Newbie Play date part 2

wtfisup · April 2014

Similar question: how many blankets? I have a ton and want to start getting rid of some. Probably 20 flannel or cotton receiving blankets, 3 baby quilts, then 5 or so soft, plush baby blankets.

PressLove · April 2014

Thanks for the responses on the support bands. It was really helpful.

flerlgirl · April 2014

@wtfisup - you will probably need more blankets than you think. We have about 15 and they honestly all get used pretty regularly, especially when DS was a NB. I keep a couple in the car, one in the diaper bag, one in my room, 348230 in his room, etc.

SecondTimeinMSU · April 2014

Question for STMs. When DS was a baby if he was napping in the swing or playing on his mat and i had to use the bathroom I'd just run quickly to do so and leave the door open just in case to listen for him. What do I do when DS #1 is home with me? I read that children under 4 don't understand cause and effect so to never leave the baby alone with them. Do I need to make DS #1 come with me every time I need to use the bathroom? I have a feeling he won't like that if he is playing but otherwise I'd have to try and bring the baby with me. It was so much easier with just one to coordinate.

robbinrl · April 2014

SecondTimeinMSU said:
Question for STMs. When DS was a baby if he was napping in the swing or playing on his mat and i had to use the bathroom I'd just run quickly to do so and leave the door open just in case to listen for him. What do I do when DS #1 is home with me? I read that children under 4 don't understand cause and effect so to never leave the baby alone with them. Do I need to make DS #1 come with me every time I need to use the bathroom? I have a feeling he won't like that if he is playing but otherwise I'd have to try and bring the baby with me. It was so much easier with just one to coordinate.

I have been wondering about this too. DD loved just being in the floor, but I don't feel comfortable leaving this LO on the floor with DD around without actively watching. (DD LOVES babies, I'm really worried about her trying to 'take care' of the baby if I'm not watching.) This is one reason I plan to get a swing with buckles this time and leave the baby there if I need to step away. I don't think DD would attempt to get the baby out of the swing and obviously we would try to teach DD from day one that she can only hold/take care of the baby when we are there helping her and never to pick the baby up.

Any other tips?

MrsRahl · April 2014

robbinrl said:

Question for STMs. When DS was a baby if he was napping in the swing or playing on his mat and i had to use the bathroom I'd just run quickly to do so and leave the door open just in case to listen for him. What do I do when DS #1 is home with me? I read that children under 4 don't understand cause and effect so to never leave the baby alone with them. Do I need to make DS #1 come with me every time I need to use the bathroom? I have a feeling he won't like that if he is playing but otherwise I'd have to try and bring the baby with me. It was so much easier with just one to coordinate.
I have been wondering about this too. DD loved just being in the floor, but I don't feel comfortable leaving this LO on the floor with DD around without actively watching. (DD LOVES babies, I'm really worried about her trying to 'take care' of the baby if I'm not watching.) This is one reason I plan to get a swing with buckles this time and leave the baby there if I need to step away. I don't think DD would attempt to get the baby out of the swing and obviously we would try to teach DD from day one that she can only hold/take care of the baby when we are there helping her and never to pick the baby up. Any other tips?

SecondTimeinMSU I'm a FTM so take this with a grain of salt, but what about leaving the baby in a pack and play or crib away from your older child while stepping away for a minute. Can you other child reach into a pack and play or crib? I know you don't want to move them if they are sleeping in a swing, but really it can be dangerous to let babies sleep in swings and car seats. Back in February was a big article on a baby who died from their airway being blocked by their head being down in a car seat. I've worked in the infant room at a daycare in PA and it is illegal to allow children to sleep anywhere but in the crib. I know if was super inconvenient and would always wake up some babies, but there is at least a reason behind it.

flerlgirl · April 2014

MrsRahl said:

robbinrl said:

