vas@lzaz.UUCP (V.SNYDER) (01/02/86)
I need some help from parents who have gone through their first delivery already. This is our first child. It is due end of March or first week of April. The only thing purchased to date is a bassinet. I will defer buying a crib until the baby is too big for the bassinet. I am going to breastfeed, however, don't I need a bottle for water or juice? Should I get a baby carriage or a stroller? Are disposable diapers better than cloth ones both for baby's skin and economically? What kind of carseat do most parents recommend for the first few years of life? What about pacifiers? Bibs, and other clothing? Toiletries? I have Dr. Spock's updated childcare book, but I'd like to hear from the school of experience. Many thanks from two novices.
mcal@ihuxb.UUCP (Mike Clifford) (01/03/86)
> > I need some help from parents who have gone through their > first delivery already. This is our first child. It is > due end of March or first week of April. The only thing > purchased to date is a bassinet. I will defer buying > a crib until the baby is too big for the bassinet. I > am going to breastfeed, however, don't I need a bottle > for water or juice? Should I get a baby carriage or > a stroller? Are disposable diapers better than cloth ones > both for baby's skin and economically? What kind of carseat > do most parents recommend for the first few years of life? > What about pacifiers? Bibs, and other clothing? Toiletries? > > I have Dr. Spock's updated childcare book, but I'd like > to hear from the school of experience. Many thanks from two > novices. + SAFETY CAR SEAT FOR THE BABY: If the baby is going to spend any time in a car, buy a safety car seat. There are the kinds for newborns to six months and the kind which works for newborns to 40 lbs. There are advantages and disadvantages to both, but both will help protect the child if the seats are used properly. + Yes, you need bottles. And a sterilizer kit, perhaps. + We have found cloth diapers more economical and better for Lauren's skin then disposables. + Baby carriage/stroller: buy the kind that converts to carriage to stroller. A newborn needs a carriage as he/she cannot sit up yet. We received lots of literature when we were attending our birthing classes at the local hospital. We also checked mags like PARENTS. Best of luck to you! Mike Clifford
ccrse@ucdavis.UUCP (0058) (01/03/86)
> I need some help from parents who have gone through their > first delivery already. This is our first child. It is > due end of March or first week of April. The only thing > purchased to date is a bassinet. I will defer buying > a crib until the baby is too big for the bassinet. I > am going to breastfeed, however, don't I need a bottle > for water or juice? Should I get a baby carriage or > a stroller? Are disposable diapers better than cloth ones > both for baby's skin and economically? What kind of carseat > do most parents recommend for the first few years of life? > What about pacifiers? Bibs, and other clothing? Toiletries? > > I have Dr. Spock's updated childcare book, but I'd like > to hear from the school of experience. Many thanks from two > novices. I would like to second this request, and add a bit to it. My wife and I are expecting our first in mid-February, and are trying to decide what to get/do before he/she arrives. We've encountered most of the usual information/advice by this time. In particular, I would like to have people pass on the things that they found out the "hard way", i.e. the things that no person or book told them about that knowing about in advance would have helped them considerably. For example, something you wished you'd brought to the hospital with you and didn't, or something you wished you'd thought about having at home before the kid arrived there, or ????? I'm offering all of you more experienced parents out there a chance to practice your 20-20 hindsight on a couple of novices. What is there in particular that you know now that you *wish* you knew then? Feel free to reply either by the net or mail - I'll post a summary if there proves to be enough interest.
