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Anyone doing a Household Manual?

darlawoodsdarlawoods member
in 3rd Trimester

Ok, so I may be a little over the top, controlling and meticulous about my home and my family, but hey that's who I am.

I decided to do a manual of our whole household, household duties, laundry instructions, a layout of different rooms, emergency contact, CPR instructions, etc.

I mainly did this because my in laws haven't raised a child in 25+ years but have experience with other grandchildren.  My parents however, this is their first grandchild.  Also for a potential nanny babysitter.

My DH says it is part of my super duper planning skills.

I also wanted to layout the care instructions for our soon to be daughter.  My parents will adapt and do as I ask, however my MIL thinks her way works just as fine, which in my opinion it does not.  She is against our decision to cloth diaper, not co-sleep and use organic products.  I really don't care, however I feel if these things are clearly outlined while they come to "help" after our LO is born, there will be no excuse.  

I think it will work well, however it might backfire or be useless

Anyone doing something similar? 

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Re: Anyone doing a Household Manual?

  • Luv-a-BugLuv-a-Bug

    Well at our CPR and Safety class they suggested putting something on the fridge with the following (for grandparents, babysitters, etc):

    Our home address

    Emergency #'s

    Pediatrician Name and #

    Names/#'s of any helpful neighbors

    Child's full name

    Child's birthdate

    Current height/weight of child (keep updated)

    And number of National Poison center hotline.

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  • Lance&BeccaLance&Becca
    I have instructions for feeding, diapering, etc (basically anything to do with baby) taped up on my fridge for anyone who's taking care of her. I also included poison control number, and pediatrician's office number. I don't include household things because I'm not too particular about how the house runs.
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  • dionnemd10dionnemd10 member

    wow-yea nope, no time to do something like this.   and personally my in laws raised my hubby (who is one hell of a guy) so figure they can't mess things up-as they obviously know how to raise a wonderful person (actually two since his sister is pretty cool too).

    please post on 0-3 once baby gets here to let us know how the anal retentive type A personality stuff works out when you are over tired and have the actual child present.

    good luck :)

    Report Reply
  • ToesnthesandBride07ToesnthesandBride07 member
    imageLuv-a-Bug:

    Well at our CPR and Safety class they suggested putting something on the fridge with the following (for grandparents, babysitters, etc):

    Our home address

    Emergency #'s

    Pediatrician Name and #

    Names/#'s of any helpful neighbors

    Child's full name

    Child's birthdate

    Current height/weight of child (keep updated)

    And number of National Poison center hotline.

    This is what I planned on doing. Nothing more unless I see the need.

    Report Reply
  • BoizmomBoizmom member
    I've done something similar for my two boys and who will care for them while I am in the hospital this time.  They are 4 and 2 yo and go by a pretty strict schedule.  I've got their typical daily routine, foods that they like to eat (and that I approved of) and for what meals, medicines and the dosages and when they take them, emergency phone numbers as well as printed maps to the Peds office and Pediatric After Hours clinic.  I also have a list of approved movies and tv shows they can watch.  It may seem like a little much but when the people who are caring for your kids don't have any of their own yet it's really important to have this stuff on hand.
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  • katester72904katester72904
    Nope. My mom is on the same page as me.  She will be taking my DD while DH and I are in the hospital. I will trust her with LO too. She is in no way overbearing, and knows just what to do in most situations. My MIL doesn't and prob won't watch LO since she never offers to watch DD, but I don't mind at all! I don't think it is a bad idea at all, especially if you have a certain way you want something to be done.. plan it up!
    Report Reply
  • Indychic1022Indychic1022 member
    imagedionnemd10:

    wow-yea nope, no time to do something like this.   and personally my in laws raised my hubby (who is one hell of a guy) so figure they can't mess things up-as they obviously know how to raise a wonderful person (actually two since his sister is pretty cool too).

    please post on 0-3 once baby gets here to let us know how the anal retentive type A personality stuff works out when you are over tired and have the actual child present.

    good luck :)

    This, exactly. She will also complain when her MIL won't watch her/have anything to do with her kid. 

    I agree they need to know your wishes, what the baby likes, emergency, etc. but a manual is a tad over the top. Both sets of parents raised you/your DH so they did something right. 

    Report Reply
  • darlawoodsdarlawoods member
    imagedionnemd10:

    wow-yea nope, no time to do something like this.   and personally my in laws raised my hubby (who is one hell of a guy) so figure they can't mess things up-as they obviously know how to raise a wonderful person (actually two since his sister is pretty cool too).

    please post on 0-3 once baby gets here to let us know how the anal retentive type A personality stuff works out when you are over tired and have the actual child present.

    good luck :)

     

    Personally I am not anal retentive, and took offense to this.  I like things done a certain way and know if I do not speak up it will not be adhered to.  

