Don’t we all wish we had the beauty of hindsight especially when it comes to our children and how to bring them up. Here is my list of ‘What I wish my mother had told me about…babies’
- You won’t find a buggy that does everything but make sure you find one that folds easily!
- Never discuss your baby names unless you are telling your chosen name. Everyone knows a bully at school/a great Aunt that had bad breath etc with that name and you don’t need to hear it
- Prenatal baby group friends are great. There is nothing better than having a baby at the same time to compel a friendship and hopefully it will last past the baby phase
- To establish breastfeeding, if possible get that baby latched on ASAP. Frequency frequency frequency
- Check for tongue tie. Impossible to breastfeed successfully if they are even slightly tongue tied
- Fairy liquid is an adequate substitute to sterilising when it comes to cleaning baby bottles
- They aren’t distressed when they are crying unless it’s a prolonged and sustained period of time
- Short sharp cries = hungry
- Long low wail = tired
- If your baby has reflux, hang on in there – it does get better with time
- Teething pain is worse before the teeth cut through so be sympathetic from as early as 3 months
- If your baby is doing explosions up the back – go up a nappy size
- Cheap nappies are a false economy
- If your baby is sucky you need a dummy. Go cold turkey by 1 year so you don’t have to get into dunmy fairy territory
- Take videos even if you think the gurgling is dull at the time. Often better than a photo down the line
- Don’t compare your baby. Your baby is the most advanced and beautiful so don’t worry if it seems others can’t see it
- Monitors might seem slightly neurotic but oh it is so much easier than questioning your ears every few minutes
- A baby sleeps in cycles of 45 minutes, therefore be quiet/keep car moving 45 minutes in to their 2 hour lunch time sleep
- Babies will stay sleeping in the car if you stop within the first 15 minutes of sleep but touch and go nearing the half hour mark
- Trying to get your child into a routine too quickly is futile as they will change as soon as you have told someone they are in a routine
- Ditto to ‘sleeping through the night’
- That I only just realised that ‘smug’ mother wasn’t saying baby slept 7-7 at 4 weeks – the definition increases with each week!
- Don’t spend too much money on baby clothes as they grow so quickly. Invest more when they slow down.
- The more you try and keep your old life as is the harder it will be
- Embrace it and don’t wish it away as it is such a short phase of your life
On that note, do what works for you as deep down you knew what you were going to do anyway!
