To ask your best baby tips?

[BroodyTroody]

A Christmas tips thread has just got me thinking...

What is your one golden nugget of genius advice for a new mum, either something specific I should do, or an invaluable item I should by?

Thank you!

[OneUp]

The tip I'd have loved to have had was:

If your baby loathes the pram, buy a carrier and put them in that. It would have saved me trying to carry a three month old baby in one arm while trying to push a pram with the other.

[IAmTheLordOfRedundancy]

Get netflix.

[MortifiedAnyFuckerAdams]

Keep a basket of stuff in the living room and a basket of stuff by the bed. Stuff = nappies. Wipes dummy vest babygro. hand towel (to change them on)

Restock before bed each night.

Rather than traipse to the changing table every time.

[Rollermum]

From my baby she point of a mum to a 8 week old !

You'll Probably need x maternity pads than you think. I didn't need any breast pads at all but bought a huge box!

Don't drive yourself to the brink with myriad baby books like I did. Be selective / ignore as you feel. I need to heed this myself!

Buy babygrows with built in scratch mitts. My LO clawed her face for the first month and the scratch mitt gloves stay on for about 1 second.

A kindle with a light built in is great for night feeds, as is lovefilm Netflix etc.

[IAmTheLordOfRedundancy]

I used long socks as scratchmitts.

[Bogeyface]

My one piece of well meant advice would be

Ignore all well meant advice!

You, your partner and your baby are all individuals and you will work out things in your own way. Dont be browbeaten by anyone.

Oh, and dont buy a wipes warmer!

[SamHamwidge]

Second the don't read baby books nonsense.

For me -

Sangenic nappy bin. Wonderful invention

Gro bags instead of sheets etc

Don't spend a fortune as 90percent of it you either don't need or will be obsolete within a few months. Of course if you are having more DC you can reuse things.

[ArtemisiaofCaria]

Wine, failing that, gin. If you're breast feeding, Netflix and love film!

[lemonpoppyseed]

Never make a decision about anything in the middle of the night.

Nothing is ever permanent. Wait a while and it will all change.

Sit on the couch, and enjoy...

[24me]

Never wake a sleeping baby to feed, unless they have weight issues. Babies will wake when hungry.

Sleep when they sleep. Forget the house, cooking etc and rest. It will all be there another time.

Ask for help when you need it. It's not bad to need help.

Feel free to ignore my advice.

[DreamingOfTheMaldives]

Earplugs - when baby is screaming blue murder even though you are cuddling/rocking/bouncing, put a pair of earplugs in and continue cuddling/bouncing/rocking. You can still hear the screaming but it's like soneone turned the volume down. As you can guess I have a baby (12 weeks) with an incredibly loud cry!)

Use a thermos mug as you will never drink a hot drink otherwise!

[24me]

Oh and if baby seems to like being snug, held etc try wrapping for sleep.

[CoolaSchmoola]

If your baby cries constantly in the evening, despite having only been fed half to an hour before, don't automatically assume colic or wind. Cluster feeding is quite common in the evening - some babies stock up for the night. Noone told us about this so we spent five weeks walking the floor with a windy screaming baby, one night fed her half an hour after her last feed and she stopped. Fed her on the hour three more times and she slept through for the first time that night! She used to have three good feeds during the day, four hourly, then three more every hour.

Don't keep quiet when your baby sleeps, there's no need, they'll sleep through anything.

Best buy - Jumperoo!

[olympicsrock]

Don't beat yourself up about breastfeeding it does hurt early on (this is normal).
Combination feeding is fine -your baby will not reject breast for bottle and it gives you a break for well needed sleep if DH can do a 2am feed.
If your baby wakes at night frequently try putting it in its own room from 3 months (DS was a light sleeper and slept much better alone).
Genius products - baby bjorn bouncer chair from ebay. Great to put a grumpy baby to sleep at the witching hour while you watch tv with a cuppa (you bounce it using your foot)
Baby bundlers or nightgown - get from John Lewis or Green baby. These envelope necked nightgowns have built in scratchmitts and elastic at the bottom . They keep baby snug but avoid the nightmare of doing 20 tiny poppers in the dark at 3 am. Best thing ever!
Eco moonlight - tiny blue or green nightlight plugs into wall socket gives room a subtle glow, uses hardly any electicity. Leave on all night, bright enough to see your baby, change nappies and bf but dark enough for everyone to sleep.
Emergency maltesers -useful at 3am.
Lit kindle or ipad for mumsnet.
I also like our sangenic nappy bin.

[olympicsrock]

Expensive but brilliant - ergo babycarrier. Buy early will last 3 years.

[McRoo]

Babies hate being put down in the early weeks. They are so used to being next to you all the time that the sudden distance really pisses them off. It does get better and far too quickly you'll miss the constant cuddles. So be prepared to have a baby constantly stuck to you and enjoy it.

[McRoo]

And following on from mine - ignore anyone who says you are spoiling them by constantly holding them. You cannot love and spoil a tiny baby with cuddles. Bollocks.

Enjoy!! My son is 6 months old and I already miss the tiny days. broody face

[earlgray]

Follow your instincts.
Try to stockpile DVDs or record tv programs you like, or invest in love film or similar. Those 1st weeks require a lot of time spent on the sofa and daytime tv is DULL!

[FortyDoorsToNowhere]

Defiantly Netflix. Tv is your best friend with night feeds

[wherethewildthingis]

Definitely netflix, worth it for Breaking Bad alone. Buy some infacol, it will save you making a midnight dash to the chemist with a screaming baby if you already have it in.
And don't be too shocked by the emotional impact, I spent the first month feeling alternately euphoric and terrified.....

[Iwaswatchingthat]

Have a change station (baby mat, wipes, nappies, nappy sacks) set up on the floor in your lounge, bathroom and bedroom. Saves you carting the stuff all over the house. Don't bother with a changing table.

I would say you need a bouncy chair upstairs and downstairs too for the same carting about reason.

[BlackeyedSusan]

put a piece of coton wool over a babyboys willy as soon you take his nappy off. it will save several hair washes for both of you.

[Silvercatowner]

I second the white noise app. 26 years ago we had white noise on a cassette tape and dreaded it breaking.
Do what YOU think is best. HCPs don't always know best (some of the advice I received was frankly dangerous).
Stick pins in an effigy of the person who says 'it only gets worse'. Bollocks. PND + sleep deprivation is horrendous.
Try to go out every day.
Being in your jammies all day doesn't do anyone any harm (though if you take the advice above you may get some weird looks).
Breatfeeding DOES hurt. I'm sorry to all those who say 'if you are doing it right it doesn't', but you are wrong - it does (this caused me so much worry). I'm fair skinned, my latch was correct (according to the bf counsellors I consulted) and it hurt like hell, both times. It never quite went away (I fed until a year with both) but improved massively after the first couple of weeks. If just someone had said that was within a range of normality, those early weeks would have been much improved.

[BoffinMum]

Tinned soup, a cheese sandwich and a banana constitute excellent nutrition and a full substitute for a proper hot meal as often as you like in the early days.

[BoffinMum]

If you are too tired to dress the baby up, don't. They are fine in a vest , carrie and those little nightie things unless you are in a teepee in Wales. That way nappy changing is a lot easier.