Baby Advice

[joyfulpraise93]

I love the advice so far, folks! Hahah no need to debate parenting advice on this thread. I just want some advice and will heed what will work for us. :) I'm sure that in time I'll be able to figure out what works. The advice so far has been great, though! Keep it coming!! I'll need all the help I can get.

Oh, and as to not trying to be the perfect parent...LOL There is noooo way this VERY imperfect girl could ever even TRY to be near perfect! I gave up long ago. Just try to live (and will try to parent) by God's grace and help. :P

[HappyChristian]

I love the advice so far, folks! Hahah no need to debate parenting advice on this thread. I just want some advice and will heed what will work for us. I'm sure that in time I'll be able to figure out what works. The advice so far has been great, though! Keep it coming!! I'll need all the help I can get.

Oh, and as to not trying to be the perfect parent...LOL There is noooo way this VERY imperfect girl could ever even TRY to be near perfect! I gave up long ago. Just try to live (and will try to parent) by God's grace and help.

I think you may be surprised once the little one is born. God has put something in mommies so they know what their baby needs. A little help and advice is never hurtful, but, as long as you realize that God is the best Helper, He'll guide you well!

[joyfulpraise93]

I think you may be surprised once the little one is born. God has put something in mommies so they know what their baby needs. A little help and advice is never hurtful, but, as long as you realize that God is the best Helper, He'll guide you well!

Thanks, LuAnne! You know, you're a real encouragement! :)

[Trish]

joyful, just enjoy the baby and listen to your instincts. My babies were NEVER on a feeding schedual and they were bottle fed. If your breastfeeding that is the worst thing to do. My last 2 babies were sleeping 10pm to 5pm from 6wks. My older 2 were different. Some famlies thrive on schedualling, ours does not. A fun piece of advice that we enjoy is reading together. My sister has a picture that is worth 1000 words. Its of my 1month old niece staring at a book as her daddy reads to her. I have a similar one of Bethany reading to Jenna.

[deafnva77]

yes, breastfeeding does not do well on schedule.

[lettheredeemedsayso]

Pray, Pray, Pray

[Pastorj]

Not trying to argue, but both our kids were breastfed and both were on a schedule. Both were sleeping from 7pm to 7am by 8 wks. We have given this advice to many and everyone who has followed it has seen similar results.

As others have said, whatever you do, must be your choice though.

[Anon]

Just curious, did they have to cry alot while learning to go that long? I was always taught that breastfed babies couldn't go 12 hrs (or shouldn't) at young ages. But hey each to his own.

[deafnva77]

each child have their own growth spurt. My son grew very rapidly (because my husband is tall and he too grew rapidly compare to other babies). So he had to eat more.

I would be afraid for a baby to sleep that long anyway out of fear of Sudden Infant death.

[Bakershalfdozen]

#1, as you can see just in this thread, remember that every child is different and your family life will be unique to you three. Find out what works best for you.

I agree with those who said hold and cuddle your baby often. We followed a book with our firstborn that stated that babies should have a periods throughout the day where they are not held and if they cry to be held they shouldn't be held. I regret that decision and that child is 10 years old now and still emotionally immature.

Read, read, read to your children. That shouldn't be a problem for a librarian. :Green

Try to find someone who is willing to help out after the baby is born. If your mother or MIL volunteer, that would be great. We lived far away from family members when my first was born and I was overwhelmed with lack of sleep, caring for a jaundice baby as well as having to do all my normal household activities. That likely contributed to my PPD.

When you start baby food, you might try giving your baby veggies first instead of fruit. Kids have a natural sweet tooth so of course they are going to like the peaches and bananas. But if you start them off with peas or green beans, they are more likely to develop a taste for veggies. This could help you avoid the "yuk" routine later. This doesn't work for every kid but it did for mine. Also, encourage your children to try a variety of foods instead of being picky. Don't assume that just because you don't like something, your child won't like it either. My son likes shrimp while I can't stand it. I know a mom who gave her baby sugar-water because she (the mom) thought plain water was "yucky". :loco Why not just go ahead and enroll the child in a childhood diabetes program now?!?!? Good grief!

As baby gets older, do not allow the child to rule the household. This is where scheduling and discipline come into play more so than in infancy. When it is bedtime, it is bedtime. You are the parent and are in charge. An average two-year-old should not be sleeping with Mom and Dad, should not have a bottle, should be sleeping through the night, etc. Too many parents coddle the baby for too long and that creates a brat.

Last but not least, one of the best ways to be a good parent to your children is to be a good wife to their father. And vice-versa for Samer. Some women have the baby and neglect the one who was their friend and lover before the baby arrived. As your children get older, it will do them a world of good to see Mommy and Daddy being affectionate to each other.

To add to the off-topic section of this thread... :Green

I breastfed all of mine and they were on a schedule. That was for my benefit as well as theirs. I am a schedule-oriented person and didn't want jr. getting hungry in the middle of a Wal-mart shopping trip. KWIM? Also, for our kids anyway, scheduling helped them to eat regularly and not "snack". My firstborn liked to "snack" at first and it drove me absolutely crazy. "Snacking" is when they eat for like 5 minutes and then decide they don't want anymore but 30 minutes later they are hungry again.

[matie-k]

Yah, mine was breastfed too and on a good schedule from day one, and it didn't disrupt nursing. She was sleeping long nights (11-12 hours I think) by the age of about 3 months old. I am just the type of person that needs that schedule I guess, and I'm selfish about my own sleep! :ooops I'm not adamant about the schedule thing for others though; I just feel that it's one of those preference things - either it works for you, or it doesn't, and there's no absolute right or wrong.

[Anon]

I would have loved that but three of my four had reflux, and had trouble sleeping...they would get congested and we would have to elevate their head, etc. They would want to nurse to soothe their throat, plus they could not eat alot at one time or they would tend to spit up more. But hey it only lasts maybe 6-9 months before they start getting into a better routine, and the meds help control it, and the solid foods help keep everything down.

I can't imagine being a parent whose toddlers keep getting up every night and coming into their room. We definitely have the kids sleeping once they are past the little baby stage.

[Bakershalfdozen]

I have a nephew who definitely rules the roost at his house and has from day one. He's five now and he will wake his mom up at all hours of the night for a drink, he wets the bed (wonder why ) and has two false front teeth because his baby teeth rotted out from drinking pop and eating popsicles all the time. He refuses to eat anything except chicken nuggets and junk food. And Mama complains she can't do a thing with him. The really weird thing about all of this is that the Mama was raised in a well-structured home.

[Danny Carlton]

Year 0-5: They're cute and adorable, but totally dependant on you, and before long you look forward to when they will be able to do more for themselves.

Year 6-10: They've learned to take more care of themselves, but you long for when they'll be able to take better care of their surroundings.

Year 11-15: They not only can take care of themselves, much better but have learned to take care of their envrionment. Unfortunately they are no longer your baby and you miss taking care of them

Year 16-20: They are like an adult, grown, big, and those times when they were your baby to take care of are long gone, and you cry when you think of it.

Cherish those years when you have the priviledge of taking care of them--they pass way too quickly.

[Pastorj]

Just curious' date=' did they have to cry alot while learning to go that long? I was always taught that breastfed babies couldn't go 12 hrs (or shouldn't) at young ages. But hey each to his own.[/quote']

No, as I stated before, my wife would feed them during the night if they woke up. It just wasn't necessary after 8 wks. They slept 7pm - 7am. Now they did not take too many naps during the day after the 8wks and we wouldn't give them a nap after 4pm, but it was very nice to have 7pm - bedtime to spend with my wife.