gpw@ihlpf.UUCP (Wilkin) (01/03/86)
> > > > I need some help from parents who have gone through their > > first delivery already. This is our first child. It is Mike Clifford writes: > + SAFETY CAR SEAT FOR THE BABY: If the baby is going to spend any time in > a car, buy a safety car seat. There are the kinds for newborns to six months > and the kind which works for newborns to 40 lbs. There are advantages and I agree that a car seat is vital, you should know that most of the large seats are a real pain for small children. You should check your hospital and see if they rent infant seats, we're going to do that with our next(on the way). Cost is around 5-15$ for 3mos, which is long enough to transfer to a larger seat. > + Yes, you need bottles. And a sterilizer kit, perhaps. If you have hard water where you live it might be better to get disposable bottle/liner combinations. + In addition, if you do have hard water, don't forget bottled water, tap water and small children do not do well together(my experience only). This also includes mixes which add water. > + We have found cloth diapers more economical and better for Lauren's skin > then disposables. We were very lazy(also tired :-) ) and used disposibles, do not stock up now! Your baby may hate/react/whatever to serveral of the brands(hint:some contain perfume/scents) find out what works and then buy two weeks worth. Babies change their reactions quickly sometimes. Always keep cloth diapers around, they are very necessary. Also get a few receiving blankets, 5 weren't enough for us. > + Baby carriage/stroller: buy the kind that converts to carriage to stroller. > A newborn needs a carriage as he/she cannot sit up yet. My vote for this look for a double carriage/stroller. one that can have a baby up front and a tot in back. At 50-100$ for a stroller it's a real choice now. gpw -- George Wilkin AT&T Network Systems usenet ihnp4!ihlpf!gpw 312-979-6593 work
lotto@talcott.UUCP (Jerry Lotto) (01/04/86)
In article <9@ucdavis.UUCP>, ccrse@ucdavis.UUCP (0058) writes: > > I am going to breastfeed, however, don't I need a bottle > > for water or juice? Yes, but more important will be containers for expression. We used Dixie cups because they could be frozen. When you want to defrost, rip the cup away and put the 'block' in a saucepan. Also first time breast feeders may need a nipple shield. The collapsable bottles work well. > > Should I get a baby carriage or a stroller? If you get both, buy the carriage used. The stroller will be a tool with a useful lifetime of a few years. Not so for a carriage. We got our carriage for $15 at a garage sale. A front or back canvas carrier is an inexpensive and useful alternative to a carriage. > > Are disposable diapers better than cloth ones both for baby's skin > > and economically? We felt the opposite. Disposables are too airtight and have all sorts of additives in the liners to make them flame retardant etc. If you own a washer/dryer, cloth can be more economical too, particularly if you intend to have another child. > > What kind of carseat do most parents recommend for the first few > > years of life? Consumer Reports was our source of info on this one. > > What about pacifiers? I thought that pacifiers were a bad idea, but now I wonder if my daughter would be less of a thumb sucker if I had them in the house. > Bibs, and other clothing? Toiletries? Wait until after all gifts are in and needs arise. You will inevitably end up with three of one thing and none of another. > Something you wished you'd brought to the hospital > with you and didn't A book, list of phone numbers, dimes. > Something you wished you'd thought about having at home before the > kid arrived there. A rocking chair in the baby's room. -- Gerald Lotto - Harvard Chemistry Dept. UUCP: {seismo,harpo,ihnp4,linus,allegra,ut-sally}!harvard!lhasa!lotto ARPA: lotto@harvard.EDU CSNET: lotto%harvard@csnet-relay
mark@cbosgd.UUCP (Mark Horton) (01/05/86)
>> Something you wished you'd thought about having at home before the >> kid arrived there. > A rocking chair in the baby's room. Caution: a rocker is a very nice thing to have for the baby, but it also has a very limited lifespan. With both Matt and Adam, we found they loved to be rocked to sleep until they reached about 3 months, then they wouldn't tolerate it anymore. (Mommy and Grandma were very disappointed!) If you do get a rocker, try to borrow one. They can be expensive. Mark
lotto@talcott.UUCP (Jerry Lotto) (01/06/86)
In article <1732@cbosgd.UUCP>, mark@cbosgd.UUCP (Mark Horton) writes: > Caution: a rocker is a very nice thing to have for the baby, but it Actually, the rocker was for us. Late night feedings were a lot easier once it was in place. Breast fed babies will wake more often and it is tougher to "share the load", so comfort becomes even more important. Your point about cost is a good one, our rocker has been passed around the family (extended) for quite a while and will continue with the next childbearing generation. -- Gerald Lotto - Harvard Chemistry Dept. UUCP: {seismo,harpo,ihnp4,linus,allegra,ut-sally}!harvard!lhasa!lotto ARPA: lotto@harvard.EDU CSNET: lotto%harvard@csnet-relay
peg@linus.UUCP (Margaret E. Craft) (01/06/86)
My most popular advise to about-to-be-families: get Penelope Leach's Book "Your Baby and Child" and read first chapters before birth. My biggest tip: get lots of "rubberinzed sheeting" squares for changing table and to lay baby's head on (if you get a spit-up'er). It feels like cloth and is machine washable, but absorbs large quantities of liquid (and semi-liquid) offerings! I've seen the stuff in small squares with cute patterns on it (but that was handme-down stuff and I don't know where it was bought), but is also available as cloth at bigger cloth stores. It is also good in that form when you start night-time toliet training.
