Oh how the clothing sizes vary. Not to mention who knows how your baby is going to grow. L. is wearing anywhere from 6-9 months to 12-18 months and still has a pair of 3-6 month pants that are hanging on (he's 7 months.) Baby M. is off the charts in height (easily over 6 months length wise but not quite there age wise) but a skinny mini as well so that presents its own set of issues. Each clothing maker is going to be slightly different in terms of their sizing. Don't buy to far ahead or you will wind up with clothes that never get worn.
You'll have lots of new baby clothes in little sizes which is very fun. But hand me downs can work their magic for slightly older kids where food and poop are showing up more often!
Oxy clean works wonders in getting poop stains out!(may have to use repeatedly)
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
NURSING
My experience - it's hard, not easy and not necessarily magical. If you want to breastfeed and are having difficulty - get help from a lactation consultant. Use the lansinoh nursing cream. It took a while for L. and I to figure it out but we've nursed and supplemented with formula for almost 7 months now. I'm glad I continued nursing; it comes in handy at various times - when L. wakes up at 4 am, I can just nurse him in bed and back to sleep he goes; when he's overtired and fighting sleep, nursing for 2 minutes calms him down and he's sleeping like a baby (heh).
I know other women have had easier experiences with their babies; I think it's helpful if they nurse in the hospital. L was born friday night and didn't nurse, then circumcised saturday morning and didn't nurse and we went home sunday. It can be very stressful so try not to take it personally.
**Note - Lactation consultants can be very focused on the whole "breast is best". That may be the case (personally I can't pick out the 4th graders that were breastfed only but that may just be me)but they can take it to an extreme. In our case, when our pediatrician told us we needed to supplement with formula to stop the weight loss, we did so immediately. My milk didn't seem to have enough caloric content to allow L. to gain weight the way he needed to and wouldn't have, no matter how much I nursed him. Remember - everybody has their point of view and their "agenda" as it were. Lactation consultants offer a wonderful service in a time of need but don't feel like you're failing if you go home and give your baby a bottle!
COVERAGE
If you are going to breastfeed, you're going to have do it on demand, so it helps to have some coverage options. I tried using a blanket but needed to see what was going on under there, so we both wound up with the blanket over our heads and that was just ridiculous. I opted for the "privacy hat" as Dan calls it. It's cute and works but here's why I wouldn't recommend it for moms just starting to nurse - it doesn't always feel like you've got good coverage going on. You do, the hat is big enough, it just doesn't seem that way. Also, it's a relatively heavy cloth hat - great during the winter but L. just starts sweating like crazy using it in warm weather. I like the hat but I'd recommend something like this to new moms. The best thing about this is that it has a rigid neckline that allows you to look down and see the baby. A blanket does not allow for that. Obviously it's larger than the hat so there's no issue with coverage. I haven't used this myself but would still recommend it.
I know other women have had easier experiences with their babies; I think it's helpful if they nurse in the hospital. L was born friday night and didn't nurse, then circumcised saturday morning and didn't nurse and we went home sunday. It can be very stressful so try not to take it personally.
**Note - Lactation consultants can be very focused on the whole "breast is best". That may be the case (personally I can't pick out the 4th graders that were breastfed only but that may just be me)but they can take it to an extreme. In our case, when our pediatrician told us we needed to supplement with formula to stop the weight loss, we did so immediately. My milk didn't seem to have enough caloric content to allow L. to gain weight the way he needed to and wouldn't have, no matter how much I nursed him. Remember - everybody has their point of view and their "agenda" as it were. Lactation consultants offer a wonderful service in a time of need but don't feel like you're failing if you go home and give your baby a bottle!
COVERAGE
If you are going to breastfeed, you're going to have do it on demand, so it helps to have some coverage options. I tried using a blanket but needed to see what was going on under there, so we both wound up with the blanket over our heads and that was just ridiculous. I opted for the "privacy hat" as Dan calls it. It's cute and works but here's why I wouldn't recommend it for moms just starting to nurse - it doesn't always feel like you've got good coverage going on. You do, the hat is big enough, it just doesn't seem that way. Also, it's a relatively heavy cloth hat - great during the winter but L. just starts sweating like crazy using it in warm weather. I like the hat but I'd recommend something like this to new moms. The best thing about this is that it has a rigid neckline that allows you to look down and see the baby. A blanket does not allow for that. Obviously it's larger than the hat so there's no issue with coverage. I haven't used this myself but would still recommend it.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Establishing Night Vs Day
A helpful tool for me after bringing little M home, was the Baby Einstein crib aquarium. It is a plastic "pretend" aquarium that fastens securely to the side of your crib. It has 4 settings. You can (1) play the aquarium bubbling sounds, (2) play them with light so the baby can watch the fish swim to the sounds, (3) play music, or (4) play music with light and moving fish.
