Discussion of the Day
What advice would you give 1st time parents?
Susan 126530228-Oct-24
1st-time parents have many questions, what advice would you give them?
For me: I let them know that babies cry a lot and hugging them gives babies comfort.
Comments
  • Paul B 522937
    I don’t know how to look after babies
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    • Kavalena 1588099
      There is no feeling that can ever match with knowing you have created human
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      • amanda 1587754
        My advice would be your baby isn't born with a manual neither is their a handbook that comes with your baby when they are born! Just because there's book's, website's, and even other people telling you advice of what to do and not always follow your babies lead and learn what sound's or whine's your baby makes for whatever reason at that time their in need of something. Pay attention to your babies cue's and different sounds when baby is hungry, tired, need's a diaper change ect.
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        • Angie
          The first 1000 days are vital in baby's brain development... so love, smile, sing, play and enjoy every moment oh.. and its all about the burping! Perfecto the technique by sitting baby upright, hand under chin supporting head and rub in upward circular motions on baby's back
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          • Rosellie 1587488
            Be kind to yourself, its never like what you expect it to be
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            • Debbie 1541835
              When your baby sleeps, you sleep too. It can be very overwhelming. Accept any help you can get.
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              • Justin Y 1088084
                Support each other, and send quality time all together!
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                • Dolan 1467056
                  be patient, sensitive and work together because it is a full time job and the more the better - but the rewards are the best ever. Love in your heart and soul and lots of counting to ten! Ha
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                  • Tina 423889
                    Relax and do the best you can. Love your kids and do what works for you
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                    • Sarah 1573131
                      While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about
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                      • Izabelle 1457992
                        I used to put my son on his back on the floor, and pin his arms down with my feet to change his diapers so he wouldn't roll away.. worked good!
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                        • peter w 94893
                          I would tell them NOT EVER to listen to Kamala Harris!!
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                          • Izabelle 1457992
                            Not as if she makes any sense anyways ha!
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                        • Billie 1539341
                          I would say don't listen to others when they say you hold your baby too much. Hold that baby as long as you want. And when that baby cries remember that it's ok to take a break as long as your child is safe. Sometimes when we can't figure out why they are crying it can get to be too much that's ok. They can cry for a little bit of time if you are getting too frustrated. Take a time out calm your self and come back to the situation. It's better to have walked away for a min rather then anger getting high and hurting your baby. And their is no such thing as too much love.
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                          • Liz C 1115602
                            Babies can sense your feelings Sonora a good idea to make sure you are in a good environment and try to relax and enjoy the bonding moments with your child. If you have some one else who can take your child for a moment while you calm down and relax it will do wonders for to calm a cranky baby. I just needed to get some sleep and I was tense and my daughter senses that and would not settle. My mom took her for a few minutes and she settled right down for her. After I got some rest she was far more at ease also,
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                            • Mary M 329762
                              I don't have kids. Can't have kids. So I don't know nothing at all.
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                              • jordan 1587428
                                As soon as u have a baby there is a whole different world
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                                • Evie S 79418
                                  Trust your instincts
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                                  • Paula J 395266
                                    Rule 1, relax, no baby ever died from crying. Rule 2, don't put them in your bed because it will take you 5 years to get them out. Rule 3, babies do need a routine which will also help you plan when you get things done. Rule 4, enjoy them because they will grow up in no time and no photo will give you the same feeling as spending time with your children.
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                                    • Glenda M 1157843
                                      Spend quality time with your children. They grow up to quickly. If you need to rest. Then rest while they are sleeping or catch up on your household jobs. Mothering never stops no matter what age they are.
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                                      • Catalina
                                        Well, as soon as the baby is there...the whole world changes and they became parents. The rest is history.
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                                        • Jennifer H 722364
                                          Buy an electric breast pump and share the feeds and let others help even if its just to take a shower or a walk around the block
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                                          • Robina 1587399
                                            Sleep when the baby sleeps. The housework will get done later
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                                            • Therese M 73305
                                              I know they say babies are cute and parents especially mum's want to bond with the baby but don't sit holding baby all day long and let the cry for a bit it strengthens their lungs
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                                              • Paula J 395266
                                                Crying is also how they get their exercise.
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                                            • Sonya F 68771
                                              Sleep when the baby sleeps dont worry about housework and get family to help
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                                              • Bugalugs
                                                Be absolutely certain you want children and be prepared to make some sacrifices. That means one of you has to give up their Paid Employment and then stay at home to raise your own children instead, as is so often the case now, of farming them out to strangers as soon as you possibly can. Day Care, Pre-School Care, After School Care, Holiday Care, any time you want it Care. People today seem to think that "The Government", aka Other Taxpayers, should pay for it all, with a move on in Australia that ALL Child Care Costs should be covered by Other Taxpayers, Socialism at, almost, its Worst. What's next? Parents handing over their children to some sort of Children's School as soon as they are born and then brainwashed to suit the Socialist Ideal?
