I've been saving a lot of them waiting for someone to start a new thread, so I'm just starting it myself. Here are two to kick it off:
How long is it okay to leave the baby home alone in the crib? I would think a minute to check the mail is fine, but an hour to run an errand is too long. Where is the line between okay and not okay?
I just signed up for my prenatal classes and I'm wondering if I need to drag DH with to the breastfeeding one. I will insist he go to Childbirth Prep and Newborn Care, but breastfeeding seems less relevant for him.
I've been saving a lot of them waiting for someone to start a new thread, so I'm just starting it myself. Here are two to kick it off:
How long is it okay to leave the baby home alone in the crib? I would think a minute to check the mail is fine, but an hour to run an errand is too long. Where is the line between okay and not okay?
I just signed up for my prenatal classes and I'm wondering if I need to drag DH with to the breastfeeding one. I will insist he go to Childbirth Prep and Newborn Care, but breastfeeding seems less relevant for him.
#1: How long to leave baby home alone: I'd say you can never leave baby "home alone". If a fire breaks out can you get to baby? Checking the mailbox is one thing, driving away is another
#2: take DH to the breastfeeding class. He needs to hear the amount of work and emotional load that BFing will bring into your home.
I'm on the free range end of the spectrum when it comes to older kids, but I wouldn't leave a baby home alone. I might pop over to the next door neighbor's house to quickly drop something off while the baby is napping, but it would be a couple minutes at most. Or I'd go outside and do yardwork, but I would have the monitor with me.
@roo_baby NEVER EVER EVER LEAVE YOUR BABY HOME ALONE. You can check the mail, go take rubbish out, get a breath of fresh air BUT DO NOT EVER LEAVE. It would be considered neglect to do so even if you know he/she will be sleeping for a solid hour or two or three. I cannot stress this enough.
@roo_baby someone around here left their toddler sleeping on a couch, went to take their other kid to school and in that time, the house caught fire and killed the kid. Dad went to jail for child endangerment resulting in death. You CANNOT leave your baby home alone EVER.
On that note, you also never leave your baby alone in the car. Not even to run into the gas station or something quick. I only JUST started leaving my kids in the car when I run into the post office to drop mail in the box, but my oldest is 8, I lock the doors with my extra key fob and it's after hours, so no one else is around. And it's literally less than a minute.
I'm with @riverrainez I take the dog for a walk (house in sight) do yard work the entire length of nap (monitor with me). Obviously I'd never leave leave the house which I don't think she was saying. But zomg on more than one occasion I've gotten them down to sleep and think. Man this would be so convenient to run an errand quick right now (would never do it).
Agree with pps. Home alone? Never. I don't even leave my nine year old home alone yet and I'm fairly laid back in this area (my kids have been left car while I run o pay gas, drop one off somewhere etc, with the car running on autostart and doors locked.). I will get the mail, go in the yard, but house is always in sight and I never drive anywhere.
Formerly ChoicesMom "Squishy" 2007 "Lyric" EDD Nov/4/11 - c/p Feb/11 "Fishy" 2012 "Bean" 2014 "Lux" EDD Apr/21/17 - c/p Aug/16 "Kokonah" EDD May/24/17 - m/c Oct/16 1 surprise - 1 Noonie - 1 preemie - 3 gone but not forgotten - One more on the way!! Grab bag of mental health disorders Pancolitis
Never home alone. I'll go outside, but stay on my property (a regular, town sized lot) or maybe step into the neighbour's yard to chat a minute (within the monitor's range), but never not within eyesight of my house. Too risky.
I went to my BF class alone, but there were a couple of dads there and the lactation consultant was thrilled! She said that it's important for dads to have the info and gave them lots of tips on how to support mom.
If you are within baby monitor distance you are probably good. (But this is coming from anxiety girl who didn't even like leaving the room when DS was super tiny.)
BF class - meh. You could bring him just so he knows what kind of commitment it is, maybe? Having his support can really make or break your success with breastfeeding.
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I heart theSkimm I heart YNAB --------- “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light." - Albus Dumbledore
Sorry for causing any panic! By home alone I meant you step outside of the front door. Obviously getting in the car and completely leaving is not okay.
I live in the city, and just wasn't sure if running downstairs to get a package from UPS, taking the dog out (involves crossing the street to drop poop in the garbage, but no more than 5 minutes total), grabbing something from the corner store (a block away, but still in baby monitor distance), etc. were okay. I'm more likely to never leave the house without baby than go too far, I just wasn't quite sure what too far or too long is.
