New mom wisdom, months 3-4

[crawford411]

It's been a while since we've done this. What have you learned over the past month? Share your wisdom with your fellow moms!

[crawford411]

You can't have or be a unicorn all of the time. Some moms are unicorn pumpers, some are unicorn wives, some have clean sinks and floors. Some babies nurse beautifully, some sleep through the night, some never cry. BUT. No mom or baby can do every one of these things. So cut yourself some slack.

[crawford411]

Also, in a pinch, nipple butter makes excellent chapstick.

[raesofsunshine1]

Always always always always choose sleep over other unnecessary activities. If you dont, you will regret it when the sleep regression hits!

[saragw]

You never know who is watching...

[lindseyione]

It is hard taking care of 2u2 and working but I can be done. It is okay to take a break every now and then though.

[maggie6424]

Nipple butter also works great on baby's skin. I use it when A scratches himself. (mine is one that doesn't have to be wiped off before nursing)

[ashie0610]

Jan 27, 2015 8:15:41 GMT -5 crawford411 said:

You can't have or be a unicorn all of the time. Some moms are unicorn pumpers, some are unicorn wives, some have clean sinks and floors. Some babies nurse beautifully, some sleep through the night, some never cry. BUT. No mom or baby can do every one of these things. So cut yourself some slack.

Love this.  I should hang this on my fridge or something.

[ashie0610]

Even if your babies seem similar at first, they are different little people and you can't count on using everything that worked with the first one on the second one.

[ashie0610]

There is probably very little correlation between daytime nap success and nighttime sleep success. Some days they will nap like shit and sleep great, other days vice versa, and sometimes they won't sleep at all. Don't try to decipher the non-existent secret formula.

[mrskasz]

Smile and nod, say thanks for the tip, walk away and proceed to what's best for you and your family. It's not worth the aggravation to engage bad and unwanted advice. Also, quit explaining your choices.

[dorothyzbornak97]

Jan 27, 2015 8:15:41 GMT -5 crawford411 said:

You can't have or be a unicorn all of the time. Some moms are unicorn pumpers, some are unicorn wives, some have clean sinks and floors. Some babies nurse beautifully, some sleep through the night, some never cry. BUT. No mom or baby can do every one of these things. So cut yourself some slack.

TRUTH.

[nikkilynn27]

Jan 27, 2015 8:15:41 GMT -5 crawford411 said:

You can't have or be a unicorn all of the time. Some moms are unicorn pumpers, some are unicorn wives, some have clean sinks and floors. Some babies nurse beautifully, some sleep through the night, some never cry. BUT. No mom or baby can do every one of these things. So cut yourself some slack.

I want to know who has clean floors....

[windwithfingers]

Jan 27, 2015 10:25:17 GMT -5 nikkilynn27 said:

Jan 27, 2015 8:15:41 GMT -5 crawford411 said:

You can't have or be a unicorn all of the time. Some moms are unicorn pumpers, some are unicorn wives, some have clean sinks and floors. Some babies nurse beautifully, some sleep through the night, some never cry. BUT. No mom or baby can do every one of these things. So cut yourself some slack.

I want to know who has clean floors....

I do.




Because I live with my mom.

[mrsbabe614]

Jan 27, 2015 9:40:03 GMT -5 dorothyzbornak97 said:

Jan 27, 2015 8:15:41 GMT -5 crawford411 said:

You can't have or be a unicorn all of the time. Some moms are unicorn pumpers, some are unicorn wives, some have clean sinks and floors. Some babies nurse beautifully, some sleep through the night, some never cry. BUT. No mom or baby can do every one of these things. So cut yourself some slack.

TRUTH.

Seriously! I need to write this some where I can see it so I stop trying to be perfect everything and cut myself some slack

[aurora1181]

Even if the grandparents totally screw up the feeding/nap schedule, I can get the kiddos back on track by being consistent with bedtime and wake ups.. eventually.

Also, baths are an awesome way to calm everybody down.

[victoria]

They can't stay awake forever - even if it sometimes feels like it.