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                                                • Elena
                                                  Be prepared to get much much less sleep than you expect, despite being warned by your friends, parents and grandparents.
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                                                  • Jenny L 591463
                                                    Not every one is so blessed, look after your child your selves and when they are sick keep them at home. Babies grow quickly so your sleepless nights won't always be and love them as much as you can because you never know when they grow up if they still want you in their lives.
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                                                    • Elvira D 70287
                                                      advice I would give 1st t time parents is a baby does not come with an instruction manual . Bearing in mind it's important for both parents to share time with the baby and to bond. Once your baby is home it's important they are wrapped tight in a blanket that helps them to stay calm and secure. Also establishing a routine , do not wake them up while sleeping to feed them, giving them lots of cuddles to comfort them.
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                                                      • Janice S 76330
                                                        1. Babies don't come with Instruction Books, so there is no right or wrong when it comes to their care (except the nappy, it always goes on the bottom) 2. No two babies are the same. 3. Listen to your mum. 4. Trust your own instinct. 5. Love them, even when they drive you up the wall.
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                                                        • Christine M 323842
                                                          Learn about child development. Don’t just wing it, or think that “natural instincts” will guide you. If you understand the why of what a baby is doing you will be able to respond effectively.
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                                                          • Connie B 1227041
                                                            Enjoy every single second
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                                                            • Greg B 520364
                                                              Love them as much as you can. And listen to your mum and dad,
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                                                              • Kane S 440948
                                                                Treasure every moment-you never know when circumstances may change and show love, appreciation and help guide-teach them to respect others and that we are all different and those differences are important.
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                                                                • Lyndal B
                                                                  Do what works for you and your baby. Everyone is different. Enjoy
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                                                                  • Anastasia 1582359
                                                                    none because I'm not a parent
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                                                                    • Robyn C 1009255
                                                                      when Ihad my babies was told you could not feed sooner than three hours, now you can demand feed how food that would have been for me apparently this speeds up your milk. If you are having difficulty in breast feeding I would suggest getting in touch with the breast feeding mothers support group , having support with others who understand & are experienced especially if you have had little sleep if only I had this support when I had my twins instead of ending up in a care home from lack of sleep & help.
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                                                                      • Chloe 1586564
                                                                        Do rush time with ur little one enjoy every single second
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                                                                        • Jodie W 317137
                                                                          Do what works for you and your family not everyone else’s advice
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                                                                          • Justin 1587346
                                                                            Stand your ground
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                                                                            • Justin 1587346
                                                                              Don't cry
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                                                                              • Justin 1587346
                                                                                Don't freak out
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                                                                                • Justin 1587346
                                                                                  Breathe
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                                                                                  • Justin 1587346
                                                                                    Stay calm
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                                                                                    • Paul B 522937
                                                                                      Leave everything to the mother
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                                                                                      • Fairy D
                                                                                        That’s gotta be the worst advice on here…. I hope this is sarcasm
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                                                                                    • Carren 1585195
                                                                                      Follow your heart - especially mothers. Understand and accept, that babies (especially newborns) are not supposed to sleep through the night. They have tiny tummies, and breastmilk is digested quickly, so they will usually wake to nurse, every 2-3 hours. Your baby is fully dependent on you for everything. You CANNOT spoil a baby!
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                                                                                      • Tere D
                                                                                        Ditto, also understand your baby can already control your emotions, stay focused on daily steps of PROGRESS, To creating a Better human beeing
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                                                                                        • Sarah G 76834
                                                                                          Don't take everyone's advice. Do what is right for you.
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                                                                                          • Stefanie Z
                                                                                            Go with the flow. Kindness towards one another. She/he is unique & needs food & love.
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                                                                                            • Lyn A.
                                                                                              make the most of their child hood-don't work long hours. Go with your instincts, never smack/punish while you are still angry. If baby needs a pacifier/dummy let them have one, you can regulate later when it can be used. Some babies thrive for a long time on breast milk [do if you can, but don't be bullied-some can't breast feed] others need solids sooner. If possible demand feed-not all babies can do 4 hours between feeds. Just some of the ideas/advice I gave my daughter/daughter in laws-it was up to them to decide what they wanted to do
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                                                                                              • Danielle R 478487
                                                                                                Do a first aid course that includes child and infant resuscitation. For piece of mind. In any emergency the skills just kick in
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                                                                                                • Fairy D
                                                                                                  Great advice! All parents should do a basic first aid/ CPR course
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                                                                                              • Claude H
                                                                                                Enjoy
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                                                                                                • LEANNE B 221779
                                                                                                  My advice is don’t become parents 😛👍
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                                                                                                  • Harry 1361654
                                                                                                    Share the responsibilities - night and day. Take turns sleeping. Let the crying baby sleep on your chest if necessary. Rest when you can. Get relatives involved for time outs.
