at some point your baby will poop in the tub. Maybe it’s a defense mechanism, like a squid inking. It’s a disgusting and frustrating occurrence, but it’s one of those parental rites of passage that officially confirm you as a dad. In order to decontaminate the tub, you’ll need to: pull the baby out, wrap her in the towel, and place her on a secure surface, quickly drain the tub, rinse it out with soap and water, and thLet’s face it: when you’re spending time with your newborn, you’ve got to find ways to make your own fun. Conducting a field test of his reflexes is a perfect way to do just that. You’ll come away with a greater appreciation of his skills, and you’ll have some cool party tricks to pull out at the next family gathering.
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But before you hand over the baby, here are some things to keep in mind: All holders need to wash their hands. Viruses such as colds are transferred through physical contact. So if anyone shakes hands with a cold sufferer and then touches your baby, you’ll find yourself standing in the shower at 3 a.m. trying to decongest his sinuses. Tell them to relax. Babies, like wild animals, have the ability to pick up on nerves, so the less tense the holder is, the better chance the baby will feel comfortable. If you or the receiver are at all uncomfortable, have them sit down and cross their arms above their lap (see below), and gently place the baby in the crook of their arm. Make sure they support the head. This position is particularly good for children.
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Tips for Taking Great Baby Video Don’t save taping for birthdays and holidays. Everyday moments are often the most compelling. Watching a baby knock over a tower of blocks is more exciting than watching his baptism.
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But have no fear. If the healing goes smoothly, she’ll be shedding those sweats and resuming personal hygiene by around three weeks A.B. (after birth). Below you’ll find some of the more common birth-related afflictions.
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Mother’s Birth Recovery Winner: Breast milk Nursing helps her uterus shrink back to its original size (sorry you had to read that) and helps her shed excess pregnancy weight (but aren’t you glad you read it till the end?).
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Conclusion: If your partner is able to breastfeed, it’s probably a good idea to do so. If not, don’t worry. Almost everyone born in the 1950s through the 1970s was formula-fed, and now these people are running our country! On second thought, you should do whatever you possibly can to breastfeed.
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From the moment your partner starts nursing, her breasts are off-limits to you. The property rights have officially transferred to the baby. At some point you may be offered a time-share opportunity, but in the meanwhile, just go about your business and disregard the parade of mammaries flouncing by your face day and night. And don’t even consider the irony that at the very moment they become forbidden, her breasts are bigger and firmer than they’ve ever been before (and will ever be again).
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It’s a good idea to burp twice during a feeding, mid-meal and post-meal. The mid-meal burp will give the baby room for the second course.
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Procedure: Lift the baby’s legs off the table using the ankle hold (thumb around one leg, forefinger between the legs, and the rest of fingers around other leg). Place a clean diaper under the dirty one, just in case the baby decides to let loose mid-change. Unfasten the tabs of the dirty diaper and stick them back onto themselves, as you don’t want them to stick to the baby. Using the ankle hold, remove the diaper, revealing the clean one underneath. Wipe the baby thoroughly. For boys, immediately put a washcloth over the crotch to prevent squirts. For girls, wipe front to back, to prevent vaginal infection. Fold the bottom of the new diaper up between the baby’s legs and fasten both sides using the tabs. If you can’t fit two fingers between the baby’s skin and the diaper, then it’s too tight. Never leave the baby unattended on the changing table.
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Vision Newborns’ eyes can focus best on objects ten to twelve inches away from their faces, and they can’t see colors. Clubs and Spades Get a deck of cards, separate out the clubs and spades, and hold them in front of your baby’s face. Slowly fan them out, bring them back in, and fan them out again.
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Hearing Hearing is fully developed in newborns, and they seem to prefer high-pitched voices to low ones, which is presumably why people use baby talk. Sound Tracking On one side of the baby, crinkle a bag, shake a can of nuts, and jingle your keys until he turns his head to the sound, then do the same on the other side.
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Touch Touch is the first sense that starts developing in the womb, and by birth is well developed. Some areas are more responsive than others, with the palms of the hands, the bottoms of the feet, and the area around the mouth being the most sensitive. The Texture Buffet Gently rub different areas of your baby’s skin with objects of varying textures. You can use a clean damp sponge, a silk tie, the fur lining of a glove, and a bicycle pump to blow air on him.
