The 'Holy crap I'm going to become a Dad' thread
Discussion
I'm about to become a dad, well, not rightl not but at the start of November. My older brother and most of my mates, they've not been through it before, so I've very little in terms of 1st hand experience to call on.
One of the things that worries me, is what the hell does a little person need? You see in the magazines all the stuff that small people come with, but what are the essentials?
Also, any hints and tips that the PH Mums and Dads would like to share? This thread isn't just for me, it's like a mums meeting, but for the dads to be of PH whos research has only extended to finding out that Revaro make the coolest baby seats!!!
One of the things that worries me, is what the hell does a little person need? You see in the magazines all the stuff that small people come with, but what are the essentials?
Also, any hints and tips that the PH Mums and Dads would like to share? This thread isn't just for me, it's like a mums meeting, but for the dads to be of PH whos research has only extended to finding out that Revaro make the coolest baby seats!!!
Car seat! Check 
Car to put said seat in. Check
Thing for it to sleep in and bedding. Check
I was in charge of the car seat!
I think part of the issue is that you have so much info thrown at you, you've no idea what you actually need and what's just marketing guff.
Our first A-N class said that we will need at least 6 outfits for the little person to wear when he/she arrives! 6?! That'll last me a week or two or three
Car to put said seat in. Check
Thing for it to sleep in and bedding. Check
I was in charge of the car seat!
I think part of the issue is that you have so much info thrown at you, you've no idea what you actually need and what's just marketing guff.
Our first A-N class said that we will need at least 6 outfits for the little person to wear when he/she arrives! 6?! That'll last me a week or two or three
Congatulations Be prepared for 20 very expensive years. The stuff babies need is nothing compared to the brequirements of a teenager.
Others have listed the stuff you need for this stage so I won't. But one invaluable purchase is muslin squares to put over your shoulder, saves getting baby vomit down your back
Be prepared for 20 very expensive years. The stuff babies need is nothing compared to the brequirements of a teenager.Others have listed the stuff you need for this stage so I won't. But one invaluable purchase is muslin squares to put over your shoulder, saves getting baby vomit down your back
boobles said:
Congratulations mate... Which child seat did you go for?
A Maxi-Cosi CabrioFix, I think it also clips straight on to the buggy that we have bought.blueg33 said:
But one invaluable purchase is muslin squares to put over your shoulder, saves getting baby vomit down your back
Thanks, it's little things like that which I'm sure I will over look (although the wife might be all over it!) and will be useful.You will need more clothes for them than you think as they grow at a fearsome rate.
Also they do like to make a mess of themselves!
I presume you have already got the other stuff you need like, moses basket/cot, bath, blankets, baby monitor, bottles, etc, etc, etc.
It really is quite a strange process going through the birth, to me it didn't seem half as scary as I thought it would be and it is a big eye opener!
Congratulations and enjoy.
BTW, it gets easier after a year.
Also they do like to make a mess of themselves!
I presume you have already got the other stuff you need like, moses basket/cot, bath, blankets, baby monitor, bottles, etc, etc, etc.
It really is quite a strange process going through the birth, to me it didn't seem half as scary as I thought it would be and it is a big eye opener!
Congratulations and enjoy.
BTW, it gets easier after a year.
Ritchie335is said:
You will need more clothes for them than you think as they grow at a fearsome rate.
Also they do like to make a mess of themselves!
I presume you have already got the other stuff you need like, moses basket/cot, bath, blankets, baby monitor, bottles, etc, etc, etc.
It really is quite a strange process going through the birth, to me it didn't seem half as scary as I thought it would be and it is a big eye opener!
Congratulations and enjoy.
BTW, it gets easier after a year.
I don't think we have all of that stuff, although the wife might have been buying stuff this month. I've not seen too much of her as I've been working overnights since the start of September, have a couple of weeks off coming up so plan to ensure we are ship shape by then. So the contents of the etc etc etc would be intersting Also they do like to make a mess of themselves!
I presume you have already got the other stuff you need like, moses basket/cot, bath, blankets, baby monitor, bottles, etc, etc, etc.
It really is quite a strange process going through the birth, to me it didn't seem half as scary as I thought it would be and it is a big eye opener!
