tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189294540759802531.post7866934406149583619..comments2022-11-15T01:19:02.088-08:00Comments on The Quest: The Beginning of the End; Glimpsing the BeginningThe Searcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13117539219727706285noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189294540759802531.post-10179307309823866012012-04-05T18:18:56.996-07:002012-04-05T18:18:56.996-07:001. Stop reading parenting advice, whether that is ...1. Stop reading parenting advice, whether that is online, in magazine, whatever. Mommyhood is stressful enough without all that insanity filling your head. Every labor is different, just as every baby is different, just as every child is different. Follow your mommy instincts and forget everything else. Trust that you know your baby and your situation best, because you do. :-)<br /><br />2. You absolutely don't need the $3,000+ worth of baby gear that parenting magazines insist that you "need". A crib and some bins of baby things are more than adequate. You might even consider ditching the crib for a while and sharing your bed instead. (Statistically it can be safer so long as you follow yadda yadda common-sense-but-we're-obligated-to-tell-you-so-you-can't-sue-us rules, and SO much easier for everyone to sleep.)<br /><br />3. There really isn't a need to full out bathe a baby unless there's been a massive diaper blow out. Lila didn't have her first bath until she was more than 6 months old. It was too much hassle for the full deal with the older two running around, so I just gave her a good wipe down when it was necessary. Nobody ever noticed the difference. (Interestingly, she is also the least afraid of water of all my children.) A bonus of this is completely avoiding the annoying as hell baby tubs. You can just wait until she's sitting up mostly unsupported, then plop her down in the kitchen sink and scrub away. :-)<br /><br />4. You're absolutely right to focus inward during this time. Rest up as much as you can now. Not because you won't be able to rest later, but because as a first time mom you won't *want* to. (Heck, as a third time mom I still didn't want to. I had a brand new baby's face to memorize!)<br /><br />5. You are already an amazing mom! You'll be awesome! :-)that.brenna.girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01060420909910477454noreply@blogger.com