Tips for first time mums...

[Hayden&Ryan&Joel]

I was just thinking about all the things i would have LOVED to have known about when i first had my bub, and what i would share with those having their first bubs... and thought maybe we could share it here.

New mums can pick and choose what they want to use, but just thought it would be a good place to start!


For me... Bonds clothing, especially wondersuits and cosy cuff suits... Buy one size bigger than you actually want. Their 000 is really more a 0000 size.

Buy way more 000 than 0000 as they will only spend a few weeks in the smaller size (or if they are my kids, miss 0000 all together! :laughing:)


Also, i wish i had NEVER spent all that money on a high chair. I HATED mine, and fed the kids more on my lap, in their bouncer or sitting on the floor until i got my FP portable booster chair that straps onto the normal dining room chairs. This is the best thing i ever bought i think! as it lasts for ages, is EASY to clean as there is no fabric bits for food to get stuck in, and the trays go in the dishwasher. and was 1/3 of the price of the high chair i originally bought! Highly recommend skipping the normal high chair and going straight to one like that!


what else?

[sarahsboys]

My experience was a bit different, my DS1 absolutley loved his high chair, I had the prima pappa peg perego one. It goes from a high chair to low chair. I had to bribe him out of it so i could use it for DS2.

Also i have had 2 small bubs (6 pounds) so each time I have had not enough small clothes as everyone seems to buy size 000, and mine were in 00000, and 0000 for at least the first few months.

One thing that I couldn't have lived without with DS2 was a motorised swing, its fantastic and can be used from new born til about 6 months, and it swung in both direction. Kept bub off the floor from my adventurous 22 month old.

Those having their second I would highly recommend a baby casule. As i could take bub anywhere and he would stay asleep, allowing me to focus my attention on DS1 more.

Thats it for now, if I think of more I will post them:ecomcity:

[Aysha'sMummy]

Thanks for the tips girls this will come in really handy for us first timers

i don't plan on buying a high chair i just want the one that sit on a normal dinning chair i think that would come in handy alot more... also i don't want a change table as i think the baby will grow out of it quite quickly and plus you can change them on the floor or lounge or where ever

Looking forward to more tips

[poppet]

Oh great idea

Just a few tips for hospital

Even if you have a CS you still bleed, so make sure you have enough pads.

If you plan to breastfeed, take some Lasinoh cream in with you, oh so soothing on those poor cracked nipples.

For later

Mothers group was a godsend, give it a go even if you don't think its your cup of tea, what have you got to loose. It is very reassuring talking to other mums with bubs the same age as yours.

Don't buy too many Going out clothes for bubs, wondersuits at home, at bonds stretchies are a godsend.

DD absolutley loved her jolly jumper, cannot reccomend it enough.

When I think of some more I'll let you know.

[only1mica]

hold your baby!!! dont ever think that you are going to spoil them...they are babies and they need to be close to their mums to feel safe and loved...put them in a sling.
They change so quickly...even if they arent great sleepers....it will change...there is light at the end of the tunnel, you will look back when they are 9, 12, 18 months and think its gone so quick!
Get help if you think you have PND...dont try and lie to yourself.
BFing does not come naturally to everyone...expect pain lol it is a learned art...give yourself at least 3-4 months to give it a good go...the rewards are amazing
dont read books about routines etc my 1st never slept longer than 40mins during the day...it is the way they are designed for a reason
Co-sleep...but safely...read up on thiswell they are my tips...will post again if I have missed anything

[Hayden&Ryan&Joel]

hold your baby!!! dont ever think that you are going to spoil them...they are babies and they need to be close to their mums to feel safe and loved...put them in a sling.
They change so quickly...even if they arent great sleepers....it will change...there is light at the end of the tunnel, you will look back when they are 9, 12, 18 months and think its gone so quick!
Get help if you think you have PND...dont try and lie to yourself.
BFing does not come naturally to everyone...expect pain lol it is a learned art...give yourself at least 3-4 months to give it a good go...the rewards are amazing

TOTALLY agree with these! get yourself a great sling (try them on and just don't get one cos of the brand name) find one that suits you.

