Hellobee Boards

Cover up the penis during diaper changes unless you want to get peed on...especially if you're changing them on your bed at 4am...oh, how I wish I could say I've never slept in pee because I was too tired to wake DH up and change the sheets....

(And I KNEW this one going on...apparently my brain doesn't work at 4am)

I learned pretty quickly that babies are independent littli people and you can't force them to do anything. I think it was our second night home from the hospital when DD screamed for 5 hours straight. We couldn't do anything to get her calmed down and I realized I couldnt make her stop crying! I just had to try my best and she had to do the rest.

Always wait 10 minutes before changing a dirty nappy, there's usually a second round and you don't want to be halfway through a change when that happens!

Also, listen to your baby and be prepared for change. Just when a pattern is established (sleeping, eating, crying) expect it to change.

And most importantly for me, accept your baby's needs and dont try to fight it. Might sound obvious but I've read far too many texts about putting babies on schedules and I sometimes got frustrated and upset when LO would wake every two hours to eat or not behave like he was 'supposed' to. Reminding myself to just give LO what he needs regardless of what the Internet/books say makes both me and him happy and more relaxed.

To check all folds! Especially neck folds, regardless of how small it may be. As a newborn, we discovered our sweet and tiny DD had started a cheese factory under her chin! DH and I felt super horrible! It was our first parenting fail, but we've learned since.

@Crumbs: A little bit of vaseline in her neck folds will help prevent any rashes from milk build up. You still have to wipe them down at least once a day, but the vaseline prevents them from getting irritated skin (which made my DD very dranky).

@artbee: LOL, that was my first lesson too. We did skin to skin and I got pooped and peed on immediately. :o!

Don't send your husband home for the night while you are still in the hospital. I thought I would be fine taking care of DS since I would have the nurses to help.... I think I cried more than the baby did that night and the nurse I had wasn't much help at all.

@yoursilverlining: I was just upset that DH got out of changing that first yucky diaper that they talk about because the stickiest yuckiest poo was on me!