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Smell Newborns have a keen sense of smell, and within the first couple of days show a distinct preference for the scent of their mothers’ milk. Fridge Inventory Take a bunch of odoriferous foods out of the fridge—cheese, onions, pickles, and fish are good choices—and hold them up to your newborn’s nose.
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For the first couple of weeks post-baby, you may feel anxious, depressed, and lonely, and why shouldn’t you? You’re completely at the mercy of a relentless little dictator, and there is no relief in sight. But as you’re wallowing, it’s important to remember that you are not alone. Fathers the world over, from Copenhagen to Cape Town, from captains of industry to ditch diggers, have all gone through this rough patch. For the majority of dads, this phase lasts somewhere between eight and twelve weeks, at which point you switch into the “I might as well make the best of it” phase. Several factors combine to help lift the dark clouds from your head, including: The baby is sleeping longer hours. You’re feeling more adept at handling and troubleshooting her. She’s finally smiling at you (the baby, not your partner).
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Affecting three out of four new moms, this condition is often referred to as the Post-Partum Blues or Baby Blues, but the word “blues” does not do it justice. Plainly speaking, your partner will be all over the map, so expect the unexpected. One minute she’ll scream at you for putting on a diaper incorrectly and the next minute she’ll accuse you of not helping out. She may banish you to the basement, then criticize you for not being romantic. Try to think of it as your penance for not having gone through labor.
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Policy #1: Ears Open, Mouth Closed Guys tend to be fixers by nature. You see a problem, and you find the solution. Of course it’s logical, but in this case it may backfire. Your partner may need comfort, not a ten-point plan of action. Policy #2: Strike It from the Record Think of all of the belligerent things that you’ve said after four or five beers. Now consider that she’s under the influence of chemicals far more mind-altering than Budweiser. Six months from now, she may not even remember some of the names that she called you. (You should write them down though, just in case.) Policy #3: Be an Army of One Don’t expect much from your partner these first weeks. You may need to do everything short of breastfeeding, so be prepared to carry the load. Enlist the help of relatives and order plenty of take-out. Policy #4: Take Her Out Isolation is a big contributor to PPMS, so the sooner she gets a change of scenery, the quicker she may come around. Remember that newborns are very portable, so grab her and the baby and take a stroll around the block. The exercise will help her get back into shape, and it releases endorphins that can lighten her mood.
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Post-Partum Depression This condition is far more serious than PPMS and affects about 10% of new moms. If your partner’s emotional state is seriously impeding her ability to function, or her symptoms last longer than a month, suggest that she consult her obstetrician. If she resists, you can bring up the fact that her condition is very treatable, and that every day she waits is one less day she’ll be able to enjoy the tot.
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long. Bathe her every other day, or as much as seems necessary, but if her skin starts to dry out, you’ll have to cut back.
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Don’t give the bath until the umbilical stump falls off and, if you’ve got a boy, the circumcision has healed. Before then just sponge your baby down.
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Bathing Equipment Checklist A baby tub or other bathing apparatus A large plastic bucket A plastic cup Baby soap and shampoo Two or three washcloths A dry, folded towel next to the tub in which to wrap baby upon completion
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Just make sure that you point the faucet away from the baby at all times.
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Bathing Procedure Pour warm water into the tub and bucket. The water should be nice and warm, but not hot. Test it with your elbow. If it feels hot to you, then it’s definitely too hot for the baby. You only need 3-4 inches in the tub. Undress the baby and place her in the tub. To keep her from becoming cold and whiny, lay a washcloth across her chest and keep pouring warm water from the bucket over her. But always have one hand holding her in place. Using a clean washcloth, wipe the eyes from the bridge of the nose out. Then move on to the rest of the face, outer ears, and neck. The baby’s neck folds are surprisingly cavernous, providing ample storage space for dirt, lint, fermenting spit-up, and maybe even spare change. If left unwashed, they can become infected. Move onto the arms, legs, and torso. The armpits, belly button, leg folds are perfect nooks for dirt grime to gather. Use soap on the body a few times a week, and just water the rest of the time, but you can soap the diaper area every time. Rinse off the soap with cups of clean water from the bucket. Wash the hair. Because babies lose much of their heat through their heads, do this last. Use a couple of drops of baby shampoo several times a week. Place the baby on the towel and pat her dry. A large, printable version of the Bathing Procedure list is available at www.beprepared.net. Tape it to the wall next to the bathing location for reference.
