[Beautiful]

No, not mine, sillies! But someone very very very close to me is pregnant or is going to be pregnant fairly soon! The mother is in college, and the father works 5 days a week, leaving me to be taking care of the baby during most of the day. I have babysat before, but nothing like this. I have always had help! I know how to burp a baby, change the diaper, prepare a bottle, feed, bathe, etc. so those things I am not stressed about. I am more stressed over the holding/carrying the baby around, and a crib/sleeping area. I don't like bending far over because I don't have a seatbelt, so I would want something higher up.

So I was just wondering if there as any advice for:

1. Carrying
2. Sleeping

I have heard a lot of opinions about a sling, something like this http://www.mayawrap.com/ has anyone used something like this before? It looks like it would work, but I would be afraid of smothering the baby, or having it roll out!

Also, I have heard a lot about Moses Baskets, or whatever they are called. Has anyone tried those?

Thanks!

[dangerousdave]

When my nieces had theirs the little bundles of trouble lived in car seats and the bleating bundles could live on a table of the ground (that was my problem, lifting them from ground to table or lap level)
When they got bigger and lived in a playing area, was easier for me to get on the ground and tickel them to death

Think outside the problem and you will find your solutions

Babies are great - when they are someone elses

Sleeping is easy - give em some brandy or one of your tabs - only joking

This post has been edited by dangerousdave: 16 February 2010 - 11:44 AM

[Tetracyclone]

Beautiful,

Gordon posted some great information in one of the threads on home alterations about his set up when his kids were babies. go search.

[LuckyinKentucky]

"is going to be pregnent very soon... Wow... so these people are "planning" a pregnancy without having the time or resourses to tend for the child?... expecting you to essentially raise the child and take the day shift? Wtf.. seemslike they're being wildly irresponsible and grossly neglegent towards the baby...unless that is you came up with the idea... please tell me I'm missing something.

[Beautiful]

You are missing something. The situation is personal, which is why I didn't explain everything. I just came here to ask for opinions about products. Thanks for the concern, but we all have it under control.

[edlee]

Personal or not, Beautiful,,, it sure makes people curious.

One thing I found useful with my new grandson, was the strap I had just started using to keep my knees together,,, ( the reason is for another thread). I have it just above my knees and it creats a nice little pocket in my lap that he can't roll out of when I'm rolling around.

He's ten months, now and still likes to ride that way,,, except sitting up,,, but he likes to try to get down every time I stop.

As for sleeping,,, until he/she is able to roll over,,, properly placed pillows on a bed or the sofa will work well. Once they start rolling over,, all bets are off. We have found that one of those swings that work with batteries will give you the breaks that you don't , yet,, think you'll need. We have one here at our house,, my daughter has one,, and his other grand parents got one , too. I'm not sure we could do without,,,, and stay sane,,, those little monsters are a handful.

I wish you ,,,and the expectant couple,,, a lot of luck.
ed

[Beautiful]

Maybe its just me, but it wouldn't make me curious, lol. A lot of people have jobs when they have babies (as they should)... so a father working 5 days a week doesn't seem like a big deal to me. Also, a mother finishing college? At least she is trying to better her future and is finishing what she started. Please don't take offense, as I don't mean any disrespect to anyone, but what people do in their own personal lives is their business. Thanks :]

Thanks for the tips! I know about the squirmy age quite a bit! My little cousin now is 10 months and she won't sit still! I remember when my other cousin was 18 months she was just sooo full of energy! She would barely let anyone dress her because she just wanted to go, go, go! One advantage us wheelchair folk have though is our wheels! There have been many times when there was a crying baby over here, and no matter how much rocking was done, theyd still cry. I was lucky because I could just lock one of my brakes and wheel back and forth, and BAM, the baby would be out! Felt like a "baby whisperer"! Hahaha.

[dangerousdave]

When mine were little to toddlers I made a bed that was 6 inches of the floor
A toy rack at the end of the room and a long haired or shaggy rug in the middle of the room
I'd get up for work in the morn and there it was curled up on the floor surrounded by 1 or 4 toys
I threw the caged cot out when I came home from work one day and found the misses asleep and him bawling his eyes out
It also became obveous what there favourite toys were, so I stoped wasting monies by buying toys they didn't play with
As I still have ability to get down and off the floor - I think I would do the same again
Just a thought

[Beautiful]

I'm good with transfers, so maybe I will play with the baby on the floor :]. We are getting hardwood floors put in 6 of our rooms in 2 days, and then another room we are doing a stone type of floor. But yea, we will definitely have to get a big fluffy rug or just a big thick blanket for play time on the floor! Lord knows I can't tolerate sitting on hard floors!

[Tetracyclone]

Walmart sells some inexpensive but wonderful exercise mats, 2 X 2, that hook together. I have 12 that I use for my floor mats. they are thick, firm, comfy, and warm. No hassling with something that moves under you like a rug. But seriously Beautiful, you are over excited about this baby who is yet unborn. Once out it will be 4 months before it even turns over. Patience is advised...

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This post has been edited by Tetracyclone: 18 February 2010 - 02:12 PM

[Beautiful]

Over excited? Nah. Thanks, but I am fairly sure I have a pretty good grip on everything going on.

Thanks for the product info.

[Tetracyclone]

Beautiful, on Feb 18 2010, 09:21 AM, said:

Over excited? Nah. Thanks, but I am fairly sure I have a pretty good grip on everything going on.

Thanks for the product info.

just teasing, girl. You ALWAYS have a grip on things!