Share your best new baby tips and tricks!

[MelW]

I thought I'd spin-off of the weekly chat thread so we could all share our best tips in one place- I've been loving the tips about getting out of the house with two (or more) kids.

For me:
Pack the diaper bag the night before for the next day- adding big sister toys and snacks as needed.

Start cooking dinner waaaay early before the fussy evening time hits- often starting prep or even cooking at 3 or 4 in the afternoon (and relying on the microwave to reheat later).

[Peony]

I keep my diaper bag packed always that way I just grab it and run and out door. Water and snacks for me and other children are always full and ready to go in the car. I do this after every time we go out.



I rarely make a meal that doesn't feed my family for two nights. I plan out the week's meal so we aren't left scrambling on nights when baby is fussy. The crock pot is your friend!



I do my laundry daily and put away the same day, less clothes to buy for babe and it doesn't turn into a mountain.

[MelW]

Originally Posted by Peony

I do my laundry daily and put away the same day, less clothes to buy for babe and it doesn't turn into a mountain.

I manage every second day for laundry- but folding and putting away is another story. Sometimes it's the mountain of clean laundry that we then choose wrinkled clothes to wear out of

A fussy baby trick that my husband discovered- running water. It has been pretty successful for both of my kids; the sound is really soothing I think.

[claras_mom]

I actually never remove the diaper bag from the car. And I keep a package of disposable diapers--which we use part-time--in the back of the car.

Oh and vegetables were meant to be eaten raw...

[momma2be_k]

Originally Posted by MelW

Start cooking dinner waaaay early before the fussy evening time hits- often starting prep or even cooking at 3 or 4 in the afternoon (and relying on the microwave to reheat later).

I learned this the hard way! After the first week on my own (after all help had dissipated around 2 weeks pp) I spent a few nights sobbing on the couch when DH got home so disappointed in myself that I didn't have dinner ready when he got home. I felt like an awful wife until I realized I HAVE A NEWBORN... we can eat cereal for dinner as long as the LO is full and happy, it's okay!

Originally Posted by Peony

I rarely make a meal that doesn't feed my family for two nights. I plan out the week's meal so we aren't left scrambling on nights when baby is fussy. The crock pot is your friend!

I do my laundry daily and put away the same day, less clothes to buy for babe and it doesn't turn into a mountain.

oooh -why haven't I used my crockpot yet? I have no idea! Thanks Peony! (BTW - I am eagerly awaiting the blooming of my most favorite flowers in my garden... ah-hem, the Peonies! I smile every time I see you post)

my goal is daily laundry... I'm just so sick of folding and putting things away, I wash every day, but usually fold and put away every other.

Originally Posted by MelW

:
A fussy baby trick that my husband discovered- running water. It has been pretty successful for both of my kids; the sound is really soothing I think.

YES! my DH discovered this too! (my LO also loves the vacuum and hair dryer..lol).

Originally Posted by claras_mom

Oh and vegetables were meant to be eaten raw...

HA! For sure!

I'll add my 2 cents tomorrow.... time to get some rest now!

[IncaMama]

yeah - crockpot is essential.

i leave my wraps in the car

i leave diapers, wipes, and one change of clothes in the car for each kid. well, my 6yo doesn't need diapers. LOL unfortunately, this has started to grow because i never remember what i have in there so i keep bringing things out there just in case and the other day found that i had 6 extra prs of pants for my 3.5yo. that's just not necessary. LOL and is cluttering up my car. BUT - it's still a good idea if you can manage the amount of clutter that goes and stays in. i'm a clutterbug so it's still a challenge for me, though still a good idea.

i have all of my supplies (diapers, wipes, gas drops, saline sol'n, booger sucker, clothes) next to me on the couch in a laundry basket because i spend most of my time here and it's easy access.

moses basket. if you don't have one, buy one now. for real. we have one of those stands for it which is also awesome, though we didn't have the stand w/ava and it was still awesome.

white noise machine - crucial.

[dawncayden]

subbing

[Sasharna]

Originally Posted by IncaMama

white noise machine - crucial.

Yes. I nurse the baby to sleep and then place him in his bouncy chair in the bathroom with the fan on. Doesn't work every time (what does?) but greatly increases my chance of getting some alone time. If I tried to lay him flat somewhere, he'd never take a solo nap.

[wobblykate]

my baby loves the bathroom too. She hates baths so this is our bathing routine.

(hopefully) while baby is still sleeping lay out clothes and all necessities for both of us. When baby wakes up (and usually after nursing a bit) We go into the bathroom and take a shower, which she LOVES. I jump out and put her on the bouncy chair in front of the heater, wrapped in her towel with a diaper under her butt. I jump in and finish all my showering (and I now brush teeth in the shower, too). Jump back out and dry off, finish up my bathroom stuff. Rinse the poop off her butt , because she ALWAYS poops after her shower. and go get dressed. It's a good system. I usually have to nurse her before I can finish putting my own clothes on, but whatever. No one else is home.

[goodmomma76]

Originally Posted by wobblykate

my baby loves the bathroom too. She hates baths so this is our bathing routine.

(hopefully) while baby is still sleeping lay out clothes and all necessities for both of us. When baby wakes up (and usually after nursing a bit) We go into the bathroom and take a shower, which she LOVES. I jump out and put her on the bouncy chair in front of the heater, wrapped in her towel with a diaper under her butt. I jump in and finish all my showering (and I now brush teeth in the shower, too). Jump back out and dry off, finish up my bathroom stuff. Rinse the poop off her butt , because she ALWAYS poops after her shower. and go get dressed. It's a good system. I usually have to nurse her before I can finish putting my own clothes on, but whatever. No one else is home.

nak
ha! this one loves the shower and hates a bath too!!! only i get a warning fidget when she's going to wake up in 10 minutes or so, so i out her in the swing in the bathroom, wash me real quick and bring her in when she wakes! the i dress and nurse her (whilst naked most generally) then i have some time to get ready while she's happy! she'd stay in the shower for an hour i think!