What we did to establish night and day, was every night when we went to bed and put her in the bassinet, we would play the aquarium bubbling sounds. This included any time at night that we put her down after she got up to feed.
This connected a sound with night time. So, every time she laid down in her bassinet and heard the sounds, she would know that it was night time, not play time. This method worked wonderful for us and at 5.5 months old, it is still working. However, I do know of babies that this did not work for. Like they say, every baby is different. Nonetheless, if you are having trouble getting your little bundle of joy to know the difference between bed time and nap time, I recommend giving this a shot.
Monday, June 15, 2009
RECOMMENDATIONS
Boppy New Born Lounger - this was great for the first month or so. They're awake and asleep so often that it's hard to keep running them into cradle and then back out again but this offered more of a secure spot for them to sleep (even though it says not to let them sleep on it - it's just for resting.) It would also work well in a large bed for them to sleep raised above you but right there.
Swaddle Me - great for that first month when it's difficult to swaddle them in just a blanket.
Sleep Sack - great for after they grow out of the swaddle me. Better than the sleep sacks w/ the sleeves because they sleeves tend to be to big until the very end of the size and bunch up. Layer with either a onesie or a sleeper.
Some sort of vibrating chair - if it plays music even better, but once they're awake more, it's nice to have them be entertained while you cook, clean, get back to a somewhat normal life.
My Brest Friend - incredibly ridiculous name but this worked much better for me than the Boppy. This 'pillow' is made of foam; the Boppy is stuffed, so baby can kind of sink in to the boppy. Was an issue for me but I know the Boppy worked great for other nursing moms.
Lansinoh - I would not have continued nursing without this product.
Bumbo - great to help with supported sitting. Right now (6months) we're short a dining room/kitchen table so we use this with the tray to feed the boy.
Swaddle Me - great for that first month when it's difficult to swaddle them in just a blanket.
Sleep Sack - great for after they grow out of the swaddle me. Better than the sleep sacks w/ the sleeves because they sleeves tend to be to big until the very end of the size and bunch up. Layer with either a onesie or a sleeper.
Some sort of vibrating chair - if it plays music even better, but once they're awake more, it's nice to have them be entertained while you cook, clean, get back to a somewhat normal life.
My Brest Friend - incredibly ridiculous name but this worked much better for me than the Boppy. This 'pillow' is made of foam; the Boppy is stuffed, so baby can kind of sink in to the boppy. Was an issue for me but I know the Boppy worked great for other nursing moms.
Lansinoh - I would not have continued nursing without this product.
Bumbo - great to help with supported sitting. Right now (6months) we're short a dining room/kitchen table so we use this with the tray to feed the boy.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
SLEEP
SIDS
Everyone knows - "Back to sleep" for a reason. This is the number one thing you can do to help combat SIDS. Other possible helpful measures are having a fan in the room, keeping child cooler rather than warmer (the reason is most kids will wake up if they're too cold; not as likely to wake up if they're too warm), no bumpers in the cribs, no blankets in the crib, no toys in the crib, a firm mattress. 2-4 months is the most stressful window; likelihood of SIDS starts to decline around 6 months and is almost gone by 1 year old.
Co Sleeping
Obviously do not co sleep with your child if drunk or taking sleeping pills. A king size bed works best in this case. If that's not an option, kick out the animals (possibly the husband) and get as much sleep as you can. I did this for the first couple weeks Liam was home and was glad I did. But I was also glad when we put him in his cradle and now crib on a regular basis.
What to wear
L. was born heading into winter and it was chilly outside. I was worried that he would be too cold sleeping and really wanted to use blankets. I found for the first several weeks the SwaddleMe worked great. Kept him secure and warm w/out using blankets but also allowed the kicking of legs when the gas hit. After he outgrew being swaddled, we switched right over to a sleep sack and have continued to use.
Everyone knows - "Back to sleep" for a reason. This is the number one thing you can do to help combat SIDS. Other possible helpful measures are having a fan in the room, keeping child cooler rather than warmer (the reason is most kids will wake up if they're too cold; not as likely to wake up if they're too warm), no bumpers in the cribs, no blankets in the crib, no toys in the crib, a firm mattress. 2-4 months is the most stressful window; likelihood of SIDS starts to decline around 6 months and is almost gone by 1 year old.