Question for STMs. When DS was a baby if he was napping in the swing or playing on his mat and i had to use the bathroom I'd just run quickly to do so and leave the door open just in case to listen for him. What do I do when DS #1 is home with me? I read that children under 4 don't understand cause and effect so to never leave the baby alone with them. Do I need to make DS #1 come with me every time I need to use the bathroom? I have a feeling he won't like that if he is playing but otherwise I'd have to try and bring the baby with me. It was so much easier with just one to coordinate.
I have been wondering about this too. DD loved just being in the floor, but I don't feel comfortable leaving this LO on the floor with DD around without actively watching. (DD LOVES babies, I'm really worried about her trying to 'take care' of the baby if I'm not watching.) This is one reason I plan to get a swing with buckles this time and leave the baby there if I need to step away. I don't think DD would attempt to get the baby out of the swing and obviously we would try to teach DD from day one that she can only hold/take care of the baby when we are there helping her and never to pick the baby up. Any other tips?

SecondTimeinMSU I'm a FTM so take this with a grain of salt, but what about leaving the baby in a pack and play or crib away from your older child while stepping away for a minute. Can you other child reach into a pack and play or crib? I know you don't want to move them if they are sleeping in a swing, but really it can be dangerous to let babies sleep in swings and car seats. Back in February was a big article on a baby who died from their airway being blocked by their head being down in a car seat. I've worked in the infant room at a daycare in PA and it is illegal to allow children to sleep anywhere but in the crib. I know if was super inconvenient and would always wake up some babies, but there is at least a reason behind it.

Chiming in to say that I think this typically occurs when you are leaving the child unattended in the car seat for a long time. DS napped in his swing all the time, so I can see why OP is hesitant to move her LO. Other than that, I am following this to see what suggestions people have!

SecondTimeinMSU · April 2014

flerlgirl said:

Chiming in to say that I think this typically occurs when you are leaving the child unattended in the car seat for a long time. DS napped in his swing all the time, so I can see why OP is hesitant to move her LO. Other than that, I am following this to see what suggestions people have!

Yes. DS slept in his crib at night and a pack and play downstairs usually during the day. He wasn't a fan of the swing at all until he was a couple months old. I preferred a motionless sleep since I know they say it is better but after a couple months he was super excited about the world and didn't want to nap even when he was desperately tired so the swing was helpful for that. I wouldn't let him sleep in it overnight or when I wasn't checking in on him constantly and at that age a nap is maybe a half hour to 45 minutes. I just said the swing since it seemed more of a dangerous item to leave DS #2 in for a moment with DS #1. DS can reach and grab items out of the grocery cart for me to scan so he probably is capable of reaching into the bassinet too. Kids are too crafty for their own good. Ugh, I am so scared of trying to figure out how to handle two kids but then again the thought of one terrified me too and it was figured out.

tbmadeamistake · April 2014

Given that my 2 year old follows me into the bathroom so she can look between my legs and chant "ewwww" as I pee...I have a feeling if I leave them alone, she'll ignore Charlie in favor of humiliating me as I pee.

Did I mention the other day she came up behind me and "checked my diaper" by peering down the back of my pants/undies and saying "ewwww, Mama!". I have such a darling little girl

abastian00 · April 2014

amoot890 - nope, different.

MrsKipper · April 2014

Lilygrace48 said:
Given that my 2 year old follows me into the bathroom so she can look between my legs and chant "ewwww" as I pee...I have a feeling if I leave them alone, she'll ignore Charlie in favor of humiliating me as I pee.
Did I mention the other day she came up behind me and "checked my diaper" by peering down the back of my pants/undies and saying "ewwww, Mama!". I have such a darling little girl

Right now anytime I walk into the bathroom, no matter what it's for, Nola starts saying "poop" over and over. I guess at least she's learning what the bathroom is for!?

steprozz · April 2014

Lilygrace48 said:
Given that my 2 year old follows me into the bathroom so she can look between my legs and chant "ewwww" as I pee...I have a feeling if I leave them alone, she'll ignore Charlie in favor of humiliating me as I pee.
Did I mention the other day she came up behind me and "checked my diaper" by peering down the back of my pants/undies and saying "ewwww, Mama!". I have such a darling little girl

omg this is too funny!!! DS loves to close the lid and flush the toilet for me lol

MrsRahl · April 2014

mullenem said:

robbinrl said:

