New auntie left in charge of baby - nervous!

[thisnamechanger]

Hello MN

You may remember my hysterically over excited posting about becoming an auntie not long ago (where you all gave me great present ideas and I made a huge hamper for SIL which she loved).

Well me and DF are being charged with looking after DNewphew for two days and nights next week while DBro SIL and their side of the fam are all at a wedding.

I know this is a ridiculous thing for an adult, especially a MNer, to say but I feel clueless and useless! I don't know anything about babies.

Can you give me some tips I can Google before the big day. Have asked DSIL for instructions re. his food and habits etc. but I'm worried I'll miss something basic! General stuff I should know..baby first aid??

I've fed and changed him a few times so think I'll be ok with that but I'm worried I'll get something wrong and he'll hate me. I had an anxiety dream last night that I lost all his milk and then couldn't work out how to heat it up. Come to think of it I don't actually know the recommended method for heating baby milk - will check that with SIL as not sure if she'll express lots or is all formula. He's 8 months old btw.

I will 100% be resurrecting this thread next week for real-time advice too!

You will do just fine! There might be moments when the baby is upset or unsettled, but you'll get through it and he definitely won't hate you! Babies that age love to play on the floor with absolutely anything, pots, plastic containers, blocks, whatever, so you'll have a lot of fun!

Chill :)

What can he do? Roll over/crawl? This tells you how much baby proofing to do.

Ask what toys/activities/songs he likes.

Does he like playgroups/baby classes? If so google for them in your area, you might enjoy it plus gives your day some structure.

Ask what will comfort him if he’s missing his parents.

You can find a lot of baby first aid videos on YouTube if you’re really nervous!

Oh that's good - I will definitely play with him if he wants to!! The last few times I've seen him he's just howled because his teeth are hurting him. SIL showed me the paracetamol bottle etc. Looks v.dangerous to squirt medication into his mouth while he's laying in his carrier thing but she said was fine and he just eats it.

I hope he's in a good temper. I never realised they cried real big tears before, I thought they just yelled. Makes me want to cry too!!!

Ahhhh! They are scary little buggers. But.. if you cuddle them when they need cuddling and feed them when they are hungry you cannot go far wrong.

I expect she'll bring his mat thing and all his toys. I am so excited. Will travel YouTube for nice nursery rhyme type songs.

You will be fine. Lots of cuddles and songs (could learn a few simple nursery rhymes before the big day). If he cries I would offer cuddles, bottle, dummy (if he takes one), nappy change in that order and if still not settled a walk in the pram (can be round the house if raining). A few simple books to show him and talk to him about might be nice. And u could pick up some baby bath and let him have a splash before bedtime. If they have a full tummy, clean nappy and someone to love them....they thrive. If he his mobile nothing small that can go into his mouth (coins, buttons) within his reach. Enjoy. They terrible 2s are just around the corner. Haha. 8 months is a lovely age. Chat and sing to him about everything and anything. Good luck.

Ahhh this all sounds so so lovely and wholesome

DF assures me "he's done all this before" so knows what to do but given he doesn't even know when our birthdays are I suspect lateDM did most! Ah. Wish she was here, she'd be stoked to meet DNewphew and know exactly what to do!!

Thanks for the tip re order Halo1234

He does seem to just liked to be jiggled around a lot when he's crying.

You need the rough timings of his day.
What to look for when he's tired.
Fav songs.
How to get to sleep.
How do they comfort, hold him.
Put to bed at the bottom of the crib.
Burping/feeding/cream after nappies.

Yes yes these are all good! Burping I struggle with a bit 🤪 I don't quite have the knack down yet but I'm sure we'll figure it out!

I think am a bit too gentle when I pat his back

Ah I've been where you are and remember the terror well. I started a thread in a panic late at night as I was terrified the baby would have something terrible happen and it would be my fault. Happily I can say that nothing went wrong and nothing has gone wrong with the 2 DC I have had since 😀.
Other PP are right in that being fed, changed and cuddled is pretty much what you need to do. Spend some time beforehand seeing how the bottles are made/heated and you'll feel far more confident. If baby doesn't settle at night you might have to go in for the long haul of pacing around whilst jiggling but that's doable with a good TV programme in the background. In the day just pop them in the buggy or car seat and take them out for a bit.
You'll be great, they're a lot less easy to break than I realised

If in doubt, the wheels on the bus!

Sit them up straight. Fingers under chin and bend side to side, you're trying to move wind and bending them frees anything trapped.

Sounds v.uncomfortable being a baby!

First time I looked after my niece she pitched, still asleep, out of her buggy onto the floor and I nearly stood on her..didn’t think 3mo needed strapping in 😳

I have found through exhaustive experience and scientific research (), that babies love 70's soft rock like Marvin Gaye, Bread, etc. If he is fussy, put on some music and gently dance around with him in your arms.

if he is fussy, put on some music and gently dance around with him in your arms

I've actually been looking forward to doing a great deal of this anyway

8 month olds don’t generally need burping as they can sit up by themselves (usually! Obviously not all babies are the same)

Hopefully they’ll give you a rough guideline of his routine. Nap times, bottles, meals etc. and then the rest of the time babies are usually happy just rolling about on the floor playing with various non toys like spatulas and keys and sunglasses. You could take him for a walk in his buggy, feed some ducks or play on the swings. Mine loved trips the the supermarket and sitting in the trolley seat, and if outside playing with a bowl of water and some floaty toys. Or having a bath.

8 months is a lovely age. Usually they aren’t too mobile, but can actually be entertained by things. And they’re usually fascinated by everything

Update. Clueless Auntie's observations so far.

• small people can poo a huge amount
• caring for child so far is 60% hands on and 40% wondering where you left the thing
• only 4 hysterical mid night checks that bebe is breathing
• smooshed pares FTW
• baby shark do do do do do do

Love me and Charlie

wondering where you left the thing

Not the baby!! As in the thing you need 😂

Not an aunty situation but a Godmother one. I was left with my Godchild and really looking forward to it but about 10 minutes in, my friend's sister (who lived 2 streets away at the time, insisted on coming in and taking over, so that was that!

@thisnamechanger

You sound like a wonderful auntie

Posted too soon, and your observations ate bang on

Enjoy the rest of your time with DN