@jenny0228 i will say that google can be a useful tool if you have random infant questions pop in your head... "when can baby sleep through the night" "how to make the best swaddle"... things like that.. i think i'll be using it to remind myself of things. you'd be amazed how quickly you forget details.
@jenny0228 for me my natural instincts gradually just came in. At first it was almost like a shock feeling.. the transition from having nurses all around to help with questions and monitoring to being in a quiet house alone with baby can be a strange feeling but if you have a good support system it can make all the difference.
My first day home, I had DD in the bassinet and I just started crying hard. I didn't even know why I was crying, my SO was so worried that something was wrong but I had to explain to him that I'm not sad, and I don't quite know how I'm feeling because it's A LOT to process and I didn't have that alone time to just sit and let my emotions out until I got home. From there, everything just kicked in.
Not really a question... more a side rant. I already know the usual diaper answers--"every kid is different" "you'll figure it out" haha I'm sitting here staring at my DDs closet, shelves filled with stocked diapers for the next couple months (for both kids now) and find myself totally spacing on how long DD was even in each baby size. She's only 18mo old-I JUST did this-but I can't even remember. Hah. Im pretty sure she was out of ones super fast. So if this kid is the same I probably over stocked on size ones and I'll end up having to return/exchange some for size two... or maybe I'll be lucky and this kiddo will grow a little slower. Anyway... even if they wont all get used - at least I have a bunch of diapers so I don't need to go to the store with two under two in order to purchase some!
Diaper sizes are so weird, too. The sizes never correlated to my son...he was always consistently moving a size ahead when he still should have been able to fit in the previous size for like 4 more pounds. My rule of thumb was always if he pees out of it consistently it's time to try the next size. He always leaked out of the sides, so I blame his thunder thighs.
@longliveregina yeah, my DD was the same way. She's been like 97+% since birth--chubby happy giant baby! So the weight/sizing thing was always off. Guess we'll all get to wait and see what these kiddos come into the world with: thunder thighs or little stick legs: each with their own diaper challenges ;]
Another gear question - how long do people use pack n plays? We do have a great lightweight portable one for the car, upstairs...but I'm thinking we should have a 2nd one with a more permanent spot downstairs. The Joovy room2 looks large & like it will last a while (we have a large dog which is why I really think one permanently downstairs would be good), but the 4moms breeze is also intriguing. I can find that on sale for close to the Joovy price. Any thoughts here?
Er...I almost never used ours. I may use it more now to separate baby from toddler, we'll see. My kiddo napped in a rock n play, was being worn/carried, or played on the floor most of the time.
Also never really use mine. I think it really depends a lot on you and your preferences. If you're concerned about your dog, then sure-guess it makes sense.
I have friends who travel around to visit family and such and their kids sleep in them often. Or they choose to put them in them as a play space aka-kid prison, while they do things around the house.
i also personally just wore babe, or had her on the ground on a blanket most of the time.
I have a couple of super cute fleece sleepers that I want to take to the hospital but I'm worried that they'll be too warm. Baby stays wrapped up in a blanket most of the time, right? I'd like to avoid putting the poor kid in pants. I can't imagine how uncomfortable pants would be after being naked your whole life haha! That and the whole umbilical cord issue.
Me: 24 DH: 27 High School Sweethearts: 10/13/06 Married: 10/13/13 Baby #1 EDD: 3/20/17
we use the pack n play for overnight travel purposes. He never really played in it on its own. He's not a big fan of sleeping in it when we travel bc the mattress isn't all that great but he doesn't have an option. I just let him play on the floor and put the dog outside or up if i felt the need. he hated being worn so that was really my only option.
Ditto - we use pack n play for traveling almost exclusively. But now that I'm thinking about it, I do think we transitioned her from the rock n play to the pack n play (in our room) to finally her crib (in her room) in her first few weeks. We bought a thicker mattress for it, so if we were traveling by car for a longer stay somewhere we would bring the nice mattress - but I wouldn't say that is necessary to do unless you plan to use it a lot.
