First time mum

Some points of what to do to handle the scary nee mum

Life Hack #2 Ensure when buying a high chair the tray is removable, this allows easy cleaning, and don't forget to clean the bottom as well

Life Hack #1 Clip toy to booster seat to prevent dropping or throwing

The biggest most inconsistent thing every mum struggles with. 1. Your not alone 2. There is no magic answer. 3. What worked tonight may not work in an hour, or tomorrow or in a week or in a month 4. Persistence does help...routines and patterns help support your babies understanding that you want them to sleep, also comforts them when something is predictable 5. You will have lapses and regressions in your persistence. That's ok, you will sometimes need to just do what in that moment or for that week feels easier. This may require some further effort to redo previously established work or routines, like selfsettling. But do what you need for you now. But when you can stick to the plan and persist. 6. You do need a support network, people in your situation like other mums to help with ideas and general motivation when your struggling. And from your partner to take some of the slack and stress when you need a break. 7. Despite what you've heard and think you know you are not prepared for the lack of sleep you will have Signed a sleepy mum at 2am feed

One of the happiest things is watching my husband play with our baby boy. And hearing them both laugh

Sometimes it's hard to know what games your baby might enjoy. And never having been a mum before or having friends with babies what things do others do with their babies Well I found this great site that has a few development based games to intrigue your baby. What else is good to do; - Read books, baby want understand it but they like the images and some sounds, discovered my boy favours rhyming short sounds so green eggs and ham is often out - Doing a version of the hokey pokey helps when he's grumpy at change time Really you just have to watch your baby and try different things. If you try reading and their looking away or fidgeting try singing a song, if their still distracted try going for a walk to look at trees...and so on. It's not always easy to know what you should be doing with your baby. But the key is to follow what your baby wants and look for prompts that they want something different.

So many people really struggle, especially early on, to find time for a shower. A few ways to get time for this. 1. Dry shampoo, plan quick showers and use dry shampoo to keep your hair presentable 2. My favourite is take the baby into the bathroom with you. This option allows you to relax and take your time. Even better make the room warm before going in, and give the baby some nappy free time on a floor mat.

Sleepy wings. These are great. I no longer have to wrestle with a blanket, swaddling a baby who will wiggle his way out and get cold. Now he goes in his sleeping bag with his wings. Also easy to keep 'swaddled' in car and pram.

Yay a baby food that is 100% food, in this case apple. No preservatives or additives. Before having a baby I thought I might have to always blend up food for him, now I feel buying it is easier. But I wanted to know it was 100% food. Some label reading has made me happy for a faster option than me having to blend my own.

So back to the not comparing. With a baby or child to raise noone, not you or the children your comparing, need the added pressure or stress to do or be more.

Eukybear rub is amazing

Our loose routine is 7am up and feed, followed by shower (shower keeps us both awake for the day). The. Play. Sleep by 9. 11 he wakes himself and it’s feed time. Play. 1ish nap 2 feed play sleep again, often a shorter cycle of each. 6 pm feed and start bed calming routine, often a cluster feed at 7 if he seems to need it. In bed before 8pm. And he sleeps settles usually within half hour. Then parents sit on couch wondering what we do with out new found time before we go to bed.

I said I'd post the key pressure points from the foot, so here they are. I'm not sure if they really work but I have seen a friends baby fall asleep from these and my one relaxes from them, so if nothing else a foot rub is always good.

Perhaps not the most interesting first post but what is at hand… Massage lotion, I think is a must for all parents. It’s a great reminder to sit back and have some relaxed mum-baby time. And great way for dad to have some bonding time too. Can be done after a bath or just sitting watching TV. Get a good lather in your hand and warm it up. I start with babies feet, good to start at an end to get bubs aware of.what your doing. Rub in big motion up then down a few times, then work thumbs in little gentle pressure circles. I'll post some key foot pressure points soon. Then just organically let the massage work up and down legs, back, arms and neck, without oil rub fingers over skull for head massage. You want the pressure to be gentle but not so soft it tickles. Just watch your babies reaction to learn what they like. This is great to do when your baby is having a growth spurt, as they can feel their skin growing and get irritable. Hope someone somewhere out there finds this useful.