For New Parents Here Are Some Things I Learned

•  Get a wide glider with a stain-resistant; print pattern…Your babies will make lots of stains on your chair… Also, your babies will get bigger (God willing) and you will need room for all of you on your glider/rocker. Get a real wide glider. There may be siblings later.
•  Get a wide variety of sizes in clothes… Your newborns don’t stay tiny forever….
•  Get bouncers that go up to 40 pounds or more… Fisher Price has one that converts from bouncer to rocking chair… Your children will get past 15 lbs. before you know it…
•  Get your children used to their teeth being cleaned as soon as they have teeth. Ask your pediatrician how to do it.
•  Get your children used to a wide variety of foods and textures as soon as your pediatrician says okay. A good book on food is Child of Mine. If you don’t have time to read it, find another mom whose older children actually eat vegetables and other healthy foods.
•  When your pediatrician says you all can get out go to Mommy and Me classes and support groups, too. Gymboree or the library or the JCC or the YMCA. You must find support. Don’t do this alone.
•  If you are an at home mommy, enroll in a Mother’s Day Out program or similar when your babies are old enough. You must have time without the children occasionally or you will go insane.
•  Take time off for you to do some non-child related things.
•  Dress your kids in the next days clothes instead of pajamas if you are due to take them somewhere early in the morning..
•  Buy a good carpet cleaning machine.
•  Get the most powerful hand held vacuum you can find
•  Get a Swifter or Pledge Grab It for cleaning hard floors silently….
•  Get a carpet sweeper that is quiet.
•  Buy lots of cloth diapers for spit up, nose drips, other clean ups…
•  Have changing pads, diapers, wipes and change of clothes in as many rooms as you can. Keep everything within hand’s reach. Include diversions like mirrors, rattles, and mobiles.
•  In your car keep a big bag stocked with the above along with a change of clothes for yourself and the children. Keep some snacks, toys and water for you and your children.
•  Have detailed and deep conversations with your co-parent about discipline now before it becomes an issue. Make sure he gets used to taking care of the children now. Every day whenever possible. No excuses. You don’t have to do it alone!
•  Have a professional child proofing expert evaluate your home before your child can crawl.
•  If you can, get the children to sleep at the same time so you can sleep (then tell me how you did it!)
•  Resist the temptation to take care of chores around the house when your babies are sleeping. Be sure to lie down and close your eyes ASAP… If you put off your naps even 5 minutes, it’s gone!
•  Don’t buy loud toys especially corn poppers. If you receive loud toys, muffle the speakers with some non-toxic duct tape. Loud toys hurt their ears and drive you nuts.
•  If you can hear your children cry all over your house, skip the monitors.
•  I like Desitin better than generic zinc oxide 40% ointment for preventing and healing diaper rashes. Many mothers, who can afford it, like Dr. Smith’s ointment. . Keep hypoallergenic disposable wipes everywhere. A more environmental solution would be soft wash rags with a spray bottle.
•  Paper towels or other towels are great for cleaning up little floods in the bathroom or kitchen.
•  Buy and use these books: Baby Bargains, Consumer Reports Baby Products, What to Expect the First Year. Best Baby Products, 10th Edition (Consumer Reports Best Baby Products) Also, What to Expect the Toddler Years and Toddler Bargains.
•  Keep a daily log spreadsheet with a column for each child. It should have room for food, potty/diapering, sleep and bath. Parenting multiples can cause short-term memory loss. We used the log for four years. . I also use the sides to keep a food and exercise journal for myself.
• ***Set a budget for gift giving.  Resist the temptation to buy lots of toys.  They will be much happier ultimately if they have a few excellent toys and books instead of a warehouse of goodies.  It makes your life easier to organize when there aren't hundreds of toys and pieces of toys everywhere.