So, I've been a mom of an actual baby for 5 1/2 months now, and acting like a mom for 9 months plus 5 1/2 months and here are the top 10 things I've learned so far, I hope you new mothers or expecting mothers can benefit from it.

10. Don't buy any baby clothes when your pregnant or atleast until your baby is 6+ months old. Yes, go ahead and buy that adorable outfit that you just can't live without. But if you're getting a baby shower, don't even bother. 9 out of 10 people are gonna get you clothes on top of other stuff, because it's so easy to buy. And be sure to ask for clothes that are for older babies as well, if you get all newborn or 0-3 month clothes, chances are you're baby will grow out of all of it, around 2-4 months and the baby won't even get to wear all of it. For the first couple months, all you're gonna want to put the baby in is plain onsies, because of the bating, diaper changes, and spit up. Wait a little longer to dress the baby up. But there's no harm in dressing him up for an outing

9. If you plan to use pacifiers...you can NEVER have too many. Trust me, you'll think they can get up and walk away. They're so easy to lose and can fall in the tinest places, or places you'll never think to look. Especially if the baby only takes Soothie First Year Pacifiers, which is the one they give in the hospital, you drop it right in front of you, and it ends up being like 10 feet away behind you, they bounce like footballs. Always keep one at the babysitters, grandma's, and ALWAYS one in your purse or diaper bag.



8. Buy a brestpump. If you plan on breastfeeding, buy a breastpump as soon as you make that descion. Daddy needs to help too. Trust me, for the first 3 months, I got up every single night 3-6 times a night to feed the baby and I never want to do that again. Daddy needs to carry some of that responsibility of feeding the baby. If you're scared that once you introduce the nipple, they won't take to your brest, use a nipple that is shaped and formed the closet to your breast. They sell all types of nipples for that exact problem. I found that the gerber medium flow nipples worked best for me. Breastfeed during the day, and pump and store at night, so daddy can help you too. We all love our angels, but mommy needs some sleep too!

7. Don't buy one kind of bottle/nipple. When you're done breastfeeding, or if you chose not to breastfeed at all, buy a few different kinds of bottles and nipples. You're baby won't take to all of them, and you find that some nipples let out formula or breast milk too fast, some too slow, and some just don't fit quite right with your baby. Buy different kinds and see which one they take better. Try them all and see which one they latch on to the longest. I found that when my baby was 2-3 months she preferred the slowf-flow nipples the best, because all others would come out too fast and she would choke because she was sucking so hard and fast. So just observe what kind of eater your angel is. Oh, and ALWAYS choose BPA Free bottles. If you don't know about the BPA scandel, google it. The bottles I use that are BPA free are 'Parent's Choice bottles', Walmart has them and are a couple bucks for 3 bottles, the box is marked BPA Free

6. Don't waste your money on a bassinet. Every baby is different, but if you do choose to buy a bassinet, I beg of you not to spend too much money on it, and by too much, I mean more than $50. Because chances are, the baby won't sleep in it. I have yet to meet a mother who's baby slept in it, maybe 1 or 2. The best descion I ever made was to buy a bouncy seat  




I had a bassinet that great grandma gave to us (thank God we didn't buy one) and we got this bouncy seat. Let me tell you, to this day she STILL sleeps in her bouncy seat. Never ONCE did she sleep in her bassinet. I find that most babies like to sleep on their side, stomach (which is dangerous at a young age, due to SID), or sitting up. She has slept in this thing ever since she was born, and recently, as of about 3 weeks ago or so, when she was 4 mo and 3 weeks old she started sleeping in her crib. But this was the best $50 we have spent so far. Get something that cradles the baby and is comfortable and not to flat.