Co Sleeping
Obviously do not co sleep with your child if drunk or taking sleeping pills. A king size bed works best in this case. If that's not an option, kick out the animals (possibly the husband) and get as much sleep as you can. I did this for the first couple weeks Liam was home and was glad I did. But I was also glad when we put him in his cradle and now crib on a regular basis.
What to wear
L. was born heading into winter and it was chilly outside. I was worried that he would be too cold sleeping and really wanted to use blankets. I found for the first several weeks the SwaddleMe worked great. Kept him secure and warm w/out using blankets but also allowed the kicking of legs when the gas hit. After he outgrew being swaddled, we switched right over to a sleep sack and have continued to use.
FEEDING
BREASTMILK
Warm by placing bottle in warm water. Do not microwave!
FORMULA
If made in advance, warm like breastmilk. If made as needed, you can either use warm tap water or if you are using cold water, you can heat in microwave before adding formula. If heated in microwave, make sure to test on hand/arm to avoid burning.
REAL FOOD
Started with the rice cereal, followed by Oatmeal and then D. fed him Wheat. I wasn't prepared for the wheat (possibly allergy) but all went fine. L. definitely likes the sweet stuff over the garden vegetable type. At this point, I just want him to be interested in eating, not so concerned w/ what. I did buy chicken in chicken broth in a jar and will never do that again. Yuck. But I've got some chicken and sweet potato, turkey w/ corn, etc. so we'll see how that goes. Luckily, as soon as he figures out what he picks up he can put in his mouth, we can give him soft, smooshed pieces right off our plate.
I have made some of my own food - pears and apples. It's definitely easy enough, but time consuming, so best to make in bulk and freeze.
Warm by placing bottle in warm water. Do not microwave!
FORMULA
If made in advance, warm like breastmilk. If made as needed, you can either use warm tap water or if you are using cold water, you can heat in microwave before adding formula. If heated in microwave, make sure to test on hand/arm to avoid burning.
REAL FOOD
Started with the rice cereal, followed by Oatmeal and then D. fed him Wheat. I wasn't prepared for the wheat (possibly allergy) but all went fine. L. definitely likes the sweet stuff over the garden vegetable type. At this point, I just want him to be interested in eating, not so concerned w/ what. I did buy chicken in chicken broth in a jar and will never do that again. Yuck. But I've got some chicken and sweet potato, turkey w/ corn, etc. so we'll see how that goes. Luckily, as soon as he figures out what he picks up he can put in his mouth, we can give him soft, smooshed pieces right off our plate.
I have made some of my own food - pears and apples. It's definitely easy enough, but time consuming, so best to make in bulk and freeze.
BOTTLES
Playtex VentAire
These bottles have top and bottom that come off, with a small ring that sits in the bottom to prevent leaking. The 6oz size worked fine until we needed to start warming up the br.milk and/or formula. You do this (particularly for breast milk) by sitting the bottle in warm water for 10 minutes. While water would not get into the bottle, it would get into the removable bottom and then leak out.
When you use formula, it increases the water level by a significant amount. You can not make 6oz of formula in the playtex ventaire 6oz bottle. It overflows.
Avent
4oz and 8oz sizes. These consist of bottle, ring and nipple. They also have lids that go in the ring to allow for easy transport of a premade bottle. (The caps prevent most leaking, but not all.) These bottles do allow for the increase in liquid after adding the formula.
They also have a bottle brush that fits the bottle and nipple that is well made. I bought a cheaper brush from target and it lasted about 2 months and broke in half.
Avent also makes a container that holds upto 9oz of formula, times 3. Once you're on solid foods, the separated container can be removed and you have a container for lunch/snack.
These bottles have top and bottom that come off, with a small ring that sits in the bottom to prevent leaking. The 6oz size worked fine until we needed to start warming up the br.milk and/or formula. You do this (particularly for breast milk) by sitting the bottle in warm water for 10 minutes. While water would not get into the bottle, it would get into the removable bottom and then leak out.
When you use formula, it increases the water level by a significant amount. You can not make 6oz of formula in the playtex ventaire 6oz bottle. It overflows.
Avent
4oz and 8oz sizes. These consist of bottle, ring and nipple. They also have lids that go in the ring to allow for easy transport of a premade bottle. (The caps prevent most leaking, but not all.) These bottles do allow for the increase in liquid after adding the formula.
They also have a bottle brush that fits the bottle and nipple that is well made. I bought a cheaper brush from target and it lasted about 2 months and broke in half.
Avent also makes a container that holds upto 9oz of formula, times 3. Once you're on solid foods, the separated container can be removed and you have a container for lunch/snack.
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