And the breastfeeding... if you choose to do it, as Mel said... lansinoh is great for the nipples! It hurts at first, but most people get past this within about 6 or so weeks.

Oh... i forgot my best hospital tip...

Splash out and take expensive, really SOFT toilet paper with you... and plenty of it. It is well worth the extra money, and you don't want to be using cheap and nasty stuff after the birth!

[Alisonp]

Great tips guys :yes: I'm nodding my head at almost everything said already.

Birth - I have no advice because everyone's experience is so different...It's so hard to imagine what it is really like until it's happening to you.

Breastfeeding - No matter how much you think you know in theory, breastfeeding a hungry newborn can be bloody difficult and practise makes perfect...in most cases things will improve in time.

Routines - I'm not a big fan of routines in the first few months at least (oh I sound so wise...coming from me who owned several of those evil books :rolleyes:). Take your time to get to know your baby and don't feel bad if they don't sleep as much as they are supposed to. Also, be prepared to be shocked by how much attention one little baby needs...the first few months can be really exhausting.

Baby stuff - Although baby shopping is fun :D don't spend all your time stressing about buying every little gadget that is available. All you really need are the basics...most of the other stuff just ends up cluttering up your life.

[snapcracklepop]

:iagree: with all the above posts.

Dont use honey to soothe a baby. It can kill. Honey contains botulism spores and a baby younger than 12 months doesnt have a natural immunity to botulism- like we do. Its one thing i made sure no-one gave DS.

If you cant BF no matter how hard you try, dont beat yourself up. Formula may not be the best for your baby, but if you need to, dont stress about using it. My milk dried up really quickly and i used formula on DS, he is now a very very smart lil man.

If someone offers you some time out, take it. Even if it is just to have a bath, do your hair, have a coffee, it will be a blessing in disguise.

When someone suggests a different way to do something, they dont think you are doing it wrong, its just something they found works and want to share their life saver with you.

If you feel as though life is getting too tough, and things are getting on top of you, go outside (by yourself) and take 5 deep breaths. Every problem seems smaller once there are no walls confining you.

Bubhub operates 24/7. There is always someone to talk to. Even if you just want to say hi, some will reply.

[only1mica]

Splash out and take expensive, really SOFT toilet paper with you... and plenty of it. It is well worth the extra money, and you don't want to be using cheap and nasty stuff after the birth!

oh yeah...i always knew that I wanted SOFT tp....we werent really prepaired with a bag for the hospy...so i got DH to go to the shop while i was in labour to buy me some good stuff lol - dont regret it at all :D
so much better than the 1ply sand paper they have at hospy :laughing:

[Rachael]

also i don't want a change table as i think the baby will grow out of it quite quickly and plus you can change them on the floor or lounge or where ever

Looking forward to more tips

Just a response to this so that I can hopefully save your back :)

Get a change table!!!!! at 19months old I still change my DS on the change table, I went without a changetable when he was 14months old for about a month due to renovations and shifting and it killed my back :( Plus a change table keeps them in one spot!


Lots of breast pads is a must!
Take a monthly photo from time of birth, it is amazing to see them change so much and you want to capture that!

[Amira]

Some great advice already given so i'll try and add a few in no particular order :)

*write everything down. All the little milestones i was so sure i'd remember i now struggle to recall.

*if your family is like mine and worry about you just try and realise they mean well and try not to let it annoy you.

*get good comfortable bra's and undies. With my daughter i ended up with alot of stretch marks on my boobs cause they were so sore during pregnancy that i went without while at home.

*while everyone loves to give advice, just smile and nod. Dont let people upset you alot mean well and some people just think they're experts.

*2nd hand shopping will save you a small fortune. Just remember to wash it all when you get it home. I picked up everything from my change table to all in ones and bibs and so many items.

*discuss birth control for after bubs arrival with your partner sooner then later.