    My DH is a great person as well, however our household is ran differently than his parents did when he was young.

    I know a lot about raising children and taking care of them and managing time so I think we will be great

     

    Thanks 

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  • darlawoodsdarlawoods member
    imageLuv-a-Bug:

    Well at our CPR and Safety class they suggested putting something on the fridge with the following (for grandparents, babysitters, etc):

    Our home address

    Emergency #'s

    Pediatrician Name and #

    Names/#'s of any helpful neighbors

    Child's full name

    Child's birthdate

    Current height/weight of child (keep updated)

    And number of National Poison center hotline.

    We have all this plus the number for a vet for our dog and animal poison control.

    Also a number for our security system company in case something goes wrong 

    Report Reply
  • aegrimmaegrimm member

    Do I think you are over the top? Yes.

    I was the exact same way when my DS was born. My mom watched him overnight when he was 6 weeks old and the list of instructions I gave to her were 2 pages long. Typed. And single spaced.

    She took the list and I came and got him the next day. I found out that she hadn't given him his paci at bedtime and hadn't swaddled him either and, you know what? He survived.

    At that moment I realized that there is one thing that was important: he was loved.

    Yes, your MIL needs to support your plans to cloth diaper and not co-sleep and use organic products because you are his mother. And, yes, babies do well on a schedule. But, you need to be a little flexible, too. The fact that he gets to nap in my sister's bed with her if she babysits him or that Nana lets him have cookies for a snack (even though at home cookies are strictly an after dinner dessert) does not mean he will grow up unbalanced. On the contrary, kids who have a slightly different schedule or way of doing things around different people learn to be adaptable as kids and, later, adults - which is a very important life lesson.

    But, I wish you well in your "Household Manual". Just one piece of advice: Kids are not employees. Sometimes they do things that don't fit into the master plan. You say you have experience dealing with kids and managing time at once. I did, too. But, it's different when they're you're own. All you want for them is to be loved and treated well. If grandma burps the baby after every 2 ounces instead of every 1 ounce, it's not the end of the world. Baby will survive. And, (more importantly) so will mom.

    Good luck! Smile

    Report Reply
  • MrsHKMrsHK member
    imageLuv-a-Bug:

    Well at our CPR and Safety class they suggested putting something on the fridge with the following (for grandparents, babysitters, etc):

    Our home address

    Emergency #'s

    Pediatrician Name and #

    Names/#'s of any helpful neighbors

    Child's full name

    Child's birthdate

    Current height/weight of child (keep updated)

    And number of National Poison center hotline.

    I've put together this, but even that's kinda just for me. Mostly because I need to have my emergency numbers and neighbor's numbers handy in case I go into labor while home alone. Due to my previous fast labor I need to be ready to go when labor starts. I keep all handy information in my cell phone but I'm also known to lose it a few times a week. 

    OP: If your IL's don't support you and you're worried they won't respect your role as parents I honestly don't think any household manual is going to help. You and DH need to be on the same page and know how you're going to handle them ahead of time. That's it. No need to stress yourself out further by putting effort into something that isn't going to help anyway. 

    Proverbs 12:10 "A righteous man cares for the needs of his animals ChipMonkey 3/19/08 *** Turtle 1/26/10 *** CarBear 10/06/11
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  • madeleines_mommymadeleines_mommy member
    imageaegrimm:

    Do I think you are over the top? Yes.

    I was the exact same way when my DS was born. My mom watched him overnight when he was 6 weeks old and the list of instructions I gave to her were 2 pages long. Typed. And single spaced.

    She took the list and I came and got him the next day. I found out that she hadn't given him his paci at bedtime and hadn't swaddled him either and, you know what? He survived.

    At that moment I realized that there is one thing that was important: he was loved.

    Yes, your MIL needs to support your plans to cloth diaper and not co-sleep and use organic products because you are his mother. And, yes, babies do well on a schedule. But, you need to be a little flexible, too. The fact that he gets to nap in my sister's bed with her if she babysits him or that Nana lets him have cookies for a snack (even though at home cookies are strictly an after dinner dessert) does not mean he will grow up unbalanced. On the contrary, kids who have a slightly different schedule or way of doing things around different people learn to be adaptable as kids and, later, adults - which is a very important life lesson.

    But, I wish you well in your "Household Manual". Just one piece of advice: Kids are not employees. Sometimes they do things that don't fit into the master plan. You say you have experience dealing with kids and managing time at once. I did, too. But, it's different when they're you're own. All you want for them is to be loved and treated well. If grandma burps the baby after every 2 ounces instead of every 1 ounce, it's not the end of the world. Baby will survive. And, (more importantly) so will mom.

    Good luck! Smile

    Well said! Let's follow up on this one in 6 months if she is still around.

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