Here are a few things we have learned after our first baby.
1. Buy a Madela pump. It will be more expensive but it is worth every cent. We had a Lansinoh brand pump and it broke. It also wasn't nearly as good as the Madela. The Madela does the job quicker, less painfully, and is much more portable. (We have the backpack model that you can plug in, put batteries in, or use in a car.)
2. Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby is an essential book to read. Read it, learn it, follow it, and profit from it.
3. Lansinoh nipple cream is crack for breastfeeding mothers. Buy it, use it, love it.
4. Sleep is underrated.
5. Diapers with an indicator strip are worth the money. We find them everywhere in Japan but had a hard time finding them in the States.
6. Everyone will give you a copy of Goodnight Moon. We have at least 4.
7. You quit looking at your house as a place to live and start looking at it as a death-trap. Too many cords, too many sharp corners, and not enough soft spaces.
8. We are using Dr. Brown's bottles and yes they are a pain in the ass and yes our baby does not have colic. Don't know if they are worth the trouble but they say they prevent colic.
9. Miracle Blanket. Go find it and buy it. As soon as we got it our swaddling got much better and she started sleeping much longer. Don't use the ones with velcro. The sound wakes the baby.
10. Get a changing table. We love ours.
11. Buy Soothie pacifiers. Alana wouldn't take other pacifiers but as soon as we got a Soothie near her she went to town.
12. Aimee Gown makes some great breastfeeding gowns. Kyung has two and lives in them. She uses them around the house, as pajamas, and every once in a while out on the street.
13. Watch out for Thrush. Alana got it and we used Gentian Violet and whoa baby does it ever turn your baby purple. We took pictures.
14. Buy a Stim-Mobile. Our baby started responding to it as soon as she was born. She loves it. Use black and white for the first 3 months and then change to color.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Things we've learned since we became parents.
Alana Min-Eui Tuggle was born on 5-15-09 and she has become the light of our lives. That said, the introduction of our new shining "sun" has lead us to look at some things a little differently.
1. When we were in D.C. I bought these cool little rubber ice trays. They make the perfect size ice for a great Gin & Tonic. Now we use them to cool off formula.
2. We used to have coasters all around the house so you could put down your drink with no fear of leaving a water spot. Now we have burp rags all around the house so you can catch the spew.
3. We used to use Skype to talk with our parents in America. Now we turn it on, put the laptop in front of the baby and walk away. Grandma doesn't talk to us anymore anyway and either one will start yelling if something goes wrong. Call it babysitting in the 00's.
4. A night on the town was getting drunk at the bar. Now we put the baby down at seven and get drunk on the couch.
5. Sleeping in used to be sleeping until noon. Now it is sleeping until 7am.
6. Getting milk used to mean going to the fridge. Now it means a 20 minute session with the breast pump.
7. Reading for pleasure went out the window. Now we read What to Expect When You Are Expecting, What to Expect In The First Year, You're Babies First Year, Your Fussy Baby, Happiest Baby On The Block, Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby, Operating Instructions, and A New Father's Guide.
8. The last time we were around this much vomit it was after a night on the town.
9. We used to save money for great vacations. Now we save money for a great education. (Thanks Larry!)
10. Pumping used to mean going to the gym and working out. Now it has to do something with a Madela backpack, two suction cups, a hose or two, and reservoir bottles.
1. When we were in D.C. I bought these cool little rubber ice trays. They make the perfect size ice for a great Gin & Tonic. Now we use them to cool off formula.
2. We used to have coasters all around the house so you could put down your drink with no fear of leaving a water spot. Now we have burp rags all around the house so you can catch the spew.
3. We used to use Skype to talk with our parents in America. Now we turn it on, put the laptop in front of the baby and walk away. Grandma doesn't talk to us anymore anyway and either one will start yelling if something goes wrong. Call it babysitting in the 00's.
4. A night on the town was getting drunk at the bar. Now we put the baby down at seven and get drunk on the couch.
5. Sleeping in used to be sleeping until noon. Now it is sleeping until 7am.
6. Getting milk used to mean going to the fridge. Now it means a 20 minute session with the breast pump.
7. Reading for pleasure went out the window. Now we read What to Expect When You Are Expecting, What to Expect In The First Year, You're Babies First Year, Your Fussy Baby, Happiest Baby On The Block, Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby, Operating Instructions, and A New Father's Guide.
8. The last time we were around this much vomit it was after a night on the town.
9. We used to save money for great vacations. Now we save money for a great education. (Thanks Larry!)
10. Pumping used to mean going to the gym and working out. Now it has to do something with a Madela backpack, two suction cups, a hose or two, and reservoir bottles.
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