top baby tips

[Cheekystar]

I've making a baby tip book for a friend and wondered what your top baby tips are....

[I.Don No]

my best tip is to cuddle them, talk to them leaving a space for their reply in whatever form it may take and above all love them even at 3 o'clock in the morning when you are changing a particularly disgusting nappy!

[aeinstein]

the only advice i have ever taken in relation to my son is this little gem...

don't take advice from anyone.

if you genuinely think something is in the best interests of your child then it probably will be.

[rosandjohn]

its really hard and when you feel like 'what have I done' most of us have been there. Remember everything is a phase which they will grow out of. :-)

[spudqueen]

A practical tip - clear out a small kitchen cupboard (or a shelf in a kitchen cupboard) and have this for babys stuff only. Either bottles. sterilizing equipment or later on feeding cups, bowls, cutlery, jars of food etc. You will always know where everything is if it's always in one place and any babysitters/grandparents who might look after your child will also know where everything is.

[aims1202]

as a mum or dad, to trust your instincts

[Petal~flower]

Put the baby to bed when its fed and nappy changed and awake. Don't let him/her fall asleep on your lap!

If not they get used to it, and it makes hard work later on, when you try to settle them.

[FUZZYBEE]

Buy the basic stuff bibs, socks, sleepsuits, vest, towels all in white. You can then just bung it all in the wash together without wasting precious time sorting piles. (useful for when the other half says he didn't know if the colours would run!!)
I also was surprised how expensive the sheets were for my moses basket so my mum told me just to go and buy some cheap white pillowcases, they done the trick. baby could have a lovely clean one every night (she was a sicky baby) and when she was out of moses basket (6 weeks) I had some spare pillowcases!!I think they were seomething silly like 99p each again they were plain white.
Take photos photos and then some more photos, you think you will remember exactly what they looked like but alas you don't. It's also nice for when they are older as I hardly have any photos of myself as a baby. Oh and if it's winter put a pillowcase on the changing mat too......that plastic sure is cold in the middle of the night!!

[ethanryan]

although you want to give your baby lots of love try not to pick them up every time they have a little cry as you will make a rod for your own back. i picked my son up all the time now he is very clingy and wants to be picked up and wants your full attention all the time

[mimififi30]

when worrying if the baby is too hot or too cold, the best rule of thumb Ive found with mine is:

a layer for every one you are wearing + 1 (and in the winter, +1 and a blanket.)
eg, if you are wearing a t-shirt, and a jumper, then baby needs a vest, babygro and jumper. Babies need to be much warmer than we think or they don't want to feed properly.

My other top tip is when they are tiny, the swaddling method is just fab. really settles tearful babies as it's very womb like. You can buy super-douper swaddling wraps from posh shops like verbedet et al now, but I found a cot sheet folded in a triangle was the best and cheapest way just lay baby on the triangle with the point at it's feet and bring the side of the triangle round and tuck it underneath him, and then the other side. Baby then stays snug and feels safe. If baby is a thumb sucker, you can tuck the sheet round with his little thumb up by his mouth and then he can still suck his thumb. They are also really easy to handle when wrapped like this and so it is very confidence building for a new mummy.

congratulations to her, and what a wonderful gift idea...
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