marks@yogi.DEC (01/06/86)
Dear Two Novices: Having raised two kids (both of them were born in April, by the way, and you will find it's a terrific time of year to bring a baby into the world), I hope my insights as a mom of older kids who is looking back will be of help. Just let me say, when your baby is born, common sense will guide you in cases where you are inexperienced. Babies are small humans and should be treated as such... >I am going to breastfeed, however, don't I need a bottle >for water or juice? Depends on if you will be home with the baby or going back to work and leaving the baby in some kind of daycare situation. I breastfed my daughter, and she never in her life had a baby bottle in her mouth. A baby will do well on breast milk alone for approximately 6 months, give or take. This makes life extremely simple, which is a boon for a new parent. After that, you can start introducing solids (my daughter liked to suck on chicken bones at 6 months, which I found out when she grabbed one off my plate at the dinner table, where I was nursing her). What they may be depends on your lifestyle, your pediatrician's recommendations, and what your baby likes. I recommend you read The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, published by La Leche League, Intl. And for heaven's sake, don't listen to rumors (you'll hear many on this subject; 98% are not true). >Should I get a baby carriage or >a stroller? When my babies were younger, I preferred a carriage. Since your baby will be born in the spring, you will probably get a lot of use out of this. For older babies and toddlers (7 - 8 months and older), I think a stroller is more convenient. How about one of those nifty convertible jobs? Rather expensive, but I think worth the investment. >Are disposable diapers better than cloth ones >both for baby's skin and economically? For my son I used cloth, for my daughter disposable. They say cloth is better for skin, but I never found any difference, as long as you don't leave them on for inordinately long periods. In terms of mom's time, disposable are much preferable. Some like a diaper service, but I always preferred to use the disposable kind and not have a big bin of dirty diapers around until they were picked up. A good way to judge is to sign up with a service for a couple of weeks and see if you like it, then try the disposables and compare. In the end, the choice is up to you, your lifestyle, and your baby's bottom. >What kind of carseat >do most parents recommend for the first few years of life? In my day, the only safe ones were made by General Motors. I believe this has changed radically. Ask around. Check Consumer Reports, generally a very reliable source. >What about pacifiers? Nuk seems to be the best. I had one pacifier baby, and one who never used a pacifier. Pacifiers are generally considered healthier than thumbs (many breastfed babies don't need them at all). Supposedly, Nuk does the least damage to developing teeth and gums. >Bibs, and other clothing? Some babies drool, others never do. Breastfed babies tend to spit up less than bottle fed ones, and the spit up is less offensive in breastfed babies. I found sometimes that a receiving blanket over my shoulder was more useful than a bib on the baby. Bibs are cheap -- try it out and see if you like it. As for clothes, go by yourself and how you are feeling. If you feel cold and put on a sweater, put a sweater on the baby. If it is 80 degrees, let the baby wear only a diaper with a light blanket to sleep. The little nightgowns with the drawstring bottoms were extremely versatile when my kids were little. I also never put stiff shoes on them until they had learned how to walk -- could never see the purpose. There are some great corduroy booties that were built to stay on and protected tender feet. Try not to get carried away and purchase too many newborn size clothes. Babies grow like crazy, and you will find you have to go out and buy an entire new wardrobe. I bought little undershirts way too big. They were like tents at first, but soon they fit perfectly. >Toiletries? The array is staggering. I wasn't crazy about powder -- too many articles about how the particles could damage lungs. I cleaned with baby lotion each time I changed the diaper. This was good for preventing diaper rash. I used Desitin when a rash did come (smelly, but it really works). I used baby shampoo, but took precautions not to get it in their eyes anyway, and because someone had given it to me I used baby bath liquid, which was nice and mild. Baby oil is good for cradle cap if your baby is so afflicted (many are). Also, don't neglect yourself. One of the symptoms of breastfeeding in the beginning is soreness and tenderness. Hydrous lanolin is great for this -- you have to request it from your pharmacist. It has no additives or perfumes, so it doesn't bother the baby at all, and it protects your skin from all that sucking and heals it very nicely. Finally, remember that although this is serious business, the best thing you can do for yourselves and your baby is to HAVE FUN! The months of infancy go by like a flash, and you will realize later that these are really the least complicated times. Little kids have little problems and big kids have big problems. Enjoy your baby and good luck! A Boston Mom
rosen@exit26.DEC (Barry Rosen) (01/07/86)
I had reviewed your information request with my wife and was about 1/2
through with our response when I read an excellent reply to you by "A
Boston Mom." It stated just about everything which we were going to
say to you even down to recommending the NUK pacifiers. [They also
make nipples should you decide to supplement with bottles.] I would
like to add just a bit about our experiences with our son.