Question for STMs. When DS was a baby if he was napping in the swing or playing on his mat and i had to use the bathroom I'd just run quickly to do so and leave the door open just in case to listen for him. What do I do when DS #1 is home with me? I read that children under 4 don't understand cause and effect so to never leave the baby alone with them. Do I need to make DS #1 come with me every time I need to use the bathroom? I have a feeling he won't like that if he is playing but otherwise I'd have to try and bring the baby with me. It was so much easier with just one to coordinate.
I have been wondering about this too. DD loved just being in the floor, but I don't feel comfortable leaving this LO on the floor with DD around without actively watching. (DD LOVES babies, I'm really worried about her trying to 'take care' of the baby if I'm not watching.) This is one reason I plan to get a swing with buckles this time and leave the baby there if I need to step away. I don't think DD would attempt to get the baby out of the swing and obviously we would try to teach DD from day one that she can only hold/take care of the baby when we are there helping her and never to pick the baby up. Any other tips?

I think it may just depend on your child and your best judgement. DD is way into babies too so I'd be most concerned with her trying to pick up the baby while I'm out of the room. I think really emphasizing that she isn't to pick up the baby on her own may be enough for a 2 minute bathroom break to be safe, but I have no qualms with just taking one child or the other into the bathroom with me. Truthfully, I usually took our dog or DD into the bathroom with me when she was little since I didn't want to leave him alone with the baby either...I think it will just be a "You'll figure out what works for you when the time comes" thing.
@MrsRahl I have heard of the not letting them sleep for long periods in the carseat when it's not installed in the car, because the angle of the seat isn't reclined enough to avoid blocking their airway 100% of the time, but the swing should be fine. Usually, they recline enough to have this not be an issue. I wouldn't want baby sleeping in a swing overnight or anything, but that's more because the incline and motion could be detrimental in getting them sleeping in their crib later (flat, stationary surface).

Yeah, I get what you are saying, I'm just going by what the Pennsylvania daycare laws are, which are very stringent for infants. The second we see a baby sleeping in a swing or on the floor on a mat, etc. we have to move them to their crib. We also aren't allowed to feed a child under 6 months in a high chair as well, they have to be bottle fed in your arms. Another weird one is you can't sit on the floor while bottle feeding, you have to be sitting in a chair.

wtfisup · April 2014

At what age can you use a blanket in the crib? I know you're supposed to put one extra layer or more on baby as needed, but winters here are frigid.

flerlgirl · April 2014

wtfisup said:

At what age can you use a blanket in the crib? I know you're supposed to put one extra layer or more on baby as needed, but winters here are frigid.

No specific age - baby needs to be able to roll over and pull the blanket away from his face. I would swaddle instead until LO is old enough.

steprozz · April 2014

wtfisup said:
At what age can you use a blanket in the crib? I know you're supposed to put one extra layer or more on baby as needed, but winters here are frigid.

DS absolutely hated the sleepsack and wearable blankets. I mean screamed and cried until we took it off. he got a blanket in his crib at probably 7-8 months. he was definitely able to roll around and pull it off his face and snuggle with it how he liked it so it didn't seem like a hazard to me anymore.

wtfisup · April 2014

Was there a point when your MW or OB told you a prediction on when the baby would come? (Early, late, around the due date ) If so, when was that? What promoted it?

chickpea912 · April 2014

flerlgirl said:

@wtfisup - you will probably need more blankets than you think. We have about 15 and they honestly all get used pretty regularly, especially when DS was a NB. I keep a couple in the car, one in the diaper bag, one in my room, 348230 in his room, etc.

Funny - I would have said the opposite. We NEVER used blankets and actually didn't have that many (not having a shower will do that, I guess)... I guess M was just a very clean baby

I'm probably in for a rude awakening.

rainbowdashh · April 2014

wtfisup said:
Was there a point when your MW or OB told you a prediction on when the baby would come? (Early, late, around the due date ) If so, when was that? What promoted it?

My OB would never guess. She said it was pointless because I could be dilated for weeks and still go to 42 weeks or hit 39 weeks and go from 0-baby in a matter of hours.

