Your Parenting Tips

[Buzzy]

Well ms commins certainly got some tempers flaring - now back to the topic in hand - tips for new mums - keep your baby bag packed, restock after each outing and that way when you want to go out you are ready to go and have one less thing to worry about. and buy tow of the stuff that works, ie bonjela, one for the bag and one for home.

[Chukkas]

Great tip Buzzy. I have done that from day one with my son and found the only thing I had to worry about was a change of clothes as the weather is so unpredictable here in Victoria. I have wipes, cream etc just for the nappy bag and evry week fill it up with about a dozen nappies so I'm never caught short.
Ms Commins certainly did stir the pot, a little too much.
Another tip that helps my son sleep is relaxation music. He has a cd playing all the time and sleeps for 2 hour at a time most naps. Theses cd's are also cheaper than those designed to get abbies to sleep and are just as effective. Borrow some from your library to see which ones work best with baby as my son has a favourite one that works the best.
Kristy

[Emmy-Lou]

On the subject of baby bags, I keep a plastic bag in the boot of my car with a change of clothes, a couple of nappies, some wet wipes, and a box of 'snacks' like prewrapped crackers and dried fruit and a plastic cup. I also keep a measure of formula and a bottle of water to make up a bottle. That way if I am out longer than I anticipated, I have supplies!

[Jaylee]

Encouraging baby to drink water.........

I find that adding a few drops of gripwater to baby's drinking water not only adds taste but is also great for winds. Reduce the amount everyday and in no time baby will be drinking plain water without a fuss. Its harmless and works. Bye bye to water-teaspoon feeding.

[holz]

hi all
what did you look out for when getting a nappy bag?i know that they need the be well made and sturdy but thats about all. also what do you look for buying a car seat. me and my partner are looking at getting a convertible carseat but im not sure what safty features adn such too look out for. any advice will be greatly appreciated.

[Jordys mum]

Hi Holz,
When looking for a nappy bag make sure that it fits well on your pram and will hold plenty. It also needs to be carried comfortably. I ended up with 3 nappy bags and am so glad I did. I used the small one for just a quick trip to the shops, The backpack one (terrific idea) for days out at shows park etc and my standard one for visiting friends etc - where facilities kitchen, bathroom etc were available. Yes it takes up space in the nursery and I had 4 of everything but I always had a bag packed and ready. Just a thought.
cant help with the car seat I'm afraid but speak to the people that sell them and ask their advice. ask at a few places so you can be sure their recommendations aren't based on price alone.
best of Luck.

[Buzzy]

my recommendation for a baby bag is get one that hubby can carry too and not look silly with...

[holz]

thanks for the tips.
at the rate we are aquiring baby gear baby is about to get a second room because the rooms in the house we are in does not have very big rooms.
thanks holz :)

[JZ]

I couldnt believe Mrs Commins. Leaving your baby to cry for an hour and a half is deplorable!
Mrs Commins have you ever pondered that your child may be teething or have wind or even a dirty nappy or even a fever. Had you even bothered to check?
And the earmuffs? Unbelievable!

[Ankie]

Hi there everyone,

I found that making all my daughters bottles for the next day the night before helps save time during the day.

As she is on 3-4 bottles a day I make them all and when she needs them I heat them up. Also helps saves her crying and waiting when she gets up in the morning for a feed.

[moni]

i agree with you ankie. i am a mother of twins and i found that if i made up my formual in bulk for the day and placed it in a sealed jug all i had to do was pour it into the bottles and heat. at the end of the day i would rinse the jug and fill it with miltons overnight. it saves a lot of time.

[JD]

Hi Guys,
I agree! I have shaker that I bought from Tupperware and every night I make up formula with that. It makes it soooo much easier for me with a active little girl who likes her mummys attention!
My tip though is to listen to your heart as we have the hardest and most rewarding job there is.
No one knows your children like you do, what worked for your parents/friends might not work for you. I started off listening to everyone and trying to be supermum, I later realised that Brooke doesn't care whether every item in the house is in its place or that mummy hasn't got any make-up on!!!LOL
Oooh, just thought of another little tip - hope thats ok! I found that when buying baby wipes, buy the bulk 240 pack and put some in a zip lock bag for your handbag, car etc. That way I know I won't be stuck with none!

Take care everyone!!

[freeo]

Would just like to forward some advice for anyone buying a baby car seat.
I got talked into spending an extra $100 on a model with a recliner feature for the safe and sound car seat.
I thought it would be great to lie my son back when He fell asleep and all I had to do was push a button.
To install a car seat firmly the recline action doesn't work. The seat has to be loose.
Plus I have found he sleeps fine in the seat without it being reclined.
Hope this info can help anyone from spending too much money as we bought a second seat today for $98. from BIG W instead of the $350 odd we bought the first for.
thanks
Hannah

[Chukkas]

Hannah,
It sounds like we have the same car seat. I found it to be great but i haven't used that function either for the same reason.
What I have noticed with it is that it has heaps more padding on it than some of the cheaper ones we looked at, plus it has 4 recline positions where most others only have 3. My son, even though he's 13 months old, is still in position 2 only slightly higher than newborn. Its fitted tightly and securly, but his head doesn't flop forward when he falls asleep in it. And he can still see plenty out the windows.
My next car seat will be one for 10kgs and up so the new bubs can have the comfy seat.
I have friends whose daughter has just turned 4 and its still in good condition and well padded.
Kristy

[Chukkas]

Forgot to say that the brand in question S and S also has a head support insert which most others don't. Although my son's fat head grew out of his very quickly.

[freeo]

Yeh it probably is a bit more padded than the one we just bought but the second one is for my husbands ute so won't get used as much. the new one did actually come with a newborn insert with head support though so it does have that extra bit of padding.
by the way, I am sure your son doesn't have a "fat head" I had to laugh when I read that!!

[Ankie]

Hi all

I also found that adding a teaspoon of farax into my daughter last bottle for the day helped her sleep better through the night. as she was that little bit fuller she tends to sleep throug the whole night without waking up.

[newmum04]

Hi there,

Before I had my son (first baby) I was told "don't watch him sleep, and don't run to every noise, you'll panic too much." At the time (still pregnant) I had no idea what they were going on about, after my son was born, I knew. Their breathing pattern is so irregular when they are newborns, and they make so many different noises!!

CRUCIAL tip! If you are having a c-section, make sure your undies and clothes don't sit on your incision line!! I had to have an emergency c-section, and afterwards found that all my maternity clothes sat directly on my stitches.. ouch.. And if you have an unplanned c-section, place a pad over the area so you clothes don't sit on it.... VERY useful!!

[Mirian]

Get your child into a routine as soon as possible. From birth my son was sleeping whenever he was tired. He would be sleeping at midnight and wake up at midday. I wanted to get him into a routine but he would do this attention thing and cough until he vomits so I couldn't try controlled crying with him. One day he slept over his grandmas house and he woke up at 9am, since then I got him into a routine. It gave me so much more time for myself in the evenings.

[kakkles]

One thing I have started doing in this hot weather, is my little girl is not to keen on drinking water or having more bottle feeds, so to keep her hydrated, I wrap an icecube in a flannel, tie it with a hair tie (coz it can't be pulled off) and let her suck on it, shes 5 months old, so will also come in handy when she starts to teeth. She gets to cool down, have fun, and have little sips of cold water as she does so.

Take care Love Kel and Mckenzie xoxoxox