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                                                                                                    • Larry S 382961
                                                                                                      Ask your mum what to do. She raised you to be an adult and mum knows best.
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                                                                                                      • Rosemary E 383382
                                                                                                        You will get to know baby's hungry cry. Baby will tell you when it's feed time. Baby has a tiny tummy so will probably want more shorter feeds. Despite what some Mums will tell you a newborn is best demand fed. If hungry before due time crying causes gulping of air and therefore wind pain. Another suggestion is short bodysuits are better than singlets which roll up forming a lump under baby's back which is probably one thing that unsettles baby. I don't like something uncomfortable soI don't think baby would either. Some babies do not like their arms wrapped in tight. I had 2 nieces that neither of them would settle until their arms were loose, otherwise they would wriggle around until absolutely exhausted. In their first photos they both had their hands up level with their heads. Family saying was "I surrender" that's exactly the impression who saw them commented. It is easier to break a baby of a dummy than finger/s sucking. Otherwise some babies / toddlers may persistently sleep with their finger/s in the mouth all night unless you wake up during the night and move their hands. It could take you up to about 3-4 years to stop the habit. I know of one case.
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                                                                                                        • Norman M
                                                                                                          Remember that when you become grandparents, you can dump your grandkids back with their parents when you’ve had enough. In fact, most grandparents say that if they realised how much fun having grandkids was, they would have had them first!
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                                                                                                          • Shawn B 1061185
                                                                                                            Not every cry is a signal that the child has contracted the worst disease imaginable.
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                                                                                                            • Grommie
                                                                                                              for heaven's sake don't pat newborns on the back like I see so many grannies doing. That treatment stands a good chance of putting tiny babies' hearts out of sync. If you want to save embarrassment, don't let another nursing mother hold your baby too close to themselves.
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                                                                                                              • Michelle B 121289
                                                                                                                Trust your instincts They sleep eventually so sleep when they do to get some rest housework can wait it's okay
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                                                                                                                • Heidi H 1159226
                                                                                                                  Do the best you can
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                                                                                                                  • Sharlene 1585231
                                                                                                                    Trust your instincts and don't listen to too much outside noise
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                                                                                                                    • Rose S 88496
                                                                                                                      Get a nanny
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                                                                                                                      • Michael G. P
                                                                                                                        just enjoy them they grow so quick
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                                                                                                                        • MacAddict
                                                                                                                          Keep looking for the ON / OFF switch! It must be there somewhere.
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                                                                                                                          • Conny 1314879
                                                                                                                            Sorry, I can't help you. Have patience and love them dearly.
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                                                                                                                            • Catherine G 309964
                                                                                                                              Don't
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                                                                                                                              • Ginny 1587276
                                                                                                                                There's no handbook on being a parent... you'll learn as you go! They're only young once...they grow up quick.
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                                                                                                                                • Ann 1498966
                                                                                                                                  One parent stay home with the baby if at all possible. I was an infant/toddler teacher for 13 years and babies loved me but sometimes they would cling to me if the dad came to pick them up because they knew me better. I worked in some of the best daycare centers, but it was no comparison to the parents taking care of their child. In a daycare center, there is a 3 to 1 or 4 to 1 ratio for infants to caregiver, so your child has to share the attention. Hiring someone to come to your home to provide care can be better if you can find someone fully qualified and do a background check.
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                                                                                                                                  • doris t 277529
                                                                                                                                    DON'T DO IT !!!
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                                                                                                                                    • Karen S 860213
                                                                                                                                      Trust your instincts
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                                                                                                                                      • Joy L 68767
                                                                                                                                        Enjoy every minute with them and don't worry too much. they don't break easily. don't take too much notice of what all the "wives tales" say. you will do your best and just love them. Main thing remember to have someone you can talk to.
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                                                                                                                                        • Scott R 947830
                                                                                                                                          The second one is much easier!
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                                                                                                                                          • Cathy S 315728
                                                                                                                                            enjoy them no matter what because they will be grown and gone sooner than you think. that time will only go fast once you realise they have their own lives/families
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                                                                                                                                            • Frances 1296204
                                                                                                                                              stay calm
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                                                                                                                                              • Koorosh 1427231
                                                                                                                                                Research
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                                                                                                                                                • Christine M 323842
                                                                                                                                                  YES, this is my reply too.