Congratulations and enjoy.
BTW, it gets easier after a year.
blueg33 said:
Congatulations Be prepared for 20 very expensive years. The stuff babies need is nothing compared to the brequirements of a teenager.
Others have listed the stuff you need for this stage so I won't. But one invaluable purchase is muslin squares to put over your shoulder, saves getting baby vomit down your back
I never got this - point it away from you! 4 kids and never been vomited on yet! Be prepared for 20 very expensive years. The stuff babies need is nothing compared to the brequirements of a teenager.Others have listed the stuff you need for this stage so I won't. But one invaluable purchase is muslin squares to put over your shoulder, saves getting baby vomit down your back
theboyfold said:
boobles said:
Congratulations mate... Which child seat did you go for?
A Maxi-Cosi CabrioFix, I think it also clips straight on to the buggy that we have bought.blueg33 said:
But one invaluable purchase is muslin squares to put over your shoulder, saves getting baby vomit down your back
Thanks, it's little things like that which I'm sure I will over look (although the wife might be all over it!) and will be useful.
blueg33 said:
Tiggsy said:
I never got this - point it away from you! 4 kids and never been vomited on yet!
Some babies burp better over the shoulder. [/mumsnet]Your sanity first, babies preference second!
CHIEF said:
My first is due in 7 weeks and i'm crapping it, Totally knew to all this sort of stuff. Worrying about getting sleep lol but worrying about being able to afford to keep the little nipper.
Little nippers are cheap compared with teenagers! School bus and school dinners alone for my 2 is over £3k paVixpy1 said:
Congrats..
T Minus 3 weeks here
Good luck! I remember you talking about this at VMax, I thought 'we' were due around the same sort of timeT Minus 3 weeks here
blueg33 said:
CHIEF said:
My first is due in 7 weeks and i'm crapping it, Totally knew to all this sort of stuff. Worrying about getting sleep lol but worrying about being able to afford to keep the little nipper.
Little nippers are cheap compared with teenagers! School bus and school dinners alone for my 2 is over £3k patheboyfold said:
One of the things that worries me, is what the hell does a little person need? You see in the magazines all the stuff that small people come with, but what are the essentials?
A million guys a day become dads, it is not a miracle. Some milk, a warm place to kip, and most babies are happy. King Herald said:
A million guys a day become dads, it is not a miracle. Some milk, a warm place to kip, and most babies are happy.
This - there is an entire industry built around crap you dont need. Food, warmth, shelter - jobs done. There are a million things that may make life easier....but not much you NEED.(though this will probably be read by the time you've already bought a CCTV based, movement sensing cot alarm!
)blueg33 said:
Nope. They poo in any position!
Oh indeed!I recall being hysterical with (slightly unhinged) laughter when as soon as the nappy was off, my daughter pooed like a fire hydrant - the power & range was quite remarkable...
It's also remarkable at how blasé you get at cleaning up the most obnoxious substances!
I found this book quite good & well written: Fatherhood: The Truth
But ignore most of the adverts, you don't need half of it. We bought a baby sling for example but never got to use it. The advertisers pictures of a young family strolling through gardens just doesn't happen.
Expect to be tired. Dog tired. (perhaps it was worse for us in our 40's though). So whenever we ventured out it was always with the pram - for us to hang on to!
Prepare to be amazed by the physical properties of newborn poo. Quite remarkable
All you really need:
Car seat & some sort of pram. It helps if you can clip the car seat onto the pram but you don't actually need to be able to do that for very long so it's not essential.
Moses basket/base.
Muslin squares.
Steriliser & bottles if bottle feeding.
A bouncy seat thing, helped ours go to sleep.
Other than that, just go with the flow & try to enjoy it. It gets even betetr when they start interacting with you. I can't believe mine is now 19 months old & absorbing stuff like a sponge. Fantastic to see.
You'll get given loads of clothes so get the bare minimum beforehand. You'll end up with more newborn clothes than you can use & not enough 6-12 month stuff. You'll spot the experienced parent gifters as they'll give you stuff for later on
Trust your instincts, get calpol & Ashton teethign powders a bit further down the line. Ignore busy-bodies telling you that you've got to do it their way and have fun.
Oh, and watch out for The Mental...
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