first night home advice?

skib

yikes! it's night one at home for us! our little girl has been sleeping all day so we're a little nervous about tonight. any words of wisdom from your experience - on anything?

 

we r so excited. she is amazing and healthy and beautiful! i love my gabby but need to get better at 1 hand typing!! 

sleepingbeauty825

DO NOT LET HER CIO.

myonetruelove

Be prepared. DS slept like a pro at the hospital. As soon as we brought him home he didn't want to sleep at night. Just remember whatever it is should get better.

ParadisePrincess

My advice is to take time out for yourself. Make sure you have a good support system because sometimes that's all that matters. Good luck.

grapeape73

Just hold her and take care of her.  If she cries and you have tried feeding, changing, holding, and she still cries remember that she just spent her entire life in a very warm, noisy, confined, dark place.  Try to simulate that to make her relax.  Also remember that in the womb she was 24 hours a day.  Anything less than that now is a change for her.

Good luck and congrats!

sbevmc09

My advice: Just HANG IN THERE!!!  This will probably be your hardest night/few days.  It keeps getting better!  Prepare to be tired and worn out, sleep and eat whenever you get the chance!

myonetruelove

sleepingbeauty825:

DO NOT LET HER CIO.

You are so fired for the night...lmao

urbanwifey

try to keep lights low at night for feedings & changings.  keep lights on and brighter during the day/  most kids are confused about day/night at first but some aren't.  you might be blesses with a champ sleeper, but better to assume the worst and be plesantly surprised.

SL122

Swaddle! She may seem like she's fighting it but she's not - she can't control her limbs yet.  Swaddling and white noise at night made a HUGE difference for us.

sarah_ann81

Get as much help as you need-don't be afraid to ask. My husband and I took turns for the first week with things that needed done with our LO. I would feed, he would change the diapers and we would take turns burping so that we could both get what little sleep was to be had. Also, make sure you swaddle. And don't freak out! Time goes by so fast, enjoy every moment no matter what is going on.

squishles10

I found day 4 to be the WORST.  I ended up in the ped's office the next day crying and telling them I was never breastfeeding again (I was tired since DH couldn't help feed, we had latch issues bc of engorgement, who knows what else).  Ask for help from everyone- it does get better.

davidswife06

SL122:

Swaddle! She may seem like she's fighting it but she's not - she can't control her limbs yet.  Swaddling and white noise at night made a HUGE difference for us.

This!

WonderWoman27

myonetruelove:

Be prepared. DS slept like a pro at the hospital. As soon as we brought him home he didn't want to sleep at night. Just remember whatever it is should get better.

This.  And sleep when baby sleeps. 

KateLouise

Are you BF? I am abd those first few days wer eincredibly tough for me because we had a bad latch going.

If you are, and it's important to you to continue, then make sure you get help if you need it. There are plenty of resources and tips for making it more comfortable and helping cracked nipples heal.

Any chance you can, get some sleep.

If you're cooking a meal, cook a double batch and freeze it for another night. 

Swaddle! 

Enjoy every moment with your wee girl, because no matter how tough it gets, it flies by.

Congratulations!! 

Shana051008

Welcome and congrats!  My advice to you is to enjoy every moment, time goes so quickly when you get home!  Learn to sleep when baby sleeps and don't overdue it when you get home, there will be plenty of time to do the housework!

susie2242

Oh man the first night home, when we finally put him down to sleep, we'd run to check on him at every single sound. haha. Your LO will be fine, so try not to drop everything to check on him or her for the faintest sigh or grunt, make sure you eat, try to rest, and good luck! (Of course if they cry, go pick them up, I'm just talking about the general baby sighs.)

rnfromtn

Try different sleeping "areas".  DS would sleep okay in his PNP bassinet for a while, and then wouldn't and would prefer his bouncer.  Keep a glass of water by you for  when you are feeding it helped me to stay awake if I was sipping on cool water. Enjoy!

smittendorff

A little late in the game, but I'll weigh in anyways.  As others said, swaddle!  If you haven't gotten a Halo sleepsack swaddle yet, but one!  They are amazing!  It took awhile for him to get the hang of sleeping well during the night, but over the first days home he gradually did and now sleeps amazing.  We give almost all credit to his Halo swaddles!