Baby on the way... tips for a first time parent? - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

tvp2003 · 02-08-2010, 04:21 PM

Did a search, and aside from this awesome thread -- http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=75772 -- was surprised not to find anything. Either that, or people know better than to go to CP for parenting advice

Anyways, we're expecting our first child (Flames 2028 1st round draft pick?) and are in the process of researching all the baby junk you can buy: cribs, change tables, bassonets, car seats, strollers, high chairs, blah blah blah.

Any suggestions or tips on what to buy? Any brands or features to look for? Is there anything that you don't really need (or conversely, is worth its weight in gold so you should get a really good one)?

Oh, and if anyone has any general parenting advice, feel free to post << runs for cover >>

Buff · 02-08-2010, 04:22 PM

Sleep now and wake up when labour starts because as soon as the baby is born you're never sleeping again.

Shazam · 02-08-2010, 04:24 PM

Put whisky in the baby's bottle, keeps them quiet!

dj_patm · 02-08-2010, 04:25 PM

Release the child into the wild and let him learn the world the way its ment to be.

In 20 years, when he brings you a dead rabbit as a gift, you will thank me.

habernac · 02-08-2010, 04:28 PM

change table: have an old desk or something you don't use much? They double nicely as change tables.

I echo the sentiment of "sleep now". For the past 4 years, I've survived on 5 or less many more times than I can count.

Prototype · 02-08-2010, 04:30 PM

Don't buy new. My wife and I blew our 'nest egg' buying new. My son wasn't even a year old by the time he outgrew almost everything we had bought, other than his crib.

CrusaderPi · 02-08-2010, 04:30 PM

Just remember you are the boss. Not the baby.

Buff · 02-08-2010, 04:31 PM

Oh, and tread lightly near the end of pregnancy:

http://www.gocomics.com/reallifeadventures/2005/08/22/

habernac · 02-08-2010, 04:31 PM

good advice. Cheap baby stuff is everywhere if you go used. Or hit up some friends. Especially for clothing. My sis had a baby girl 5 months before my wife and I did, we've had tons of clothes for free as a result.

SportsJunky · 02-08-2010, 04:32 PM

Don't bother getting a cold or the flu. Nobody cares anymore.

Sylvanfan · 02-08-2010, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by habernac

change table: have an old desk or something you don't use much? They double nicely as change tables.

I echo the sentiment of "sleep now". For the past 4 years, I've survived on 5 or less many more times than I can count.

I'm down to 3 weeks left, and I've taken to the theory of conditioning myself to go on 5 hours for the two weeks. Prior to that, it was get those 9 hours sleep any night I could.

I wonder how many people end up buying new stuff because they were given money to buy stuff. I'm pretty lucky in that my Mom, as well as my inlaws were willing to dole out a fair bit of money to buy stuff for the first grand child. If I'm buying it myself....no doubt the buy and sell is my friend. Still might be for a few things I'll eventually need.

Ashartus · 02-08-2010, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvp2003

Any suggestions or tips on what to buy? Any brands or features to look for? Is there anything that you don't really need (or conversely, is worth its weight in gold so you should get a really good one)?

Just a few suggestions:
- A lot of cribs have been getting recalled lately; make sure you get something that is pretty sturdy (and hopefully therefore less likely to be recalled). A recall is a pain, and if you have to actually replace your crib you'll end up paying extra because you can bet prices will have gone up.
- It's worth paying extra for a good car seat. Britax is a good brand. We used to have an Eddie Bauer seat, but the straps were really hard to tighten so we gave up on it.
- I wouldn't buy a dedicated change table. The top of a regular table or desk works just as well and is usable afterward. Do get a strap-on pad though, with at least 3 covers (so if one gets messed up while another is in the wash you still have one to use - yes, that does happen quite often at first).
- I also wouldn't bother with an expensive bassinet - you'll only use it for a couple of months. Some playards have a bassinet that works just fine, or a laundry basket will do in a pinch.
- There are a lot of choices for strollers, and what works for you may be lifestyle dependent. Getting one with big wheels is helpful if you'll be taking outdoor walks in the winter. Really cheap umbrella strollers are a pain to use (wheels keep getting stuck etc.); it's worth spending a bit more for a higher-end umbrella stroller.
- Freecycle and garage sales are a good way to save a lot of money, since a lot of baby stuff is only used for a short period of time, after which people will be looking to get rid of it.

Art Vandelay · 02-08-2010, 04:33 PM

Antithesis · 02-08-2010, 04:34 PM

Don't read any parenting books, and don't let your wife read parenting books. Nothing good comes from them.

Take it easy, you're not going to break them!

Oh, and everyone else is right. Prepare for little sleep for the next few years.

troutman · 02-08-2010, 04:38 PM

Invest in a video camera. They grow up so fast.

ah123 · 02-08-2010, 04:41 PM

First of all - congratulations. You have no idea of the adventure you are going to have...our daughter is now nine months and it has been an absolute joy.

Some tips - feel free to PM/ask if you need more ideas

Start with this set of articles: http://www.four-pillars.ca/baby-expenses-series/ -- it has a good over view of things.

A lot of places will try and get you to spend an arm and a leg on anything baby related, so keep that in mind. Buy a new car seat, a lot of other things you can go used (if you are comfortable with that).

If you don't have a lot of friends with young kids, then sign up for the pre-natal types of courses offered, not because of the information, but it will allow you to connect with other people in the same boat as you (i.e. you can learn from them and vice-versa).

A lot of people seem to be focussed on the big items (furniture, car seats, etc) and forget the small items (how many wash cloths, diaper shirts, outfits, blankets, etc will you need). My wife planned all that stuff ahead of time allowing us to shop way before our daughter was born.

The neat thing is that you have a very good idea of what your needs will be - for example, if your baby will be 6 months next February, you know that you will need winter clothes for a 6 month old...winter clothes are on sale right now, so you have the opportunity to save some money.

Enjoy the ride - life will never be the same again...

Gozer · 02-08-2010, 04:44 PM

http://www.cracked.com/article_18404...apable-of.html

habernac · 02-08-2010, 04:46 PM

oh, and when your wife suggests that the baby stay in your room "just for a little while", you must steadfastly refuse. Or they'll be there for years (our firstborn never stayed in our room. Our daughter was beside our bed for the longest 2 months of my life).

Let them cry. You'll learn what different cries mean. This sounds insane right now because you think they're all alike.

SportsJunky · 02-08-2010, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fotze

We just bought costco diapers for the first and last time. Anyone need some, they somehow make certain that every turd smears all the way up the back.

Good point on the Costco diapers. Someone gave us a box for newborns and we hated them for some reason. I think we were already used to Pampers by that point. Anyway I must have 40 or 50 of them if anybody wants them.

ah123 · 02-08-2010, 05:03 PM

One more thing - you can start sleep training the baby as soon as he/she hits 3 months...and you want to start sleep training at that point. Otherwise, you are not going to sleep (we did the sleep training when our daughter was 6 months old, and she now sleeps through the night - 7:30pm to 6:30am)