o Powders: We decided not to use talcum powder. There was (and is)
concern about the effect that talc (a mineral) might have on the
lungs but more important few talcum based products are pure and
contain other additives and perfumes. Most also contain other
minerals notably lead which is found naturally along with the talc
deposits. Unless things have changed Mennen (sp?) did have a pure
talc but if I remember correctly it was a bath talc that contained
a deodorant. One of my friends founds this for me in a technical
journal but I also discovered this in an older issue of "Consumer
Reports" magazine. Cornstarch makes a very good alternative to
talcum powder. There are also lotions that do not have the
perfumes added. I think that you will also find Desiden terrific.
You will know at once that this is one of the products to which no
perfume has been added!
o Diapers: We found (compared to our friends who did not breast
feed) that our son required changing more often. The stool was
more watery but much less odorous. We found that God had a sense
of humor, for all this changed when we introduced solid food! The
disposable diaper is more expensive and sometimes babies have a
problem with the chemicals with which many are treated. They are
less work and more convenient. If you choose disposable, just be
aware that should a rash develop, it might be to the diaper
itself and not merely a "diaper rash."
o Breast feeding: I enjoyed watching our son nurse. The look on
his face was really extraordinary. [I guess relaxed, contented..]
The book mentioned (The Womanly Art of Breast Feeding) is very
good. So is La Leche League. Be sure your pediatrician will be
supportive of breast feeding. It is more work for them and
requires awareness and understanding. Too often, we heard of
women giving-up breast feeding because their doctor told them to
do so (possibly out of ignorance). The reason was that the woman
needed to go on an antibiotic. There are antibiotics which can
allow one to continue to breast feed and wherever possible, these
should be prescribed to avoid interruption. If an interruption is
absolutely necessary, it does not have to be the end of breast
feeding. When we had questions for which we could not obtain
satisfactory answers, we telephoned a local chapter of La Leche.
They either had the answers or had one of their physicians call us
back. They did this regardless of whether or not you are a
member. Since we had no "local" support for breast feeding,
(friends, etc.) we found this group very helpful. Looking back,
we probably worried more about this than necessary. A positive
attitude and being relaxed were important.
My wife also found the hydrous lanolin important. It helps
prevent cracking and relieving the tenderness that may develop
until the nipples "toughen-up." Most people (including babies)
are not allergic to the lanolin (which comes from wool). The jar
will last you 10 years or 100,000 miles whichever comes first!
