Realizing I Know Nothing
Archive for December, 2009
Tip #3
Dec 15th
This one is definitely a take it or leave it tip. At night, we wait between 5 and 10 minutes after our son starts to cry before we go in to pick him up. Most times, we have found that he is switching positions and wakes up for a few moments before going back to sleep. We do the same with his naps.
One caveat: Like most parents, we can distinguish between the different cries. I can’t say that I am some sort of baby whisperer — but if it is one of his distress cries, we go get him immediately. More >
Make use of all your resources
Dec 12th
We tried to hit the ground running by listening to all the tips and advice we could get from all the recent parents we know. This turned out to be really useful, but you have to learn how to separate the advice that will work in your system from the advice that won’t work. And no matter how prepared you are — reality sets in the moment you walk out of the hospital and realize the training wheels (the nurses) are gone and you are on your own. It’s also at that very moment when you understand your parents for More >
Boogie Wipes
Dec 10th
As soon as we took our son to daycare, the runny nose and nearly constant cold started. On yet another recommendation, we started using Boogie Wipes. They are hypoallergenic, alcohol free and made with natural saline to dissolve mucus. This is all well and good — but I like them for two reasons. One: They are softer on his nose than regular tissues. Two: There is a great grape version that simply smells awesome (like those scented markers I had when I was a kid). I can’t buy the regular version anymore since they smell awful in comparison to the More >
Tip #2
Dec 8th
This should have been Tip #1 — but I haven’t thought all of these out yet. Tip #2 is simple — tips are only worthwhile if they apply to your situation. If you use Babycenter.com, you know they constantly reiterate that every child is different and I could not agree more. I have read countless tips. Some of been useful and some have not — for our situation. It was clear, however, that some people found the tips very useful. So, as I have and will continue to note, I am posting tips and tricks that I find useful for More >
Tullamore Dew
Dec 6th
I like Tullamore Dew. I can’t say that it has a certain taste profile that will wow you — I can only say that for a bottle of Irish Whiskey in the low $20 range, it is worth having in your rotation of spirits. I kept it as my house whiskey for a long time — and only made a switch to shake things up a bit. All I can say is that it’s whiskey — it’s Irish — and it’s decently smooth.
I will cover my new house whiskey at a later date. I never thought I would have More >
Munchkin Fresh Food Feeder
Dec 4th
I will say this now — I have never used this as a fresh food feeder. We (on the advice of my cousin) use it as a teether. Slap in an ice cube and hand it off. It only took a few seconds for the boy to realize what he had in his hands. A bib is also recommended.
I guess I should offer the disclaimer that this is an off label use and to not proceed using it this way at all since taking responsibility for yourself has gone the way of the dodo. Anyway, you can find the Munchkin More >
Playtex VentAire Bottles
Dec 2nd
I don’t completely dislike these bottles, but I am definitely not a fan. At first, I didn’t like them because of all the parts — they are a pain to clean. Another criticism is that the numbers wear off with washings — another point that didn’t push me to the “bad things” column. My pet peeve is simple — it says you can make an 8 ounce bottle, but the truth of the matter is that if you put 8 ounces of water in the bottle and try to add the formula, it doesn’t fit. Major design flaw in my More >
Tip #1
Dec 1st
These aren’t going to be in order of importance since they are really “as I figure them out, I might as well pass them along” tips.
Tip #1 is simple. I find it easier to put pants on my 8 month old when he is on his stomach as opposed to on his back. Try it and let me know what you think.
Disclaimer: My wife is indifferent to this tip. She hasn’t tried it, but doesn’t think it will make things any easier.
