Your favourite tip, trick or advice for new parents

[Princess_Alisa]

Hello :wave: !

Do you have any special tip, trick or advice that you want to share with new parents? Something that really worked for you in the first year and maybe you even invented it (Not standard things that are written in books)?

I am making a little collection of special tips for a friend who is expecting a baby soon and need some help!!

I am looking forward to hearing your special tip, trick or advice!

Thanks :wave:

[SnoozesWithCats]

Not really a "tip" pr a "trick" but this is my new parent mantra...


Listen to the advice.
Then do what YOU want!

[gidgeroo]

These tips really help me get out of the house quicker with my babies:

As soon as I get home from going out I make sure that I restock my nappy bag with anything I have used whilst out. So a fresh nappy, wipes, bags, clothes, bibs etc. All I have to do next time I go out is pick up my bag and the babies and leave the house.

I also keep a lipgloss, tissues, small 1st Aid kit and some money in my nappy bag for emergencies.

Housekeeping Idea

I do a couple of loads of washing - one before bed, one overnight and one in the morning and then hang up the lot outside when bub's asleep. Saves me having to go out to the line numerous times and all the clothes dry at the same time.

good luck to your friend and hope these help.
:)

[drewid]

My best tip for a new mum for the first few months....

SLEEP WHEN THE BABY SLEEPS!

[jkate]

Not really a "tip" pr a "trick" but this is my new parent mantra...


Listen to the advice.
Then do what YOU want!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Listen to your baby and yourself, many times I couldnt work out why all these wonderful ideas from other mums were not working with my boy but was working with there kids, then I relised I wanst listening to my child!!

[razzle]

1. Trust your instincts.
2. Always keep a change of clothes in the car (for yourself and bubs!)
3. Write stuff down! You will forget what it was like in the first few months.

[Pixie]

Treasure every moment
Relax, the washing isn't going anywhere!
Ask for help it's OK, big one for me, I hate asking people to do things for me!

[Kade's Mummy]

Congratulations to your friend! This is such a nice idea for her.

OK, my tips (and keep in mind I had a very unsettled bub so these worked for us):

- Sometimes take your newborn in the shower with you, they love it!

- Get them used to having their ears under the water in the bath at an early age, this will make them more comfortable with water and prepared for swimming lessons

- A walk outside is as much for you as it is for the baby, the fresh air is a god send

- If people offer to make you meals, say yes!!

- Sing to your bubby, they think you are the best singer in the world (it's nice to have an audience!)

- We found a musical A-frame was fabulous, he loves the music and it really settles him

Good luck! Every baby is different but these worked for us.

By the way, here are a couple for mum:

- Noone ever told me how much breastfeeding hurts in the early stages!

- Be prepared that in the early weeks you may have to look after yourself as much as this new little person. It took a good 3 weeks for my body to recover from the birth, and I never expected to have to nurse myself as well as my baby. Doesn't happen to everyone, so hopefully she won't have any problems.

- It's ok to be overwhelmed and it's ok to cry.

Best of luck :fingerscrossed:

[Areca]

Babies don't read books. It's good to read books but don't get too hung up on when they say your baby should be doing certain things (milestones and sleep patterns). Every baby is different!

[~Emmylou~]

Make sure you cook and freeze meals at the end of your pregnancy.
Cooking is the last thing you can do or feel like doing with a newborn hanging off you all day so you'll save a fortune in takeaways.

[Kaileysmum]

Try and spend at least one hour to yourself a day, whether its when bubs is sleeping, or when your partner gets home. That one hour to yourself will help you keep more sain :o (oh & an hour to yourself doesnt not include catching up on house work, it means doing something for u)

[EskimoMumma]

Make sure you have bribable siblings, younger or older.

They can do so much things for a small cost. Saves time and your breath nagging your DP/DH/DF into it

I love my brother, hes only 250dollars a year when DP gets slack :laughing:

[Will]

I am still a new mum, but a few things i found out (the hard way) with a newborn - all nappy related lol

- Dont use cloth nappies early on if you decide to use them (the black meconium (sp?) poo wont ever come out!)

- If you have a boy make sure you point his 'willy' down because if you dont the pee will come straight out the top of the nappy!

If i think of anything else i will come back. Congrats to your friend!

[almond eyes]

Hi! What a nice thing to do for your friend. :)

Here are some ideas:

- when nappies and wipes are on special, STOCK UP! Saves you lots.
- use plain water to bathe your newborn. Bath gels dry up their skin. They aren't dirty anyway.
- babies appreciate the simplest things (playing with empty boxes, rolling in laundry, crumpling paper...)
-babies grow up so fast, appreciate and enjoy every milestone.

:)

[Peaceangels]

Have confidence in yourself, your ability and your natural instinct's as a parent. People will alway's give you advice (lots of it unwanted), but take it in and if it is not for you then let it go.
You are with your baby 24/7, so you know them best! :thumbsup:

Do what works for you, even if people try make negative comments.

Forget about housework etc, spend quality time with your child/ren playing games, singing, reading as they grow up soooooo fast.

Try and and make me time and time with your partner regularly.

[li'l mac]

Forget about regular mealtimes, eat whenever you get the chance or you'll get caught up with bubs and miss meals. You really need to just function minute by minute in those first couple of weeks, and that includes your own needs.

[Briswegian]

Allow yourself the time to fall in love with your baby. Examine every inch of their chubby bodies and lots of cuddles and lots of observations. This helps you not only to enjoy your special time together but also to notice changes like when bubs needs to sleep.

[Ky]

Assign the bedroom closest to the laundry to your bub! They are used to a lot of noise when they sleep - especially the rhythmic noise of your heartbeat, so putting a load of washing on or the dryer at bedtime will actually help them drift off quickly and without too much fussing. I did this along with putting my babies into a dark room with the door closed and they have been fantastic sleepers from very early on! I still put a load of laundry on if they are a bit overtired or excited about something that is happening in the morning and they drop off quickly without fail even now they are 3 ½ and 5! I put my babies to bed as soon as I got home from the hospital and introduced them to the sounds of the laundry that day!

The other thing is ... you can never spoil a baby! Give heaps of love, talk to them and lots of face to face time! Talk to them as you go about your daily routine ... they don't get bored by listening to you telling them things like "and we put the dishwashing liquid in the water and it makes lovely soapy bubbles" etc ... it is Mummy's voice and music to their ears! It will also teach them more than you know ... it will surprise you what they come out with once they can talk ... their understanding of the world around you will amaze you and it is through you taking the time to count the steps up to the front door, explain the thunderstorm and rain to them, reciting the colours you can see etc.

Toys need not be expensive! Everyday objects can be just as much fun as something that has all of the bells and whistles! Kids get bored with toys that do everything for them ... they like to be able to participate too!

A nice massage just before bedtime with plenty of eye contact and softly spoken love makes for a very settled baby that night!

[IAdoreYou]

use cheap nappies in the daytime and keep the expensive huggies for going out and bedtime ..

I've just changed over to woolworths brand nappies and find them GREAT! should have started using them AGES ago .. will with next baby.

Also .. when rocking your bubba put one of her arms under your arm hug her close and keep her head towards your shoulder so she is upright or HE , you will keep her feeling secure or HE and get her or HE off to sleep alot faster.

:thumbsup: thats all for now

[tyler's mum]

dont be scared to ask for help:thumbsup:

[~EmsMum~]

My best tip for a new mum for the first few months....

SLEEP WHEN THE BABY SLEEPS!

how true!!!!

and also I found if the baby is really windy it put dd over my knee and rocked her that way