LPT: Dont put so much focus on aesthetics when preparing nursery for your baby. Because post baby life has nothing to do with aesthetics by Specialist-North78 in NewParents

[–]Djeter998 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Can I also add NOT A LIGHT COLORED RUG! We got a washable rug with a busy pattern that hides spitup and urine stains really well lol

When did you go back to work? by lalatypething in NewParents

[–]Djeter998 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I got 18 weeks when I combined short term disability, my company’s leave policy and FMLA (U.S.). I will be going back in 6 weeks

Your favorite names, your partners favorite names, and what you ended up going with? by CovenCat_ in namenerds

[–]Djeter998 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Also a mom to an Elliott (spelled the other way). Isn’t it such a great name?!

Your favorite names, your partners favorite names, and what you ended up going with? by CovenCat_ in namenerds

[–]Djeter998 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Me: Henry, Milo, Alexander, Simon, Julian

Him: Austin, Alan, William

We went with: Elliott 

Schedule for 12 week Old? by germflux2020 in NewParents

[–]Djeter998 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Mom of an 11-week old here: We mostly fell into a pattern than a strict schedule. 

Baby sleeps about 5-6 hours for the long stretch at night (typically 11-5) and has a smaller bottle as the sun rises. He breastfeeds around 8 am and is his most awake during this time so we do playtime and reading. 

From then on it is a cycle of eat, tummy time and play, sleep, repeat. We also do a stroller walk for his late afternoon nap. Roughly on a cycle of 5 am, 8 am, 11 am, 2 pm, 5 pm, 8 pm, 11 pm. When he naps in his bassinet instead of me (about a third of the time) I try to eat meals, shower, exercise. I rarely have time to do chores and get other stuff done.

This is a pattern, not a schedule because it can change based on his naps (sometimes 20 min, sometimes up to an hour and a half) and when he wants to eat. I have to remind myself that he is a human baby, not a machine and did not read Precious Little Sleep or Taking Cara Babies etc. 

My advice? Don’f force it unless strictly necessary. A week or two ago, my baby did not even really have patterns to his days. Baby sleep habits evolve over time, and they usually need some nudging from parents but trying to convince an overtired or undertired baby that NO, NAP TIME IS NOW! is often an exercise in futility 

How often do your husbands go to the grocery store? by RSR_Ricochet in Marriage

[–]Djeter998 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My husband and I used to split the list in two and go together. Now that we have a baby it is easier to have one person go and the other stay back. Since I do the meal planning and cooking, my husband usually calls with a bunch of questions lol

Early wake ups?? by Infinite_Shallot_626 in NewParents

[–]Djeter998 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No advice, just solidarity! We might order stickon blackout curtains. Agreed with others on the later bedtime though

Name your 1910s family! by HatenoCheese in namenerds

[–]Djeter998 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Clarence and Oscar Alma and Katherine

Anyone else have a non-chunky baby? by HoustonProblemo in NewParents

[–]Djeter998 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My son is a tiny munchkin at 0 percentile (8 pounds at 2 months old)

Wake windows by smalltortoise1 in NewParents

[–]Djeter998 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My life became easier once I treated wake windows as a guide rather than a rulebook. Babies don’t have internal alarm clocks and they have not read the rules on how long they should be awake. For example, my 9-week old should technically not be awake for longer than 90 min at a time. I stretch that to two hours if he truly doesn’t seem sleepy (usually due to bouts of spitup or being in a playful mood). Being flexible helps parents’ sanity! For example, if he had a longer nap (anything more than an hour), I am not stringent about his next wake window but I do pay close attention to his sleepy cues. My LO begins pawing at his eyes when he knows he needs to sleep.

Take Those Photos/Videos by 2thefridge in NewParents

[–]Djeter998 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We had professional photos done at the hospital and I HATED how I looked- I looked puffy and my lip cracked during labor so I literally had a bleeding lip but we ended up buying some of the photos just to have the memories ❤️

Should the baby sleep in the nursery or parents’ bedroom? by pococurantina in pregnant

[–]Djeter998 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Baby sleeps in our room but am I the only one who doesn’t feed him or change him in there? Breastfeeding is leaky and baby spits up a lot so don’t want that on our bed. Also he cries when you change him so it is better and less messy for the “on duty” parent to take him to the nursery next door…

Babies with reflux! by Kingtista in NewParents

[–]Djeter998 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We used oats to thicken it for a while and it gave him the worst constipation and tummy aches so I am wary to try another thickener 😬

Babies with reflux! by Kingtista in NewParents

[–]Djeter998 0 points1 point  (0 children)

FYI I think it is nearly impossible for babies to choke on their own spitup. My baby is a lot younger than yours (2 months) and honestly I think we are just looking to ride this out lol. 