pats@bnrmtv.UUCP (Pat Shriver) (01/06/86)
> > I need some help from parents who have gone through their > > first delivery already. This is our first child. It is . . . > I would like to second this request, and add a bit to it. My wife and I > are expecting our first in mid-February, and are trying to decide what > to get/do before he/she arrives. . . . > I'm offering all of you more experienced parents out there a chance to > practice your 20-20 hindsight on a couple of novices. What is there in > particular that you know now that you *wish* you knew then? Feel free > to reply either by the net or mail - I'll post a summary if there proves > to be enough interest. To those parents that loose sleep at night, and to all new parents... A book I just discovered and has turnd my nights into "sleeping through" ones is "Solve Your Childs Sleep Problems". The author's name escapes me at the moment, but it begins with an "F". The author goes into explaining sleep cycles and what is "normal" (i.e., we all wake up in the night...) and then onto what can be done to change your particular childs sleep problem. It is WELL WORTH the $16.95 I paid for the hardback. It is a good book to read before you have a baby to find out what to avoid and how you can have a baby sleeping through the night at an early age. It is also good for toddlers that don't sleep through the night either!! No more baggy eyes... Pat Shriver BNR, Inc Mountain View, CA
slb@drutx.UUCP (Sue Brezden) (01/07/86)
>> What about pacifiers? >I thought that pacifiers were a bad idea, but now I wonder if my >daughter would be less of a thumb sucker if I had them in the house. My first child loved her pacifier, went at it like crazy (you could hear her slurp all over the house), spit it out at 3 months--refusing to take it from then on, and never sucked her thumb. The second refused it from the first and sucked her thumb until she was 7. So it seems pretty variable. Part of the difference may have been that the second was breastfed (totally, she refused a bottle for water or juice, too), and the first was bottlefed. Anyway, based on that experience, I'd use a pacifier if the baby is interested. >> Something you wished you'd thought about having at home before the >> kid arrived there. >A rocking chair in the baby's room. The best mommy/baby type chair I had was a sort-of beanbag. But it was stuffed with foam instead of hard little things. And it was very big--like 6 feet across. It was great, because when you sank down in it your arms were perfectly supported and it was no effort to hold the baby for hours. Wonderful for breastfeeding. My second baby and I fell asleep together in that chair during many night feedings. It was great. Don't know if you can find such a thing, but try. (It's nice for kids, too, several can share it.) -- Sue Brezden ihnp4!drutx!slb ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To search for perfection is all very well, But to look for heaven is to live here in hell. --Sting ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
essachs@ihuxl.UUCP (Ed Sachs) (01/07/86)
> > Caution: a rocker is a very nice thing to have for the baby, but it > also has a very limited lifespan. With both Matt and Adam, we found > they loved to be rocked to sleep until they reached about 3 months, > then they wouldn't tolerate it anymore. (Mommy and Grandma were > very disappointed!) > > If you do get a rocker, try to borrow one. They can be expensive. > > Mark We've got two rockers and still use them even though our kids are no longer babies (youngest is almost 4). One is in our living room and the other is in our bedroom -- they're great to sit on when you are tired. Regard a rocker as a permanent furniture investment and get a good one, you'll be glad you did. -- Ed Sachs AT&T Bell Laboratories Naperville, IL ihnp4!ihuxl!essachs
suze@terak.UUCP (Suzanne Barnett) (01/08/86)
