Questions for the moms

[CarriBrown]

mom'sfolly :

Boobs go anywhere, never require refrigeration or sterilization, regularly get cleaned in the shower and come in a baby friendly package. Only downside, the possible "men's magazine mutant" boobs that might result. I didn't know that F was a bra size.

You have my kind of humor!

My mom did the sling with both my brother and I. I don't know if she made them or bought them, but she really liked using it for the same reason. She also had one that was like a backwards backpack that she liked to use because we were more comfortable looking at her (or Dad). And I would HATE for some stranger to come up and touch my kid!

Another thing my mom did was make our food from scratch. I think this was when we were a little older, though, because she said she would buy fresh fruit, veggies, or whatever and put them in a blender. She said that a lot of times, we would eat what she and Dad were eating, but just the blended mushy version!

This is a lot of great info! I've been reading a couple books just so that I'm prepared. I don't like just "doing something" and seeing how it turns out. I've done a lot of reading on baby sites, just sucking up whatever info I can.
And, I have to admit that I'm a purse girl.... I pretty much know which diaper bags I like already!!!​

 

[silkiechicken]

Quote:
That's a GREAT idea! Mine was started when I was like 2 and I can concentrate on my education, with time for chickens, without any worry of needing to work or wondering how many years it would take me to pay off loans. I do "work" anyways in research so I get stipends, but if I don't get one for a quarter, no biggie. If I ever have kids, I will defiantly start a college fund as I think getting an education is very important regardless if you ever "use it."

 

[texasgirl]

Well, this thread has helped me to make the decisions that I definitely do not want an epidural and I definitely do want to breastfeed...two things I had never had an opinion about.
I really really would like to have a home birth but I have really high stress and anxiety and I keep playing over and over in my mind something going terribly wrong. I'm sure the need for medical and pharmaceutical intervention is actually rare but it still worries me that what if I have bad luck or something.
Glad I have a few years to calm myself down over all this

 

[jessupfamily]

Having babies is not as complicated as the world makes it seem! We are just used to living a self centered life style and haven't been taught by earlier generations how to include others (especially children).
We have 5 children (3 girls, 2 boys), have lost a little boy and have another on the way. My oldest is 9, my youngest is 9 months (of course the baby inside is really the youngest). I have only used cloth diapers and good wraps (no plastic pants). I have used a washing machine and I have used a hand washer at times as well, both have worked great. I do not have a dryer, the sun is the best disinfectant there is. In the winter they hang on a drying rack by the wood stove. I have 20 newborn diapers made out of muslin material and 18 Chinese prefold diapers, 2-3 wraps in each size (NB, Sm, Md, Lg). I used the same diapers and wraps for the first 4 children and at number 5 bought 6 new diapers and 3 new wraps (just in size md). We make our own wipes out of flannel pieces of material and either make a solution or buy a concentrated solution for the wipes (we use a empty store wipes container and if you take the time to fold the wipes together right they will pop out the top like the store ones do). Of course I've only breastfed (for 9 and a half years straight now). All of them have weaned themselves around 2-2 and a half years. Reusable breastpads are a must, I have 4 pair. We homeschool and don't buy a bunch of curriculum stuff, most things can be found free at the library and in everyday life. All of our children have been born at home and that is covered by insurance in a lot of states (even if midwifery is not legal in that state). If it's not covered it's not as expensive as having them in the hospital and a lot of midwives barter their fees. I think the costliest thing for us has been nursing bras (considering I have to special order mine and have been nursing for so long, that's all I own).
Life can be inexpensive you just have to be willing to compromise and prioritize. I know a lot of what we do seems foreign or even crazy to some people (including some of our family). But it used to be the norm until we became a consumeristic society. Just remember this is a natural and healthy process, not a medical condition that needs surgical intervention. There are emergencies, but not as many as they make it seem like. (We are also a convenience society.)
This is such a blessed time and should be enjoyed and loved, your attitude can make all the difference.

Amy J.

 

[lindseykoehler]

I had an interesting experience with baby food. For some reason we're all made to think that babies must eat baby food out of baby food jars...but I had a totally different experience with my kids! They actually went straight from breastfeeding to table food! Mind you, introduced a little at a time. They would eat whatever we were eating...only mashed up! You can also buy the little food mills (I didn't do this but it sounds like a good idea) to grind up your regular food for the baby. I KNOW that saves a lot of money!!!!!!!!

I must also chime in and say having a nursing pillow is wonderful. I had a "Boppie" in the past...this time around I'm trying "My Brest Friend", which a friend of mine liked better.

 

[arlee453]

On the topic of baby food - my kids figured out really fast that whatever I was eating was a heck of a lot better than what came out of that jar.

I didn't even bother with the mill either - I just mashed it up really hard with my fingers a bite at a time for them.

Kids are so different - my 1st was grabbing food off the table at 4 months, my 3rd would have been quite happy on a purely liquid diet until he was probably a year old.

A lot of common sense and wisdom and our own good instincts are overriden by other people's opinions and as someone else here put it - commercials/marketing that make us think something is a need.

My husband used to say 'love, love and puppy chow...' when he'd see me nursing - after the commercials for puppy chow - that's what babies really need - nurturing and the appropriate nourishment. Everything else is just secondary.

 

[EweSheep]

As for food, I did sneak in some mashed carrots and peas and so forth when my daughter was around four months old. She loves it! Baby food, she would eat them readily but prefers the "real" thing. I know its alot of work but worth it when your baby is getting all the nutrition shes getting from her food. My doctor didnt say I have to put my daughter on vitamin supplements either....as long you get all the veggies and meats and fruits in along with milk and cheese, you may not need vitamins.

Mashed potatoes are a favorite of my daughter's. No butter or gravy until much later...just plain mashed potatoes and she would gobble them up like no tomorrow...watch your fingers, she might bite them off LOL.

My own mom thought I would kill my daughter with love on food LOL.

 

[kcfuerst]

Here is a link to 2007 information on cost of raising a child if you're interested:

http://www.cbp.org/pdfs/2007/0710_mem_003.pdf

 

[CarriBrown]

Quote:
They had some charts like that on MSN, but they factor in things that don't apply to us. First- We have a big house and wouldn't have to move. So take out the down, the cost to sell, the cost to move, the increase in mortage, the increase in taxes, etc. Second- Both of our vehicles are paid off and are able to haul one child (two would be pushing it). Third- Heath insurance is covered by my husband's employer, so that doesn't cost us any extra.
The charts I was looking at showed the additional cost you pay because of a child. So really, when you think about it, the largest costs are totally out of the picture.
My DH's big problem was he saw these charts and freaked out... "See! It says it will cost us $15k the first year!!!!" So, of course, I have to show him that, look, this amount is for a bigger house, this amount is for a new car, this amount is for insurance... so now we're talking a couple grand.

Pfffftt. MEN.