As the Boston Mom said, most of the things you hear are probably not
true so enjoy your baby and do what YOU believe is right. Happy
future parenthood!avolio@decuac.UUCP (Frederick M. Avolio) (01/07/86)
> I am going to breastfeed, however, don't I need a bottle ... My wife breatsfed both of our children (now 4.5 and 2.5). (We have another who is not born yet -- God willing, mid-June!). Our first was breastfed until around his first birthday, although we introduced solids into his diet earlier. You don't really need a bottle. He does not need juices at all. (Keep in mind that for the first year or so the baby needs nothing more than mother's milk -- true -- in most cases.) Extra water isn't needed either unless there is a danger of dehydration (baby ill, very hot, dry climate, etc.). Please keep in mind that some doctors are products of the 50s/60s when breatfeeding went out of vogue hereabouts and he/she might not encourage you or help. Baby shouldn't need/want/get any formula. The baby will eat enough to keep her healthy. > Should I get a baby carriage or a stroller? A carriage is nice as it seconds as an extra "bed" for use outside in the yard, on another floor (for 2 story houses!), etc. They are also very expensive compared to strollers. There are some nice stroller/ carriage things on the market today that are easy to close up and store. > Are disposable diapers better than cloth ones... Economically cloth/wash at home are cheapest, followed by diaper service, followed by disposable. (Or so I am told.) Since you have to rinse out dirty "pampers" anyway, we went with cloth/wash at home. (We are on a budget.) Do be careful to change baby regulary if you use disposables as they may feel dry to your touch, but may in fact be wet. If you wash your own, make sure you use something to kill bacteria, as leftover bacteria will form ammonia (you'll smell it!) which will *really* irritate baby's skin. > What kind of carseat do most parents recommend for the first few years ... Check Consumer Reports. All of them made in the last few years have had to meet federal standards. We used a borrowed Luv seat for the first few weeks, but larger ones which will last until 40 lbs are more practical. We have been very happy with Cosco-Petersen for both children (And use that seat and your own seat belts too, for goodness sake!) > What about pacifiers? We used whatever the baby wanted. #1 hated Nuks for quite a while and then loved it and never parted with it. For very early in life for both children we found a regular (you know what a regular is!) bottle nipple and lid with cotton stuffed in the back (and suitable sealed with tape, etc) worked great. This is what the hospitals used in the nursery. Many babys want to suck w/o really wanting or needing to drink or eat. Our first used the Nuk a lot. There is a time of his life where all the photos of him we have have it in his mouth. Our second had no use for a pacifier but did find her thumb. She still sucks her thumb when tired. Again, different pediatricians have different views. My view? Give the child a pacifier if he needs it. And let the baby suck her thumb if she wants to. They will outgrow the habit before they go off to college. (We used to kid, wondering when my son would get potty trained. "Well, the guys at the dorm will show him how") Best wishes. And after all this on the net, you better tell us how everything turns out! "Consider children a gift from the LORD; the fruit of the womb a reward from Him." -- Fred @ DEC Ultrix Applications Center {decvax,seismo,cbosgd}!decuac!avolio
pats@bnrmtv.UUCP (Pat Shriver) (01/10/86)
> > I am going to breastfeed, however, don't I need a bottle ... > One point that I think has been lost in the discussion on whether or not to get bottles for a breastfed baby is (for lack of a better term) Mom's time out... Bottles are a great way ;-) to feed expressed milk! Dad gets a chance at feeding and Mom can go out without having to be back in two hours to feed the baby. I used Playtex disposable kind, it was easy to just defrost some saved up milk and pour it in. I've heard some that use the plastic inserts for freezing expressed milk too. Pat Shriver BNR, Inc Mountain View, Ca.
bobn@bmcg.UUCP (Bob Nebert) (01/15/86)
> > I am going to breastfeed, however, don't I need a bottle ... > > My wife breatsfed both of our children (now 4.5 and 2.5). (We have > another who is not born yet -- God willing, mid-June!). Our first was > cases.) Extra water isn't needed either unless there is a danger of > dehydration (baby ill, very hot, dry climate, etc.). Alot of times when baby is ill extra water is not the best solution. so we gave all of our babies, from time to time, Pediolyte (pronounce- Pee dee o light) which has minerals in it that the babies need while getting over their colds or whatever. > > Are disposable diapers better than cloth ones... > > wet. If you wash your own, make sure you use something to kill > bacteria, as leftover bacteria will form ammonia (you'll smell it!) > which will *really* irritate baby's skin. Also don't use a fabric softener on the diapers 'cause it will put a moisture protection shield on the diaper. An the reason for a diaper is to absorb moisture |-) > > What about pacifiers? > > We used whatever the baby wanted. #1 hated Nuks for quite a while and We as parents hated them and never had any problems with the kids by not giving one to anyone of them. Our neighbor's four year old uses one and throws a fit at bedtime is she doesn't have one. > > "Consider children a gift from the LORD; the fruit > of the womb a reward from Him." I agree with that statement. The most important thing is to enjoy your kids. They are great.