> > I need some help from parents who have gone through their > > first delivery already. This is our first child. It is > > ... > > am going to breastfeed, however, don't I need a bottle > > for water or juice? Should I get a baby carriage or > > a stroller? Are disposable diapers better than cloth ones > > both for baby's skin and economically? What kind of carseat > > do most parents recommend for the first few years of life? > > What about pacifiers? Bibs, and other clothing? Toiletries? > > > > I have Dr. Spock's updated childcare book, but I'd like > > to hear from the school of experience. Many thanks from two > > novices. > > I would like to second this request, and add a bit to it. My wife and I > are expecting our first in mid-February, and are trying to decide what > to get/do before he/she arrives. > > We've encountered most of the usual information/advice by this time. > In particular, I would like to have people pass on the things that > they found out the "hard way", i.e. the things that no person or book > told them about that knowing about in advance would have helped them > considerably. For example, something you wished you'd brought to the hospital > with you and didn't, or something you wished you'd thought about having at > home before the kid arrived there, or ????? > I, too, am expecting my first child (however, as I have stepchildren, my husband is not as new to these issues as I am). Anyway, these are a couple of articles I saved from the net some time ago: From noao!hao!seismo!harvard!talcott!panda!genrad!decvax!decwrl!sun!idi!pesnta!hplabsb!pc Fri Jul 12 13:28:48 1985 Relay-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site terak.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/17/84; site hplabsb.UUCP Path: terak!noao!hao!seismo!harvard!talcott!panda!genrad!decvax!decwrl!sun!idi!pesnta!hplabsb!pc From: pc@hplabsb.UUCP Newsgroups: net.kids Subject: Re: Wanted: Baby Arrival Checklist Message-ID: <2994@hplabsb.UUCP> Date: 12 Jul 85 20:28:48 GMT Date-Received: 17 Jul 85 14:39:50 GMT References: <572@hou2d.UUCP> <256@tove.UUCP> Organization: Hewlett Packard Labs, Palo Alto CA Lines: 25 For brand new, on-the-way-home babies: 1. LOTS of changes of "swaddling" if you use cloth diapers (those changes reduce to near zero if you use disposables) swaddling are those nice, soft, small flannel "receiving blankets" that help the newborn feel snug-- as it was in the womb, and help as the newborn's primitive thermal feedback system gets adjusted 2. Spitup cloths (cloth diapers are perfect, if somewhat unaesthetic) once the little one gets the hang of eating, there are still the mechanics of keeping the air out & the milk where it belongs; and some kids just get bubbles under the milk, so burping brings up air & milk. 3. Penelope Leach's _The First Five Years_ which will reassure you, answer the questions you're likely to ask, and give the recovering mom something of high interest to read while she's resting 4. The carseat-- Century 200 wins my vote hands down as the safest, easiest to use model Have fun! Patricia Collins -- {ucbvax|duke|hao|allegra}!hplabs!pc From noao!hao!seismo!harvard!talcott!panda!genrad!decvax!harpo!whuxlm!spuxll!abnji!u1100a!pyuxww!gamma!ulysses!allegra!princeton!siemens!gypsy!rws Tue Jul 16 05:52:00 1985 Relay-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site terak.UUCP Posting-Version: Notesfiles; site gypsy.UUCP Path: terak!noao!hao!seismo!harvard!talcott!panda!genrad!decvax!harpo!whuxlm!spuxll!abnji!u1100a!pyuxww!gamma!ulysses!allegra!princeton!siemens!gypsy!rws From: rws@gypsy.UUCP Newsgroups: net.kids Subject: Re: Wanted: Baby Arrival Checklist Message-ID: <27100033@gypsy.UUCP> Date: 16 Jul 85 12:52:00 GMT Date-Received: 25 Jul 85 07:49:52 GMT References: <572@hou2d.UUCP> Lines: 11 Nf-ID: #R:hou2d:-57200:gypsy:27100033:000:618 Nf-From: gypsy!rws Jul 16 08:52:00 1985 On puddle pads: If you keep looking, you can buy the material in a large sheet, at least a yard square. Use it that way for mother during the last few weeks of pregnancy, in case her water breaks at home. Then cut it up in appropriate sizes for baby. On ointments and powders: our favorite ointment was zinc oxide, which doesn't smell like fish and seems to come out of the diaper a little more easily. Our favorite powder was corn starch. I think you can even buy "baby corn starch" now, but I don't know if it is any different from the laundry aid. Don't use talcum powder! It's bad for everyone's lungs. -- Suzanne Barnett-Scott uucp: ...