u/Old-Pudding-4254

Hi! I just joined this forum! Thought I'll share some things I do to make things easier as a ftm with a newborn! Maybe there's something in here that might help someone else! I'm a ftm with a 1 month old and I'm alone with her most of the time, first month has been a breeze because of my preparation!

I'm sure everyone already does these, but in case anyone didn't think of it!

- Safe sleep set up in the rooms we spend most of our time in... You can even buy a flat dog/cat bed and put it on the floor if you have to. It doesn't have to be expensive or fancy, as long as it's safe! And I have a light weight portable bassinet (with handle) to transport to other rooms that I don't have a sleep station...

- A changing station set up in every main room. Our most frequent has a changing table, one room is a folded blanket on the floor, another room is a towel on the table. Each with some diapers, wipes, creme, and an outfit. Again, doesn't have to be expensive or fancy, just safe.

- Baby's typically feed every 2-3hrs, mine gets hungry right on 3hrs, so I set alarms at night for 10 minutes before her feeding to wake up and prepare. I found it's so much easier and less tiring than waking up to her screaming. If I'm feeling really tired before sleep, then set an alarm for 30 minutes in advance, as well as the 10.

- For day time, I have an alarm set 30 minutes before every feed time, so if I'm busy, I can get ready and be prepared to feed before baby starts to cry.

- I prepare all bottles for the night before sleeping. Some nights I make the bottle and put it in the fridge, other nights (if I'm extra tired and don't wanna get out of bed) I'll fill them with their water and prepare the powder portions in small food containers... Either way, it's easy preparation when you wake up, either throw a fridge bottle in the bottle warmer or have a room temp bottle that's quick to prepare.

- If I'm going to be busy during the day, I prepare all bottles for the day in the morning and put them in the fridge. They last 24h in the fridge, 1h at room temp.

- I have doggy poo bags at every changing station and recently got mini $1 trash bins to put at each as well. When you have a stinky poo diaper, the doggy bags will help lock the scent in, even can get scented bags. The trash bin just makes it easier for nights and lazy days, I don't have to worry about traveling to the trash bin.

- Doggy poo bags in the diaper bag. If you're on the go and have a blow-out or really dirty clothes, you can put the soiled cloths in the doggy bag and tie it up before putting it in the diaper bag.

- Small food containers with portioned formula and a bottle of water in the diaper bag for feeding on the go.

- Check for soiled diaper frequently, don't wait for baby to cry for a change. Catch it before baby cries, save yourself from screams and frustration. And at night, check before feeding and a few minutes after feeding.

- Pediatrician recommended us to do diaperless time, I was using puppy pads, like they do at the doctors, BUT I found out a reusable pee pad costs the same as a pack of disposables! Game changer!

- Take 10 minutes every morning and night just to reset my sleep and changing stations, clean and make bottles, etc... It doesn't take that long and makes things so much easier.

- Baby in bassinet or baby tub in the bathroom or shower when I shower.

- I was breast feeding in the beginning, so I made sure to have snacks and water bottle in multiple rooms, cause it always made me really hungry and thirsty, especially at night.

Babygirl is 1 month old

1. How are we keeping fat rolls clean and fresh? We have to wait till the doctor clears us for baths, so we just do a rag wash every other day or two... But she has some fat rolls that get crusty for some unknown reason. It's not like she/we are dirty, I don't understand it. I'm constantly cleaning them out and they just never seem to be cleared. And she has this really big fat roll/flab under her chin that when you lift it has 2 more fat rolls underneath. This is the hardest to keep clean because it's not very accessible, plus she scrunches her neck down, so I can't clean it easily... I'm always finding fuzzies and even cat hair in it. And 2 of her fat rolls have developed a weird smell, idk what that's from, cleaning doesn't help. I don't know what to do, please help me!!!

2. She seems to be struggling to poo and even will scream and cry while trying to do this... I'm going to mention this in her appointment tomorrow, but in the meantime, is this normal...? How can I help her..?

3. As I mentioned, she has a lot of fat rolls, is there a typical time that babies "usually" lose baby fat? I was planning to get her a professional photo shoot when she's older (but still under a year), but I don't wanna be too late and miss her cute lil chunky chunks

4. What am I supposed to do about dry skin? She's extremely dry and baby lotion isn't helping.

"A hot baby is a d*ad baby. A cold baby will tell you it's cold"

Professionals reminded us of this rule many times during pregnancy and just had to take my 1 month old to the ER cause she was too hot. Just wanted to remind everyone of the rule. Remember it please!!!

