I really don't know much about babies.

hikergirl01 · September 2014

Hello! I've been lurking on the boards since early July, but wanted to officially intro. I'm due March 6 with a boy/girl/baby rhino that has tripled my hunger lately.

I'm a manager for an e-commerce company by day, business school student by night. I'm married to a lovely & geeky web designer and we have two furry little babies.

I'm a FTM, first in either family, first in my set of friends, first at work. I'm incredibly happy but terrified. I don't know much about babies, but everyone has to learn somehow, right? I'm hoping books, youtube, my parents, and this board will help fully prepare me I'll probably have to learn as I go.

Also, I played CAH online last night with friends & strangers for almost 4 hours. It's so addictive! (Thanks @frecklesinside!)

stepherly · September 2014

Welcome & congrats! I can't believe I missed CAH again!

JNCPro3130 · September 2014

Welcome! I'm a FTM as well, but I'm one of the last to have a baby in my circle of friends. This will be the first grandchild for both my and my husband's family. We are excited, but like you, I feel like I don't know much about babies... Especially newborns. I figure I'll read and then learn as I go. Congratulations!

alexandria22489 · September 2014

Welcome

crunchymamaof2 · September 2014

Welcome and congrats! There's a bit of a learning curve but you'll figure it out pretty fast!

052806 · September 2014

Either the hospital you are delivering at or your ob will probably have info on classes you can take about basic childcare, breast feeding and other essentials that will be offered periodically until your due date. I never took these bc I have a sister who is 10 years younger than me and was familiar w babies, but I had friends who took them, and they found them to be helpful.

After you deliver, the post partum nurses will also help you with basics, like when/ how much to feed, how to hold, diaper, bathe, etc. If you breastfeed, your hospital may provide lactation consultants who can help you with that too. Plus if your parents will be around, they'll help too- some things you just don't forget.

Sherbet Lemon · September 2014

Take the classes, but the learn as you go strategy pretty much applies to everyone. I thought I had a pretty good understanding of babies before dd was born, because I was a teenager when my youngest sibling was born. But I still felt semi-clueless with dd. I remember thinking after 1 week how impresses I was that we hadn't ruined her yet.

You'll figure things out. Every kid is different, and you'll know yours better than anyone else does. Congrats, and welcome!

thursday · September 2014

Welcome. Yes learn as much as you can but your right you learn as you go.

stellarsoundz · September 2014

Welcome! And CAH is an awesome game, I agree!

I'm a nanny; I watch everyone else's children all the time... I've been babysitting and doing Childcare for over a dozen years... And I'm a FTM who feels like they know too little as well. I think some things come naturally and the rest we learn as we go. You'll be fine!

kmvisioli · September 2014

Welcome and congrats! Same story as @stellarsoundz‌ - I've nannied long term for several families and worked in childcare for years, but I'm still sure there will be lots to learn about my own babe at home. Being a little nervous is okay, and wanting to learn and do well already is a sign of a good parent, I'd say.

tinypug · September 2014

Welcome and congrats! I don't know anything about babies either so you're not alone! I also love CAH - anyone who doesn't like that game could probably never be a good friend of mine.

Skrittens · September 2014

Welcome and congrats!! I am a FTM...and we are the very last of our friends to have a kid and this is probably the last grandchild on both sides - and I am still completely and totally overwhelmed.

Glad you are here!

JCWhitey · September 2014

Welcome!

Babies are relatively easy to figure out. In the beginning they need a lot of diapers (pretty much every one for the first couple of weeks are poopy), a place for them to sleep (seriously, a box would work and that's what they use in some countries), clothes to wear (just get sleepers, cute fancy clothes are fun but in the beginning sleepers are great especially for winter babies!), milk (breast or formula), and someone to love them. If that's all you have, they'll be happy. Oh, except a car seat. That's required by law.

There are some great videos out there that can be very helpful. Just don't watch a dozen of them as the tips they give can be confusing and conflicting. Pick a couple and just figure out what works best for you. I personally love the "Happiest Baby on the Block" video and then this video series that Rob Reiner did a few years back. It was mostly stuff I already knew but found some things to be very helpful. Also the documentary "Babies". It's not a parenting video, but rather it follows a group of babies who are all born at the same time around the world and how they are raised. It really helped me realize that babies don't need a ton of "stuff" to be happy.

