First time parent advice, tips, tricks, etc.
- Thread starter derpyherky
- Start date
Babies love chest naps. At least ours did. Dad can definitely get all up in that!
You can teach your kid a type of sign language before they are able to talk. My boss's wife did this with their three kids and could communicate with them better because of it.
When your wife is in labor, do NOT try to breathe with her. My wife yelled at me to stop breathing when she was at about 9 cm. I think that at the time she meant forever.
Without reading everything else already said.
A) people have been having babies for 1,000s of years, your baby will survive most any small thing don't overreact, attempt to be the calming influence to scary situations.
B) you certainly will be overly cautious with the first, everyone is, see post A for why not to get too worked up about things. (yes I realize A & B are the same said differently, but it is important)
C) When in target/grocery store, keep the baby bundled up, grandma's love to touch babies, it is like they are trying to steal their youth or something.
D) If your wife and baby are in good health after birth, go home and get one last good night's sleep, cause you won't for a long time after.
E) as a man in the relationship, you no longer matter, your big days are no longer of consequence, accept it drink a glass of your favorite spirit in celebration of yourself and move on.
F) Women tend you get what is coming prior to birth, me and at least my friends didn't seem to get it until it happens, but when it hits, it comes fast and the change is permanent and you won't want to trade it for anything else. So do the honey duelist, not because you think it is important but because your wife understands what you are undertaking before you ever will.
G) they will put your parents into perspective
H) Love the ever-living **** out of that baby, cause nothing in your life will ever matter as much as they do, they will piss you off, they will make you crazy, but they will melt your heart and make you feel things you didn't know existed.
Good luck!
A) people have been having babies for 1,000s of years, your baby will survive most any small thing don't overreact, attempt to be the calming influence to scary situations.
B) you certainly will be overly cautious with the first, everyone is, see post A for why not to get too worked up about things. (yes I realize A & B are the same said differently, but it is important)
C) When in target/grocery store, keep the baby bundled up, grandma's love to touch babies, it is like they are trying to steal their youth or something.
D) If your wife and baby are in good health after birth, go home and get one last good night's sleep, cause you won't for a long time after.
E) as a man in the relationship, you no longer matter, your big days are no longer of consequence, accept it drink a glass of your favorite spirit in celebration of yourself and move on.
F) Women tend you get what is coming prior to birth, me and at least my friends didn't seem to get it until it happens, but when it hits, it comes fast and the change is permanent and you won't want to trade it for anything else. So do the honey duelist, not because you think it is important but because your wife understands what you are undertaking before you ever will.
G) they will put your parents into perspective
H) Love the ever-living **** out of that baby, cause nothing in your life will ever matter as much as they do, they will piss you off, they will make you crazy, but they will melt your heart and make you feel things you didn't know existed.
Good luck!
Congrats! We are already in month number 7 with our first. As others have said, it goes fast so just enjoy the journey. Sleepless nights are an early phase that will go away in a few months.
Don't buy too many of early sizes clothing. Our family (and we) bought a ton of 0-3 months and 3-6 month clothing which our son outgrew at 8 weeks.
Keep the screens away. I am amazed at how many parents use videos such as baby Einstein to occupy 3-12 month olds! Get a play mat with toys and lay with your child on floor as they play. They will love that more.
Do not get a baby on board sticker for your car. People who are distracted drivers aren't going to drive safer because of it and you are letting any creeper out there know you have a baby in the car.
The Chicco Keyfit stroller and travel system is the best investment you can get. Basically a carrier that can switch from car to shoulder, to stroller with just a pull of a lever. The stroller also folds instantly with the pull of another lever.
Bottle warmers are another great investment. Much faster (and safer) than a microwave or putting under hot water in the sink.
Don't buy too many of early sizes clothing. Our family (and we) bought a ton of 0-3 months and 3-6 month clothing which our son outgrew at 8 weeks.
Keep the screens away. I am amazed at how many parents use videos such as baby Einstein to occupy 3-12 month olds! Get a play mat with toys and lay with your child on floor as they play. They will love that more.
