It’s true that in the early days with your new baby housework is not a priority. I totally agree with this statement. But as time rolls on and your baby gets a little older, there comes a time when you can’t use this excuse any longer. You need to clean your house….arrgghh!!

I love finding little tid bits of information and this one is a real cracker. When you have a little baby to look after, who doesn’t want to complete their housework quicker?

“It’s a rare person among us who looks forward to cleaning the house. I certainly don’t, but a clean house is something I enjoy perhaps too much.

I love a clean, uncluttered house, and I’m not afraid to admit it.

So how does a person like me — a clean freak — get the house nice and clean without too much work? I’m sure you know by now that if I can keep things simple, I’m happy.

I constantly experiment with ways to simplify my house-cleaning routine, and what follows are some options I’ve experimented with or am trying out now. Not all methods will appeal to everyone, but I’m hoping that at least a few of the ideas will have some use to you, and perhaps inspire a simpler routine in your life.”

Read the full article here…

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Leaving the comfort and convenience of your house with your new born baby can be very anxiety provoking. Apart from the obvious spare nappies (or diapers depending on where you are from), there are a few other items that I have to include in my Baby Survival Guide nappy bag. Here are the things that I have to have, if I am to confidently leave the house with my baby.

Baby wipes

These are great for almost anything. Of course, cleaning your baby during changing time, but also great for cleaning food off hands and mouths, spills off friends’ carpets and baby vomit off your clothes. So versatile, these are a must.

Change mat

Most nappy / diaper bags come with these already. But if your bag doesn’t have one, you can pick them up fairly cheaply from any good baby supply store. Or you can even get disposable ones, which are great if you are out and you have to change your baby in a public change station. Once you’re done, you can just throw any lingering germs away.

Barrier cream / ointment

I started out using a barrier cream specifically designed for nappy rash but I found these were too thin and just came off my baby’s bottom too easily. I ended up switching to pure lanolin which was much cheaper and worked much better because it was so thick. Once I switched I never had a problem with nappy rash again.

Change of clothes

I can’t recommend this enough. You don’t want to be caught out if your baby has a messy bowel movement or spits up all over his clothes. It’s always best to have a spare change of clothing in case of these emergencies (which definitely do happen!). If you are going to be away from home for a long period of time, I would even suggest bring a few changes of outfit.

Disposable plastic nappy bags

Ok, so they are not very environmentally friendly, but they really are essential if you want to contain your baby’s messes hygienically. Most are scented and have easy tie handles. You can wrap your baby’s nappies up in them and no smells will escape. You will find they have multiple uses (storing clothes which get soiled during your outings or disposing of used baby wipes or tissues) and if you know where to look, you can pick them up really cheaply. I don’t buy the common brands from the supermarket, instead I get mine from discount stores. I can get packs of 150 for $2. So look out for them in your local bargain shop and save some money too.

Add these tips to your baby survival guide to help you get out and about confidently in those first few months - it will really help with your sanity. I would love to hear your suggestions on what you have found to be essential items to put in your nappy bag.

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A bedtime routine was definitely one of the most important elements of my baby survival guide. Even though my baby didn’t start to sleep through the night until he was nine and a half months old, the bedtime routine we created became something that not only my baby relied on, but my husband and I also.

I found that following a similar pattern of events every night in the lead up to my baby’s bedtime, provided cues to my baby that night time (and therefore a longer stretch of sleep) was imminent. A bedtime routine sends clear messages that it is time for bed and therefore allows babies to settle more easily.

As you progress through your routine each night, it gives your baby time to wind down. We don’t just jump into bed and expect to go to sleep do we? We normally have a process or a routine that we go through to help us go to sleep (e.g. Have a shower, brush our teeth, jump into bed, toss and turn a little until we’re in a comfortable sleep position). It’s the same for your baby. A night time routine allows your baby to know what to expect.