Kinipela7 · April 2014

Prior to this pregnancy, I had to have a D&C for a miscarriage because my body couldn't figure out something was wrong I guess. I waited close to a month to miscarry naturally but nothing ever happened. Will this have anything to do with my body going into labor by itself? What if my body just doesn't get it?

flerlgirl · April 2014

chickpea912 said:

flerlgirl said:

@wtfisup - you will probably need more blankets than you think. We have about 15 and they honestly all get used pretty regularly, especially when DS was a NB. I keep a couple in the car, one in the diaper bag, one in my room, 348230 in his room, etc.

Funny - I would have said the opposite. We NEVER used blankets and actually didn't have that many (not having a shower will do that, I guess)... I guess M was just a very clean baby I'm probably in for a rude awakening.

See, Josh was extremely spit-uppy (is that a word? Sure it is). So maybe everyone should split the difference between us!

flerlgirl · April 2014

wtfisup said:

Was there a point when your MW or OB told you a prediction on when the baby would come? (Early, late, around the due date ) If so, when was that? What promoted it?

Yeah... they were wrong.

tbmadeamistake · April 2014

@Kinipela7, my water broke at 39 weeks and I never had a productive contraction on my own. I ended up with an induction. If you're body doesn't figure it out, they have ways to help you. Things like stripping your membranes (which I hear hurts like a bitch, fyi), vaginal suppositories to try and soften your cervix, all the way up to a pitocin drip. I went straight to pitocin because once your water breaks they want the baby out in 24 hours to prevent infection. I think there's probably a difference when you have a 7+ lbs baby sitting on your cervix though, as opposed to an earlier miscarriage. I could be wrong, given that my body didn't get the message last time, though. I will say I'm having way more BH this time around, so I'm hoping that bodes well for un-assisted birth, rather than just that I'm doing too much.

Pepper6 · April 2014

How much do you think is reasonable to use your female family member's labor experiences to try to predict your own?

Cherylwang · April 2014

Pepper6 said:
How much do you think is reasonable to use your female family member's labor experiences to try to predict your own?

My female family members were induced. I went into labor on my own at 38 weeks both times. My mom had me and my brother 7&8 days after her due date.

PressLove · April 2014

Pepper6 said: How much do you think is reasonable to use your female family member's labor experiences to try to predict your own? My sister has three kids and all three labors were different. However, she is the best measure of the type of experience I may have. Our body types, diets, activity level, educational levels, and age at delivery are quite different. Plus, she had pre-e with her second child. Although we couldn't be more different medically, knowing her birth stories reassures me that everything will be fine. For me, I guess it's more emotional than reasonable.

SecondTimeinMSU · April 2014

Pepper6 said:

How much do you think is reasonable to use your female family member's labor experiences to try to predict your own?

In my case I was the total opposite. My mom and sister told me that I'd have to tell them to break my water since it definitely would not break on my own and that I'd need an episiotomy. And in reality with DS my water broke before I ever felt a contraction and I tore naturally. As far as timing my mom and my sister were both super late for their first baby and I was 4 weeks early. So maybe for my sister it was a good predictor but not for me.

steprozz · April 2014

ugabamafans said:

lalala8 said:

ugabamafans said:
@babywear - I had Cervadil with my induction. It is supposed to ripen your cervix. I checked into the hospital on Friday evening around 7:30, got my IV started and Cervadil placed, took an Ambien and then the next morning, they started the Pitocin. I don't know if they will place it and send you home with it here in the States, but maybe they do and I've just never heard of it.

I will say that it is not a guarantee that you will go into labor. It just ripens your cervix. For some women it will jumpstart labor, others it won't.
I had the exact same pre-induction/induction scenario. The cervadil did nothing for me, but the ambien sure as hell knocked me unconscious!