Do not get a baby on board sticker for your car. People who are distracted drivers aren't going to drive safer because of it and you are letting any creeper out there know you have a baby in the car.
The Chicco Keyfit stroller and travel system is the best investment you can get. Basically a carrier that can switch from car to shoulder, to stroller with just a pull of a lever. The stroller also folds instantly with the pull of another lever.
Bottle warmers are another great investment. Much faster (and safer) than a microwave or putting under hot water in the sink.
When you're
Make sure the car seat you buy will actually fit in your vehicle, and that you and your wife will still have enough room to be comfortable (for me it was goodbye truck hello SUV for her).
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+1 on the Chicco and +10 on the bottle warmer. We didn't have the bottle warmer until baby #2. Bad call on our part.
Just used microwave and a thermometer + stirring over here. No solid research on it not being safe (outside the risk of hot spotting).
If looking for good ideas on no-screen interaction with your child (we are fairly screen-free with our toddler), Bright From the Start is a great book for that. Honestly the best toys for babies under a year are a $3 set of stacking cups, a mirror and/or mobile to watch......and your face (or stick them under a ceiling fan!). Your face will be their fave.
Love the Chicco infant seat but got a better stroller w/ an adapter.
Your mileage may vary on sleepless nights ending after a few months
Different strokes and all.
If looking for good ideas on no-screen interaction with your child (we are fairly screen-free with our toddler), Bright From the Start is a great book for that. Honestly the best toys for babies under a year are a $3 set of stacking cups, a mirror and/or mobile to watch......and your face (or stick them under a ceiling fan!). Your face will be their fave.
Love the Chicco infant seat but got a better stroller w/ an adapter.
Your mileage may vary on sleepless nights ending after a few months
Different strokes and all.
Also I hated our baby bathtub (which we got used, btw, lots of stuff is SUPER cheap on FB marketplace so definitely check that out because babies outgrow so much of this stuff so fast). When he was itty bitty, I held him the shower and rinsed him quick and then set him in the rock n play if I was alone (ergh, guess that's a no now??), when he was bigger but not sitting up, we went back to the tub and once he was stable, I brought the tub back into the shower and let him sit in it with some toys. Now he can walk and we still primarily shower to save time and our backs. If you're going to use the tub, get a little stool!
Be sure to follow your nesting instincts, and start a major bathroom remodel, the week everyone comes home. You will receive loving accolades for years, even decades, after.
Just used microwave and a thermometer + stirring over here. No solid research on it not being safe (outside the risk of hot spotting).
If looking for good ideas on no-screen interaction with your child (we are fairly screen-free with our toddler), Bright From the Start is a great book for that. Honestly the best toys for babies under a year are a $3 set of stacking cups, a mirror and/or mobile to watch......and your face (or stick them under a ceiling fan!). Your face will be their fave.
Love the Chicco infant seat but got a better stroller w/ an adapter.
Your mileage may vary on sleepless nights ending after a few months
Different strokes and all.
For kiddo number 1, we were anti screen time. Except Cyclone sporting events, because of course, and Texans football, because Momma likes JJ Watt.
Kid number 2 comes around, she's watching whatever kiddo number 1 is watching.
Sorry, I'm doing like a bajillion posts. So I'm guessing your baby is due a bit ahead of my midsummer baby and the advice on not getting lots of newborn clothes is pretty good. Now, maybe it'd be different with a girl, but our boy ran very warm. So unless we had visitors or left the house (in the car, not the stroller), he was in a diaper and a muslin swaddle. Unless you keep the AC way low or something. He had a lot of newborn clothes that he never wore and even more that he wore maybe 1-2 times. And when he started daycare we just sent him in sleepers. Didn't bother changing unless he got dirty overnight (which unless a diaper leaks or spit up, they aren't doing a whole lot overnight generally)
Daycare had pajama day once a month? Lol, every day is pajama day. I wouldn't bother with shirts and pants until they are moving more. Easier for daycare to change diapers when they're in sleepers anyway.
Daycare had pajama day once a month? Lol, every day is pajama day. I wouldn't bother with shirts and pants until they are moving more. Easier for daycare to change diapers when they're in sleepers anyway.