{decvax,ihnp4,noao,savax,seismo}!terak!suze CalComp/Sanders Display Products Division 14151 N 76th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85260 (602) 998-4800
jkr@gitpyr.UUCP (John Kenneth Riviere) (01/08/86)
My name is Jean McSpadden and I am a guest on this account, please do not
repy by mail.
I would not advise buying very much for the baby ahead of time. You may
find you will not be able to use them. For example I soon found out
that any fabric other then cotton caused my newborns skin to break
out, and that newborn size clothes were too small for a ten pound baby.
So hold off buying any but few one year old size items, another reason
to hold off on buying clothes is that after the first week or so the
new mother will probally find herself alone all day at home and bored,
and just dying to go buy somthing cute for her new baby. One thing that
I believe is a must is a Snuggly(sp) baby carrier, besides being able
to carry the child with your hands free, babys seem to love then, and
will calm down quicker then anything. You are smart to hold off bying a crib,
I bought one because before my baby was born I could not conceive of the
idea of having the baby in the same room with us, let alone the same
bed, but I delivered my baby at Kaiser hospital in San Francisco which
let you go home the same day and have nurces visit you the first few
days and the nurce told me to take the kid to bed with me so I
would not have to be gitting up and down. I had a baby who wanted to eat
every hour all night long, if I hadn't keep him in bed with us I would
have died, and it is so nice and warm to have the whole family snuggled
down together, so we never used the crib. What was handy was a basket
for the baby to take naps in that can be carried from room to room. When the
baby finally falls asleep after a 3 hour fit of colic, you don't want
to risk waking him during the long walk to the bedroom. Also its nice
to be able to be working in the kitchen and to be able to just look
accross the room to check if your babys still breathing. My
experance with strollers was that we were given two, a nice expencive
Apica(sp) and a $15 umbrella type, Abram (my baby) never seemed
to like the expencive one, but he loved the umbrella type, even when
he was three months old, he is now 2.5 and he still insist on taking his
nap in his stroller. The diaper service we used must have used somthing
that irrated my sons skin. So i started using disposables. I have
never had any problem with them, even with a newborn who couldn't ware
polyester. Abram has never had diaper rash. I had been given some diapers
though and they came in very handy, because babys spit up a whole lot.
To the question of what to bring to the hospital, I can only think
of four things, a car seat to take the baby home in, clothes for the
baby, a husband or a good friend, and a six pack. The six pack comes
in extreamly handy which I didn't know at the time and so my husband had to go
out looking through the city in the early mourning to find one. You
see they will not let you out of the recovery room until you urinate
and you are so brused and battered down there that you can't. the
beer forces the issue, so to speak.
Jean McSpadden
--
J. Kenneth Riviere (JoKeR)
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta Georgia, 30332
...!{akgua,allegra,amd,hplabs,ihnp4,seismo,ut-ngp}!gatech!gitpyr!jkr