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                                                                                                                                              • Empress
                                                                                                                                                Babies do well when they feel secure, especially newborns. Swaddle them. Keep them well fed, keep fluids up, clean bottom. For yourself, accept help and get as much rest as you can.
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                                                                                                                                                • Robert T 597718
                                                                                                                                                  Susan good luck
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                                                                                                                                                  • 77ccusmc
                                                                                                                                                    Just love them and hug them. Don’t let them see or hear fighting.
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                                                                                                                                                    • MoB
                                                                                                                                                      Learn to listen to your baby, they will tell you what they want one way or another. They will have different cries for different issues. Once you have become attuned to your baby, life becomes a little easier. Don't get stressed, make sure you get enough sleep, get a family member or a very good friend to baby sit whilst you sleep. Your own care as a mother is as important as the care of your baby. Remember all babies, no matter how many you have will all be different, don't let anyone tell you that your baby should be doing this or that, all babies do things at their pace, they are individuals.
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                                                                                                                                                      • Deborah 1585293
                                                                                                                                                        Remember to sleep when the baby sleeps and try to have a calm and quiet and loving environment
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                                                                                                                                                        • Dsmiles2U
                                                                                                                                                          never ignore
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                                                                                                                                                          • Saara F
                                                                                                                                                            Remember to wake your baby and feed them every 4 hours. Some dumb parents rejoice when baby sleeps for long periods but it is detrimental to the newborn. As hard as it is it is only for a short time as they are growing.
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                                                                                                                                                            • Rita 1267521
                                                                                                                                                              Don’t sweat it. It takes time and patience and a lot of of love
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                                                                                                                                                              • Christine C 1058563
                                                                                                                                                                Learn one day at a time.
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                                                                                                                                                                • simon 1557398
                                                                                                                                                                  Take one day at a time, and remember it's a LONG time
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                                                                                                                                                                  • Sheree T
                                                                                                                                                                    Just enjoy every moment with your little one as they grow up very quickly. If you are tired and baby is sleeping have a little rest yourself.
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                                                                                                                                                                    • Val 1394045
                                                                                                                                                                      Be team mates Babies need care from both parents.
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                                                                                                                                                                      • boy blunder
                                                                                                                                                                        they grow up, plan for tomorrow, the rest is easy and very rewarding
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                                                                                                                                                                        • The ghost
                                                                                                                                                                          Not only the best time of your life, but the hardest. They can’t tell you what wrong, will stress you out to the max with worrying.
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                                                                                                                                                                          • Debra Jay 1237276
                                                                                                                                                                            Chill, go with your gut feeling, throw away the book(s), laugh instead of stressing about things that don’t matter!
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                                                                                                                                                                            • Debra D 624780
                                                                                                                                                                              Spend as much time as you can with your little one, they grow up way too fast.
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                                                                                                                                                                              • 13BATMAN31
                                                                                                                                                                                Sleep when they sleep and do your daily housework like you normally do and don't be quiet about it this will help the baby adapt to the noise and not wake up to every little thing.
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                                                                                                                                                                                • Elizabeth J 447888
                                                                                                                                                                                  Breast feed. Purchase the largest container of Hospital Grade Sustagen of which you will have a glass of each afternoon. As a result there will be no sleep deprivation as baby will sleep all night contented with a full belly. As per instruction from my clinic sister 38 years ago when my fourth baby cried all night. I still cannot believe it. From that first sip of Sustagen my darling never woke during the night. she was breastfed for 12 months, went onto a cup at 8 months. I never washed a bottle. Too easy. Just love that little darling and very importantly read to bugs every day.
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                                                                                                                                                                                  • writerrochelle
                                                                                                                                                                                    Raise up your child according to the Bible, and you can't go wrong, because it was written for our benefit. ;-D
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                                                                                                                                                                                    • Andrew T 123623
                                                                                                                                                                                      Throw away the books and jump into the deep end.
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                                                                                                                                                                                      • Suzanne H 324959
                                                                                                                                                                                        Ignore advice from people who don’t have kids
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                                                                                                                                                                                        • Wanda W 1251868
                                                                                                                                                                                          follow your heart, often there is no right or wrong decision
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                                                                                                                                                                                          • Carolyn K 714554
                                                                                                                                                                                            Try to relax and enjoy the experience.
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                                                                                                                                                                                            • Paula 1584967
                                                                                                                                                                                              Be prepared to lose sleep.
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                                                                                                                                                                                              • Chosen
                                                                                                                                                                                                Just remember that you cannot get back yesterday.
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