[rockynfrankie]

Jan 27, 2015 10:25:17 GMT -5 nikkilynn27 said:

Jan 27, 2015 8:15:41 GMT -5 crawford411 said:

You can't have or be a unicorn all of the time. Some moms are unicorn pumpers, some are unicorn wives, some have clean sinks and floors. Some babies nurse beautifully, some sleep through the night, some never cry. BUT. No mom or baby can do every one of these things. So cut yourself some slack.

I want to know who has clean floors....

I did. Once. For about 5 minutes. 

[dorothyzbornak97]

Jan 27, 2015 10:25:17 GMT -5 nikkilynn27 said:

Jan 27, 2015 8:15:41 GMT -5 crawford411 said:

You can't have or be a unicorn all of the time. Some moms are unicorn pumpers, some are unicorn wives, some have clean sinks and floors. Some babies nurse beautifully, some sleep through the night, some never cry. BUT. No mom or baby can do every one of these things. So cut yourself some slack.

I want to know who has clean floors....

I actually Swiffered some of our floors this past weekend. Oof, it was not pretty!

[nikkilynn27]

I learned I'm ok with holding a sleeping baby even if it means nothing gets done. She is my last one and I know at some point she will be too big to hold so I'm soaking it up while I can.

[theresat858]

Clean floors? You must not have a toddler yet...
Ok. The laundry basket is mine. The rest is hers.

[theresat858]

If you are pumping, get a manual pump!!! I don't know how I got through 1 baby without owning one of these. I use it so much more than my PISA now. Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump www.amazon.com/dp/B0006HBS1M/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_wE7Xub1RXE0TV
www.amazon.com/dp/B0006HBS1M/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_wE7Xub1RXE0TV

[starla487]

Jan 27, 2015 10:26:29 GMT -5 windwithfingers said:

Jan 27, 2015 10:25:17 GMT -5 nikkilynn27 said:

I want to know who has clean floors....

I do.




Because I live with my mom.

I do too... because I paid someone to clean them for me. (Also, baby-wearing.)

[cocohkn]

Jan 27, 2015 11:07:21 GMT -5 theresat858 said:

If you are pumping, get a manual pump!!! I don't know how I got through 1 baby without owning one of these. I use it so much more than my PISA now. Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump www.amazon.com/dp/B0006HBS1M/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_wE7Xub1RXE0TV
www.amazon.com/dp/B0006HBS1M/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_wE7Xub1RXE0TV

I see everyone talk about the manual, which makes me so mad that I spent the money on the double. How come you like the manual better? I was misinformed

[nicb13]

No matter what you do as a parent, NEVER EVER compare your baby to other babies. Nothing good will ever come from this except unnecessary stress on you.

**I'm repeating this to myself daily

[nicb13]

Jan 27, 2015 11:29:00 GMT -5 starla487 said:

Jan 27, 2015 10:26:29 GMT -5 windwithfingers said:

I do.




Because I live with my mom.

I do too... because I paid someone to clean them for me. (Also, baby-wearing.)

Word. Me too. Best money I've ever spent.

[cocohkn]

Overstimulation is no joke. Get baby down for a nap before she gets over tired. Don't compare your baby's progress to other babies.

[amandajean12]

No matter how little I think DH does some days, it's far scarier when there's no one to hand the baby off to once in a while. That was a long four days.

Oh, and you can NEVER have enough burp cloths spread around your house. The baby will find the one place their isn't one, and then watch out.

[dorothyzbornak97]

Jan 27, 2015 11:07:21 GMT -5 theresat858 said:

If you are pumping, get a manual pump!!! I don't know how I got through 1 baby without owning one of these. I use it so much more than my PISA now. Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump www.amazon.com/dp/B0006HBS1M/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_wE7Xub1RXE0TV
www.amazon.com/dp/B0006HBS1M/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_wE7Xub1RXE0TV

I just had a eureka moment! This is what I need for my work trips! I was lugging my electric pump around at a trade show earlier this month. I need to just get this baby and call it a day--so much more portable! 

[carriedaway19]

I read this in an article - Minimize stress by focusing on one task at a time. Stop making mile long to-do lists in your head.

Keeping baby on a nighttime sleep routine is more important than anything else that's going on (including the Super Bowl party that I will NOT be attending this weekend).