Not tech related, new father post.

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sdavisnz

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Topic # 191261 29-Jan-2016 17:51

hey guys,

Im soon to be a new father, just found out me and my partner are having a baby girl in 5 months.

I know alot of you guys are parents, any tips for preparing for a baby girl?

cheers

steve.

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Reply # 1481390 29-Jan-2016 17:57

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My wife and i have a baby girl, born November last year. I think preparing for a girl is the same as a boy. I do recommend going to an antenatal class though.

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All comments are my own opinion, and not that of my employer unless explicitly stated.

Sounddude

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Reply # 1481397 29-Jan-2016 18:00

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I have a 2.5yr old boy and having a girl in 3 weeks.

My only tip is to share night the jobs with your partner. Don't both be awake at the same time. Otherwise you both end up being exhausted and grumpy.

sdavisnz

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Reply # 1481398 29-Jan-2016 18:01

Sounddude:

I have a 2.5yr old boy and having a girl in 3 weeks.

My only tip is to share night the jobs with your partner. Don't both be awake at the same time. Otherwise you both end up being exhausted and grumpy.

Good advice, That will come in handy :)

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gregmcc

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Reply # 1481400 29-Jan-2016 18:04

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sdavisnz:

hey guys,

Im soon to be a new father, just found out me and my partner are having a baby girl in 5 months.

I know alot of you guys are parents, any tips for preparing for a baby girl?

cheers

steve.

You've got about 13-14 years to prepare yourself......Teenage girls can be real problems......

blackjack17

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Reply # 1481403 29-Jan-2016 18:10

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At newborn age till no nappies the main difference between a boy and girl is with a girl you won't get peed in the face. After that sex of the child is what you make of it. My 2 year old loves planes and cars and dogs and mud and pretty dresses and hugs and hair and ...

As far as for a new father advice,

things take time, everything going out, going to bed, getting up, it all takes so much more time than you think.
Your wife is going to be hopeless for months (but so will you).
Breastfeeding is hard and will take months for your wife to get right (worse case), but if she can't then there is nothing wrong with bottle.
Keep your house clean and tidy, forget the memes, a clean and tidy house will remove so much stress, don't be afraid of it getting messy but ensure it is tidied before you go to sleep.
most toys are rubbish, your daughter wont like them, you don't need them and they take up space
books are great
reusable nappies are well worth it.
heaps more but putting mine to bed now

Batman

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Reply # 1481407 29-Jan-2016 18:26

1. Learn to hate sleep. Really really hate it. And then learn to hate everything you like, just don't even think about doing the things you want to do. Ever again.

2. If you are a control freak, might as well just die now. You will never be in control of anything. Of when you sleep, wake, eat, go to toilet, leave the house, be at the mall, be at work, gym .... etc

3. Learn to expect the unexpected and laugh at everything. Learn the meaning of the lady is always right. Because when she it tired, you're going to get it. Big time. And she's going to be tired. All. The. Time. Especially when you are more tired. Heard of judge judy? She's in your house. You just don't know it yet.

4. Oh, better hate money too. Might as well give it to everyone else, the shops, the supermarket.

Batman

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Reply # 1481410 29-Jan-2016 18:29

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Oh, tips.

Umm, attend the antenatal classes.

Don't assume that what works for other babies will work for yours. Might, might not.

Every one is different, every baby is more different.

floydbloke

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Reply # 1481423 29-Jan-2016 18:53

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One thing that worked for us: Routine..

..feeding time, play time, nap time, bath time, story time, bed time

Most of the trouble in the world is caused by people wanting to be important. (T.S. Eliot)

blackjack17

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Reply # 1481425 29-Jan-2016 18:55

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and cont.

the birth will be different, my daughters took 40 minutes of full on labour, my sister in law almost 2 days.
listen to your midwife but don't accept as gospel (I would have had a home birth otherwise and probably lost my wife)
make sure you give yourself time, you are useless to your wife and kid if stressed to the max.
grandparents are awesome, until they aren't, don't be afraid to tell your or her parents to f off.
don't accept any visitors for at at least 24 hours after the birth
every kid sleeps/eats/... different

make sure you seek help if you or your wife isn't coping parents, counselors, friends, here, i am sure there are a number here willing to take pms

Do you have many friends with kids? Has your wife sought out her due date group on facebook? Where are you based?

MikeB4

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Reply # 1481427 29-Jan-2016 18:59

congratulations

Prepare for fun that's all

Mike
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The great divide is the lies from both sides.

vexxxboy

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Reply # 1481429 29-Jan-2016 19:02

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use common sense, if you do it's really hard to get much wrong. It's actually quite easy until they reach 2-3, then the fun starts.

Common sense is not as common as you think.

bradh310

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Reply # 1481433 29-Jan-2016 19:13

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- Don't stock up on one brand of nappies. Get a small pack of different ones as some will fit her better than others. Once you know what works, stock up on those ones.

- Have one of your partners friends on call as your partner may go through a bit of a rough patch and having one of her friends on hand to pop over and take her out (or you and baby go out) is a big help. Post Natal Depression is very common and having one of her friends available / on standby will be a big big help to both of you.

- Take lots of photos

- Put a sign/marker on your front gate/letterbox/door you advise family/friends about. When the sign is up/out - No visitors. This gives you control of when you see people and ensures knocks at the front door don't wake you or baby up

Handle9

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Reply # 1481438 29-Jan-2016 19:23

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Congratulations!

You're about to go through the highest highs and a few tough times. It's pretty hard at times totally worth it. My big girl turned 4 yesterday and my little one is 20 months. They are awesome and I love coming home to them.

You'll also get really sick of people giving you advice. Smile nod and do what you and your partner figure that works for you. It's your child, other people aren't there at 3am when you take the baby to bed with you cause it's been screaming for 4 hours. It's not what the experts say but sometimes you just have to get to tomorrow. If you are doing what is right for your family you are doing the right thing regardless of what anyone else says.

Also randoms are going to touch your partner's bump when she gets big -it's really weird and creepy but they do.

sdavisnz

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Reply # 1481443 29-Jan-2016 19:32

Handle9:

Congratulations!

You're about to go through the highest highs and a few tough times. It's pretty hard at times totally worth it. My big girl turned 4 yesterday and my little one is 20 months. They are awesome and I love coming home to them.

You'll also get really sick of people giving you advice. Smile nod and do what you and your partner figure that works for you. It's your child, other people aren't there at 3am when you take the baby to bed with you cause it's been screaming for 4 hours. It's not what the experts say but sometimes you just have to get to tomorrow. If you are doing what is right for your family you are doing the right thing regardless of what anyone else says.

Also randoms are going to touch your partner's bump when she gets big -it's really weird and creepy but they do.

Ive heard about people touching the belly,

Soooo weird, but hey i guess thats just what happens, thanks for the other advice also, Im not sick of people giving me advice just yet :)

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DravidDavid

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Reply # 1481481 29-Jan-2016 20:22

Just came to say congratulations! I'm looking forward to learning new things too. Some days, I really wish I had a child. Other days the thought plunges me in to some kind of mini seizure of confusion. Perhaps I should adopt an older child and work my way backwards, haha.

Congratulations again and good luck to your sir! There are many happy moments ahead I'm sure. :)

Sometimes what you don't get is a blessing in disguise!

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