Let's have a little fun - post your favorite bit of diapering, potty-learning, ECing, nursing, or babywearing advice. It can be funny, helpful, or both!
Post as a comment below - one entry per person this time please! Five winners will be selected by random.org on Thursday 9/30/10 at 10 pm Eastern time to win $0.50 in store credit
I'll start: One should always keep his/her mouth closed while using a diaper sprayer to wash poo into the toilet....(purely hypothetical...)
Make sure you scroll down - there were two blog posts today!
~Prima~
58 comments:
Use a little bit of Simple Green in the wash cycle when you get a case of the stinkies. It takes a couple of extra rinses, but it works great. And super cheap.
Do not ever talk when changing a baby. My daughter managed to squirt once when I was changing her. Always be prepared to have diaper cover protection!
I have found that if my diapers start repelling that a few drops a blue Dawn ( it must be blue Dawn!) In the wash help to get rid of build up. It does need to have a few more rinses but it works like a charm!
Best nursing advice. Seek help from moms who have successfully nursed. :)
I always rinse my diapers before putting them in the pail, wet or poopy. Then instead of doing rinse cycles, I just put everything on wash cycles and change the water temp according to what "step" I'm on; also always choosing heavy soil for more water. (we have a FL and extremely hard well water).
My best advice for all of them is to never be afraid to admit you do not know what you are doing and ask someone who does :)
My advice for all mamas is to always keep a sling folded in the diaper bag. You may not expect to need it, but it's nice to have it on hand. I use mine not only as a baby carrier, but as a nursing cover, baby blanket, or cart cover. I just wash it when I get home. It's so much easier to unfold my sling than it is to unfold my stroller.
My advice, since my dd is still in utero, is: If you have a question about cloth diapering, post the question on Mami & Papi's wall. If they don't answer it right away, someone else will. I surely have lots of questions about cd'ing as a newbie mommy.
Nursing advice: It's not as easy as it looks. It takes some time and effort for you and your baby to get the hang of it, but it reaps great rewards and benefits for both of you. STICK WITH IT!!
Listen to your instincts when it comes to any aspect of Mothering. Experts are fads. They come and go.
You're the mommy do what you feel is right, even if it's not something the 'experts' agree on! All babies are different, some of the things I did with DD would never fly with DS and vice versa.
Also, for CDs keep it simple. I know people who have this whole drawn out 37 step routine to wash their diapers with all kinds of different additives. If you have problems change it, if not leave well enough alone!
always remember you know what is best for your family...and same goes for other families. what works for them may not work for you or be totally against what you believe...and vice versa!
Always stand by the decisions you make in regards to your children and how you parent them. Do what you think is proper and right and don't let anyone guilt you into doing anything you don't feel comfortable with.
If you decide to nurse lying down, like I do, in the middle of the night, put a changing or waterproof pad under yourself, the breast area, to keep from LEAKING all over your bed. Because sure enough you'll wake up the next day wondering what the heck those GIANT dried spots are on your sheets and not know what the heck they are.
I found this was a Great Gift for the new mother from another mother...
A PACKED diaper bag..with all the essentials :)
My piece of advice....its ok to tell people that they have to wait until you come home from the hospital to see your little one! You are the parent and You make the decisions. And its also ok to DEMAND clean hands before touching a child!
Nursing Advice:
Go Slow this is new to both of you and you will find what fits...if your child won't latch and you have tried everything or your milk doesn't come in you are not a failure as a mother there are other options out there and there is one that will suit your family. Stressing about things is not good for you or your new baby! Thats all for now :)
himes_a@live.com :)
Always be prepared and look through your diaper bag before you leave. I once forgot to pack my wipes in my diper bag (put them in the wrong bag) and oh boy what a mess to try to clean up with crappy toliet paper!! LOL
Do what you have to do to survive. Don't let others get to you. We all have our problems and sometimes you just have to do what you have to do. No judgement here! There's been a few times where I had to do something I never thought I would ever do (like let him cry for a minute or two so I could calm down or co-sleeping to get a few extra hours of sleep).
One last advice; buy a good baby wrap, sling, or carrier. Those things are such lifesaavers.
If you plan to cloth diaper...remember to buy laundry detergent with your first order of dipes! I didn't and it made it very difficult since I had to wait for the shipment. If you're like me, I just didn't know what I needed and thought all I needed were the diapers, right? wrong. lol
krista myers
One of the best purchases we have ever made for potty training or just going potty in general is one of those fold up potty chairs with the little baggies for when you are out. You can get it at Babies R Us. It has saved us so many times, for trips or any time when you are out and your little one has to go potty "right NOW" and a bathroom is not readily available. This is especially true if you have girls since its not so easy for them to just go potty anywhere.
