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2nd Trimester
2+ moms: changes in "rules" since your first child
My daughter is 7 so it has been a while since I've done this, but I keep getting surprised by all of these things that are no longer recommended or advised against that worked just fine for my kiddo. For example: bumpers, drop side cribs, carseats (they didn't have expirations), neck supports for car seats, etc.
So my question is, what has changed since your first kid? Do you plan to follow the new recommendations or are you sticking with what worked for your first one?
LO #1 (2/10/05)
Expecting #2 (11/24/12)
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Re: 2+ moms: changes in "rules" since your first child
I'm the same as you, although some of those things were the same with my daughter I had 6 years ago. The drop down side crib was just happening about that time so we didn't get one of those.
But I had no idea car seats expired! I kept my infant travel system and it still looks beautiful. I thought it was ok to use....and now I'm hearing otherwise. It expires this fall and our child wont be here till Dec. Now I'm wondering if we have to get a new one.
Between my now 3yo and my now 17mo, the recommendation for turning a child forward facing went from 1 year old to 2 years old. I was like 'I just did this and I still don't know what's going on?!?' Obviously we'll follow the recommendation and keep both the new baby and my current youngest rear facing until they are at least 2 or until the outgrow seat reqs for rear facing.
On a related note, my BFF was pregnant with her first when I was pregnant last time. I didn't get a new pack 'n play, stroller, carseats, etc... because all of those things were new with when my 3yo was a baby. I found myself jealous of how much cuter and cooler the things were when she registered. All of her stuff seemed to have new features and conveniences my 'old' stuff didn't have. My stuff was only 3 years old! LOL. This new baby will be so deprived
DS is a little over 2 1/2 so most of the things are the same for this baby. The extended rear-facing is now being pushed harder by pediatricians, although it was something we had already researched and committed to doing.
I will be following any new guidelines as they are released by reputable agencies/sources. As time goes on we learn more. We used to put babies to sleep on their stomachs. Since the back-to-sleep campaign has been implemented the SIDS rate has decreased 50%. Heck, back in the old days when DH was a baby - car seats were not required . . . parents held babies and toddlers were put in the back seat to roll around. (In fact my mom has pictures of my brother and I both sleeping on the floor of the back seat of the car on a long car trip. We were probably 4 and 2.)
And sure, WE made it just fine. But there were kids who didn't. It's easy to say I used bumpers and my kids turned out fine. I put my kids to sleep on their stomachs and they turned out fine. What we don't talk about are the ones who weren't so lucky. Do I think some of the things are a little excessive and over the top? Maybe. I'm not sure. But most of them are not difficult to do. Really, how heartbreaking is it to not have bumpers? Or to not put supplemental accessories in your car seat? It's not hard to do those things at all. And if there is any chance that it's safer for my baby, it's sort of a no brainer for me . . . It's also what I call "regret management." What are the chances that MY child would be one of the ones to die in a crib with bumpers? Slim. But could I ever in a million years forgive myself if it happened? No way in hell.
They expire because the plastics start breaking down and won't hold up as well. I woul definitely be buying anew car seat. I am kinda in the same boat as you. My oldest is 7 and then I have 4 yr old. The car set I used for my girls actually expired in 2010. I was lucky that. Close friend had a baby last year and I bought her car set and base from her. I don't recommend buying used unless you really know who you re buying from. Only the car set expires not the stroller. Good luck.
It hasn't been long enough for too much to change other than RFing until at least 2, and I will follow that. My kids weren't supposed to sleep with blankets and did since day 1. They both hated to be swaddled and got too tangled in the sleep sacks. The crib at my mom's house is drop side and we still plan on using it when we visit, although I'm not sure I would use one as my main crib. There's rules and then there are guidelines. Use good judgement and do the best you can for your child
PSA: Babies R Us hosts a lot of events where you can bring in your expired car seats and out dated baby gear and receive 25% off new gear. Also, the requirements for LATCH are going to be changing soon, so keep an eye out for more info on that.
