Silly questions about a newborn baby

[Hotmad]

Ok so my DD is 1 week old, and certain things come to mind as there is so much out there as to should u do this or not... Etc. Lots of conflicting advice so I'm putting it to the mums of mumsnet to see what u mite say....
1, how do u feed the baby when ur out, I.e. If formula feeding do u take cartons of sterile milk or make up a bottle and use within certain time? Etc.
2, how do u clean baby's bum, do u use wipes or water with cotton wool balls? Do u use sudocrem or another type?
3, how often do u bath ur newborn? Do u use any products?
4, what's the best tip u can give me, a new mum of a 1 week old? And pls tell me it gets easier! Lol

I took a bottle if I was just going out for less than an hour, otherwise cartons. Then I discovered the fridge to
Go, a bottle bag-cool bag which is colder than
My fridge. It is against guidance, but i used to make up a day's feeds in advance and keep them in the fridge.

Cotton wool and water until weaning, then wipes. Value ones have always been fine. Love Sudocreme, dd reacted badly to Metanium. Bepanthen was nothing special.

Every couple of days

Get a sling! Try a baby group. At your stage in my life. I found it vital to have a reason to go out,and it is comforting to know people with children the same age as yours.

It does get better. Then they start moving..,.,

I made up the water and put the formula in a little tub and put them together when needed. I did this for the whole days feeds which was much easier. Used the ready made too sometimes.
Only used water and cotton wool for the first few months. Bath every night as part of the bedtime routine, don't use products in the bath as its just for routine. Don't use sudocrem unless needed and have had very few sore bums.
Would also second the advice to join a group, I did baby sign and a music group when my dd was a baby. Now At 20 months it's hard but fun. Enjoy.

1. I had a small flask I used when out to make bottles. Ds refused cartons.
2. I used wipes from day one, wet cotton wool balls sounds too much of a faff. Didn't use any sudocrem. If ds had a sore bum I used metanium.
3. I bathed ds once a week or so, no products as they not need them.
4. It gets easier, get out as much as you can, sleep when you can (if your lucky) and if you need to ask for help.

1, sorry - I used boobs.
2, I hate cotton wool - I used cloth wipes with water (either wipes under the tap, or a spray bottle of water). You can make cheap wipes from a thin fleece blanket - just cut it up into squares. It won't fray. Wash in the machine as normal.
3, once or twice a week, or if there is a major poo incident, or if they are fretful and I think a bath might entertain them. Tummy tubs are good for that (they don't cost too much in hot water!)
4, personally I would say go with it - cuddle them, carry them around if that is what they want, 'spoil' them - you can't really spoil a baby, you are just giving it what it wants (you!). It does get easier, and before you know it you will miss having a baby.

Oh, and take lots of photos. Honestly, you can't have too many photos. Take some videos too!

Sorry, missed one: no cream unless actually sore.

1. Bottle if due in next 2 hours, cartons thereafter
2. Wipes
3. When he needed it as quite sickly

4.4. Be

1: Boob, so no help here
2: Cotton wool if bum is sore, wipes otherwise (DS2 is allergic to some preservatives, but so long as we find wipes without it he's rash-free) Sudocreme only if sore
3: once a week maximum - due to aforementioned sensitive skin. I do use baby bath, and either coconut oil or baby oil.
4: Learn to do everything one-handed, they're way happier if you hold them, and DS2 is strangely resistant to wraps unless we're out and walking.

1. Started using cartons (after being a BF fail sadly)then was moved to prescription formula so used to put boiling water in a bottle, put bottle in an insulated bag and carry a little pot of powder. Often needed to ask for ice water to cool bottle. Total faff but necessary with no option of formula.

1. Cotton wool was useless I found. Sensitive wipes were fine. We used huggies pure. You could also use reusable wipes if you can be bothered (not for me). We used no cream but now we use sudocreme as DD gets a rash due to teething - she is a year old now

1. Can't remember about bathing. I do remember being shown in the hospital on day 3 how to do it but I am not sure she was bathed after that until about a fortnight. No products used for ages.

Advice? The days are long but the years are short. I wish someone, anyone had told me that it was okay that I felt the days were sometimes interminable. All this "it goes is a flash" nonsense means nothing when you are exhausted, emotional and lonely as I was.

1. Don't worry about what the formula tins say about preparation, it's only to cover their backs because some people make up bottles incorrectly. We make bottles in advance. It's best to use boiling water (and then chill in fridge) because it kills the bacteria in the formula powder. Make sure the bottles are drank within 24 hours. If you take them out the fridge you have a 2 hour window. We take cartons just in case and have them at home if we're busy.
2. We've always used wipes. She's nearly 11 months and has never had nappy rash. I use sudocrem every so often and metanium to stave anything off whilst teething when required.
3. Every other day or so. Don't bathe them too much and don't use any products as it will dry out skin. I use dentinox for cradle cap though.
4. My best tip is that you are doing great and please stand your ground with family members!

1. Boobs (sorry, no help!)
2. Cotton wool in the house for 6 weeks maybe? Had wipes out and about (Huggies pure - they're the only ones which seemed wet enough!!).
3. Once or twice a week at most. Newborns don't get dirty (unless poonami!). Definitely no products. Even now only baby shampoo and his special eczema oil (prescription). They don't need products.

Oh! And yes it gets easier. Some days will be hard and others you will practically feel like you are telepathic.

And what domo says is a sensible approach. Flash cool your bottles to make sure they are totally cold when they go in the fridge and make sure they are at the back. I tied myself in total knots worrying that people judged my pre-made bottles. If they ever did they never showed it.