So my parents have a farm down the road and I imagine pack n play #1 will be in heavy use there. Weekends during be summer & unil I return back to work will be spent at the family lake house - we do a lot of traveling. The dog is great, wouldn't harm a fly, but kids & dogs shouldn't be in the same room alone & a quick place to stash the child while running into the kitchen, cooking dinner, whenever your back may be turned etc seems like the easiest way to go about this. If I can save money on a 2nd one that'd be great...I'm going into nesting mode - ummm the amount of laundry detergent I've stocked up on is - husband thinks I've lost it...feeling the need to buy or acquire anything & everything...
Not really a question... more a side rant. I already know the usual diaper answers--"every kid is different" "you'll figure it out" haha I'm sitting here staring at my DDs closet, shelves filled with stocked diapers for the next couple months (for both kids now) and find myself totally spacing on how long DD was even in each baby size. She's only 18mo old-I JUST did this-but I can't even remember. Hah. Im pretty sure she was out of ones super fast. So if this kid is the same I probably over stocked on size ones and I'll end up having to return/exchange some for size two... or maybe I'll be lucky and this kiddo will grow a little slower. Anyway... even if they wont all get used - at least I have a bunch of diapers so I don't need to go to the store with two under two in order to purchase some!
Rule of thumb is that babies gain an ounce per day (or 2lb. per month) the first several months. That might help you to estimate how many size 1's you need. #1's go from 8-14lb., so if you birth an 8lb. baby, who grows an ounce per day and, on average, use 7 or 8 diapers each day, you'll need about 700 size 1 diapers (3 or 4 big cases). I'd probably err on the lower side, and move baby up to size #2 before getting all the way to 14lb.
I have a couple of super cute fleece sleepers that I want to take to the hospital but I'm worried that they'll be too warm. Baby stays wrapped up in a blanket most of the time, right? I'd like to avoid putting the poor kid in pants. I can't imagine how uncomfortable pants would be after being naked your whole life haha! That and the whole umbilical cord issue.
At the hospital baby wore their l9my sleeve shirts and two (yes, two) swaddle blankets. The ward was like 73 degrees, it seemed like way too many clothes to me. I always just wrapped him up in the swaddled when I wasn't holding him on my chest, and there my body heat kept him warm. You should really only need an outfit for going home in.
@OctoberLove13 It's true... they get checked so many times that to me it wasn't worth changing him.. the hospital had long sleeve onesies with the built in mittens and swaddles. I will however bring my own swaddle because I am the worst swaddler known to mankind and need some Velcro assistance!
@Goodmorning12 We initially used ours with the newborn insert for changing diapers on the first floor and I had intentions of having him sleep there to get used to different places. But now it is just used for when we went on vacation as a portable crib. My MIL has one at her house for my son's naps when she watches him.
For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him. 1 Samuel 1:27 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
How did you go about finding a pediatrician? I keep reading about how you need to interview them and such, but to me, I think of medical professionals like I think about car mechanics: they're the ones who know what they're talking about and working with more than I do, so just pick someone who comes with a good recommendation and go with it. But what if you end up with a pediatrician who just doesn't vibe right with you somehow? Do you tend to stick with a specific doctor or did you "shop around" for one? What did you find mattered the most in your selection?
@MMaru it's totally your call and your preference (like most things in parenthood.hah) whatever is important to you! I didn't care to interview ppl. Picked a female one taking new patients & our insurance, most conveniently located for me and close to my husbands work. For me: I personally don't care if I vibe with them, so I didn't interview before. We go in for our wellness visits and get their shots-Done and done. And, it's not like you can't switch as they get older if you want to-just request a copy of the chart to be transferred and your good to go.
some things I've heard are a big deal to other parents--weekend hours/direct emergency call line/before office hours sick visit slots/all patients required to vax?not vax?/
Not really a question... more a side rant. I already know the usual diaper answers--"every kid is different" "you'll figure it out" haha I'm sitting here staring at my DDs closet, shelves filled with stocked diapers for the next couple months (for both kids now) and find myself totally spacing on how long DD was even in each baby size. She's only 18mo old-I JUST did this-but I can't even remember. Hah. Im pretty sure she was out of ones super fast. So if this kid is the same I probably over stocked on size ones and I'll end up having to return/exchange some for size two... or maybe I'll be lucky and this kiddo will grow a little slower. Anyway... even if they wont all get used - at least I have a bunch of diapers so I don't need to go to the store with two under two in order to purchase some!
