, a waterproof sheet, a flat sheet - etc. I used to have 5 or 6 sets on the bed. That way, changing a leaky baby who has wet the bed or been sick in the middle of the night can be easily remedied! Use LOW lighting, a night light near the change area so you can see, so that the baby doesn't wake up fully. A quick change of PJ's and a box of baby wipes, and toss ALL the wet dirty laundry get onto the dirty sheet on the crib. Once the baby is ready, you can just peel off the top layer with the wet clothes wrapped inside the rubber sheet beneath and the you can put the baby, and you, back to bed in a flash! The bed is dry, the mess is contained and the laundry can wait until tomorrow! - NO One will love your child as much as you OR know him better - so trust in your own judgement.- There will come a time when you make a mistake parenting, but don't let it rattle you. Others will make you feel that you have to be infallible as a parent, but your first job is simply to love them, and you are already do that better than anyone else!I'm sure others out there have a few tips! Reply to this Article
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female
reader, birdynumnums +, writes (28 July 2009):
birdynumnums is verified as being by the original poster of the question Thanks Gina! I had forgotten - one of the side benefits of having a new baby is making new friends and bonding with a new group! The friends that I made after my kids were born were amazing, I hadn't made friends like that since grade school! I just went on a boating trip this weekends with a group of ladies who call themselves the YaYa's - there were grandmas and widows amongst them - and they had all met while raising their kids! It's a bonus of having a baby, new friends and new experiences!
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reader, anonymous, writes (28 July 2009): Gina, why is it important not to be surrounded in just you and baby?
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reader, birdynumnums +, writes (28 July 2009):
birdynumnums is verified as being by the original poster of the questionThanks Uncle Phil! Little boys christen every parent at least once - but you learn quick!
And Thank You eyes! I wish I had known about the lowering your voice thing. And the snowsuit one too! I, unfortunately, had a December baby and an October baby - and they sure hate those snowsuits...
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reader, anonymous, writes (28 July 2009): When changing a nappy (diaper) with baby on the floor on a changing mat, ensure that baby's arse is pointing away from you.
Never, ever, pick up a baby by the armpits and hold it in the air at face level to watch it laugh joyfully without first ensuring it's wearing a nappy.
There could be more - it's a long time ago now!
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reader, eyeswideopen  +, writes (28 July 2009):
 When dealing with a toddler's temper tantrum lower your voice so he/she has to turn down their screaming in order to hear what you are saying. Works like a charm.
Put a little sugar on the tip of a spoon or pacifier and touch baby's tongue to stop hiccups.
Never buy a sliperry nylon snowsuit because when they do that "I'm mad so I'll make myself stiff as a board" thing that babies do, they won't go flying out of your arms.
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reader, birdynumnums +, writes (28 July 2009):
birdynumnums is verified as being by the original poster of the questionHi Sincerely Yours!
Congratulations on your new arrival!
It's amazing that you had a chance to write in with such a little one in the house and thanks for the contribution!
I just wanted to say not to worry about the woman who was rude to you in the store. It has always amazed me that this is the hardest job in the world and one that comes without a manual, and ~Everyone Knows This~ *hellooo* , and yet they still feel that it is their place to criticize a new mother! Yes, it happened to me as well, and more than once. I can only tell you what you already know, they were wrong AND rude, and you either have to grow a thicker skin or a bigger mouth - LOL! The total opposite of this problem is a lot of well meaning advice, usually from a relative, that we can take the wrong way, as criticism, probably because we are anxious to do a great job and sensitive AND hormonal after just giving birth - so be on guard - You don't wish to alienate potential BABYSITTERS!!! And, I just thought of one more tip for new moms - told to me by our Lamaze teacher...
Sit your husband down and teach him to throw this line out the window and not to ask it for the next year - "What did you do today, Honey?". There are days when I could have throttled my husband when he looked around the house and asked that...
XXX
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reader, anonymous, writes (26 July 2009): I believe i know who you're writing this in honour of and that's very sweet.
Well, i've had mine only for about three weeks and a couple days.. so the only suggestions i really have for you right now are:
if breastfeeding, get a pump asap! It's so much easier to pump in between feedings so that you can keep track of how much your baby eats, plus it spares you the nipples aches! mine were bleeding before they finally got used to the sucking but i have my pump now so thank goodness. Also, keep some formula so that you don't do what i just did today: stop halfway trhough a feeding to run out and get some because you've realized you don't have any milk left for you baby!
Don't forget to sterilize (boil five minutes) the water or buy the baby water.
Don't leave your baby alone even for a second on your bed without having him/her laying on top of a cloth. (i'm convinced they watch for you to leave the room and then spit up).
Babies love being swaddled.. they sleep better.
Go ahead and get a baby sling thing for the grocery store so he/she will sleep and you don't have to deal with screaming baby in store.
Prepare for people to be rude I think: I was in the store, and holding my daugther so she wouldn't cry, and i put her down for a second to help a lady and she started to cry. As soon as i turned my back from the lady i had just helped, she said "why don't you make your baby shut up!" Yup.. people WILL go there..
Anyway.. that's all i got! Goodluck!
~Sy.
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