ETA: And even with my years of nannying experience, child care experience, working in day cares, and having a ton of younger cousins I frequently interacted with, raising my own child was still a learning curve! And even now after getting through infancy with one I know this one will throw me a ton of surprises and I'll be learning all over again!

mangomimosa · September 2014

Welcome! I just realized you're not asking for advice... but apparently I started spouting off with some anyway. Heh... feel free to ignore. When I became a postpartum/newborn nurse, I knew *nothing* about babies. I felt comfortable within a few weeks! (Of course, I had none of the emotions or sleep deprivation of a new mom -- but you will definitely learn quickly.) The top things I taught new parents that they seemed to appreciate were

1) swaddling --- which I learned from watching You-Tube videos. Slightly stretchy blankets are the best when you're learning it.

2) 5 S's -- newborn calming techniques by Dr. Harvey Karp, these are seriously magic

3) THEY ARE NOT AS FRAGILE AS YOU THINK!

Seriously.

071115 · September 2014

Welcome. When I was a first time mom I know nothing about babies I was terrified! Then the baby comes you learn from the baby.

createmagic14 · September 2014

Welcome! I figure there are millions of women who do this everyday all around the world, with little to no resources, that we'll all do just fine :-) I currently have a student who was born when her mother was in middle school and she's a wonderful, healthy, happy preteen! I'm also a FTM, grew up around baby cousins everywhere, and still figure it'll be a steep learning curve but I'll manage. Glad to have you around!

RMama2012 · September 2014

Welcome! I would read general childcare and take some classes. Atleast you'll know some basics like not leaving a kid alone in a tub lol.

I was around a lot of kids but felt very unnatural with babies. Very much of it came naturally once my son arrived. Good luck!

randomnames · September 2014

Welcome and congrats! I'm sure you'll do great! You'll get advice and help from a lot of different sources, I'm sure.

jpavenski · September 2014

Welcome & congrats! I'm also due March 6th! I'm a STM, my son is 3 & I don't remember being nervous last time. I am the oldest in my family amongst all the cousins, was always around babies & one of the last of my friends to have one. I also worked photographing newborns when my son was born so I think I felt confident. This time it's like I forget I ever had a newborn, seems so long ago & I am a little nervous about a teeny tiny munchkin again! So I guess you can never really be ready, you really do learn as you go & i think it's just natural once you have your own baby.

Christina80xoxo · September 2014

My "baby " is almost 12! I feel like I forgot everything ! I raised one of my nephews from 2 months until he was six. If you have older relatives willing to give you advice , listen. They were such a help for me. There are a lot of resources out there to read as well. You will also see, every baby is different. Most of it came naturally for me. I'm sure it does for a lot of us. Good luck , I'm sure you will be a great mommy

Enigma87 · September 2014

Welcome!! I'm a FTM as well and have no idea what I'm doing, but I figure everyone learns as they go anyways lol.

jessicad8586 · September 2014

We sound like twins! I've never even held a newborn.... Eeeek!!! But everyone keeps telling me that my instincts will kick in and I believe that. Plus reading and classes are going to help! You'll be fine

this is what we're made to do!

rm2013 · September 2014

Welcome and agree with everyone else. I never even wanted to hold a baby... I was like no thanks. But once you hold yours in your arms it will all kick in. We didn't have anyone close by to help us so DH just learned on our own. No kidding - the first night we came home from the hospital we just looked at each other like Oh shit! What do we do? Next thing you know it will be second nature, you will become attuned to your baby's like, dislikes, and little cues.

The BabyWise book helped us, although it is really wordy and boring. I literally took cliff notes from it and that is what we used. And my friend sent us this book which was pretty funny but nice and straight to the point: The Baby Owner's Manual: Operating Instructions, Trouble-Shooting Tips, and Advice on First-Year Maintenance - I think especially being nerds you guys will love it.