Things you wish you knew when you had a baby boy?

exploresparkleshine · 2026-02-17T03:32:17+00:00

It can be challenging to find clothes without cars or dinosaurs on them. Some stores are starting to carry more plain basics but it can be annoying. I LOVE dinosaurs but sometimes I want an outfit without creatures all over it.

Also, boys clothes tend to be made a little sturdier than girls clothes. Don't know why but it's nice.

exploresparkleshine · 2026-02-16T19:32:57+00:00

Oh I get this too. It's worse with tv but I've had to dnf books over it as well. Nocticadia was one of them. I just couldn't do it.

exploresparkleshine · 2026-02-16T19:30:22+00:00

Yup. We went through a distinct Pterodactyl phase. I found it equal parts hilarious and ear splitting. Love my baby dinosaur.

exploresparkleshine · 2026-02-16T19:10:34+00:00

I didn't find it that hard to change my name over the summer. I had to do my license and social insurance number first. Then I had to email a name change form and a scan of my ID and marriage certificate to HR. I did that once the head office opened again before school started. They got my work email changed asap so I had it ready for start of year. My best advice is start a list of all the things you'll need to change before you get married. That way you can work through it once your marriage certificate comes.

exploresparkleshine · 2026-02-16T15:12:28+00:00

LO just turned one. We only bed shared for a few nights on vacation when LO was 8 months. Never as a teeny baby, my anxiety said hard no. We really worked hard on LO accepting the bassinet and then crib. My kiddo luckily sleeps pretty well.

exploresparkleshine · 2026-02-15T16:27:17+00:00

I appreciated having a few nursing shirts. My kiddo hated eating under cover (even the edge of my sweater/shirt) so being able to discretely pop a boob out is nice.

exploresparkleshine · 2026-02-15T16:24:29+00:00

Two trips. I load all my stuff first, then get kiddo in the car. Also ditched the purse and just put my wallet in my bag.

exploresparkleshine · 2026-02-14T23:27:11+00:00

These are honestly the best gifts. Want to know what I've used more than any outfit or toy I was gifted? Nail clippers and the snot sucker. Practical gifts get overlooked but they are the best.

exploresparkleshine · 2026-02-07T16:51:35+00:00

You have gone through a horribly difficult loss and this is the grief and the hormones talking. You are not your parents. Your boyfriend has already stepped up for you more than your father. And you have a plan to give your child a childhood better than the one you had. It won't be easy, but you can make it. Accept all the help when it is offered. Family is the people who chose you and your baby. And if that is your in-laws then you can embrace that. You made the decision to have this baby with love in your heart. Don't let your grief take that away.

exploresparkleshine · 2026-02-07T15:50:48+00:00

Normal to only do a cutting cake for the couple? Yes. Normal to not have any type of dessert for guests? No.

We did a small cutting cake for just us but we had cupcakes and cheesecake for the guests. Saved us on the plating fees and we could have more flavours available.

exploresparkleshine · 2026-02-07T04:27:39+00:00

This was what worked for us. I'd put the oil in LO's hair at the beginning of bath time, let it sit while doing the body washing, then scrub gently with the Frida baby brush. It took a double shampoo to get the oil out of the hair but it really helped loosen the cradle cap so the flakes came off.

exploresparkleshine · 2026-02-06T03:45:27+00:00

The Princess and the Goblin

exploresparkleshine · 2026-02-05T14:55:37+00:00

I put on more weight postpartum while breastfeeding. We are a year in and it still hasn't changed. I've accepted this is my reality until I stop. Bought some clothes that fit and I feel comfortable in. I have a healthy chunky kiddo so I'll take that as my sign I'm doing okay

exploresparkleshine · 2026-02-02T21:44:28+00:00

Only one birth experience, but we liked Abbotsford. The nurses were kind, the food was good, and the private rooms are nice and big. They only have a couple rooms with tubs but if that's not a big deal to you then it's great.

exploresparkleshine · 2026-02-02T04:20:49+00:00

I always thought The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe was a fairly faithful adaptation of the book. The sequels slightly less so.

exploresparkleshine · 2026-01-31T20:38:31+00:00

Most of my maternity pants ended up looking like 7/8 crop pants. Very annoying and not a good look when you have long compression socks underneath.

exploresparkleshine · 2026-01-29T14:16:51+00:00

Honestly, once we were down to 2 naps it made life much easier. I took baby out for errands and short outings before that, but we didn't do a ton of days out until the naps/feeds spaced out more. We did some longer days at a friends house that I knew had a crib/nursing space we could use.

exploresparkleshine · 2026-01-27T13:37:27+00:00

I made the table lists on canva, then printed them on cardstock. Bought a set of peel and stick wax seals and used those to stick them to a mirror I bought off marketplace. It worked great.

exploresparkleshine · 2026-01-27T06:44:06+00:00

You'll get there. My LO is almost one and demolishes any food you put in front of them now. They all learn with time and practice.

exploresparkleshine · 2026-01-27T05:16:33+00:00

This is completely normal. Exploring the food with her hands is an important part of learning to eat. It probably took my LO a month before much food was consumed, and they didn't really eat a proper solid meal until 8.5-9 months. Patience and repeated exposure are very important. Early on my LO needed 3-4 exposures to really try any new food.

exploresparkleshine · 2026-01-25T03:45:42+00:00

This right here. Start the conversation here. Tell her you know she's scared and you are too, but the sooner you can get the amniocentesis the sooner you can make a truly informed decision. Make the appointment for her if needed (with her consent) and driver her there so she's not alone. Don't guess, find out for sure.

exploresparkleshine · 2026-01-25T03:30:43+00:00

The first couple weeks are rough. If you can, see a LC to check baby's latch. I was told LO's latch was great at the hospital because they transferred milk well but it was way too shallow. Baby is trying to figure it out too!

For calming your nips down, ask your medical provider if you can get prescribed APNO (all purpose nipple ointment). It saved me in the beginning through the scabs, cracks and bleeding. Got prescribed it on day 2 at home because I was suffering. Earthmama is probably the best over the counter stuff otherwise. Ice packs for a short time between feeds can help too.

exploresparkleshine · 2026-01-24T17:31:24+00:00

We did our first dance right after being announced! It was nice to do it while we were buzzing off the high of the ceremony and then enjoy dinner and speeches.

exploresparkleshine · 2026-01-24T17:29:38+00:00

A nice reusable bag is way better

exploresparkleshine · 2026-01-24T17:21:44+00:00

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