YES! Take the Ambien ladies when offered. You need your rest for a busy, exhausting day!

agreed! the ambien was the best thing ever! but I didn't get cervadil even though I thought maybe I should get it. maybe that was part of my induction issues.

flerlgirl · April 2014

@pepper6 - no one in my family had a similar experience that I know of. My sister and I were basically complete opposites and my mom's experience was similar with all of her kids but not similar to me or my sister.

flojo973 · April 2014

Is there a reason to get a cervical check? From what I've read, it doesn't indicate anything about when you'll go into labor and there is a risk of infection. So is there a reason I shouldn't decline getting one?

wtfisup · April 2014

My mom had c-sections and wasn't really allowed to try anything natural on her own. I have no sisters. I have no clue about family history. I'm with PP about expecting to go past the due date, though. If nothing else, I'll set myself up for being not disappointed?

MrsRahl · April 2014

To tear out the nursery rug and refinish the wood or not? I live in an old house so all the original floors are wood. Anyone else debated this? I feel like the rug would be best in the room and is in good shape but I LOVE the idea of wood floors up there like the rest of the rooms. Then I fear it would make it too loud and cold. Thoughts?

Kinipela7 · April 2014

What kind of clothes will I be wearing PP? I plan on wearing comfy lounge clothes for awile - but maternity or larger sizes of regular clothes?

hollygb22 · April 2014

wtfisup said:

Was there a point when your MW or OB told you a prediction on when the baby would come? (Early, late, around the due date ) If so, when was that? What promoted it?

my dr wouldn't guess either since anything can happen. I had no complications so there was no reason to think it would necessarily happen early or late. Towards the end when I started to measure behind he did start to talk about u/s to check fluid etc and not letting me go past a certain time (41 wks) if what he suspected (low fluid) was the casee and confirmed.

I asked the position of the baby at my 32 wk appt and he said it was too early to predict since things can change

babygabe614 · April 2014

I'm going to regret asking this (because it makes me queasy just thinking about it for some reason) but if anyone has had their membranes stripped, was it as awful as everyone says? I don't even really know what goes into the process, and I'm too scared to Google, but would like to know from first hand experience if it's something I should be losing sleep over (which I am, currently). Thanks.

PressLove · April 2014

This is a TB newbie question. Hopefully, I'm in the right thread.

I can't figure out how to edit my posts. According the TB's help site, there should be an edit button. I don't see this button using Chrome or Firefox. Also, when trying to figure out my siggy, I never get those icons at the top right. If I hover where they should be, the options appear. However, I don't see the actual icons.

steprozz · April 2014

babygabe614 said:
I'm going to regret asking this (because it makes me queasy just thinking about it for some reason) but if anyone has had their membranes stripped, was it as awful as everyone says? I don't even really know what goes into the process, and I'm too scared to Google, but would like to know from first hand experience if it's something I should be losing sleep over (which I am, currently). Thanks.

i didn't have my membranes stripped but I did have my water broken with the little plastic hook. for the love of god don't let them do that to you unless it's necessary. it may have been because I wasn't effaced at all and dilated only 1.5 cm so they had to go really far back and it was hard to get through my cervix but holy hell.

MrsRahl · April 2014

babygabe614 said:

I'm going to regret asking this (because it makes me queasy just thinking about it for some reason) but if anyone has had their membranes stripped, was it as awful as everyone says? I don't even really know what goes into the process, and I'm too scared to Google, but would like to know from first hand experience if it's something I should be losing sleep over (which I am, currently). Thanks.

I havent but my SIL did and she said it wasn't a big deal at all, but she also went all natural, so maybe she has a high tolerance for pain. So take that for what it's worth lol

wtfisup · April 2014

I plan to wear lounge clothes around the house PP and stretchy dresses/skirts when going out. Every time I look at my jeans I want to cry. I can't imagine ever fitting in them again.

jclester614 · April 2014

Odd question: Has any STM drunk wine during early labor? Had a funny convo w the midwife today about that. I was asking about pain management tools between natural and epidural. She says they often recommend wine @ home to help relax you.

She also said narcotics in IV are also ok early on, to take the edge off. Anyone have luck with that?

A side note: apparently some places (not my hospital) use laughing gas... Sounds so old-fashioned to me, but, I can't lie, TOTALLY appealing. Haha.

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Newbie Play date part 2

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Married DH 7/30/11

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Married DH 7/30/11

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