first time momma, looking for advice :] Options

[cherbearcarez]

hello there CB. my name is cher and i'm a first time mommy. my baby is due in november and i'm nervous but excited at the same time. any advice? :] any is fine with me.

[LoveToMySilas]

Haha, yes. I "met" you in your introduction thread. Again, let me say congratulations on your baby. Have you picked out any names yet?

[cherbearcarez]

thanks! my fiance decided on the name jordan. we had this deal where if the baby was a girl, i'd name her, but if it was a boy, he'd name him. haha.

[tokyo-rose]

thanks! my fiance decided on the name jordan. we had this deal where if the baby was a girl, i'd name her, but if it was a boy, he'd name him. haha.

Hm, at least Jordan is a unisex name, so it's kind of like you got to name her too? Haha.

What kind of advice are you looking for, exactly? The question you're asking seems really broad. ^^;

[ForgiveTheSinner]

Just get ready for lots of sleepless nights.

[Luna5]

I don't think you should be asking for parenting advice from a website full of teenagers. Why don't you ask ADULTS & FAMILY MEMBERS. That's what I would do.

[Archana]

Don't be afraid to talk to your child.
Don't YELL at your child (maybe in the early years, but later on... DONT) It's important for them to want to feel open and ready to talk to you without fear that you'd judge them. It's easier to respect a rational, understanding adult rather than a strict one.
The stricter you are as a parent, the more your child will rebel.
If you ever have two or more children, don't play favorites... or if you have one, don't show it.
Say "I love you" once in awhile. Hug it out. It's really strange and unwelcoming for me because my parents... are like ice.

Those are things I wish my parents knew.

[MissFits]

I'm sure it won't be hard, but just love him.
Give him all the love in the world.
And, be a responsible parent. Make sure he knows to respect his elders, how to be polite, and all the things you like to see in people.

I really wish you the best of luck. I'm sure you'll do a great job.

[karmakiller]

Congrats on the baby. I don't many people here will have a lot of advice. Deffinitely love him and be a friend to him. But discipline him when he needs it.

[towntown2]

I don't think you should be asking for parenting advice from a website full of teenagers.

True, lol.
But I'll do my best.

Okay.
All the advice in the world will not fully prepare you for being a parent.
Remember that while it is good to be friends with your child, you need to be a parent first.

Also, put an emphasis on education and the arts.
Start early, I say. [My mom began teaching me the alphabet and numbers at 8 months. I'd memorized my letters by 18 months.]
You should enroll your child in music. Set your baby aside from everyone else.
Pursue whatever talent that your child finds interest in.
Switching from one thing to another is good for exploring options, but it's better if you encourage your child to buckle down and specialize.

Edit: My mom says not to pump your breasts. It messes with their shape.

[lovescream]

I think enrolling your child in music is a great idea. Oh, yeah, and definitely try not to act like a hypocrite around your kids. I know that everyone's a hypocrite, but I absolutely hate it when my mom says for me not to do something, and she does it herself! Set a good example, and if you do something like that, do it behind their backs. :P

[Insurmountable]

Congrats!

The best advice I could give you is to not worry to much and to cherish every moment you have with your child because they grow up a lot quicker than you anticipate. Be a parent first than a friend. Your child will always be able to find friends but having a parent is someone thats always going to be there. Be loving and make sure they know that they are loved.

Also when having a new born the best thing to do is of course breast feed but if you aren't producing enough then you should do both breast feeding and formula. Also once you get out of the hospital and you get home, you will be very very tired and the best thing to do is always try to get a nap when your baby is sleeping. The baby will probably wake up ever 2-4 hours and you'll have to feed him. Also since you haven't had your baby you should take to it, because when you do have your baby and you talk to it, it will defiantly recognize your voice. It's good to sing as well because its very soothing when they are born and upset sometimes. Stay within 6 inches of their face so they can see you when they are first born and I believe they can see about 2-4 inches more every week.


LOL, I don't really know what kind of advice you wanted.

[datass]

get ultrasound scan if you havent yet.