My husband and I also found it great, because we always had some time to ourselves in the evening. Before we implemented a routine, our baby was going to bed at different times every night and often really late in the evening. The routine was imperative in keeping our sanity. Looking after a baby is so full on, you need sometime in the evenings to relax before you go to bed and then get up and do it all again the next day.

Now, I know you are probably thinking “I don’t want to follow a strict or regimented routine.” But I assure you, I this is not what I mean at all. You need to create a routine that suits your baby and your family. For example, you might have other children to work around or your partner might come home later in the evening and want to spend some time with your baby before he/she goes to sleep. I totally agree that routines which you have to follow down to the minute far too inflexible. Babies are so changeable and have no concept of time and I found sticking to one of these routines nearly impossible. Creating a bedtime routine is really about having some relaxing time at the end of the day with your baby for so everyone can wind down after a big day.

This is the loose routine that we followed at around 6:00pm at night. But as I said, it wouldn’t occur at exactly these times each night because life happens.

6:00pm – final breastfeed or bottlefeed
6:30pm – bath
6:45pm – top up feed
6:50pm – Swaddle or wrap your baby
6:55pm – short story
7:00pm – bed

If you are worried about your baby falling asleep at the breast or bottle with the top of up feed then leave this one out. I had a very awake baby so this didn’t really cause a problem for me. Also, as my baby got older and could have bigger feeds he started to take more at the 6:00pm final feed and phase out the top up feed himself.

Really, the most important part of the routine is the bath. The warm water just relaxes babies so well, especially on a full tummy. Even if you don’t want to try any other elements of a routine, just try a warm bath at around the same time every night and see if your baby starts to sleep better after a few weeks.

One thing that concerned me when I started our bedtime routine was that my baby might need me to perform the routine for his naps during the day as well. I never once encountered this problem. I guess that ‘s the beauty of a bedtime routine, you can make it different to every other part of the day so that your baby begins to know that it is time for a longer stretch of sleep (night time). During the days I just changed my baby’s diaper, read him a quick story (normally about 2 - 5 minutes) and then put him to bed. I never had any confusion with the night time routine during the day because I made each one different.

I will say one thing though, I have read in many books that a night time routine is essential for getting your baby to sleep through the night. I have found this to be rubbish. A night time routine isn’t a guarantee that your baby will settle straight away or will sleep through the night any earlier. As I explained previously, we had a night time routine set up fairly early, but our baby still didn’t sleep through the night until he was nine and half months old. Particularly when your baby is really small, you have to expect that your baby is going to need your help with settling and will wake up during the night for feeding.

A night time routine in the early days is not a failsafe way to get your baby to sleep. But you will find after a few weeks and definitely after few months of following a loose routine, your baby will begin to know what to expect and it will make settling him much easier in the long run. By the time our baby was about 3 months old we could put him in his cot awake and he would go to sleep all by himself. I also found that after a few months of following a bedtime routine, even though my baby would wake, the time between each waking would get longer and longer. Think of beginning a bedtime routine as an ‘investment in your future time’. It will pay off eventually. Once your baby is old enough to get into the rhythm of the routine, he will love it just as much as you do. I hope you can add this to your baby survival guide and get a better night’s sleep.

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When I first thought of compiling my baby survival guide, I knew a list of tired signs had to be included. Recognizing tired signs in your baby can be very difficult at first, especially if you don’t know what you should be looking for. It took me a few months to realize that some of the strange behaviors my baby was exhibiting, actually meant he was ready for sleep. These ten were the signs that I found the most reliable for recognizing that my baby was ready for sleep.

Tired sign #1 - Yawning

I know it sound obvious, but you’re often busy doing things and you may miss this one.

Tired sign #2 - Pulling ears

This was often the most obvious tired sign for my baby. I could always tell (and still can) when my baby was ready for sleep as soon as he started pulling his ears.

Tired sign #3 - Red eyebrows

Particularly noticeable in younger babies. My little one always had red eyebrows and I never knew what I meant until I asked my child health nurse. As they get older (over 6 months) this sign becomes less noticeable.

