How to Boil Bottles and Other Infant Care Tips

You may already know by now that everything involving your baby has to be squeaky clean, sterilized, and it can actually drive you nuts running through the house pulling hairs off pillows with your fingers. Don't be so stressed! It's really not that hard to have a new baby in the house.

(Try it with 2 older sisters, 3 dogs, 2 cats, 2 birds... half the local zoo living in your home.)

How To Boil Bottles

It is important to boil your bottles, but only once. Regardless of what your mother used to do, or your old roommate's sister does, it really doesn't matter if you boil bottles after every use. You must boil them when you open them, before the first use... after that you can wash them in really hot water using a bottle brush.

The concept of boiling bottles may sound difficult, if you don't know what you're doing. It is really easy, all you need is a large pasta pot (It doesn't have to be large, it's just easier if you have one to use.) A colander (more often called a 'strainer' and tongs make the job super easy.

First, you put water in the pot, then you put the pot on the stove, light it, and wait. The water will boil. You don't need to wait for a full boil... bubbling is good enough.

Next, you drop in the bottles, nipples, and the part that screws on the nipple... all seperated.

You want to pull the nipples out first. Those you don't want to leave in too long. I leave them in for about 30 seconds, but I believe up to 5 minutes is the longest you want to go with the nipples.

Use the tongs to remove the nipples from the boiling water and drop them in the strainer in your sink. There really isn't a minimum amount of time to leave the bottles and tops in the water, so you can pull them out next, using the tongs and dropping them in the colander. Wait for the bottles to cool, then put them back together. Wha-la!

How To Change a Diaper

Changing diapers sounds harder than it is. No matter what the surprise is inside, it can be done quickly and mess free (*usually.)

First, pull up the baby's feet and pull the mu mu or unbuttoned onesy out of the way, tucking it underneath the small of baby's back.

Instead of placing the new diaper next to the baby, open it and place it under baby's butt, ready to go.

Now all you have to do is open the old diaper, use the diaper to wipe off as much poo as possible if applicable (this saves on wipes) and use a wipe to clean off the rest.

Roll up the old diaper, pull the straps over so it is 'taped into a ball', then set it aside so you can pull up the front of the new diaper and tape it on. Wha-La!

(*Changing a boys diaper is more dangerous. They have a firing weapon, and they love to use it. When changing a boys diaper, immediately place the wipe over his little squirtgun and be as quick as possible about fastening the new diaper.)

How To Bathe a Baby

Keep the water warmer than room temperature, but definitely not hot. Don't be so worried about the exact temperature... you're the mommy and instinct will tell you if it is too hot.

It is much easier to set the bathtub seat in the bathtub than it is to set in or next to a kitchen sink... assuming that you have a comfortable place to sit next to the tub. It's also going to make baby happier if baby is in warm water, as opposed to having a warm rag wash over him or her as they're set up next to the sink. (Think of the chills you feel when you get out of the shower and before you wrap up in a warm towel.)

Play with baby. Playing is the best part of having a baby around... and they need it too. Spend the first 5 minutes showing them to splash the water around, and squeezing water on their tummy. Maybe all babies don't like this... mine loves it.

Remember anything you treat like work, the baby will respond to the same. Bathtime can be about trying to quickly wash a screaming child, or giggles and coos while baby gets clean.

Using a warm washrag (before you try nuking the washrag, understand it's warm because it's been in warm water!) and baby wash... wash the baby! There's no certain order you need to follow. You can go clockwise, head to toes... whatever you want. Just be sure to rinse when you're done, and wrap baby quickly in a warm towel afterwards.

How To Not Stress So Much!

If you have a new baby, you also have unlimited advice. When you have people telling you how to do things, it can be very stressful.

Sometimes you hear so many conflicting things you don't know what to believe. Sometimes you feel like people are telling you that you don't know how to do things. You try to understand that they're just trying to be helpful... but every parent goes through this point.

Other parents know this point, but they forget. They feel the need to share their way of doing things. Sometimes it can be helpful. Sometimes.

Bottom line is, listen to advice but don't let it get to you. You may find a good tip here and there, but you really have to find what works for you. The best way to remember this is that every child is different. So your child may have different needs and wants than your cousins friend who has to be read to in order to fall asleep. Your child may prefer to be cuddled or danced with or sang too... etc.

The most important thing you can learn to do for yourself, child or no child... is to tell other people to stop. If they are doing anything that is causing you a problem, even if they are trying to be helpful... let them know. Any good friend or relative would take the hint if you didn't give them any other option. (In other words, be blunt. 'Stop telling me what to do. I know you're trying to help but I think I can handle it on my own and all this advice is just giving me a headache!)

How To Give Yourself A Break

In my own experience, childcare is a full time job. I chose to be a stay at home mother, and stick my husband with paying the bills so I can do what feels right for me. (For more on how to make the stay at home thing work, read my article on 'How to Be a Better Stay at Home Mom.') My job is a neverending one, and with that schedule anyone needs a break here and there.

It can be difficult to give yourself just those precious 5 minutes of you time when it has to go around the baby's time... they don't always want to give it to you when you need it. So you may never hear anyone else say it's okay to do this... but I will say it because a stressed mom makes a stressed baby.

If the baby is hungry... it is possible to feed them without holding them. Even if you are nursing you can store milk in a bottle. It is okay... once in a while... to 'prop the baby up.'

See as long as you are where you can see the baby, there are safe ways to lay the baby down, use a pillow or blanket to prop the bottle at the right angle, and the baby can eat without being held.

However, this is not something to do often. Babies, especially in their first year, need as much physical contact and attention as they can get. But it's knowledge and facts and advice that wear out the parents who try to do more and give more than they can take. If you need to do something like this, do it!

Keep an eye on how much the baby has drank... because they do need to be burped. (You know your own baby and when they need to burp.)

Be sure to set the bottle where it won't roll away... where it will stay properly in baby's mouth. This is obviously important for a number of reasons, the least obvious being that if the bottle is not 'propped properly', the baby will be crying every 2 seconds when they lose the bottle instead of giving you the peace you need. If you are resulting to propping a baby, you must already be at your wits end, and a frustrated overwhelmed mommy mixed with a crying baby is a recipe for more stress.

How to Tell if You May Have Post Partum Depression

It should be a happy time, possibly the happiest time of your life if this is a first child. Somehow, you're not reacting like you thought you would. Does that mean you have post partum depression? Not necessarily.

Pregnancy did a number to your hormones, and it's not over after you have the baby. Hormones will be hectic for a while longer.

On top of that, your life just changed dramatatically. It is no longer a day dream 'I'm going to have a baby.' It is suddenly a reality, 'I have a baby!' and even after 9 months the reality seems so unexpected.

Not everyone can leave the hospital smiling and glowing, eager to show off their newborn (you should wait 6 weeks before you bring a baby anywhere anyways.)

If you are having a hard time, you are feeling worn out more than you think you should... if you suspect in any way that you may be experiencing post partum... there is only one way to know for sure and it is very important you do this.

Go to your local mental health center. If you mention depression, you will have an appointment in about 2 weeks to a month, yet if you mention post partum depression they will try to get you in even quicker. Going for an evaluation does not make you crazy, it does not mean you're admitting weakness. It means that you want the best for your baby. Even if you don't have post partum, you can only take good care of your baby if you take good care of yourself.

How To Change a Diaper