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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder how we got having a baby years ago.

385 replies

IsItSummerYet2018 · 08/02/2018 17:35

This is totally light hearted.
But reading some people on other sites/ threads/forums saying about things for example : perfect prep machine for milk.
Saying how they couldn't live without it. When its 3am boiling up a kettle is a faff etc.
Don't get me wrong it is and time Consuming when you have a crying baby and sleep deprived.
However they haven't been around forever and everyone just got on with it before hand.

please note I'm not Having a dig it's just a general wondering

Can anyone think of anything else that we have now but didn't before... But just can't live without?

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 10/02/2018 10:04

I never travelled in the boot of a car. Shock

Maireadplastic · 10/02/2018 10:35

I met a Swedish woman at a concert who advised me not to wash my babies for at least a week, something to do with antibodies.... I held it as absolute truth, not sure why- there must have been something about her- but I have three ridiculously healthy boys.

Zaphodsotherhead · 10/02/2018 11:01

Actually I don't think that much has changed really.

I had my first 28 years ago. Had proper car seats (and warned about not using in passenger seat), weaned at 9 months, put to sleep on his back, disposable nappies etc.

I have a 6 month old grandson and, apart from the sheer volume of toys, everything is done pretty much the same for him as was for his dad, just more gadgets!

Maireadplastic · 10/02/2018 11:42

Things we have done without which we were told were 'must haves':

-Stair gates
-Baby monitors
-A car
-Supermarket delivery
-Portable potty (bought one, carried it around, never used it)

Things we definitely needed but were told were not essential:

  • Changing table (aka back saver)
  • Gro bags
  • Sling
  • Blackout material
  • hand blender

Things I liked which appeared during my baby raising (I did it over 10 years, 2003-2013):

-Giant muslins (wiping, sharing buggy, wrapping me/baby for poo/sick emergencies, and they look nice)
-Bright tights (no lost socks, I had 3 boys so appreciated funky primary colours)
-Those soft leathery slipper things

Maireadplastic · 10/02/2018 11:44

Shading buggy, not sharing.....

hollowtree · 10/02/2018 11:47

NotAnotherEmma bully for you.

Stupid old me opting for the inconvenience of formula feeding eh?

hollowtree · 10/02/2018 11:53

cruchy we went to a talk thing at the hospital after my C-section and the midwife there went through how to bathe a baby! Starting with warm damp cotton wool around the face and neck to washing them completely when they're a few weeks old

grannytomine · 10/02/2018 12:44

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

crunchymint · 10/02/2018 13:19

hollowtree Glad they showed you. Shocked that not all parents are shown though.

Battleax · 10/02/2018 13:33

Gosh granny that's not very supportive. Almost smug, in fact. How unpleasant.

noeffingidea · 10/02/2018 13:50

Actually I don't think that much has changed really
I agree with this, but I don't know anyone in real life that does things that seem common on mumsnet, like babywearing, feeding on demand, babylead weaning, etc. My grandsons were bottlefed to a rough schedule, weaned at 4 months on baby rice and jars of baby food, put down for naps. Nearly all babies here are still pushed in buggies instead of carried in slings and seem to be bottle fed when out and about.
If I was having a baby now I'd still look after them in the same way as I did 30 years ago. The only thing I didn't have which is common now is a baby monitor. And had 3 babies and never owned a single muslin, or seen anyone else use one.

AnElderlyLadyOfMediumHeight · 10/02/2018 14:05

Mairead, re the washing thing, I have a dim recollection of being told something similar when I had my first 13 years ago in Germany. Then it was strictly water only for baths, no shampoo/soap/bubbles, for at least the first few months. I think I washed them all sooner than a week, but we did the water-only thing (oh, and I have never gone with the 'a baby must have a bath every night' orthodoxy. My kids have bathed/showered about 3 or 4 times a week (plus obv when dirty/sweats/after swimming etc) until puberty). With the first two I used flannels and water for nappy changes rather than wipes.

I am also bemused at the vitriol that's been chucked at NotAnotherEmma. Bf just is more convenient than ff, generally, once it's up and running.

AnElderlyLadyOfMediumHeight · 10/02/2018 14:05

Sweaty, not sweats.

dontbesillyhenry · 10/02/2018 14:43

It was a smug dig don't try and kid yourself otherwise

grannytomine · 10/02/2018 14:46

Battleax, I was out shopping when that was posted. I have no idea what was said, or how? Have I been hacked or something?

No idea what I do now, do I change my password or do I need to do something to my computer. Help, not very techy, any help welcome.

Maireadplastic · 10/02/2018 14:52

Yes Elderly, I didn't use soap or wipes for first weeks- makes sense to me.

To anyone scoffing, I absolutely loved baby-led weaning and not using commercial baby food. To me, it meant using leftovers! Perfect. Continues to work when you have more- all the children eat the same thing!

Battleax · 10/02/2018 15:53

Report it granny?

iBiscuit · 10/02/2018 16:20

I'd have gone fucking nuts if I couldn't have started weaning until six months. I know it's only another eight weeks, but it can't do breastfeeding rates any good, women being tied to their babies for that extra time.

I'm always a bit Envy at how inexpensive nappies and wipes are now compared to 18 years ago; I think I was spending about £10 a week on them back then.

Evelynismycatsformerspyname · 10/02/2018 16:29

noeffing that just shows how different demographics are. Most people I know did all the things you claim nobody does in real life, to a greater or lesser extent.

None of those things are even new.

Carrying babies in shawls or slings and breast feeding on demand and then giving weaning older babies suitable bit from the parents' plates have been happening forever and are totally normal, common sense, obvious and basic things to do. They have never died out and had to be revived - people have never stopped doing either.

Formula is a great option for people who can't or don't want to breast feed but certainly not the old fashioned way - that wouldn't even make sense! Ditto prams and baby rice and feeding schedules - they are all less, not more convenient and less not more artificial and over thought.

grannytomine · 10/02/2018 16:35

Battleax, my teenage grandson wrote it, was it rude about his brother? Teach me to hide the laptop when I go out. Whatever it was he seems to find it hilarious. Probably better if I don't know!

Maireadplastic · 10/02/2018 16:37

Granny, the post was linking a bang on the head (due to no stair gates) with learning difficulties. Did you post that?

grannytomine · 10/02/2018 16:45

Oh that makes sense, his brother is fine but he likes to say rude things about him, particularly that he is brain damaged. Aren't teenagers lovely.

The sad thing is his little brother adores him.

grannytomine · 10/02/2018 16:46

He is being sent home, I am really cross with him.

Battleax · 10/02/2018 16:56

This got strange fast.

Quorafun · 10/02/2018 16:59

Ive been doing online grocery shopping for 18 years now.