New Baby Advise

Things that saved us:

1- room-temp bottles- breast feeding didn't work for us, so i knew we needed formula on hand but i was going to try and pump as well (again didn't work out). but it was really important to me that it always be room-temp. no need to heat up the bottles, which was really great for on the go and ultimately i think made them less fussy about taking the bottle in general. 

2- sleeping flat!- the boys started in our room but always slept flat in the pack-n-play. sleep is really really hard so starting good sleep patterns as early as possible is always good. so sleeping flat on their back- swaddled was always best for us. The boys slept in the swing or propped up in the boppy during the day when we were in the same room but always flat at night, this made the transition to the crib easier. Also i wish we had figured out a bedtime routine earlier then we did. 

3- let people help you!(especially your partner)- it seems really silly but this is something I'm still struggling with. I feel like its my job to take care of them, so I have to do EVERYTHING and omg its so exhausting/ totally impractical. Balance is everything and its something i've always struggled with. But letting your mom or mother-in-law or your partner or your best friend come over and babysit or simply watch them while you shower or take a nap is so important.(you would be amazed at how much nicer you are and how much more you can get done after 20mins to take care of yourself and shower- the first time, well most times I feel brand new!) Also dividing up some of the 'baby- chores' with your partner is something that definitely has helped in my house. i.e: I feed the baby, you change the diapers. ps: when i was pregnant and someone told me to let people help me- i thought they were crazy, of course i'm going to let people help me, then it was week 3 and all the visits stopped and the real work began and crazy-mom-stress kicked in and i had to do it all. I was on the way to crashing and burning and then i remembered to 'make'(or let) my husband help. 

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