For those planning to have more kiddos what have you learned you will do different next time?
For me, it will be doing our best to avoid creating bad sleep habits for DS. I'm realizing we've done him no favors by rocking him to sleep and picking him up or sleeping on the couch with him to get him back to sleep at night wakings. I was so terrified of any amount of CIO but honestly his crappy sleep along with the same for DH and me isn't good for anyone. Not sure I'll jump right on the CIO bandwagon with the next one but will certainly try to help him/her develop selfsoothing skills earlier on.
I will also do better at taking pictures of LO WITH people, especially me. I have thousands of shots of DS but few with others and only a couple with me.
Re: What will you do different next time?
The only change would be: buy a king size bed
I'd like to continue to excercise thru my pregnancy - I didn't really last time and I think that (plus the gallon of milk a day) might have been the reason why I gained so much weight.
Next time around I would really like to try for a VBAC - and if I have to have a C/S I would like to do it the "natural" way so I can be more involved in the birth of the baby.
I would like to take more pictures on my camera (since I did mostly cell phone pics then lost my phone)
I would like to do the monthly sticker pics
Write stuff down more - like his/her milestones. I kinda did that with A but not everything.
I think thats about really it - or at least all I can think of right now.
Gear wise I am skipping the PITA of a travel system, it was so big and heavy and a pain in stores! We started using a Chicco Liteway when M was around 6 months and we love it! It also completely reclines and has a boot so you can put a smaller baby in it. We're buying just a stroller frame and a separate infant seat this time and start using the Liteway when LO is a few months old.
Other then that I don't really know, M always slept well. I won't use purees at all with the next one, it was a waste of $$ with M. She hated them, so I had a gazillion containers taking up my cabinet space for months.
I'm with ya on the sleep habits...especially naps. I think having 2 kids will help with that lol! No more snoozing the day away with a newborn when you have a toddler to chase after....
I would also do more pics with me. Especially early on...I have very few and it makes me sad Also, I want to do pro newborn pics. I missed that opportunity with Miles and I hate myself for it!
I plan on CDing with the next one when he/she is about 8lbs (most of my stash with E is the OS and I do not want to buy more CDs for the newborn stage) Also E gained about 5 lbs the first month so she was out of the tiny newborn stage very quickly.
My plan is also to try for a VBAC. E was breech so I had to have a C/S. Also, I plan on having more freezer ready meals because it was awesome until we ran out...
Take more "mom in the picture photos" and family photos. All of my photos are of just E.
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sibling love
Yup I forgot! I want to CD next time too! I didn't get to do it this time and could still but just haven't - any who I would really like to do it next time.
Same here :-)