Chandi S
Expect the worse when changing a boy's diaper! My husband has said that he wouldn't get squirted and it's happen at least 3 different times he's said that before! :)
When swishing and dunking a poopy diaper....never let the one year old watch.....cuz then he thinks it's fun and acceptable to play in the toilet!
Danielle Clifford
If you have a boy, make sure his "little buddy" is always pointing down when you put on his diaper! My first son was always peeing out of the top of his diapers until I learned this.
masonbabyjuly05
If you are having trouble breast feeding, contact a lactation consultant in your area. Often they are free through a government program. They are a great source of support, and can lead you in the right direction. Those first few weeks are tough, and that little bit of moral support can make a big difference in your experience.
Don't give up on nursing! It does get easier and there is always someone who would be willing to help!
Even if you think you are doing OK bfding, make sure to find a bfding support group right out of the hospital!!
Beware of Projectile Pooping! :) And keep clean diapers to the SIDE of your baby while changing, not at their feet, or else projectile poop may contaminate! ;) TRUE STORY!
I have learned that many moms are sensitive about not breastfeeding. As much as I am an advocate of it, it is not something that every mom chooses. Now I make sure to point out how important it is to me and how much easier instead of focusing on what benefits it has for the baby. That way I dont imply they are not doing everything they can for their children.
BFing-GET A BOPPY! it makes life so much easier when you can transfer a sleeping baby off of you comfortably for both of you :)
CDing-prepare to buy LOTS of different diapers until you find the right one for your child. i didnt believe how differently they would all be
PTing-buy the simplest potty ever! the more bells and whistles a potty has is just that much more distracting for the child to realize what it is for.
BWing-you dont have to stop wearing your child when they get a little bigger. mei tais are AMAZING!
always ask for a lactation consultant's help with each new baby... even if you *think* you remember what it is like to nurse a newborn, your baby has never done it before. I *thought* I knew what to do (hey, it was my 3rd time)...the result..cracked bleeding and painful nipples for 3 weeks. I forgot how to get her to latch. I was bleeding through pads...OUCH!
Someone shared this tidbit with me about PLing. For trips out of the house, keep a small potty with a little bit of kitty litter in it. You can pull over and pop them on there in your vehicle, and not have to worry about a splashing mess. For longer trips, keep ziplocks with just enough litter in them for one use, so you can change out the litter as needed. How brilliant that advice was!
Best advice do what you feel is right! And enjoy you LO's! Cuddle them everyday! Love them like there's no tomorrow!
ECing advice
just go for it, whats the worst that can happen?
breastfeeding: it's going to hurt, regardless of latch. don't let the pain deter you. Your nipples aren't used to the sucking and tugging and chafing, unless you've prepped them with a wire brush for weeks before the baby is born. A little lansiinoh and fresh air make it all better :)
cloth diapering: don't just stick with one diaper, try many styles/brands. sometimes one just doesn't cut it and then you've spent a ton of money on a diaper that doesn't work!
I found out a teaspoon of borax gets the stink out.
If you dunk & swish with cloth diapers in the toilet, don't let go of the diaper while the toilet is flushing. :-)
Don't be afraid to try something new. I've just gotten into CD and my son is 14 months. Still intimidated by it, but am looking forward to this new adventure.
When you're learning how to nurse, don't be afraid to ask question and use resources. I never would have made it had I not seen a lactation consultant multiple times! Also, even though it hurts at first, remember it is only bad for a few weeks and then it is AMAZING to have a bond like that with your little one!
Don't freak out about cloth diapering. It's not scary, or gross, it's awesome! Don't be afraid to ask questions, lots of them!! That's the only way you will learn. :)
-Elizabeth Wood
barefoot.studios@yahoo.com
My advice.....be willing to seek help from others when learning to nurse. I learned the hard way and had my milk dry up and then wasnt able to nurse anymore.
There are so many ladies out there that have great words of advice on the subject even if they are "dont give up!"
annamie2 at hotmail dot com
Breastfeeding advice: If you get a clogged milk duct make sure you point your baby's chin toward the clog. this will direct the strongest suction at the clog. My most recent bought the clog was on the side of my breast by my arm. So the football was the way to go.
