I’d like to spend some time to take a look back and remind myself of the things that I have done with my first (maybe only?) baby that I would not do again… and also all of the things I would. I’ve learned a lot with him and I will be so much better prepared if we ever have another, even though I thought I knew it all.
I would not:
– hold him as much. From the very first day, I would put him down any chance I could because that habit came about so fast, faster than I realized. I would still spend a lot of time snuggling him and letting him be close to me, but 20 hours a day is not necessary.
– let him sleep with us. I love the bonding and nursing while dozing but boy is that habit hard to break. I mean really, really hard to break. Brady is still mostly in our bed and I don’t know when I’ll finally get him switched over completely.
– even bother opening the off-brand diapers I received. They are junk. Pampers, Huggies and also Luvs are the only diapers to use.
I would:
– hold him in the moby wrap more. I feel like I should have gotten more use out of that.
– keep him from dairy at the first sign of gas and spit up. I wish someone would have told me all about the issue of milk protein allergies.
– stock up on gripe water. It’s miraculous.
– buy the best swing I could find. I had several, but they were bought second hand and there was something not right about each of them. I think that would have helped with putting him down if I would have had more options of places he liked.
– hire a birth photographer. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: it is a MUST have.
– pump more often. I think that really would have helped some of my supply issues.
– have taken the full 12 weeks of maternity leaved available, even though a month would have been unpaid.
– take more naps.
I’m sure there is much more to add to the list, but these are the things that I think are important. Maybe you will learn from my mistakes or maybe you won’t. You will definitely though, learn from yours. 🙂 What would you do differently?
Sher Bailey has been a dedicated voice for the Love and Marriage blog for over a decade, sharing practical advice on everything from stretching a grocery budget to finding the best homeschooling resources. She writes from the unique perspective of a full-time traveler, living and working on the road in her motorhome alongside her husband and their two cats. Sher’s diverse body of work is fueled by her belief that with the right tools and a little creativity, any challenge can be turned into an opportunity for growth and adventure.
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