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The Sock Glove A clean cotton sweat sock can stick to baby’s skin better than your bare hands. Cut out a thumbhole so you can maintain hand functionality.
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Aen refill it, get another clean towel for post-bath wrapping, put the baby back in, and start over. As far as urine in the tub goes, most new dads don’t change the water, for these reasons: It’s really hard to tell if a baby has peed in the tub. Urine is mostly water anyway. Most dads have relieved themselves in the shower for all these years, and their feet have never fallen off.
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Newborns come equipped with something called the Diving Reflex, an automatic response that prevents them from breathing in water should they go under. In the few seconds it would take you to pull your baby back up, chances are great there would be no harm done to her. This reflex lasts for a few months and then disappears. Obviously you shouldn’t take this as a cue to become lax about tub safety.
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Contoured bath pad This pad cradles your baby and elevates her head above the water. The pad is placed in your bathtub, and absorbs bath water to keep the baby warm. A popular model is called The Safer Bather.
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Not every baby cries exactly the same way, but there are six basic crying patterns that are common among babies worldwide. Hunger A pattern of low-pitched, rhythmic moans, growing more and more insistent. Short cry, pause, louder cry, pause, even louder cry.
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Fatigue A soft, breathy blubbering. If you listen closely, you may hear vibrato.
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Pain A high-pitched cry that comes out of nowhere. It’s as if somebody triggered a car alarm. Discomfort A consistent pattern of forceful sobs, which can break into a full-scale wail if not attended to.
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Boredom A low-volume whimper that stops and starts irregularly.
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Colic A burst of urgent high-pitched screaming that can go on for hours. Each wail can last for four or five seconds, taking the baby’s breath away. A lengthy pause follows while the baby catches her wind, then it starts all over again.
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Gently rocking your baby on a beach ball or an exercise ball just might cure what ails her.
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Gas Relief Gas bubbles can cause havoc in the newborn digestive system. Lay the baby on her back and bicycle her legs back and forth or bring both knees up to her chest and back down and repeat. This pressure on the stomach frequently causes a gas expulsion. Go into your home office and sit down on your swivel chair. Place the baby facedown on your lap, and swivel the chair back and forth while gently patting her back. Try using gripe water or colic drops, all-natural over-the-counter potions designed to reduce infant gas. And if your partner is breastfeeding, suggest she avoid gassy foods like beans, cabbage, and broccoli. Tell her that you and the baby will both appreciate it. Change of Scenery Giving the scamp a new perspective may calm her down. Hold her in front of a mirror. She may be mesmerized by the new kid, or your reflected face watching her. Climbing up and down stairs with her in your arms combines interesting visuals with exciting motion. Or you can put her in the stroller and roam up and down the hallway. Or try driving around the block a couple of times. Don’t be too proud to pass the baton to your partner. The baby may respond to her new smell, voice, and touch, and you’ll get some time to decompress, at least until she returns the favor. Startling
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Re-creating the Womb Some babies long for their former residence. Try any one or a combination of these techniques: Put her in the car seat carrier, grab the handle, and gently swing her back and forth. This can approximate the closeness and motion she felt in the womb. You can also buy an electronic swing to replicate this movement. Many babies suck their fingers in the womb. You can either use a pacifier or let the baby suck on your freshly washed pinky finger. Make sure the finger is palm side up so it won’t scratch the roof of her mouth. A warm bath with white noise in the background can help her regain the feeling of being enveloped. Immobilize her with a swaddle.
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Swaddling Swaddling mimics the closeness of the womb. Though many babies are comforted by this miniature straitjacket, others would rather not revisit the womb experience, thank you, and will quickly tell you so. Follow the step-by-step instructions below. A square blanket may hold better than a rectangular one, but either can be used.
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Some time between 5:00 and 8:00 p.m., a baby’s brain hits maximum capacity and goes into cry mode.
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Unhappy hour affects more than 75% of all babies. This pattern should stop at around twelve weeks. Letting the baby cry in her crib for a couple of minutes in between comforting attempts won’t traumatize her, and just may be a welcome break for the both of you.