Nursing advice - Find moms that have successfully nursed. If possible, find a nursing support group. I go to one once a week and I also have a new mommy group. Both are GREAT resources to ask fellow moms for advice and lactation consultants that KNOW what they are talking about
Cloth Diapering advice - research research research! Don't just go with the first thing you find. There are so many different options out there and it is DEFINITELY worth a try! Some websites even offer trial runs so if you don't ABSOLUTELY love it you can return it. And there are plenty of cloth diaper obsessed moms out there that will answer any questions you might have. I LOVE CD's!
Don't spend $40 on a Moby wrap when you can find the instructions for making one by searching on google, and most will only cost you the $10 the fabric costs.. most are also sew free (for sewing illiterates like me :o) if you choose the right fabric! I wanted to wear my baby but couldn't afford a wrap.. a friend told me about this.. now I wear her all the time and have made 6 wraps for the price 1 Moby would of cost!
Find a mommy group. It saved me on leave. My hospital offered one as a class for just $15 for the whole leave, and now me and the other mamas still get together with our little ones. It's awesome to have a support system like that.
As for CDing, an extra spin cycle on AIOs helps get the extra water out so they dry faster.
I'm one of those that hasn't won anything, but that's okay because I'm happy others are winning :) And the games are fun and it keeps me current with cloth diapering stuff :) Thanks for all you do Mami and Papi!
Jamie Flaniken
jamie_edcu@yahoo.com
When laying the baby down on the changing table, aim him or her away from the most stuff. We learned thr hard way the first time my husband changed our first daughter.He didn't realize the force of explosive newborn bf'd only poop .. He learned quickly when the poop suddenly covered the changing table, filled the wipes container, covered the basket full of diapers, the wall, the curtains, and the basket full of toys on the floor. Now we always lay a baby down facing the other wayso if it ever happens again it will just get the diaper pail and the blank wall.
Something I wish I was told when I first started cloth diapering. Never put microfiber next to a baby's bum...always have a barrier.
My best advice is trust your instincts!
If it doesn't seem or feel right get another opinion or ask a Mama friend! :D
Don't take off a diaper too soon...Many of times I've taken off DD's diaper to get her in the bathtube only to instantly find her making a puddle...proudly I might add =)
Potty Training my son was miserable! What worked for us was toys. The Dollar Tree Store (where everything is $1} was my BEST FRIEND!
Okay, first we went to Target and picked out a really cool truck. That truck sat on top of a shelf above the potty. The first time Gavin pooped in the potty he got the cool toy.
Every time after he got to go to the dollar store to pick out a toy for pooping in the potty! Even today he still says, "mom are you so proud of me? I really pooped a lot! Now I get a toy!" And he has a huge smile on his face.
Good Luck!
Always use the highest water setting possible when washing diapers! It is a hard lesson to learn :)
Line dry, don't use a dryer- saves energy, money, and your diapers!
If you dunk and swish your diapers, bring something along to the bathroom with you so you don't have to drip a dirty, wet, toilet diaper through your WHOLE house! LOL!
Enjoy the little moments. Even when you are being spit up, pooped, peed and thrown up on. These are the joys of motherhood! :) They will be something funny to laugh about some day.
We do this all the time, though I could see it being REALLY helpful when your LO is PLing...when making up his or her crib or bed, always put two layers of mattress cover & sheet (mattress cover, sheet, mattress cover, sheet) so that when the need arises for clean sheets in the middle of the night, all you have to do is pull off the top layer of wet ones and voila - clean sheets are already there!
Put a burp cloth on the bed under your baby's head. If a sudden spit-up comes it won't mess the whole sheet. All you need to do is remove the burp cloth and replace it with another one :)
Also covering your baby's car seat with an old-school cloth diaper (and clips meant for line drying) gives a nice shade for your baby, sun won't bother and gives privacy while sleeping. No need for expensive shades for car windows!
Always take more diapers than you think you'll need. You never know when you might need them. --Learned the hard way this weekend when my son got a stomach bug and went through diapers like crazy :~(
I rinse out my inserts and store them in a bucket with a tiny bit of bleach and put the actual diapers in a pail until wash day. I think they come out cleaner and we have less stink issues. I also pour 2 to 3 gallons of water in the soap dispenser of my HE washer during the wash cycle and that get the diapers cleaner too!
Advice for dads: no matter where you stand while your wife is changing your baby boy, when he squirts the pee will ALWAYS manage to hit your shirt :) best to just go ahead & change him yourself
always cover up little boys immediately! otherwise, you will get an unpleasant shower!
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