Random things I've learned during different ages and stages:
(1) It's OK to cry. Really, it is. The mom gig, although wonderful, is not always sunshine and rainbows. At times it can be frustrating and just down right hard. Don't fight the tears--giving in and letting them flow will help you bounce back faster.
(2) Don't let baby get too accustomed to one particular thing. I found this rule applies most to sleep time. I never swaddled all the time--only at night for the first few months, and never during naps. I didn't rock them to sleep, but rather put them down in the crib when drowsiness was obvious. Eventually, they'd put themselves to sleep. Sometimes I played music in the nursery and other times, I didn't. Bottom line: mix. it. up.
(3) If you have twins--tandem feed, tandem sleep. If one baby wakes up hungry, wake the other up to eat at the same time. Yes, there's the old adage of 'never wake a sleeping baby', but when it comes to twins, throw it out the window. That is, unless you want to spend all day feeding. As your twinsies get older, they might not always nap in sync or fall asleep at night in sync, but they can get pretty darn close.
(4) Don't beat yourself up if you don't succeed at breast-feeding. I did, and all it does is make you miserable. Even when the pediatrician told me that she was amazed I made it to 4 months with twins, I still got emotional. My sweet husband even assured me that I did a great job, but again, I thought I failed my babies. I didn't and you won't either, so save yourself a headache and accept the fact that there are other ways to feed your little one.
(5) Follow your baby's lead. Seriously, don't let the thousands of books out there rule your life, or your baby's life. As stated earlier, our babies were ready for solids at 4 months of age. Most books tell you that 6 months is a good start date. It probably is, and I would imagine that 6 months is the average age, but don't take it too literally. Your baby will let you know when he or she is ready to move onto the next stage. It's up to you to pay attention to the clues.
(6) Educate before you vaccinate. I know this is a HUGE stickler for some, but keep in mind that you can't remove a vaccine once it's injected in that healthy, untainted little body. We did a lot of research and decided it wasn't what we wanted for our babies. Ever. I'm not telling you don't, I'm just saying make sure you know what's going into your baby's body. If anything, opt for delayed shots until you know all there is to know. There are plenty of resources out there. If you'd like to know what they are, feel free to email me and I can provide them.
(7) If someone offers to help and you need it, take it. It's understandable that we all want to be super-moms--and we can be--but it's alright if we have to work up to that status.
(8) Keep a piece of paper and a pen handy to record those milestones. I say this because the baby book might not always be handy. Jot it down and then log it in the baby book when you have time.
(9) Savor the little moments. Anytime you get the chance to sneak in a squeeze or a kiss, go for it. Those sweet, special times make all those crazy, frustrating ones seem like they never happened.
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