Things I have learned about taking care of Finnegan in the first five months:

Calming baby:
1. Baby loves to be swaddled
2. Use large swaddling clothes 40x40 inches
3. Babies like to be warm and well fed
4. Pacifiers are good things, don't worry about them.

Remedies:
1. Cornstarch is great for diaper rash. Clears it right up.
2. Put Neosporin on all the cuts and they heal very fast.
3. Almond oil is great for eczema and hydrocortizone too
4. Selsun Blue is very good for bad cases of cradle cap
5. Almond oil is good for mild cases of cradle cap
6. Give the baby tylenol 30 minutes before getting vaccinations, have it handy for later

Laundry:
1. put a clothing hamper next to the changing table instead of throwing the clothes on the floor and then wash all of babies clothes separately.
2. Seventh Generation laundry detergent is just as good as Dreft and costs a lot less.
3. Put little socks into a mesh bag before laundering them. They don't get lost.
4. The dog will try to eat dirty baby clothes and diapers, then hide under the bed with a stomach full of cotton.

Breast feeding:
1. Breast milk will stain your clothes
2. Buy a good breast pump, don't skimp on it. You can borrow one too.

Clothing:
1. Outgrown socks make great mittens
2. Diaper covers can be found in baby consignment shops and they are just as good.
3. Instead of buying nursing shirts, just get button-up shirts and baggy T-shirts

Hygiene/diapers:
1. Clip baby's nails while you are nursing him. Have your husband do it.
2. Clip nails often to avoid deep scratches
3. Babies only need a bath twice a week unless they have really messy diapers
4. Drink lots of water and you'll have lots of milk
5. Put disposable diapers on baby at night and he'll sleep longer, better yet use a cloth diaper liner.
6. Buy old diaper rags from the diaper service to use for around the house. They are great for mopping the floor and very absorbent.

Safety:
1. Buy the car seat new.
2. Use a car seat when flying and pay for the extra ticket.
3. Don't over medicate, baby's organs are delicate and can be easily damaged.
4. Always load your car first, then put the baby in just before you get in. Do not leave the baby in the car unattended.
5. Don't put the car seat on top of the grocery cart. Either shop with a partner or put
the groceries around the car seat. It falls off!
6. Place everything within arms reach of the changing table and use the safety belt.


Ways to recycle and reduce waste:
1. Borrow, borrow, borrow or just ask if you can have things. People will gladly give you things.
2 Use small flannel washclothes to clean baby with wet diapers and then wash them
3 Save the baby wipes for the messy diapers
4 Use a cloth diaper service
5 Put half of the gift towels and blankets away and use them when the others wear out
6 Buy crib bedding in a consignment store. It's never in bad shape.
7 Buy toys second hand and wash them
8 Borrow toys or clothing items

Teething:
1. Baby teeth may come in early, like four months.
2. Many teeth may come in at once.
3. Tylenol is your friend, ask you doctor for the right dosage.
4. These things help relieve the teething pain:
rubbing the gums
teething gel
ice water in a sippy cup
ice cube tied in a wash cloth
Tylenol (the best thing)
Homeopathic teething tablets, but they are not regulated by the FDA.

Ways to save your sanity:
1. When you can't figure out why baby is crying, it's not your fault. They're tired.
2. Take your shower and get dresssed before you husband leaves for work, or you'll be in your pajamas at 2:30 p.m. waiting for baby to sleep to catch a shower.
3. Cook twice as much food for your favorite meals and then freeze half of it for a meal later in the week.
4. Don't weigh yourself until six weeks after the baby is born
5. Breast feeding helps you lose the weight. I gained 28 pounds during the pregnancy and I've lost 41 pounds so far!
6. Don't try to do too much in a day. You'll stress yourself out. Make a list and get things done as you can.
7. Hire housekeeping services once a month to clean the bathrooms or trade with a friend.
8. Try to go to bed before 11:00 pm that way you'll actually be in bed at 11:00 p.m.
9. Find a walking partner and walk as much as possible, it clears the mind.
10. Plan for events well in advance, ie, Christmas. Gather gifts throughout the year and put them into a Christmas gift bin. Or, shop online and mail everything. Or, send nice handmade gift. I always do photo related items.
11. Take a cue from the baby. Don't rush the baby because you are in a hurry. The first three months is the hardest. It gets easier after that and then you can start doing more. Remember, your "job" is to take care of your baby and it's what's best for him and you.
12. Find another mom in your neighborhood to do things with. I was lucky to have a neighbor whose baby is three months younger than Finnegan. We take walks together, yoga
classes and go to Starbucks. It's a great stress breaker to have someone else to commiserate with.
13. Exercise will make you feel better.
14. Sometimes your mom does know a thing or two about babies. Listen to her suggestions, they may be helpful.