Stupid question: can the baby be harmed or is there any reason to worry about putting the bassinet/crib directly under the ceiling fan or in the path of the AC vents?
trying to figure out bassinet placement in our master bedroom for the first few weeks/months and the only space big enough that will still let me easily go to the bathroom without crawling over DH is at the foot of the bed.
@PizzaMonster3 I personally find it uncomfortable for myself, no matter how hot, to be in the path of AC vents. It's much too cold and I can imagine it would be cold for a baby. I would not recommend placing baby near AC vents. I think a ceiling fan is okay on low because it is just like a soft breeze.
Lol our fan is on full blast right now because I am running as hot as DH nowadays. And he will toss and turn all night if the AC is above 72 so I guess I should try to find another spot.
@pizzamonster3 good question! I keep meaning to ask that about tower fans, too. I'm not worried about it being too cold, we live in South Florida, trust me it's not too cold. I'm more concerned with the possibility that the airstream from the fan could blow something bad into baby's lungs. We definitely won't have the fans pointed at baby, but to have the room in any kind of sleepable condition we need fans. The ac isn't enough.
@bluejeanbabi05 before this very recent development of me being hot all the damn time, I was going to buy DH his own tower fan for his side of the bed because I would freeze at night and he'd be sweating. Might still do it for when my hormones settle down. But still leaves me battling the AC vents arg
@PizzaMonster3 I would avoid it if you can. I think some co-sleepers and basinets have canopy-type things that could help keep the air off baby's face. Or you may just be able to change the direction of the vent.
As a STM I should know the answer to this, but I'm second guessing myself. How long do these LOs stay in newborn clothes, aka, how much newborn stuff do I really need? I swear DD was in newborn stuff for 6-8 weeks, but as I'm doing inventory the clothes just seem soooo tiny. I have a decent stash, just trying to decide if I should be wasting my money on newborn or 0-3 mo. stuff.
October 2017 June Siggy Challenge -- "You Had One Job!"
@beezeemarie honestly I wouldn't get too much newborn stuff. Even if you are low on newborn clothes, you can always put them in the 0-3 month and roll the sleeves. Some babies are so long they don't even fit in newborn at all.
@beezeemarie my kid never wore NB clothes. He was born too big for them already
Same. I think I shoved her in some super cute things I had for a one time photo op...but she was over 9lbs at birth and 21.5 inches. Soooo many of her pants were like instant capris. Except not in a good way.
I'm not sure if this has been asked before, but I haven't gotten too much hands on experience answers:
If you breast feed, and possibly formula feed to supplement due to childcare, should you or could you give your baby water? **ETA: In addition to the breast milk or formula?
I'm not sure if this has been asked before, but I haven't gotten too much hands on experience answers:
If you breast feed, and possibly formula feed to supplement due to childcare, should you or could you give your baby water? **ETA: In addition to the breast milk or formula?
No water before 6 months. Doesn't matter if your BFing or FFing.
No water before 6 months. Doesn't matter if your BFing or FFing.
This. After 6 months is generally ok though, whether you're BFing or FFing. We usually gave DD water to practice with a sippy cup during meals (after 6 months, while she was eating baby food), and then gave her milk/formula between meals and MOTN.
October 2017 June Siggy Challenge -- "You Had One Job!"
@PizzaMonster3 with our last baby, we didn't have any way to arrange our room to keep the co-sleeper out of the flow of the window a/c. I pointed the vents as far away as possible, but it still blew on the co-sleeper, so I put blankets over the side to keep the air off of her and kept her in warm pajamas and a warm blanket
What about the cosleeper at the bottom of the bed? Lol I'm sure it will be on my side of the bed, but if we are trading turns feeding at night there's a better chance he'll get LO if its not on my side...
oh see i LOVE NB size clothing. DD1 was in them for 3 solid months. and DD2 prob a month and a half? i feel like no one ever gives you NB and you get 3940234243 3 months things. When they are new you want to show them off in cute outfits and they look foolish swimming in 3 month things. i dont have a huge stash of NB but every time i go out to buy something for DS i get NB and then something in a bigger size if i am feeling reckless. DON'T BUY ANYTHING 3 MONTH!
Can you use a jogging stroller for an infant? What stroller's would you recommend?