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The term “colic” refers to prolonged periods of crying, usually several hours or more.
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The Popeye Hold Stand with your arm bent at the elbow and your palm facing upward. Sit the baby on your palm, facing you. Gently lay her down on your forearm, so her head rests on the inside of your elbow. Rock her from side to side while stroking her back. Your forearm is exerting gentle pressure on her abdomen, which, in combination with the rocking, may soothe her.
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STORING PUMPED MILK Short-Term Storage—Detach the container from the pump, seal it up, and write the date on a piece of tape and stick it to the bottle. Milk can last five days in the fridge. Long-Term Storage—You can purchase generic disposable bottle bags for easy milk storage. Or, as an alternative, you can pour the milk into clean, sterile ice cube trays, put the trays in freezer bags, and place them in the freezer. The milk will last at least two months. When you are ready to use it, pop an ice cube from the tray, put it in a plastic baggie, and heat it under warm water. When it’s liquefied, transfer it to a bottle. Each cube equals approximately two ounces of milk.
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Engorgement— Common during the first weeks of breastfeeding, engorgement occurs when breasts are filled to capacity, often causing discomfort. Remedies include immediate feeding, pumping, and warm compresses.
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If your partner is nursing, introduce the bottle when the baby is around one month old. Any earlier and the little squirt may still be figuring out the breast, any later and she may be too set in her nursing ways. Don’t be discouraged if she doesn’t take to it immediately. Keep trying with different nipple shapes and sizes, and with milk at various temperatures. Almost all babies eventually catch on. Give the bottle once a day but not more. You don’t want her to reject the breast. Administer these first feedings without your partner in the room. The baby may look at her and get confused. And your partner may start sobbing, seeing the bottle as an early symbol that your baby is leaving the nest.
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1. Warm Run the bottle under hot water. Never use a microwave, because it destroys enzymes in breast milk, and the milk heats unevenly. 2. Test Temperature Squirt a few milk droplets onto the underside of your wrist. The bottle should be no hotter than body temperature. 3. Bait the Hook Right before inserting, smear some milk around the outside of the nipple. 4. Commence Docking Maneuvers Sit with the baby lying in the crook of your arm. Elevate her head. If you lie her flat, she is more susceptible to choking and ear infections. Activate the rooting reflex insert the bottle. 5. Feed To prevent gas pains, tilt the bottle at such an angle that milk completely fills the nipple. Never prop up the bottle and leave the baby alone during feedings. In the beginning, you may have to periodically remove the bottle to let her catch up. 6. Burp Burp after every two ounces or whenever she gets fussy during feedings.
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White noise is an amazing sleep inducer. Not only does it mask unwanted outside noises, rendering the baby oblivious to ringing phones, creaking doors, and barking dogs, but it also mimics the sound of the rushing fluids and shifting body weight that your baby heard in the womb. In one study, young babies were three times as likely to fall asleep while listening to white noise as those not exposed.
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Pace Studies have shown that the most effective rocking mimics the mother’s walking pattern, which is approximately sixty rocks a minute (rocking to the left and then to the right equals two rocks). This is a brisk pace compared to the slow, gentle rocking you might picture in your head, but let your baby be the judge. She’ll let you know if you are going too fast. Music Many babies are comforted by strong, methodical beats. Some parents use metronomes to put their babies to sleep, but in lieu of that, try reggae music. The beat is solid and steady, and it’s got a natural buoyancy that will complement your rocking. And best of all, most reggae music cycles at around sixty to seventy beats per minute, tailor-made to your baby’s needs. (Bob Marley’s “Buffalo Soldier” is almost a perfect sixty b.p.m.)
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The Sleep Test Before you lay the baby down, you’ve got to make sure that she’s entered into a good, sound slumber. To test her level of sleepiness, lift one of her arms a couple of inches and then let it fall. If she offers any resistance, then you need to do some more rocking.
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Put the baby to sleep on her back. Use a firm mattress and a thin fitted sheet under the baby. Since research into SIDS is ongoing, consult your pediatrician for the latest facts. Avoid overheating your baby. Keep stuffed animals, pillows, comforters, or heavy blankets out of the baby’s sleep space. If you need a blanket, it’s best to use the sleep sack wearable blanket (see pg. 84).