My tip is to expect little of yourself and just focus on keeping both of you feed and watered.
Sleep begets sleep, dont underestimate how much they need. Ime they can't sleep too much in the day until 1 year plus.

Try to go for a walk every day. Fresh air and daylight is good for you.

Accept all help.

No idea about bottles as I never used them, but my HV gave me a copy of this leaflet which I thought was pretty comprehensive:

www.nhs.uk/start4life/documents/pdfs/start4life_guide_to_bottle_feeding.pdf

I used cotton wool and water at home, the larger square pads (ASDA/Waitrose stock them definately) are the best followed by a pleet, i found balls too fluffy. I would wet them before taking nappy off so they were ready and damp like wipes. When out and about i used wipes, the waitrose baby botttom butter ones smell lovely but are £££, 'simple' ones are good and neutral smelling. I have found Bepanthan to be the best cream, i put this on if skin looks pink at all and have managed to prevent nappy rash so far.

Tiny newborns dont need bathing to frequently, and how frequently after a couple of weeks really depends how sicky they are. DS 2 has reflux so is bathed way more frequently than others ever were. I found it easier to strip them and wash all over with cotton wool/flannels and water on a big soft towel on my bed for for few weeks. Its only now at 2 months old I am really bathing ds2 in baby bath as he can support his head really well making the whole slippery baby and water thing a bit easier.

Advice? Enjoy it because it all goes really fast, even the tough bits (despite it feeling like an eternity at the time) and then you forget so much.

I won't answer the other questions as they've been so well done already but my advice is don't expect anything of your baby & it'll be much easier.
All the books, other people & the internet will tell you things like 'at 2 weeks your baby should be doing x,y & z' & I got so worked up that mine wasn't. Once I realised it was fine she wasn't & just let her go at her own pace it got SO much easier.

At the start I wondered how anyone ever made it out of the house at all during the day with a baby!

Baby is now 10 months and it's relatively faff free!

1- I made up feeds for the day and refridgerated them. If going out, id take a made up feed with me and serve it at room.temp when needed. She fed roughly three hourly and I was never out and about for.more than one feed, so bottles werent out of the fridge for long

2 - I used wipes as soon as I got home feom the hospital. Never put any creams on unless she was looking a little sore

3 - bath every night before last feed. Not because she needed it but because she liked it and I liked the strucrure to my day

4 - mine are practical tips. Refill the change bag as soon as you get back.in the house so its ready for next time. Also, do a little basket up in the lounge and the bedroom with nappies, wipes, sacks, spare set of clothes and what not. Save you goibg to a change table every nappy change.

I used a mix of cotton wool and wipes in hospital, then wipes at home. We moved onto cloth washable wipes soon after though, much easier to clean bums with.

We didn't bath her often as a newborn. Keep any folds of skin clean and dry, as milk can get into all the nooks and crannies but I don't think it's something to get stressed about. Routine can come later.

Every day was different for us in the early stages. She'd have a day where she fed ALL day, then would spend the next day asleep. Or would have a crying session in the evening. Don't worry if everything seems to be going "backwards". Both you and baby are learning, you'll get there :)

1. I bf for the first three months then ff. Made days feeds up and refrigerated. All fine. Kept bottles in a cool bag if going out. (DD weird, loved her bottles ice cold!) also used cartons sometimes as so handy. Especially if you don't know how long you'll be out or are longer than expected.
2. Wipes from day one. Cotton wool and water too much messing.
3. Bath every other day at start. Then every day from about 3/4 months. I used infacare or mum & me sleep tight. Never had any issues with DD's skin.
4. Take each day at a time and get DP (or do it yourself the night before) to make you a sandwich/packed lunch to put in the fridge. I found some days I didn't eat until DH got home! I prioritised sleep over food, but when lunch was preprepared I could just grab it and eat when dd was eating.

1. I bf for the first three months then ff. Made days feeds up and refrigerated. All fine. Kept bottles in a cool bag if going out. (DD weird, loved her bottles ice cold!) also used cartons sometimes as so handy. Especially if you don't know how long you'll be out or are longer than expected.
2. Wipes from day one. Cotton wool and water too much messing.
3. Bath every other day at start. Then every day from about 3/4 months. I used infacare or mum & me sleep tight. Never had any issues with DD's skin.
4. Take each day at a time and get DP (or do it yourself the night before) to make you a sandwich/packed lunch to put in the fridge. I found some days I didn't eat until DH got home! I prioritised sleep over food, but when lunch was preprepared I could just grab it and eat when dd was eating.

1. Cartons of formula are great, I have a rule that I like my made up powdered formula to be drunk within a hour, so if you know that your baby will feed within the hour I'd take a made up bottle out in an insulated bag. If not I used to wrap a sterilised bottle in cling film and take a carton of formula (actually I'd take 2 of each...just in case).

1. Wipes from day 1 if you can get away with it. DC3 was the surprise and even sensitive ones made him sore so I used cotton wool and warm water until he was better.

Cream goes on if they are sore (sudo cream, use loads).

3.The more DC's you have the less you have time to bath them (in this house anyway) DC3 was bathed once a week at most and that was fine, he had the occasional through wash if he managed to do an explosive poo.

1. It does get easier, with a 1 week old you know that this time next week you will feel so much better, everything will be so much easier. Don't put too much pressure on yourself to be out and about yet.

'This too will pass' is a bit of a mantra, the sore boobs, the tiredness etc will all go. The saying works both ways though, they will never be this tiny again! Enjoy it and never let anyone tell you that it is not ok to cuddle them to sleep (and then spend the next few hours gazing at them/chilling out while they are asleep...).

p.s please don't think they are silly questions, I was over 30 when I had DC1 and my Mum had to show DH and I how to change a nappy!