big city moms – prepping for the arrival

I was able to attend a couple of the sessions during Tuesday night’s Big City Moms event. The first was titled “Preparing For Your Arrival Part 1—Sleep Tips, Nursery Safety, Newborn Skincare” and featured panelists Kira Ryan (Founder, Dream Team Baby), Dr. Deena Blanchard (Pediatrician, Premier Pediatrics), and Dr. Amy Kim (Founder, Baby Pibu). The panel provided a great overview of some of the basics.

Sleep

• Kira Ryan noted you can see a range of sleep patterns up to 4 months. Having an independent sleeper is helping the baby learn to go from awake to asleep without your help. Can’t really teach them (unless they get it) on their own until around 4 months.
• One thing the panelists agreed on is that a white noise machine is a “must have.” Want to play the entire time your baby is trying to sleep. Good association with the noise and them expecting to go to sleep. Want bedtime to wake up time. Also a room thermometer. 68-72 degrees appropriate temperature for you and your baby for sleeping.
• Kira recommended working on your younger child first if you’re dealing with fighting to get two children to sleep. Consistency will help as well. You need for both mom and dad to be a team on getting them to go to bed.
• Deena reiterated that consistency with your parenting team across the board is key. If you’re going to let the baby cry it out and you live in the city, she suggested you buy your neighbors a bottle a wine. Sounds like a wise move!

Nursery

• Deena elaborated on some of the things to consider in  setting up safe nursery. It’s important care in choosing paint. Should be environmentally friendly.
• What kind of mattress are you buying for your baby? Deena mentioned you should get a breathable mattress (like Newton) as studies have shown a decreased suffocation risk. If you have multiple children, you should make sure to have a fresh mattress for each child.
• Black out shades are very important. A dark, calm environment is good for helping your baby to sleep. It’s never too early to get in a good sleep routine with your baby. Swaddling is very important in the beginning.

Bathing

• When should you start to bathe your child? Amy notes you definitely should when the umbilical cord is coming off.
• She also mentioned 2:1 shampoo/wash is a great option, because it allows you to wash a baby one handed. Get them calm, get them clean, and prepare your baby for sleep. Sounds like a good plan!
• How long should you bathe your child? Amy says you should keep your baby in the bath less than 5 minutes or it starts to dry them out. Lotions are mostly made up of water. She recommends using a moisturizing cream or ointment, which are helpful if your child has eczema. The best time to apply would be after their bath.

Medical

• Deena mentioned you can go in to interview a pediatrician before making a commitment. This allows you the opportunity to hear more about the structure of the practice and to see if you connect with the doctor.
• It’s important to find a doctor who’s open to listening to your questions.

Any tips of your own to add?