Rule of thumb is that babies gain an ounce per day (or 2lb. per month) the first several months. That might help you to estimate how many size 1's you need. #1's go from 8-14lb., so if you birth an 8lb. baby, who grows an ounce per day and, on average, use 7 or 8 diapers each day, you'll need about 700 size 1 diapers (3 or 4 big cases). I'd probably err on the lower side, and move baby up to size #2 before getting all the way to 14lb.
The sucky thing is that the smaller the diaper the cheaper! So with DD I kept her in smaller as long as possible. I don't think I'll have issues exchanging for twos if I have to-but we'll see! I cloth diaper with DD during the day, and plan on starting cloth with this kiddo too after I go through the diapers we've stashed and been given over the first months. As my husband said yesterday as I was rantint about my disposable diaper size thoughts, "we can always use them for the next kid" ... . hahah. Glad he's already decided we want more ;]
@OctoberLove13 - FTM here, but my hospital recommends not bringing a ton of clothes for lo. They said that clothes at the hospital get lost all the time, especially if they have to take them to the nursery for any reason. They encourage so much skin to skin that you would constantly be stripping them anyway.
They provide long sleeve onesies with built in mittens, hats, and blankets for swaddling. At our class last night, they said if you want to bring a swaddle or two (if you think swaddling with a blanket would be too hard), then that's cool. Obviously, they won't tell us not to dress them, but they just say that most parents end up not doing it anyway.
We're only bring going home outfits, one swaddle, and lo will be wearing hospital provided clothing. Nothing lost and less laundry for the win!
Thanks for the replies, ladies! That helps a lot. I might even take a few things out of his hospital bag so I'm not worried about losing any of his clothes while we're there.
Me: 24 DH: 27 High School Sweethearts: 10/13/06 Married: 10/13/13 Baby #1 EDD: 3/20/17
Echoing the sentiments that the hospital provides quite a bit - swaddle blankets, a hand-knit hat that volunteers make, long sleeve onesies with mittens, disposeable breast pads, a girdle (this one was surprising),diapers, so packing for little one will be minimal to say the least. They also encourage taking as much of it home as your can - otherwise it gets trashed. Quite frankly It doesn't feel like enough with the giant hospital that is heading our way but at least it makes the packing a bit easier. And the hand knit hats are so sweet
@MMaru FTM here, but I shopped around a couple and I'm glad I did. The first place I called had great reviews, but when I called to even ask about a meet and greet, the receptionist was kinda rude and said no, just to bring the babe after. I wasn't comfortable with that. The second place I checked out seemed fine, nothing special. I'm sure that pediatrician would have been fine and taken fine care of my baby, but it didn't seem like a great connection. The third place I went to was a lot warmer, seemed like a lot more personal of a relationship. She also had excellent reviews/recommendations. We just really clicked, so I'm glad I checked out a couple instead of just going with the first one or the closest one to my house. I'd rather have a dr I feel more comfortable with and who will take their time to make sure myself and my kid are comfortable
Me: 27 DH: 33 Furbaby: Walther, 4 year old Rottweiler/Coonhound mix EDD: 3/7/17<img
I hate to bring it back to the beginning of this thread but my sign of going into labor with DS was that he completely stopped moving. I had a scheduled doctor appointment that day and was totally freaked out. I drank a bunch of orange juice, laid on my left side, kept poking my belly trying to get kicks... Nothing. Went in for a NST and found out I was in early labor having regular contractions that I just couldn't feel!
FTM. Jealous of the hospitals giving out clothes! Ours has diapers, wipes, and cream but the swaddles, onesies, hats, etc all have to come from home. If not, they have a gift store stocked with baby stuff... not outrageous prices but much more expensive than places like Carter's.
@sunshine507 I'm a little jealous too! Our hospital only has diapers, formula if needed and they do have little knit hats though. Other than that there's nothing else.
