I don't know how to take care of a baby!!!

channy3232 · Apr 23rd, 2009, 17:28 PM

I've been thinking about this lately. I don't know shit about taking care of a baby!! LOL I don't know how to bathe a baby. I'm going to get a breast pump but what bottles do I use?? I know how to change a diaper but what if I don't wipe his little butt well enough?!!

So many things!! Do they teach you some of this stuff before you leave the hospital??!

PuffinMuffin · Apr 23rd, 2009, 17:31 PM

LOL! I'm having this panic too, you'll be fine though and you get shown bathing and stuff at the hospital

Ravelyn · Apr 23rd, 2009, 17:35 PM

Do you have your mother or mother-in-law to help you out? Or some friends who have had some children?

Many of the things you do not know you will learn. They show you the basics before you leave the hospital. If you feel overwhelmed at the hospital tell your nurse. She will probably be able to offer you some parenting classes you can take.

Genna · Apr 23rd, 2009, 17:49 PM

Maternal Instincts

Have you not ever baby sat before? They really aren't too complex, you just need to be gentle, but seriously, it all kicks in and you kinda just know

tasha41 · Apr 23rd, 2009, 20:33 PM

They do teach you a lot at the hospital

Nurses taught us how to bathe Elyse, prepare her bottle, change a diaper even (when to use which creams), how to swaddle..

My homecare nurse told me the maternity ward, for nurses, is nearly 100% 'health education' as far as their duties go.

Dukechick · Apr 23rd, 2009, 20:36 PM

Heehee!! I have no clue either!! Well, I've seen people do it on TV, and I'm addicted to 'Baby Story' and 'Bringing Home Baby', but I still don't know all the 'RULES' hahah!! I'm hoping I'll learn in the hospital, and if not, I'm sure we'll figure it all out!

channy3232 · Apr 23rd, 2009, 21:38 PM

I've babysat before plenty. And I have neices and nephews but never took care of a NEWBORN. Like days old newborn. My mom and mom in law live nearby but I feel like I'm going to be calling them every other hour panicking about something silly.

PitBullMommy · Apr 23rd, 2009, 22:15 PM

I had the same exact freak out right before DD was born! Trust me, you'll figure it out and everything will be just fine. Most hospitals will teach you how to do the things you don't know how to do before you leave. Mine actually has a mandatory class you have to go to or they will NOT discharge you.

esther · Apr 23rd, 2009, 22:21 PM

I felt exactly the same but I found this great book on baby care, which covers everything from bathing, to breast feeding, to formula feeding, hygeine, dressing, sleeping - absolutely everything. I have read it and am now making OH read it because there was a lot I didn't know. You should go on amazon.com or something and find a book on baby care.

The one I have which I would highly recommend is called "New babycare book", a practical guide to teh first three years. The Author is Dr. Miriam Stoppard and the website for the book is www.dk.com

Hope this helps!

MommaT · Apr 23rd, 2009, 22:46 PM

What they don’t teach you in the hospital will come naturally. You know more than you think - we all do

Apr 23rd, 2009, 17:28 PM	#1
channy3232 Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Hershey, PA Posts: 2,561	I don't know how to take care of a baby!!! I've been thinking about this lately. I don't know shit about taking care of a baby!! LOL I don't know how to bathe a baby. I'm going to get a breast pump but what bottles do I use?? I know how to change a diaper but what if I don't wipe his little butt well enough?!! So many things!! Do they teach you some of this stuff before you leave the hospital??!

Status: Offline

Apr 23rd, 2009, 17:31 PM	#2
PuffinMuffin Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Bedfordshire, UK Posts: 136	LOL! I'm having this panic too, you'll be fine though and you get shown bathing and stuff at the hospital

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Apr 23rd, 2009, 17:35 PM	#3
Ravelyn Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Mississauga, Ontario Canada Posts: 892	Do you have your mother or mother-in-law to help you out? Or some friends who have had some children? Many of the things you do not know you will learn. They show you the basics before you leave the hospital. If you feel overwhelmed at the hospital tell your nurse. She will probably be able to offer you some parenting classes you can take.

Status: Offline

Apr 23rd, 2009, 17:49 PM	#4
Genna Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,696	Maternal Instincts Have you not ever baby sat before? They really aren't too complex, you just need to be gentle, but seriously, it all kicks in and you kinda just know

Status: Offline

Apr 23rd, 2009, 20:33 PM	#5
tasha41 Mum (Mom) BnB Spammer Elite Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 23,921	They do teach you a lot at the hospital Nurses taught us how to bathe Elyse, prepare her bottle, change a diaper even (when to use which creams), how to swaddle.. My homecare nurse told me the maternity ward, for nurses, is nearly 100% 'health education' as far as their duties go.

Status: Offline

Apr 23rd, 2009, 20:36 PM	#6
Dukechick Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 4,758	Heehee!! I have no clue either!! Well, I've seen people do it on TV, and I'm addicted to 'Baby Story' and 'Bringing Home Baby', but I still don't know all the 'RULES' hahah!! I'm hoping I'll learn in the hospital, and if not, I'm sure we'll figure it all out!

Status: Offline

Apr 23rd, 2009, 21:38 PM	#7
channy3232 Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Hershey, PA Posts: 2,561	I've babysat before plenty. And I have neices and nephews but never took care of a NEWBORN. Like days old newborn. My mom and mom in law live nearby but I feel like I'm going to be calling them every other hour panicking about something silly.

Status: Offline

Apr 23rd, 2009, 22:15 PM	#8
PitBullMommy Other BnB Addict Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Norwich, CT Posts: 3,332	I had the same exact freak out right before DD was born! Trust me, you'll figure it out and everything will be just fine. Most hospitals will teach you how to do the things you don't know how to do before you leave. Mine actually has a mandatory class you have to go to or they will NOT discharge you.

Status: Offline

Apr 23rd, 2009, 22:21 PM	#9
esther Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Australia, Brisbane Posts: 2,468	I felt exactly the same but I found this great book on baby care, which covers everything from bathing, to breast feeding, to formula feeding, hygeine, dressing, sleeping - absolutely everything. I have read it and am now making OH read it because there was a lot I didn't know. You should go on amazon.com or something and find a book on baby care. The one I have which I would highly recommend is called "New babycare book", a practical guide to teh first three years. The Author is Dr. Miriam Stoppard and the website for the book is www.dk.com Hope this helps!

Status: Offline

Apr 23rd, 2009, 22:46 PM	#10
MommaT Pregnant (Expecting) Active BnB Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Victoria, BC Posts: 412	What they don’t teach you in the hospital will come naturally. You know more than you think - we all do

Status: Offline

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