Following on from the '3 things I wish I'd known...' - 3 tips for new parents - what are your life / time savers?

[Babycameearly]

• Fasten bibs / babygrow poppers before they go in the wash - saved me much frustration!
• Use a bedside light for nightfeeds - saves waking up completely with the big light on
• set up change station with an open nappy bag, open nappy and wipes for night changes - saves faffing about when you're -dying with tiredness- sleepy

I'm new and would -inhale- love any tips that would make things nicer / easier :)

Even if you think the baby can't possibly be hungry and you can't work out why they're crying, offer milk!

We heard lots of parents going on about how they'd stressed with no 1. and chilled with no 2. so we pretended dd1 was our 2nd. She had an imaginary older brother "Magnus". We'd pretend we had Magnus to consider too, it stopped us getting too wound up about things.
so

1. Pretend you have a child already who can't be ingored.
2. if breastfeeding, get the hang of expressing come what may and get DH/DP fully engaged with the feeding/caring from the start. It gives a huge amount of freedom (it certainly helped me keep going with bf long term.
3. my babies never needed routines, we just went with the flow, it seemed much easier than worrying about nap times.

1. Don't iron

2. Clean only what you have to eg bottles. Get a cleaner if you can in anyway possibly afford it.

3. Your travel mug from your pre-child commuting days: use it to keep your brew from getting as cold as fast while you deal/faff with your LO. Unless you really like the skin on coffee obviously.....

Learn to be away from your baby by leaving him/her with your partner, parents, in-laws or trusted friends regularly, from early on. Try not to be a control freak, accept offers of help and involve others in your family life.

By building relationships with those around you, you're building a support network and laying down the groundwork for babysitting/childcare in future.

For example, we've developed a good relationship with our neighbours and are able to call on them for babysitting. This is absolutely invaluable!!

Don't feel you have to leave your baby with friends, relatives, family or anyone until you feel ready to do so - don't think you have to do it 'for a break' if you don't need one, or because someone wants a turn!

1. I thought I was failing miserably until I started the following pattern with DD at 11 weeks... Nap in stroller with lots of noise, iPod generated if needed, followed by feed when dd wakes up, only one hour awake and repeat the cycle. She is SO much more content.

1. Bedtime is the same every day. Feed, bath, low light, white noise. Once dd is in our bedroom there is no coming out again until morning however tempting to cuddle on sofa.

1. Swaddling - a sanity saver at night given that dd flails her hands about and bashes herself in the face

Flisspaps - I totally agree, actually. I hope my post didn't sound too pushy!! It helped to liberate me, but may not work for everyone.

Get staff

1. Keep a nappy, wipes and spare babygro in the back of the pushchair. And a few quid and a spare key.
2. when it gets a bit much, fling baby in pushchair and get out of the house instantly. I felt so much better once over the threshold, and going to the library/a cafe/shopping/any baby group thing helped so much.

1. Spend some time with your partner, even if it's on the sofa with a ready meal and choosing a programme to watch together. Forget cleaning unless there's broken glass around - get food in, then catch up with partner, then get some sleep.

Get a sling
Don't worry about routine if you're not already a routiney sort of person - one will emerge eventually
If you decide to breastfeed, do it lying down if you can (it's relaxing and a handy way to escape visitors)

Posypoo - I just LOVE breastfeeding lying down and completely agree about using it to escape visitors. The other handy about it is having both hands free, so I'm able to read a newspaper. One of the best sanity-savers!!!