Tired sign #4 - Jerky movements

This one is also particularly noticeable in younger babies as they have less control over their bodies. Once again, as they get older this tired sign becomes less noticeable.

Tired sign #5 - Clingy – Wanting to be held

You know your little one is ready for sleep when he wants to be held constantly and screams if you try to put him down.

Tired sign #6 - Constant crying or screaming

When this happens, you can often assume your little one is sick. However, before reaching for your thermometer just try settling them in their bed and see if they will go to sleep. Often they are just so over tired they can’t control their little emotions anymore and begin to cry uncontrollably. Often they can be completely inconsolable.

Tired sign #7 - Grizzling

Your baby may not be crying or screaming as above, but might still be very grizzly or whiney.

Tired sign #8 - Watery Eyes

This is another obvious one, as this is present even with adults and often accompanies excessive yawning. I know even when I am tired this happens to me.

Tired sign #9 - Red rimmed eyes

Enough said – you all know what this one looks like

Tired sign #10 - Arched back

Babies do this quite a lot when they are newborns, so at first, I thought my little one was in pain. But after a while, I finally realized that he did this when was tired. Even though this was the case with my baby, if you think your baby is in pain, you should always get her/him examined by a doctor just in case.

Ok… I’ve seen a tired sign, what now?

Once you start to see tired signs, it is important to try and get your baby to bed as soon as possible. You actually only have a short window of time to get your baby to bed before they become over tired ( which can make settling them much harder) and the younger your baby is, the shorter the window of time. For young babies, it can be as short as 5 – 10 minutes. From 6 months on you can get away with leaving it for a little longer.

I really hope these baby survival guide tips help you recognize the tired signs in your little one. I know just how difficult it is to get a baby to sleep and catching them before they get overtired can save you a lot of frustration. Happy sleeping.

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It’s hard work writing articles for My Baby Survival Guide, so over the weekend my husband and I took our baby to the beach to escape the heat. Before we headed into the water, we decided to blow up a small floatation ring that my mother-in-law had given to our son as a present. It was in the shape of a race car and even had a spoiler, steering wheel and horn – very cool.

But what amazed me was what came to my mind when I looked at the picture on the box. The picture was just like any that you might find on the front of a box for a swim ring. The little baby was perched inside the ring and the mother was gently towing the baby through the water. There was however one notable difference in the picture – the baby was pulling on his ear. I immediately showed my husband and pointed out “That baby is tired”.

I didn’t think anything of my comment until a few hours later when I sat back and realized that just a few short months ago, I would have never given that image a second thought. And I definitely wouldn’t have been able to identify that the child was tired just by looking at the picture. I now know that ear pulling is a classic tired sign in babies. It just goes to show how much baby related knowledge you learn so quickly when you become a parent, often without even consciously doing so. Even if you are a new mother, before long you will build up your own repertoire of knowledge and have your own baby survival guide to refer back to .

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I remember the first night (and only) night that I spent alone in hospital with my baby. My husband had gone home to sleep after a 17 hour labor and I was left by myself with this tiny new fragile life, with absolutely no idea how to comfort, soothe or otherwise keep it quiet!!

After sleeping right through that day, my baby decided at about 10:00pm that he would wake up and scream down the maternity ward. I remember feeling so vulnerable and so embarrassed that I couldn’t soothe my screaming baby… I was his mother after all. My baby’s screaming was waking the other mother and baby in our room and this just added to the pressure. I stood with my baby, pacing the small area around my bed trying to calm my little one back to sleep. It was then that I really thought to myself, that you don’t get a manual. Nothing can prepare you for how to parent this tiny life. I had absolutely no idea what to do.

The icing on the cake came when one of the nurses came into my room and asked “Do you want me to take your baby to the nurse’s station so I can calm him down and you can get some sleep?” I was absolutely devastated. I felt then, only a few hours after his birth, that I couldn’t parent my own child. Even though, I see in hindsight now that she only wanted me to get some sleep, I hated her at the time. She made me feel so incapable.