*birth plans are great but my best advice is to just learn as much as you canbefore hand but dont feel bad if you have to give into pain relief or things have to change with your birth plan. Bub and nature are in control :)

*remember that every pregnancy and baby are different. Just because it worked for someone with their baby doesnt mean it will for your baby. My daughter loved cuddles and being wrapped. Where my niece absolutely hated it and only now at 1yr old is she becomming a cuddle bunny.

PS The idea with the toilet paper is by far the best idea i've seen so far. I didnt even think of it!

[Alisonp]

* LOL I do agree about the changetable. My DD has only just recently toilet trained and we were still using it right up until then (and the last few days due to gastro). It does keep everything nice and neat too and within easy reach.

* I do agree about the soft toilet paper too although my hospital last time had nice paper so I didn't need what I packed.

* Get a tube of lansinoh cream for your nipples. That stuff is fantastic.

* Also, pack a couple of different types of maternity pads. I had a big episiotomy to heal and I surprisingly found the more expensive type irritated things and the giant Kotex surfboards were actually softer (for me). Oh and ask for those little frozen blocks to put in your undies...wonderful pain relief! My hospital stocked a little mini-freezer with them in the hallway.

* Some people (including me) don't like the disposable nursing pads. I ended up getting the washable cloth ones and they were a lot more comfortable. They are pretty expensive to buy initially but you use them over and over again.

[shereejoy]

It is so hard isn't cause every bub is different.

But in our experience, everyone bought us such big sizes that we didn't have any 0000 and 000 and Lachlan was in 0000 for atleast 4mths. He was a little bub and wasn't thriving as he should have. He is still in 00-0 and is 20mths old. So needless to say we got very good use out of our clothes.

[LJ]

This thread has been such a great help reading over all the advice and tips!! I do have a few questions though...:o

When did your boobs first start leaking??

How many (surfboard pads lol) should you have packed into the hospital bag and when should your hospital bag be packed by??

How many comfy PJ's should you take and being in the middle of winter will fanalette (sp?) be a better option???

Im really hoping I'll be able to breastfeed, although the chances are not looking very good, so I'd like to be prepared with a tin of formula if all attempts fail... what is the best type for newborn?

As for the change tables I have just bought myself a change matress and situated it on a nice set of draws. Good height, plenty of storage and the right width. So I think this will work for me well, however if I do see a nice second hand one on wheels I'd love it, as from my previous nanny positions I've found it comes in handy just to wheel the whole change table to the bathroom when bathing the bubs & everything is right at hand! :thumbsup:

[Hayden&Ryan&Joel]

When did your boobs first start leaking?? Mine didn't till after bubs was born and i started breastfeeding. But i have friends who's started in pregnancy. But with me, it was about day 2 when my milk comes in.

How many (surfboard pads lol) should you have packed into the hospital bag and when should your hospital bag be packed by?? I pack my bags really early, cos i get a bit excited! LOL I will probably have them all packed by 30 weeks, and bubs i will probably pack before then! HAHA
Pads, i usually take 2 packs, but have extras at home for DH to bring in, just incase i need more. I went through a pack a day with DS2 for the first week.
How many comfy PJ's should you take and being in the middle of winter will fanalette (sp?) be a better option??? I usally take 2 sets of PJ's, but i take 3 LS tops, and 4 pairs of tracksuit pants (incase i leak through the pants... not nice, but i bleed really heavy after bubs) as the hospital prefers mums to be dressed during the day, as we are not sick, and therefore shouldn't moap in our PJ's all day. I feel better with that anyway.
With my hospital, i just go my normal long sleeve pj's which i find plenty warm enough as the hospital is heated anyway.... and i get hotter than i get cold.

[WorkingClassMum]

No two babies are the same - even twins

Siblings will not always be friends

You may not always like what your child does, but a mother will always love their child

Your baby is not a mini-you. They are the product of two people and many different families and genetics

Don't buy too many soft toys - they are dust catchers and rarely played with

You may lose your identity for a while - you are not Missy Who-So-Ever anymore - you are Such & Such's mum. You even disappear for a month or so. Family don't notice you much anymore - "Where's my Grandchild/niece/little mate?"

