Top tips/secrets needed for new parents

samsil

havent checked to see if anyones mentioned this but I think the calpol that comes in sachets are FAB. a little more expensive than the bottles of calpol, but I can tell you, dripping sticky calpol in a handbag is THE WORST!

Atalanta

liney wrote: »

I changing table is worth the money, whatever anyone tells you. Especially after a difficult labour. Getting up and down from the floor is not want you want to be doing. Of course the kitchen table would be fine too, but i liked to take Baby to his room to change him.


I just put the changing mat onto my bed then knelt down to change them, but I guess it depends how flexible your knees are. A changing mat is definitely worth it ( I did see a suggestion somewhere else that you could just use a towel - but then when they get projectile poo it can easily be wiped up from a changing mat! )

My best buy was a swinging chair from Free Ads - only thing that calmed him down when he had colic in the evenings. But wait and see if your baby has colic first or you might not use it (and they take up a lot of space).

And a baby sling but it has to be a good one - I had a wilkinet. It was really comfy, and both my babies loved being in it. They would sleep really well and I could then get on with whatever.

Andrea

I can't agree more with the people that have said get a Slow Cooker. You can easily cook a great meal without having to worry about something burning on the hob.

My tip, which I don't think anyone's mentioned is, where possible buy clothes with poppers. This comes from hindsight. It's so much quicker and a lot less hassle to undo clothes with popstuds than buttons.

Andrea

Curious_George_2

djtonyb wrote: »

BUY A DIGITAL EAR THERMOMITER

They save a lot of time ahs struggling with a baby/child with a temp

Its virtually impossible to insert a rectal thermometer into a screaming baby or to hold on a fever scan one on the forehead for 3 mins!

rectal!! dear god i wouldnt even try it! :eek:

I had a regular digital thermometer and used to take babys armpit temp, ok they may still not like it but its a lot easier (and cheaper) than all other alternatives,
dont forget to also take your babies temp when it is feeling well, make a note of it and keep it with the thermometer, then you will always have a gauge to wether your bubbas temp is up or normal

dooj

buy clothes that are practicle rather than cute for when baby is very young.

have lots of cloths and bibs.

have lots of hand towels to put on changing mat for changing baby (change mat is too cold to lie baby straight on)

use cotton wool rather than wipes (i only use wipes for trips out)

allow baby plenty of nappy free time (help prevent nappy rash and gives baby more room to move)

Give baby lots of kisses and cuddles

trust your own judjement and try not to get to obsessed with what it says in "the book"

Make use of toy libraries

have two toy boxes and rotate toys this way baby wont become bored of toys too quickly

dont rush feeding time relax and dont get up to answer the door or the phone, have everything you need near by i feel this helped my baby from suffering colic or wind and makes feeding time enjoyable rather than just something you have to do.

have a 20 min rule- always allow baby to rest their stomach for at least 20 mins after a feed before lying them down (again i found this prevented baby from getting wind and being sick)

with an older baby (4 month plus) keep a little pot of cooled boiled water by the side of the bed to dip baby's dummy in during the night it will refresh their mouth (we all now how we sometimes need a drink during the night)


thats all for now

Curious_George_2

dooj wrote: »

buy clothes that are practicle rather than cute for when baby is very young.

this just reminded me of a great tip to save having a cranky baby!
dont buy the clothes/baby grows that do up at the back...
think about how much time your baby spends laying on those poppers... it cant be that comfy

jma21

nej wrote: »

Further down the line - buy shoes from Ebay. I've just decided to start doing this after the last pair of £25 Clarkes shoes have now been outgrown within 2 months or so.

I buy Clarks shoes new then sell them on Ebay when I've finished with them. I get over half the money back every time - they end up costing me around £10 per pair (the same or less than I could buy them for on Ebay) and I've always had a thing about using 2nd hand shoes too - it just doesn't seem right somehow!