Thanks! I had picked out the Graco but her MIL offered a $1000 stroller because all of her friend’s grandkids have them on the East Coast. Here in Oregon the Bob is hands down the most important. I have convinced D to wait until this summer when she is settled to look and decide.
S and DIL had an expensive one handed down from a cousin. They asked me to buy an inexpensive umbrella stroller that they used constantly.
D and SIL will be her in 2-3 weeks. This will be the first time I see her pregnant.
She thinks she want a labor Doula. NPR did an interview with one recently, which was the first I had heard of this. There are many advantages to having one. This is all new to me $-)
DD has a few other items that are useful, A fold up portable ‘crib’ (it really is just useful for very young, but it sure has been nice with our travel) - one made by first years is what she has.
She also has the ‘sleep and play’ that a co-worker bought for her. It has a turn-able changing table and the other side a very young baby can sleep on. It folds up and has a sleeve to pack up. Otherwise it is a big play pen.
So excited to join this thread! S called the other day to tell me that he and his wife are expecting in late Dec. (They just celebrated their first anniversary yesterday.) S texted me a photo from the first ultrasound. They got to hear the heartbeat! First grandchild on both sides. And I am happy to share grandparenting with d-i-l’s parents–super nice people! S/D-i-l live thousands of miles away, so it seems unlikely that I will see much of the baby. But still thrilled at the prospect of this new role!
Congrats, everyone!! Welcome to the club!!
DS and DIL use a Graco (hand me down from her sister) that snaps into the base station. They also have the stroller it snaps into. They don’t hav an umbrella stroller- they tend to wear her in one of those gizmos on their chests. The baby used to face inward- now faces out.
Congrats to all the grandparents-to-be! GD is 7 months old now - time is just flying by. After having 2 boys myself, it’s fun to have a girl. They’re 3000 miles away, which is tough, but video chats help and they update with photos all the time.
I mentioned that they use the Chicco carseat/stroller combo in a previous post, but they also use a baby carrier on their chests with the baby facing outward, especially on walks, at the supermarket, etc. when they want her to experience her world better than she can in the stroller.
I had one of those front of the body carriers, but I think I either waited until the baby was too heavy (walking around trying to do things, found my back was aching, and our wind up swing with a baby bassinet worked great). GD as very young didn’t like the motion device they have, and I will dig up the baby body hold device (it is backpack like but on front of adult, with padded straps.) I know the wind up swings got replaced by electric ones, but don’t know what is currently on the market.
I am having a lot of GD time now ‘on vacation’ - and will have frequent visits with only 100 miles away…but they will be moving probably in a year, so I have to get the bonding time in!
H and I don’t retire for 3 years, so we just have to get in the time we can now.
My new granddaughter isn’t gaining weight! She was 8lbs 11oz at birth ten weeks ago, and now is 8lbs 15oz. DIL is breastfeeding. Baby is getting checked weekly and has had both a tongue tie and a lip tie clipped. It’s like she gains and loses the same half pound over and over. She is gaining length and looks healthy. Whenever she is on a downward trend, she gets supplemental bottles of pumped milk. Doctor doesn’t seem worried and thinks she is a lazy eater. I’m hoping this doctor isn’t a breastfeeding zealot. My DIL feels like she’s failing her child. Sigh. She didn’t have this much difficulty with her first. I’m concerned, but don’t want to interfere.
Babies, especially big babies, can lose weight in the first couple of months. 9 pounds is a healthy weight for a baby of her age. Give your DIL a hug but don’t say a word about weight not gained.
@juniebug your DIL will get over the breastfeeding ‘bumps’. My DD who delivered GD May 2 struggled some with breastfeeding. She and I are both RNs. She looked right away about baby’s ability to suck and GD didn’t have the tongue tie/lip tie that is fairly common. GD was 7 lb at birth (5 days early; water broke). Supplemented breast milk with formula - in first couple of weeks had about 60 - 70% breast feeding (much pumped and drank from the bottle). DD had to use a breast shield for a while, but later GD figured out the breast was fine! DD had two episodes of mastitis and worked through that. I do think GD has occasional formula bottle now, but no worries! DD does have a lactation consultant and a support group.
I had a glorious 11 days sharing baby time with DD starting when baby was 3 weeks old and a family trip - DD needed a lot of rest and I was happy to share the duties!
Each baby is different! Plus with the 2nd child, there is splitting duty with both baby and older sibling. Make sure DS reassures his W, and also friends/supportive moms can reassure her.
DD has maternity leave through mid-Aug. That helps a lot with their routine and good rest/care for both mom and baby.
Hope to hear back that DIL is feeling more confident and feeling like baby is doing just fine.
Our babies were tiny—6 pounds. They didn’t gain weight all that fast either, but they were lively and the doctor wasn’t concerned so not was anyone else. Just love your new bundle of joy and the tired parents.
As a first baby, DD’s doctor didn’t want her to go over 8 lb with the baby before delivery, and they did discuss inducing if baby was getting that size before birth. Friend who was due her same date had the baby a week later, with inducing, and baby was well over 8 lb and this first time mom did need a c-section.
All my Ds were over 9 pounds, and no C section with any of them.
The carriers discussed earlier are very popular with parents these days. They are far superior to the ones that were available when I had my babies. Very good for travelling when you don’t want to mess with a stroller for every outing. My new grandson is the most travelled baby in our family history and they have used a carrier often, while also taking the stroller. With a year of parental leave, available to both parents, they are fortunate to get to spend so much time with him.
Had all the grandkids together for much of the last week which was great fun! I’m so fortunate to have them close by so I can see them whenever they need me or if I just feel like doing the bedtime routine. They are tiring, though, so my H and I are away on our own this long weekend for some R&R.
First grandchild on both sides of family due in two weeks. Our son informed us about Dtap or Tdap vaccines- this may have been previously discussed did you all get these vaccines ?
Tdap - Yes, got it when I was last due for my tetanus booster. If your last tetanus booster did not contain the pertussis component, get it now!
Pertussis is out in the community - causes cold-like symptoms which are annoying in adults but can be devastating in pre-vaccinated infants. Vaccinations are given in each pregnancy to boost mother’s ability to pass immunity; all adults in close contact with newborns should also have recent (within 10 years) booster.