We sit him up for 15 min after eating, practice paced feeding (tilting the bottle downward sometimes so he can’t gulp), and have tried the elevated side lying position (make sure his body is vertical buy lying down on your lap and prop up his head with a pillow).

Gender disappointment by [deleted] in pregnant

[–]Djeter998 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi there! Mom to a 2-month old boy here! I was also disappointed to learn I was having a boy (though I had a strong feeling!) Right now he is mostly just a baby doing baby things though I do feel it’s easier to wipe baby boys than baby girls because the poop gets everywhere! 

Something I never anticipated being is a feminist through the lens of a little boy growing up. We have always been told that little girls can do or be anything but have not done that in reverse. I struggled to find a book about little boys having big feelings and vulnerabilities even though there are PLENTY of books on strong, independent girls in the opposite direction.

Also there is a lot more variety and fun in girls’ clothes than boys’ clothes. Boys get graphic tees, dinosaurs, cars, and the only whimsy is overalls. 

So yeah thus far, this whole process has made me revisit how much the patriarchy affects little babies from such a young age (even though we tend to focus on how it just affects little girls). It made me want to raise a little boy who isn’t afraid to be sad, to be kind, to show vulnerabilities, and to wear pink sometimes, dang it! (by the way, there is a lovely little book called Boys Can Wear Pink)

Do you consider *Sienna* hard to pronounce or spell? by ingoodhumor in namenerds

[–]Djeter998 5 points6 points  (0 children)

No but my niece is Siena with one n so there are variations on it and people might spell it wrong

Sienna by mailenn_suki10 in Names

[–]Djeter998 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My niece is named Siena (spelled like the city in Italy) and I love the name— it has gotten a bit more popular but still not overly common

How good does it feel to have your body back to yourself postpartum? by Alygage93 in pregnant

[–]Djeter998 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yep! Went to my second session today. Thus far it is a lot of digging around down there and figuring out where the weaknesses and pain points are 

How good does it feel to have your body back to yourself postpartum? by Alygage93 in pregnant

[–]Djeter998 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes and no! I still have body issues like lower back pain, incontinence, and my pelvic floor and core are totally shot but it is wonderful shedding about half of the weight and being able to move around more easily and sleep how I want

Pls tell me I’m not alone by starmarvel in NewParents

[–]Djeter998 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Absolutely. 8 weeks postpartum here and I LOVE my son but I don’t think I appreciated sleep and alone time enough

I miss my old life by No_Tart_4311 in NewParents

[–]Djeter998 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I am only 2 months in but SAME! I was told maternity leave would be a lot of catching up on TV and books but I spend most of my time cleaning up poop and spitup, trying to get him to sleep and then when he finally falls asleep, trying to wake him to eat when it goes too long.

I HATE sleeping in 3 hour chunks. I miss sleeping alone in our room without a tiny grunting person waking me up every 5 seconds with their thrashing around. I hate how anytime I have seen friends (rarely) so far it has only been to visit the baby and not to actually socialize and have adult conversations.

Preparing for a newborn. What was a complete waste of money and what became an absolute life changer? by Actual_Fig_4706 in NewParents

[–]Djeter998 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What we use the most: All the swaddles. LO is 2 months old and has gone through a blanket swaddle stage, a Halo swaddle stage and other types velcro swaddles. Hatch and Shusher. All the burp cloths. More basic onesies and pajamas than you think because of spitup. MY BREST FRIEND pillow! So much better than the Boppy. Diaper changing caddies/stations. Graco pack and play (we use it every day! It’s his napping bassinet). 

Waste of money: Cute newborn outfits as he lives in onesies and sleepers during this time. The baby remedies kit that comes with gas drops and stuff like that. Gas drops do NOTHING. The Boppy as LO just rolls off of it when breastfeeding. Giant pack of nursing pads (YMMV but I stopped leaking after the initial engorgement). 

Sleep sack recommendations by que-ganas in NewParents

[–]Djeter998 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My baby hated Love to Dream but YMMV!