HUH? You aren't supposed to use infant cold medicine either? Oh boy, looks like I need to take a class in baby care . . .If you say no mylicon drops either, I may cry.
BFP 12/19/08- DS born 8/25/09 9lbs2oz via Zavanelli Maneuver
BFP 8/26/11- Missed miscarriage discovered 10/19/11 at 11w2d, measured at 9 weeks gestation w/ no HB. D&C 10/21/11
BFP 3/17/12 at 12dpo CP 3/21/12
BFP 4/23/12 at 10dpo Stick my little one! Beta #1: 83.3 @ 13dpo Beta #2: 197.7 @ 15dpo
Our little man is getting bigger every day!
My BFP Chart
DS turns 3 next week. I found out about 4 months ago his drop side crib was recalled the month after he was born. Oops. We got a conversion kit for this LO.
We have crib bumpers. Not sure if we'll use them this time around. Maybe, maybe not.
I think the RF until 2 recommendation came out right around this time last year so it didn't apply to DS. It seems weird to do for one what you didn't do for the other. But we will definitely follow this. Even though AZ is pretty backward about their child safety seat laws.
Yeah. When I got active on here again while TTC LO, I was amazed at the new recs. but what do you do?
Wow, totally haven't heard this either.
My DS (only child so far) is 14 and so EVERYTHING has changed!!! He slept on his side, faced foward at 1 years old, slept in a drop sided crib with big fluffy bumpers, took infant cold medicine etc.
It's a miracle that kid survived!!! LOL
am seriously considering taking an infant care class because it has been so long I feel like a FTM all over again.
I'm still using my dropside crib. Its a good one, I'm not worried.
I might use a bumper, I'm undecided. DS never moved around that much when he slept. I just can't imagine a tiny baby getting caught up in one or it restricting the air flow that much.
The anti-Bundle me thing is a new one I'm unsure about. I loved mine. I hate the shower cap ones that just go over the top. The baby looks silly peaking out lol
I will do extended rearfacing if possible.
Violet Mae born 1/15/13
Z will be 3 when this baby is born and not much has changed. We RF until he was 2. We didn't use a walker and used an exersaucer, as recommended. We didn't use bumpers and we weren't overly cautious on his sleeping, but he rolled early.
I will start BLW from the beginning of his eating instead of starting with purees like before.
I also agree we are all should be thankful for surviving our childhood, but as new studies and stories come out we should do research and understand what it can mean for our generation of kids.
Convertible (aka what you called toddler seats) go RF...so it's not like when they outgrow the infant seat they can't RF anymore.
I have NEVER heard this before. And as the wife of a paramedic, I can't imagine not using my seatbelt the proper way.
ETA:
https://www.carseat.org/Resources/FAQs.htm
How should a pregnant woman protect herself in a vehicle?
Car crashes are the leading cause of death and serious trauma during pregnancy. It is not possible to determine precise numbers, but estimates suggest that every year there are several hundred fetal losses in collisions during the last half of pregnancy, and the number could be over 1000. This is many more than the approximately 180 babies less than one year old who are annually killed in crashes. In addition, approximately 160 pregnant women die along with their fetuses in highway crashes each year.
Wearing a safety belt protects not only the pregnant woman but also her unborn baby. An analysis of several years of Utah death records found that fetal death from a vehicle crash was 2.8 times more likely if the pregnant woman was unbelted than if she was belted. It is essential that the safety belt be placed properly, with the lap portion across the pelvic bones, below the belly, and the shoulder portion centered on the shoulder and chest. Adjust or remove coats so they don?t interfere with belt fit. To reduce risks, pregnant women may choose to travel less, especially in hazardous conditions, and to sit in the back seat, when possible, as long as a lap-shoulder belt is used. Do not turn off or disconnect air bags. When driving, sit as far away as possible from the steering wheel and tilt it toward the chest, not the belly or face. If a pregnant woman is involved in any crash, even a very minor one, she should immediately go to the hospital or her obstetrician?s office for fetal monitoring.