All those questions for the last nine months suddenly become Overloaded Advice - She's hungry/hot/cold/tired/just woken/teething/being spoily. Have you tried.....? You've overdressed him/her and she doesn't have enough clothes on. You didn't/did have hair by this age, She should be sleeping on her own in a bassinet in a cot in a bed. He should be rolling/crawling/walking/running/teething/eating solids/being toilet trained/left alone/never left alone by now?

:o oops - too much advise

[WorkingClassMum]

When did your boobs first start leaking??



With DS - when I was 6 months pregnant!

With DD - never - my milk never really came in

[only1mica]

one other one i was thinking of....which really shocked me...birthing the placenta really, really hurt!:o

[snapcracklepop]

When did your boobs first start leaking??
Mine started during pregnancy, so start stocking up on breast pads now.
How many (surfboard pads lol) should you have packed into the hospital bag and when should your hospital bag be packed by??
I would take 2-3 with you to hospy, but have some at home that someone can bring in for you.
How many comfy PJ's should you take and being in the middle of winter will fanalette (sp?) be a better option???
I am going to be buying 2 pairs of flannies, and taking yoga pants (you know the thin trackies) to wear during the day.
Im really hoping I'll be able to breastfeed, although the chances are not looking very good, so I'd like to be prepared with a tin of formula if all attempts fail... what is the best type for newborn?
We used 2 different ones before settling on Heinz. Each baby is different.

Also have spare pj's ready for later in pregnancy as i remember sweating like crazy, waking up in the middle of the night covered in sweat. Its gross.

Dont feel embarassed to ask questions. Those of us who have had children forget some of the first questions that mum to be want to ask. So ask away!!!!

[Hayden&Ryan&Joel]

Dont feel embarassed to ask questions. Those of us who have had children forget some of the first questions that mum to be want to ask. So ask away!!!!
:iagree:

[Jaileth]

have to agree with the soft toilet paper! lol

take things as they come and be kind to yourself.

Take a break when you can

Sleep when possible

shop around for things.

second hand shops are great! Just wash it all first. (my mum went around to them for me to pick up the things I requested as by 8mths preg, I couldn't fit down the ilse)

Use the advice that feels right for you

Try different types of diapers - for our boy we found that the wollies ones were the best and that huggies and snugglers were just too small.

Get things that are easy to clean - including clothes. Things like wool may look great but can be scratchy and take forever to dry.

Get some baby washing powder to do your baby sheets and clothes in so everything is ready to wear.

Keep change things close to the change table - and get the diaper ready to go before taking clothes off!

Get some cloth nappies to use as 'burp rags' - fold them in half and throw over your shoulder - a clothing saver, especially when bub is on formula and you wear white. Take spare ones everywhere. they can be used as little blankets in the car too (if they're clean)

[Jaileth]

When did your boobs first start leaking??
at about 20wks with ds - not much, just enough to leave marks on whatever bra I was wearing, but by 30wks I needed breast pads. I'm 16eks at the momet, and they've started up again :rolleyes:

How many (surfboard pads lol) should you have packed into the hospital bag and when should your hospital bag be packed by?? lol - I think I had 3 or 4 surfboard packs. A great tip if you're bleeding really really heavily is to put one on top of the other, they soak up more and it's great if you're worried about untimely leaks.
I had my bag packed by about 30 wks, but I hate being caught out - I'd have it packed by the latest at 36wks.

How many comfy PJ's should you take and being in the middle of winter will fanalette (sp?) be a better option???
I'd say 3 or 4 sets, but something that will be comfy and loose around your waist still.

Im really hoping I'll be able to breastfeed, although the chances are not looking very good, so I'd like to be prepared with a tin of formula if all attempts fail... what is the best type for newborn?
I actually had this happen to me - we got back from the hospital around 10 at night and I sent dh out to get some formula or else! so it pays to have some on hand. We used the S26, and tried a few others, but always came back to that one. Chemists that have the baby nurse checkup thingy may give you some samples of different types so you don't have to buy a whole tin to find out which one your bub will like.

[Melmc]

Thanks everyone for all the awesome advice - it all makes so much sense but might never have occured to me!