I'm not a jogging stroller expert by any means, but yes I own a jogging stroller and yes I used it when DD was an infant. I originally purchased a Graco click connect travel system and quickly discovered I hated the stroller i got. I purchased a graco fast action fold click connect jogger and because it was a click connect the car seat still snapped into the jogger.
i would reccomend it if you're not actually jogging lol I've read reviews that this one kind of sucks for that but for long walks (which is all I do) it's great.
i would start with whatever infant car seat you like and see what is compatible stroller wise.
but I'm sure there are some other jogging stroller experts in this group that know more than I do haha
@roo_baby DD didn't have one and I think she is okay. I should let you know that she has only slept in her room for 1 year out of the 3. So maybe it did cause emotional damage....... lol
@VLillyV I exclusively BF'ed and on hotter days I offered more boob. No water until I introduced solids at 5.5 months. And it was via teaspoon, boiled and cooled. I switched to tap I think around 10months. @roo_baby DS enjoyed the mobile from about 2 months old.
@roo_baby you definitely don't need a mobile, but I like them for decor. I put DD's above her changing table (a dresser with a changing pad on it), and she loved watching it while getting her diaper changed.
October 2017 June Siggy Challenge -- "You Had One Job!"
Re: Stupid Questions Thread - 06/2017
#2: take DH to the breastfeeding class. He needs to hear the amount of work and emotional load that BFing will bring into your home.
Baby Boy due October 2017
I agree woth taking DH to breastfeeding class. Atleast it'll give him some background
BFP in September 2014, DS born June 2015.
TTC x2 months.
BFP January 2017.
@roo_baby NEVER EVER EVER LEAVE YOUR BABY HOME ALONE. You can check the mail, go take rubbish out, get a breath of fresh air BUT DO NOT EVER LEAVE. It would be considered neglect to do so even if you know he/she will be sleeping for a solid hour or two or three. I cannot stress this enough.
**June Siggy Challenge: You Had ONE Job!**
LO#2 EDD October 18th
On that note, you also never leave your baby alone in the car. Not even to run into the gas station or something quick. I only JUST started leaving my kids in the car when I run into the post office to drop mail in the box, but my oldest is 8, I lock the doors with my extra key fob and it's after hours, so no one else is around. And it's literally less than a minute.
May Siggy Challenge: Parenting Fails
May Siggy Challenge: Parenting Fails
Formerly ChoicesMom
"Squishy" 2007
"Lyric" EDD Nov/4/11 - c/p Feb/11
"Fishy" 2012
"Bean" 2014
"Lux" EDD Apr/21/17 - c/p Aug/16
"Kokonah" EDD May/24/17 - m/c Oct/16
1 surprise - 1 Noonie - 1 preemie - 3 gone but not forgotten - One more on the way!!
Grab bag of mental health disorders
Pancolitis
I went to my BF class alone, but there were a couple of dads there and the lactation consultant was thrilled! She said that it's important for dads to have the info and gave them lots of tips on how to support mom.
BF class - meh. You could bring him just so he knows what kind of commitment it is, maybe? Having his support can really make or break your success with breastfeeding.
I heart YNAB
---------
“Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times,
if one only remembers to turn on the light."
- Albus Dumbledore
I live in the city, and just wasn't sure if running downstairs to get a package from UPS, taking the dog out (involves crossing the street to drop poop in the garbage, but no more than 5 minutes total), grabbing something from the corner store (a block away, but still in baby monitor distance), etc. were okay. I'm more likely to never leave the house without baby than go too far, I just wasn't quite sure what too far or too long is.
**June Siggy Challenge: You Had ONE Job!**
LO#2 EDD October 18th
trying to figure out bassinet placement in our master bedroom for the first few weeks/months and the only space big enough that will still let me easily go to the bathroom without crawling over DH is at the foot of the bed.
**June Siggy Challenge: You Had ONE Job!**
LO#2 EDD October 18th
May Siggy Challenge: Parenting Fails
*O17 June Siggy Challenge - You had 1 job!*
If you breast feed, and possibly formula feed to supplement due to childcare, should you or could you give your baby water? **ETA: In addition to the breast milk or formula?
Baby Boy due October 2017
May Siggy Challenge: Parenting Fails
i would reccomend it if you're not actually jogging lol I've read reviews that this one kind of sucks for that but for long walks (which is all I do) it's great.
i would start with whatever infant car seat you like and see what is compatible stroller wise.
but I'm sure there are some other jogging stroller experts in this group that know more than I do haha
*O17 June Siggy Challenge - You had 1 job!*
@roo_baby DS enjoyed the mobile from about 2 months old.
**June Siggy Challenge: You Had ONE Job!**
LO#2 EDD October 18th