They don't wear onesies in the hospital so it's just the shirts & blankets...and my guess is you really only get one or two of each (they likely go through many a day and then wind up in the trash?). Quite frankly I'd much rather have health insurance pay the actual medical bills instead of covering a swaddle blanket, shirt, or my breast pump. Great system we've got here.
Re: Ask a STM week of 2/13
My first day home, I had DD in the bassinet and I just started crying hard. I didn't even know why I was crying, my SO was so worried that something was wrong but I had to explain to him that I'm not sad, and I don't quite know how I'm feeling because it's A LOT to process and I didn't have that alone time to just sit and let my emotions out until I got home. From there, everything just kicked in.
I already know the usual diaper answers--"every kid is different" "you'll figure it out" haha
I'm sitting here staring at my DDs closet, shelves filled with stocked diapers for the next couple months (for both kids now) and find myself totally spacing on how long DD was even in each baby size.
She's only 18mo old-I JUST did this-but I can't even remember. Hah.
Im pretty sure she was out of ones super fast. So if this kid is the same I probably over stocked on size ones and I'll end up having to return/exchange some for size two... or maybe I'll be lucky and this kiddo will grow a little slower.
Anyway... even if they wont all get used - at least I have a bunch of diapers so I don't need to go to the store with two under two in order to purchase some!
Guess we'll all get to wait and see what these kiddos come into the world with: thunder thighs or little stick legs: each with their own diaper challenges ;]
I have friends who travel around to visit family and such and their kids sleep in them often. Or they choose to put them in them as a play space aka-kid prison, while they do things around the house.
i also personally just wore babe, or had her on the ground on a blanket most of the time.
I have a couple of super cute fleece sleepers that I want to take to the hospital but I'm worried that they'll be too warm. Baby stays wrapped up in a blanket most of the time, right? I'd like to avoid putting the poor kid in pants. I can't imagine how uncomfortable pants would be after being naked your whole life
High School Sweethearts: 10/13/06
Married: 10/13/13
Baby #1 EDD: 3/20/17
@Goodmorning12 We initially used ours with the newborn insert for changing diapers on the first floor and I had intentions of having him sleep there to get used to different places. But now it is just used for when we went on vacation as a portable crib. My MIL has one at her house for my son's naps when she watches him.
1 Samuel 1:27
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I didn't care to interview ppl. Picked a female one taking new patients & our insurance, most conveniently located for me and close to my husbands work. For me: I personally don't care if I vibe with them, so I didn't interview before. We go in for our wellness visits and get their shots-Done and done. And, it's not like you can't switch as they get older if you want to-just request a copy of the chart to be transferred and your good to go.
some things I've heard are a big deal to other parents--weekend hours/direct emergency call line/before office hours sick visit slots/all patients required to vax?not vax?/
As my husband said yesterday as I was rantint about my disposable diaper size thoughts, "we can always use them for the next kid" ... . hahah. Glad he's already decided we want more ;]
They provide long sleeve onesies with built in mittens, hats, and blankets for swaddling. At our class last night, they said if you want to bring a swaddle or two (if you think swaddling with a blanket would be too hard), then that's cool. Obviously, they won't tell us not to dress them, but they just say that most parents end up not doing it anyway.
We're only bring going home outfits, one swaddle, and lo will be wearing hospital provided clothing. Nothing lost and less laundry for the win!
Samantha - 4/5/2017
High School Sweethearts: 10/13/06
Married: 10/13/13
Baby #1 EDD: 3/20/17
The second place I checked out seemed fine, nothing special. I'm sure that pediatrician would have been fine and taken fine care of my baby, but it didn't seem like a great connection.
The third place I went to was a lot warmer, seemed like a lot more personal of a relationship. She also had excellent reviews/recommendations. We just really clicked, so I'm glad I checked out a couple instead of just going with the first one or the closest one to my house. I'd rather have a dr I feel more comfortable with and who will take their time to make sure myself and my kid are comfortable
DH: 33
Furbaby: Walther, 4 year old Rottweiler/Coonhound mix
EDD: 3/7/17<img
Went in for a NST and found out I was in early labor having regular contractions that I just couldn't feel!