Pictures and Videos!!!! Those last forever.

Congrats.

 

Agreed. One of the best purchases has been our Nikon D90 DSLR. I've snapped soooooo many photos and videos

-Brian

 

Yea, just going for a walk around our neighborhood is getting to be hard with the little wheels of the Chicco. We tested the cheaper Jogging Strollers at Babies R Us and they all felt pretty cheap and crappy. I'd be interested in trying a BOB and seeing how it felts when moving it around.

We already had a D60, I had to go out and buy an 8gb memory card cause we kept filling up our 1gb and having to go through the computer to make sure we got them on there before deleting them to take more. And we just bought a little point and shoot just in case we are someplace and he is doing something funny and we don't have our D60. But I take a ton of videos with my Sprint HTC EVO. So easy to upload to youtube and then I can link them on my facebook or send them to family so they can see my son doing fun things.

 

Yeah, the cheaper options I've tested haven't held a candle to the Bob...unfortunately...

Yeah, I have a 16GB card and on a few rare occasions have filled it completely. I foresee a 32GB card in my future.

-Brian

 

Read this
http://www.danoah.com/2010/09/you-ju...our-child.html

 

I don't know jack about raising kids, but from work, I know that you should have them breast fed. I was on a big law suit case where two formula companies were suing each other, and in researching, I learned that formula isn't nearly as good as the real thing for the kids. There have been cases where "unharmful levels" of contaminated milk from china were found in Nestle's formula, for example. There is also a ton of sugar in that stuff and some say it promotes overweight babies. It's also cheaper.

 

A lot of people say it promotes overweight babies but I think a lot of that has to do with parents who want to stuff their kids full of food so they'll sleep long hours. If you follow guidelines of the amount of food you should be feeding them. It says my 7 month old should be eating over 6 oz at a time. He won't eat it all, he eats 5 oz, but eats frequently. It just depends on the child. The benefits of breastfeeding far outweigh the formula argument by a long shot. But sometimes it's just not possible due to various circumstances.

There was just a recent recall done on Similac formulas cause they found beetle and beetle larva in these containers that came from this specific factory. Both containers of formula we had at home were both recalled and one of them we were half way through.

 

I'm not surprised. One thing I also found out is that if you do have to go with formula for medical reasons, I'd actually go with the generic stuff. The case I worked on was basically a false advertising suit against one of the big name brands (think the biggest one). They were trying to claim that their formula was better for babies eyesight than store brand formula, and they implied that your baby would see blurry if they used store brand stuff. The judge declared that the formulas were basically identical.

I found out that the store brand stuff is actually all made by a company called PBM. They make the target brand stuff as well as whole foods (which surprisingly sells for TWICE as much). They have the only formula that's 100% made in the USA and also have the only infant formula plant that's ISO 9001:2000 certified. So basically the formulas are the same but the manufacturing process of the cheap stuff appears to be better than Johnson and Johnson and Nestle.

Also, Nestle is the most evil company ever.

 

there is lots of great info in this thread and on baby sites. if you can afford the classes go to Harmony in Campbell (harmonymama.com). I've learned a ton from attending the classes there and has made me feel more confident in preparation for becoming a dad (wife is at 35 weeks today). Not to mention excited!

Be supportive of your wife through the birth process and educate yourselves as much as possible. My wife and I have been reading birthing from within and have really enjoyed it. A documentary we also liked is the business of being born. good stuff.

a couple things i've learned from some of my new parent friends that are handy after 12 months or so:
Don't let them be picky with food. give them what they like less first before giving them what they want.
DON'T ask rhetorical questions. "Do you want a time out?" "do you want a spanking?". I have two different sets of friends that do this with their 2 year olds and you know what they say? "YES!" and give the parents a look. Another set of friends count to 3 and doesn't give them an option.



you'll hear tons of advice and you just gotta do the best you can. Be flexible and forgiving to yourself and your partner and love your baby. Good luck!

 

Yeah. If you are forced (or choose) to go formula often times you can talk to your babies doctor and they'll give you samples. You have to come in for shots and apts pretty regularly so you can often times get enough samples every time you come in to get by on spending very little.

Target brand stuff has actually impressed me. We used their diapers for a long time. WAY better than huggies. We're using pampers right now. They seem to be the softest. Their whippies are awesome too. But I'd get the UBER sensitive ones. Think the package is purple. You can get a case with like 9 packs of 100 for $11. Their medicines are great too.

Shopping at whole foods for anything but items you can't get anywhere else is stupid. There's a reason it's called whole pay check.

Target is a life saver.

Oh.. and on baby clothing. They opened up a carter's by trader joe's off almaden and blossom hill. Awesome little store. Having a HUGE sale right now. 50 and 75% off.

That's all I got right now....

 

Take a vacation while you can, travel.
Get baby service manuals and get familiar with them(books by american academy of pediatrics)
Pick pediatrics office and doctor you will be going to, talk to people around which one is good.
Taking classes is good, they give tons of practical advises.
First weeks are crucial to set things in right direction, weekly/bi-weekly follow-ups with doctors
Prepare home, finish anything that needs to be done.
You will wash baby clothes often, have a plan for this.


You're way far away from point when you will need bear traps and shotguns...

 

back from the dead bump.

How is it being a dad?

 

Absolutely awesome! She just buttboarded down the street for the first time today She even let go of MY hands so she could cruise by herself.

-Brian

 

My suggestions are play classical music when she is active in the womb-

When she is to young to speak, teach her Sign Language bc they can pick it up quick and communicate w/o words to you and your wife-

I would try to impress your wife by doing some serious research at your local public library!

Try to enroll her in a music program at a young age bc statistics say that students in music programs are more likely to succeed!

I would avoid TV in the house hold....

Best medicine for a healthy child is to eat right, play in the outdoors, and plenty of exercise!

Oh and read to her everynight before bed she will build a closer bond with you forever!!!!!

 

wow this thread is awesome , my wife and i are first time parents and we read anything possible on parenting, nervous i guess, but its always good to see all the opinions.i hope to see my little girl butt boarding too thanks for bumping the dead thread i dont think i would have seen it