Baby Advice - Take it or Leave it

1. For every piece of advice you get:  thank the offerer, consider it, then do what you think is best.  You know your baby better than anyone.  Source:  lots of people.
2. GET HIGH PRIORITY STUFF DONE AT LEAST 2 WEEKS BEFORE YOUR DUE DATE.  This way it won't be nagging on you for the first 6 weeks of your baby's life.  (I really wish I followed this one.)  Source:  Yours Truly
3. Don't be a hero.  Get painkiller during delivery as soon as there is more pain than you like.  Keep in mind that it will probably be another 20 - 30 minutes before you get the painkiller for the pain to get worse.  So don't wait until you can't stand the pain anymore.  You will have to stand it for another 1/2 hour.  Source: David Williamson, amended by me
4. Put baby in the hospital nursery for at least the first night you are in the hospital.  You need to recover and gain your strength.  You will have lots of nights to stay up with the baby.  Source:  Lynda Schmidt
5. Sleep when the baby sleeps.  Source:  my doctor and lots of other people
6. Buy bins for baby clothes for 0-3M, 3-6M, 6-9M and separate them when you get them.  Don't take the tags off until you put the baby in them.  Return clothes whose season won't match the baby's size.   Source:  Maraya Steadman
7. At 8 months, pack your hospital bag and leave it in an obvious place so your husband can find it in an emergency.  Source:  Maraya Steadman
8. Leave your doctor's and hospital's number on the refrigerator, IN BIG NUMBERS, so your husband can see them.  Source:  Maraya Steadman
9. Pre-register at the hospital.
10. Take Baby Classes:  Intro to Babies, Breastfeeding, CPR
11. The longer you can keep your baby on breastmilk alone (4 - 6 months), the easier it will be on you.  Source:  Maria's pediatrician and lots of friends.
12. Sit with, appreciate, cuddle your baby, because they grow so fast.  Source:  Lots of people.

Quote:  "My stroller has become my car."  Alexandra Au and Christine Frech