She's fine btw, was bundled up too hot and started heat stroke, but we cooled her down fast enough. That was terrifying 😭

I need Thai kids shows or songs or just things to watch, please help me if you know of any!

I'm feeling very discouraged and feel like I should stop.

Baby is 3 weeks and never latched, so I pump and bottle feed. Ended up in the hospital for a week and my production went way down. Before the hospital, I was getting 2 feedings worth per pump. Now it takes 3 pumps to get 1 feedings and the doctor just told us today to double her feeding amount.

I'm Pumping and dumping because of medicine and have to for another week, so she's been on formula... Since I'm not producing enough, I feel like giving up and just keeping her on formula...

But I want to make milk for her. I'm just very discouraged and can't even find the motivation anymore to keep up with my Pumping schedule.

I'm planning to call a lactation consultant tomorrow, but I feel so discouraged that I don't even want to call.

Please help offer encouragement and advice.

I don't know if there's anything I can do for her hair... It sticks up in all different directions and I can't get it to smooth out. Although, I've only tried water and brushing.

Does anyone have any tips on how to get it to smooth out? Or do I just have to let it be wild for a while?

She's only 3 weeks old, so there's not really any product or anything that can help me.

My 3wk old isn't sleeping during the day and we don't know what to do.

We don't mind that she's awake, but we were told she should only be awake for 30-60 minutes at a time before sleeping. She'll be awake for hours at a time and no matter how many sleep promoting things we do, she won't sleep.

She's chill, just lays there and stares, she's not fussy or anything.

Should we be trying to get her to sleep? Or just leave her be?

What should we be doing with her when she's awake? She's too young to play or anything...

Hi! I asked last night for some help with my fiancé's 30th bday, you guys were an amazing help... But now I need to make an adjustment...

The original plan was a few friends and family close in age, over at our house, pizza, games, drinks...

But now 2 people have to bring their kids. There will be 7 kids in total (ranging from 6-15). We don't mind at all, but the only issue is that these are the type of kids that constantly ask when they're going home and constantly complain they're bored... I had no part of this party planned to include kids (aside from our 3wk old)...

So I'm looking for ideas, things to add to the party to include the kids.

Please help!

My fiancé is turning 30, I've never celebrated with him and just found out that he's never in his life had a bday celebrated. I want to do something for him, but I have no clue what to do...

1. My family celebrates bdays by inviting family over, having a meal, and giving gifts to bday person.

2. His family celebrates bdays by doing an activity with friends and only family invited are around your age.

3. We just had a baby, she's only a few weeks old.

Whatever we do has to include baby and be on the cheaper side.

Based on my experience with bdays, I wanted to invite some family and friends over, order some pizzas, and play a few board/card games... But I doubt any of his family will show up and games probably seem childish at 30yo bday...

And based on how his family celebrates bdays, I thought about going bowling, since he loves it so much, but unfortunately, our town has 1 bowling place and it will cost $300 for 2 hours, so that's definitely not an option...

I'm stuck on what to do for this birthday! Please help!!

I pump and bottle feed and recently stopped producing. I need help.

I'm going to explain everything from being to end, so you can understand my situation.

Any and all advice would be appreciated!!

As soon as baby was born, she was taken to another hospital, so I didn't get to latch her, had to pump and they bottle fed her the milk. Once I finally got her home, I was unable to get her to latch, so just continued to pump and bottle feed. Her feedings are every 3hrs. I pump every 3hrs like clock work. I was getting between 3-4oz per pump. Then I ended up back in the hospital for a week. I wasn't allowed to eat or drink anything for most of it, I'd get a meal and water every 3ish days. I had to pump and dump due to medicine they gave me. I went from 3-4oz pump to barely covering the bottom of the container... Got home yesterday, my pumps were the same, just a small amount... All the way until my last pump 2hrs ago, did a 30 minute pump and the containers were completely empty. I have to pump and dump for the next 2 weeks as well. I have back up frozen.

PLEASE HELP!!!!

Edit: while in the hospital, I was unable to stick to my schedule, but I tried my best to pump as much as possible.

I pump on a schedule, can't breastfeed, so I do pump and bottle...

But my boobs started getting hard and leaking outside of schedule...

Should I pump every time they get hard and leak? Should I stick to my schedule? How do I handle this???