I'd love an opinion on the basinette. Do we really need one. Other options I've thought about are the snuggle bed or the preston ezee rocker...anyone got any idea? I'd just rather spend the money on soemthing our baby will use for longer than a few months.

[OopsieDaisy]

Nope you don't NEED a bassinette :no: :)

[shereejoy]

Mel - we borrowed a bassinette last time, but this time don't have access to it. We bought a portacot with a basinette in it last time and never used it. I think I might buy a snugglebed and put the sugglebed inside the top of the portacot where the bassinette is. It really isn't comfy hence why I think I need a snugglebed. Then they go into their cot and use the snugglebed their too!

[neostudded]

Vacum cleaners
WORK WONDERS
at settling a colicky baby.


:valentine:
:goodvibes:I love my vacum cleaner :goodvibes:

[Melmc]

THanks for the advice on the snuggle bed, that's what I'm really leaning towards, and putting it straight in the cot. Friends of mine have also said they've used it like a portcot when they have visited, just put it on a bed ( a large one...near the middle!).

We ahven't really bought anything much for the baby yet. I'm a teacher and just waiting for the next holidays to get ourselves really set up.

[Alisonp]

Mel - We used a basinette because it was a gift from family but you definitely don't need one. DD was in it less than 6weeks because she grew too tall so I'm glad we didn't pay for it (although we did buy a new mattress and sheets etc).

[M~T~J~M]

Some tips from me:

* Don't pussy foot around a sleeping baby! Keep going on with your normal daily happenings when bubs is asleep, otherwise you'll find yourself with a baby that will only sleep in absolute quiet!

* Also, with sleep times - Son't close the curtains during day sleeps. If you want to darken the room a little, close them only half way. You don't want your baby to get day and night confused by having the curtains closed through the day for sleeps, then through the night....baby won't be be able to differentiate bewteen the two.

* Try not to get too carried away with the latest FADS for babies! Some things do really look cool, but in reality, sometimes just end up costing a fortune and you'll hardly ever use them :)

* Whilst in hospital, put your foot down and request that FAMILY ONLY visit you. You may feel rude for excluding your friends, but if you have visiting hours open to every Tom, **** and Harry, you'll never get enough rest. When announcing the birth the friends, perhaps add at the end that you'll be having a welcoming baby home party a few weeks after bringing baby home in which they can come and meet the new arrival then :)

* Don't let anyone tell you what to do with your baby! She/He's your responsibilty and you'll figure out the best way to deal with the situations you may find yourself in. Just because something worked for Mary down the street, doesn't mean it's going to work for you, and there's no point in getting your self stressed out about whtn it doesn't :)

* Try and get yourself out of the house every day. Even if it's just for a walk around the block, you'll feel a lot better for it.

* Make sure you make all family and friends aware that you'd like them to call first before popping in! This can be so annoying and frustrating if you've just got bubs down for a sleep, and you're off for one yourself, then the door bell rings!

If I think of anymore, I'll be back to add them!

[Hayden&Ryan&Joel]

I certainly agree with sarah's tips RE sleeping.

My 2 boys were good sleepers, and can pretty much go to sleep in whatever noise there is. I can even vacuum their rooms at night while they sleep. When i first brought them home i used a bassinette. (NO you don't NEED one, you don't really need anything other than a cot!) But i liked having the bassinet out where ever i was. I could wheel it around the house if i needed. Especially when i had my 2nd born. Because i could keep an eye on bubs, and make sure ryan hadn't thrown toys etc on him. I also liked that i could sleep him where ever i wanted him in the house. Could move him in next to my bed if he was having a bad night, so that i didn't have to get up to him.

I bought a 2nd hand bassinet this time, as i had sold my other one after Hayden. BUT i have a good friend who is now 6 weeks pregnant, so will sell it onto her once i have finished with it.

[shereejoy]

Gr8 tips Sarah, that are all so good.

Unfortunately it didn't matter with lachlan about the first point u made and sleeping, quietness or not, he did not sleep lol. Hopefully the next one will.