5. Get on a routine, whether you're pregnant or already have your bundle. It's NEVER too early to start a routine with your baby. Studies show, that the baby can feel when your active and when your resting when you're pregnant, so stay on a good day/night routine and don't do too much at night, chances are it'll stay on the routine it's on when it's born from when it was in your belly. But start that routine as soon as you get home, when the sun sets, turn off as many lights as you can, keep the tv and radio very quite or not on at all, and don't interact with your baby as much as you do during the day. Keep the stimulation as minimal as possible, and make feedings and diaper changes quick and quiet. After about 2-3 months, the baby will know when bed time is and almost expects it. Of course all babies are different, but even if you baby doesn't sleep at night or fall asleep when it's ''bedtime'' it's still important to know that this when we sleep and not when we play. It worked well with my baby, and she knows the routine.

4. Don't be afraid to read to the baby. Buy books, and interactive movies, there's nothing silly about reading to the baby when you're pregnant or when they're 1,2,3,4,5...etc..months old. Even though they don't understand you, they'll learn to focus on the images in the book and realize your reading, plus it helps them with their communication skills. Its the skin to skin contact and sound of your voice, along with the pictures that will catch their attention. Along with movies, when they're a few months older, that will help with their sense of depth, sense of movement and will help them with focusing their eyes on moving objects. I bought my daughter all the classic Disney Princess Movies and she's so alert and can see farther and focus better than most children her age (according to her pediatrician). Interactive toys as well will help with their motor skills. Make sure you introduce them to different textures and help them learn to hold objects. Newborns have their hands in fists most of the time, open up their little hands every once in a while, and place a skinny teether or small stuffed animal or anything else they can wrap their little hand around and close it back up. At 3 1/2 - 4 months old, my daughter could grab her pacifier and move it from one hand to another. Don't be afraid to spoil them with interactive toys.


3. Nesting before and after is important. In the last trimester of your pregnancy, you get so anxious that you'll need to do something with yourself that is baby related. Don't be afriad to nest, EMBRACE IT and enjoy it. Buy the baby stuff that you need. Even a few little guilty pleasures that you know you'll get at the baby shower, but that you just can't help to get. Those extra pacifiers, an outfit or two, a cute teether, a stuffed animal, scrapbooking material, nursery decorations. It will help you with your anxiety and satisfy that baby craving you get. As well as after you have the baby, decorate the nursey and buy them toys that make you happy. I finished decorating her nursey about a month ago and it was so rewarding. A mother's touch is the best kind, and it's also a good getaway to do something you like that relates to your little angel.

2. There's no such thing as too many pictures. Take pictures. Take pictures. Take pictures. Before you have the baby is also important, he or she is going to know what you looked like when they were in your belly when they're 2 or 3 years old. After they're born, go crazy. They will grow so fast that you won't want to miss a thing and it's your right as a mother to document every minute of that. I keep my camera out all the time, because you never know when you might want to catch something that you're baby is doing (which is every little thing for me), their first bath, first smile, first thumb sucking, first bottle, first burp, first poopy diaper (is that weird?), first outfit....the list goes on...trust me...you'll find a ''first time'' for everything. And it just goes on from there so don't hold back, months will fly and next thing you know, you'll be looking back at newborn pictures thinking ''look how big she is now!" and "she doesn't look like that anymore!" so...invest in a good camera and memory card and pretend you're your babies papparizzi.

1. And the most important thing I have learned....Mother Does Really Know's Best. Don't be afriad to question her pediatrician, you know you're baby better than they do. If you feel somethings not right, go with it, it's better to be safe and overprotective, than sorry and heartbroken. Always go with what you feel is right and not what the books or doctors say. For the longest time I was dealing with the whole contraversy of "let your baby cry himself to sleep" and everyone told me I was going to spoil my baby if I held her all the time and picked her up when she cried when I laid her down for the night. Even daddy was ok with letting her cry herself to sleep, but I wasn't. I couldn't do it, I tried it once or twice and I sat in the living room SOBBING because she was crying and I know she just wanted me and I couldn't go get her...and you know what..it didn't feel right. I never did that again and did it how I felt it needed to be, and now? She sleeps at night just fine and by herself...and of course I'm going to spoil her, why wouldn't I? So, even if your entire family of moms and doctors tell you otherwise, do what you feel is right and what you think is best for YOUR baby. Even when they're 16 years old...they'll thank you when they're our age.