It's so crazy that we went from this...
To this...
And for that, I'm very thankful.
Now, onto what I've learned:
1. Having a baby in NICU for almost 2 weeks makes it very hard to teach your baby (and yourself) how to breastfeed. I also learned that exclusively pumping is A LOT of work! I was able to do it for 5 weeks and decided to switch to formula to save my sanity.
2. If you have a baby that's colicky, the only cure is time. This time is usually around 3 months,but when your baby is a preemie they're colicky until their adjusted age is 3 months. We luckily had a colicky baby that slept fairly well so that was helpful.
3. Swaddling. Do it! No, really. Yes your baby will fight it and holler at first, but this will be your saving grace. Watch "The Happiest Baby on the Block"to learn more soothing techniques. James slept twice as long when he was swaddled. Also, buy a Swaddleme brand swaddler (or 3 if you have a spitty baby) with velcrohttp://www.amazon.com/Summer-Infant-Swaddleme-Cotton-Small/dp/B002WTANPY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1354300226&sr=8-2&keywords=swaddleme+small . These make it so easy! Also, if you have a summer baby, the Aden and Anais muslin blankets are wonderful! They're huge, get softer with every wash and are breathable. Those from Amazon are a little better quality than the kind you find at Target. They are pricey, but they'll be a great "blankie" as baby gets older too. aden+and+anais+swaddle+blankets
4. Towels and washcloths. Skip the thin newborn towels and go straight to your bath towels/beach towels. They cover more ground and are much more absorbant. I also use the regular size washcloths since they do a nice job of covering a belly to keep baby warm. Also, skip the cutesy robes. Newborns usually HATE baths and you just need to hustle to dry them off and get them dressed again quickly.
5. Burp rags. Go for the Gerber Premium Prefold Cloth Diapers. They're thick and soak up wayyyy more than anything labled "burp rag".
6. Bibs. If you have a spitter, buy the waterproof kind and buy them big. Changing clothes every time they spit up is a huge hassle. Our favorite bibs
7. Borrow, buy used, etc. What we didn't find on clearance, or get from a baby shower, we've bought mostly used items or borrowed them. I found a travel swing (which I recommend for the bathroom) on clearance and borrowed a large swing. They only enjoy these for a limited time (if at all) and those things are pricey! We bought a used exersaucer because the cheapest were around $50 and were so boring. For half that price, we have a saucer that James LOVES! Clothes can be found for next to nothing at garage sales. I've also found some toys at online garage sales on facebook. Just give them a good scrub with vinegar and water and sit them in the sun for a few hours and they're good as new. I haven't had much luck with consignment sales as those prices aren't that much cheaper (if any) than the sales at Target.
8. Routines work. We have started a bedtime routine of a bath, a little playtime and then a bottle and snuggles/songs (wheels on the bus is his favorite :) and he goes to sleep fairly easily. This needs to be as close to the same time each night as possible. Also, if you have a car sleeper, try to avoid long car rides too close to bed time.
9. Diapers and wipes. I know every baby is different, but Pampers and Luvs have been the best for us so far. The Wal-Mart brand (Parents Choice) works well, but he always smells like pee with these. He leaks like crazy from Huggies and the Huggies brand wipes are not nearly as soft as the Pampers. As far as diaper cream goes, try coconut oil. When his bottom was red and irritated, the ointment must have burned because he screamed. We took a quick bath and globbed on the coconut oil and he was a happy camper. Coconut Oil
10. Formula. According to our pediatrician, they're all the same. Brand, type, etc. doesn't matter. "Just pick one" is what he told us. Store brand, name brand, whatever.
11. Natural. We're not perfectly "green" but I sure do try to keep the chemicals to a minimum at our house. It's easy to find healthy soaps, lotions, etc. by using this site Skin deep. Basically everything you think of babies smelling like, has chemicals and hormone disrupters (baby magic, johnson & johnson, etc.). We use some glass bottles. It's just hard to travel with the glass ones and have relied on the plastic for that. I also highly encourage homemade baby veggies/food. The veggies are super easy and really cheap. You cook them, stick them in the blender, magic bullet, whatev, and add water until they're to the right consistency. Freeze in single portions (preferrably in glass). I would have given cloth diapers a try, but Phil was not willing to have poop in the washing machine. I know crunchy mommas, he just doesn't get it :)
I'm sure I'll have more as time goes on, but hopefully this is helpful to a momma out there.
Kristy