[perl]

iTunes has an album of baby-friendly noises (ours likes the hairdryer - go figure) called Lullaby Land. You can buy the whole album or just a track. We blast the iPod through speakers next to DS's head all night and it works like a dream!

[inky leeuhhh]

Originally Posted by MelW

I manage every second day for laundry- but folding and putting away is another story. Sometimes it's the mountain of clean laundry that we then choose wrinkled clothes to wear out of

A fussy baby trick that my husband discovered- running water. It has been pretty successful for both of my kids; the sound is really soothing I think.

yes! i have found when i shower and have dd in the bouncy in the bathroom, she ALWAYS falls asleep. love it!

as for tips, the only thing ive learned is that our sink makes the perfect baby bathtub

wanted to add that i scrub the heck out of the sink before she gets a bath in it, lol! now that ive read about the shower though, im thinking that may be a better idea...

[teachma]

I learned this with #2 (and unfortunately not with #1). When in doubt, nurse him/her. Fussy baby? Doesn't need to burp? Doesn't need a new diaper? Doesn't want a change of scenery? Nurse him. He will not refuse. He will stop fussing. So what if he just nursed 20 minutes ago? Do it anyway. Everyone will be very happy. : ) My second and third babies never cried. Well, unless they were stuck in the back of the car and I was driving and couldn't get to them!

[goodmomma76]

Originally Posted by teachma

I learned this with #2 (and unfortunately not with #1). When in doubt, nurse him/her. Fussy baby? Doesn't need to burp? Doesn't need a new diaper? Doesn't want a change of scenery? Nurse him. He will not refuse. He will stop fussing. So what if he just nursed 20 minutes ago? Do it anyway. Everyone will be very happy. : ) My second and third babies never cried. Well, unless they were stuck in the back of the car and I was driving and couldn't get to them!

have u had gassy babies? i'm trying this but sometimes it makes it worse....

[teachma]

Originally Posted by goodmomma76

have u had gassy babies? i'm trying this but sometimes it makes it worse....

I'm sorry it's not working for you...it has been my sure-fire savior! My five week old is actually a very gassy baby (neither of my others has that problem) but it's amazing, he BURPS like crazy whenever I hold him upright during feedings. So, if I take him off the breast to burp five or six times during one nursing session, we're good. And I don't even have to burp him-- the gas comes up by itself. But it is loud, and wet sounding (I suspect silent reflux perhaps) and happens numerous times per feeding. The one time I tried to hold him off so that he would nurse less frequently, the gas was worse, I think because he was so hungry, he nursed so fast and swallowed extra air. Never tried that again...

Anyway, I guess it is true that for some gassy babies or babies with food allergies, nursing may not be the cure-all.

[momma2be_k]

Originally Posted by teachma

I learned this with #2 (and unfortunately not with #1). When in doubt, nurse him/her. Fussy baby? Doesn't need to burp? Doesn't need a new diaper? Doesn't want a change of scenery? Nurse him. He will not refuse. He will stop fussing. So what if he just nursed 20 minutes ago? Do it anyway. Everyone will be very happy. : ) My second and third babies never cried. Well, unless they were stuck in the back of the car and I was driving and couldn't get to them!

that's what I do and DH thinks I'm crazy!

Parker is gassy... he burps several times after a feeding (I usually try to burp him somewhere in the middle too). Some of them are very loud and forceful and some of them just seem to creep out. Oh... and he farts a lot in his sleep. That's SO hilarious! (actually he farts a lot in general...lol). All this gas really doesn't seem to bother him...

[secondimpression]

Originally Posted by wobblykate

my baby loves the bathroom too. She hates baths so this is our bathing routine.

(hopefully) while baby is still sleeping lay out clothes and all necessities for both of us. When baby wakes up (and usually after nursing a bit) We go into the bathroom and take a shower, which she LOVES. I jump out and put her on the bouncy chair in front of the heater, wrapped in her towel with a diaper under her butt. I jump in and finish all my showering (and I now brush teeth in the shower, too). Jump back out and dry off, finish up my bathroom stuff. Rinse the poop off her butt , because she ALWAYS poops after her shower. and go get dressed. It's a good system. I usually have to nurse her before I can finish putting my own clothes on, but whatever. No one else is home.

Has anyone told you lately that you deserve a cookie? Cause seriously, YOU DO. I just tried that with Xander and not a single tear or whine

[IncaMama]

i've never tried showering with my kids. i've always worried about them getting all slippery and dropping them. stupid, i know. LOL

maybe i should try this because homegirl is getting stinky. LMAO!

[wobblykate]

YAY!!! I love cookies. Seriously, though, I did it out of desperation. I really didn't want every bathing experience to be negative and have her end up with a fear of water or something. I figure we'll try baths again when she's a little bigger.

[wobblykate]

Originally Posted by IncaMama

i've never tried showering with my kids. i've always worried about them getting all slippery and dropping them. stupid, i know. LOL

maybe i should try this because homegirl is getting stinky. LMAO!

I find that I just hold Eden really close to my body the whole time. I saw a suggestion online where they recommended using cotton gloves, but I think it's okay without. I only put soap on one hand (although we only do soap every other day b/c she tends to dry out if I do it all the time).