The next day I told my husband I wouldn’t stay there another night and asked the hospital for an early release. It was the best thing I did. As soon as I got home I started to relax. I felt like I could parent my child the way I wanted to, without any judgment of hospital staff or other mothers residing in the hospital.

After a while though, I sat back and realized that the staff at the hospital weren’t judging me. I was judging myself. Trying to soothe a newborn with absolutely no experience is the hardest thing in the world. And I was expecting myself to be an expert from the outset. I didn’t give myself a break. I thought I had to know it all right then and there. I thought I should know it all right then and there. I was so paranoid about what others would think of me that I couldn’t relax.

I really want to urge all new parents out there to not put too much pressure on yourself. Your baby doesn’t come with an instruction manual but trust your instincts - they are right!! You can look after your child better than anyone else and better than any ‘expert’ says - because that child is yours! Please don’t think that you have to know it all straight away… you don’t. And please do not worry about what anyone says. People are so quick to dish out advice to new parents when they really should just be quiet. You have enough to worry about without having to figure out which is the best way (of the seven ways you have been told) to settle your baby.  Even if you make mistakes, remember you rock! Your the best caregiver that your child can have. Besides, your baby won’t know that you’re new to parenting. Enjoy.

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I felt it very necessary to cover colic in the baby survival guide because when my baby had terrible colic, I couldn’t find any really useful tips for dealing with it. I really had to find out the hard way.

Colic is normally diagnosed in babies that cry intensely for extended periods of time and cannot be settled. They often pull their legs up to their chest as if they are in pain and normally have their fists clenched. Their faces go bright red with all the screaming and honestly look like they are in terrible pain. These crying episodes often begin in the early evening and go on for many hours

My baby had terrible colic. He once cried from 3:30 in the afternoon till about 11:30 that night. But I had a lot of trouble trying to find anything out about how to treat it. Some people don’t even believe that colic exists. I read a few books and articles stating that colic was just an ‘unsettled period’ in the evening and was mostly due to over stimulation. Supporters of this position believe babies receive so much stimulation during the day, that by the time evening rolls around, they are just over stimulated and can’t handle it anymore and just crack! Others believe the old ‘baby wind’ theory and try and encourage you to do all sorts of things to relieve your baby’s wind. This left me really unsure of where to turn, so I pretty much tried everything. Here are a few things that worked for me:

Colic tip #1

Take your baby outside.

This helped me so much. I don’t know if it was the fresh air, the change of environment or just the distraction, but this really helped in the early evening for me. It was made much easier however, as we were during day light savings at the time, but try to get out as much as possible in the early evening with you baby. Just show them around the garden or take them for a walk. It worked wonders for me.

Colic tip #2

Sing to your baby.

This is really helpful when it’s late evening and you can’t go outside. Your baby will love the sound of your voice, and even if he continues to scream, it will still be calming him somewhat. He is used to the sound of your voice from when he was in the womb so it is very comforting for him. It can also help you focus on something else too and alleviate some of the stress you will no doubt be feeling. Swaying or rocking your baby will also help.

Colic tip #3

Carry your baby in a sling.

This is great for when you need to get some things done and your baby just won’t settle. If you put your baby in a sling, he will be calmed by your movement as you go about your chores and will be soothed by your heart beating. This is also much easier than pacing whilst holding your baby, as your arms won’t get tired.

Colic tip #4

Put your baby in a motorized swing.

These are well worth the investment. This worked for me when all else failed. The rocking motion of the swing is very calming for baby and often you can adjust the speed of the swing to suit your baby’s preference. Swings are really good if you are trying to prepare an evening meal. You can pop your baby in it and they can watch what you are doing and you can supervise them fully.

Colic tip #5

Give your baby a warm bath.

This tip really came to my rescue a few times. The warm water is very familiar and great for soothing your baby. My baby found it even more soothing if I went in the bath with him, where I could breastfeed him also. I always made sure that someone else was around if I went in the bath with my baby just in case I needed a hand or something went wrong. But of course, you could chose to stay out of the water and just let your baby enjoy some time in the tub by himself (with your constant supervision, of course)

Colic tip #6

Don’t over feed your baby.

This is addressed in detail in one of my other posts, but no one ever told me that you can over feed your baby - I was actually told the opposite. If colic is caused by wind, I definitely think that this was a contributing factor to my baby’s colic because once I started to space out my feedings he really started to settle down. It makes sense too. If a baby already has a bit of wind and then you keep on feeding him, it’s only going to add to his discomfort. Look for other ways other than feeding to comfort your baby like giving him a pacifier or trying one of the other tips listed.

Colic tip #6

Get your baby checked by a doctor for excessive wind or reflux.

For a along time I thought that my baby’s colic was just caused by wind, but after a few months without any change, I took him to a doctor where the doctor put him on a treatment for reflux. It is hard for me to know whether the treatment worked or whether he just grew out of his colicky behavior, but it did seem to help a little. Often reflux will not always present with excessive vomiting. My baby hardly spat up at all, but did have some silent reflux (where the acid from the stomach travels back up into the oesophagus causing burning and discomfort). It’s always best to get your baby checked if you feel his behavior is just not right. I am glad I did because the treatment the doctor prescribed did help somewhat.

Colic tip #7

Share the comforting with someone else.

This really helped me, because sometimes, you just can’t handle the crying anymore and you need someone else to take over. Enlist the help of someone else, either your partner, a parent or a friend whom you trust. My husband and I used to take it in turns, kind of like tag team, when he had had enough it was my turn and vice versa. Not only is this advantageous to you as a caregiver (it gives you a well deserved break) but it is also advantageous to your baby. Often you can spend hours trying to settle your baby, only to find your partner or mother does it in a few minutes. Babies often respond to different comforting techniques from different people - and this can vary from day to day.

Colic tip #8

Try to relax and remember it won’t last forever.

I know you are all going to hate me for writing this because I hated it when people told me this. I know that it is absolutely no consolation for you while you are experiencing it, and you feel like it will never get better - but trust me, it does. Whether it be because babies digestives tracts mature and they no longer have wind or reflux or because the baby just out grows the behavior, but it does eventually get better. Normally colicky symptoms tend to subside around 12 weeks. This was pretty spot on with my baby. He really started to come good at around 10 weeks. But of course every baby is different and it can last longer. Just try to take one day at a time.

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My baby survival guide is a guide written by a first time mother for all parents who want a guide for helping to care for their baby. Nothing or no-one can prepare you for what it takes to care for a new baby. When I first brought my baby home, I was completely out of my depth. I had no idea how to care for this vulnerable little life. And although my baby didn’t come with a instruction manual, I wish he had.

I remember saying to my husband, “No one told me that it would be like this”. I had to find things out the hard (and long) way, and vowed to myself that I would record all of the little hints and tips that made my life easier so that I could use them again with my next child. One day I thought, however, this information could help others too. I knew that I had spent hours researching things on the internet myself, only to come away with little more information than when I had started.

Hence, the purpose of My Baby Survival Guide, is to provide you with all the little tid-bits of information that helped me with my baby and to save you the time and heart-ache involved with discovering them yourself.

I also want to be able to hear your point of view on topics that are raised. The more issues that can be discussed out in the open, the easier it will be for other parents who come after us to have access to this information.

I am by no means an expert on parenting, many of the things I will post about will have been discovered through trial and error. I am just a first time mum with a wish to help all other parents and make their jobs a little easier by revealing some of the tricks that worked for me and my baby. I don’t want others to have the same feelings of “No one told me it would be like this”.

My baby survival guide - a guide to surviving those first difficult months with your precious new baby. It’s like the baby instruction manual you never had.

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