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Treat your baby like a vampire for the first six months, keeping her out of direct sunlight as much as possible.
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There are eight basic items that belong in your gear bag: Diapers—at least two more than you think you’ll need. Wipes—for everything from fluid containment to toy sterilization. Plastic Bags—to deposit used diapers, wipes, and soiled clothes in. Changing Pad—to put down under the baby during changes. Bottles—Breast milk can be stored in bottles along with cold packs in a small bottle bag. Powdered formula can be put in a zipper bag and poured into bottles full of water. Burp Cloth—so you won’t walk around smelling like spit-up. Clothes—for you and baby—a complete outfit for him and an extra shirt for you just in case. Toys—Age-appropriate toys provide stimulation or distraction to head off a crying jag.
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Because you ought to be prepared for everything, you may want to take along the following additional materials: Multi-Tool—Pocket tools like the Leatherman are useful for everything from opening formula to stroller repairs. Duct Tape—Good for stroller and carrier repair, emergency diaper fastening, etc. Extra Pacifiers—Even if you have one tethered to his shirt, it’s always good to have an extra three or four.
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Escalators Riding up and down escalators helps with his growing sense of depth perception and object tracking, and he’ll be sure to get smiles and waves from everyone coming the other way. (But NEVER use the stroller on an escalator.)
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Before introducing solids, read the following: Wait until your baby is at least four months old. Very young babies have a tongue-thrust reflex that prevents them from choking, but also makes it almost impossible to get solid food to the back of the throat. Also, young babies’
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To make sure he doesn’t have food allergies, introduce one food for three consecutive days before moving on to the next one. If your baby has a reaction, you’ll know which food is the culprit. Useful
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Plan a Strategy. Some people start with vegetables, because they figure that once the baby tastes the sugars in fruit, he won’t settle for anything else. Others feel that it’s best to start off with a food that has a high likelihood of success. You make the call.
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Try a Naked Lunch. Strip the baby down to his diaper before meals, and let him get as messy as he wants. When he’s finished, just put him in the tub. Or better yet, feed him in the tub. Let him make his own soup.
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Some good choices for first foods are: Rice cereal Barley cereal Oat cereal Squash Sweet potato Carrots Green beans Peas Sweet peas Avocado Yogurt Applesauce Bananas Prunes Apricots Peaches Pears
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1. Become a Drill Sergeant. If you work during the day and your partner stays home, chances are you’ll be in charge of bedtime routine. Many dads find this annoying, because after eight hours away from her, your natural instinct is to rile her up with some impromptu baby wrestling. But the bedtime shift can be fun, in a mellow, Mr. Rogers—like sense. It doesn’t really matter what activities you choose for your nightly routine, as long as they meet these three criteria: They are soothing. You stick with the same activities in the same order every night. You save the most sleep-inducing activities such as giving the bottle, for last. Remember that babies, like senior citizens, thrive on routine.
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Once your baby is six months old, you can give this method the good old college try. Here’s what you have to do: Put your baby in the crib when she is drowsy but not yet asleep. Leave the room. No matter how hard she cries, wait five minutes. Enter the room, but don’t pick her up. You can put a hand on her chest or talk softly to her for thirty seconds. Reassure her that you’re not Dad’s evil twin. Leave the room. Wait five minutes. Repeat this pattern until she has fallen asleep. The next night do the same thing, but add another five minutes to your response time. Within 3-5 days your baby should be able to fall asleep by herself and get herself back to sleep when she wakes up in the middle of the night.
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When your baby’s cry wakes you up from a sound sleep, what do you do? If you’re like most dads, you’ll pretend not to hear it, hoping that your partner will respond. Your partner no doubt is employing the same tactic. And believe if or not, both of you are doing the right thing. The best way to deal with a crying seven-to nine-month-old in the middle of the night is to wait and see if she can fall back to sleep on her own.
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As soon as your baby becomes mobile, you come to the realization that she doesn’t possess the greatest survival instincts. If anything, it seems like she’s bent on self-destruction. If there is a staircase, she will attempt to fling herself down it; if there is an outlet, she will try to stick something into it; and if there’s an inch of water anywhere, she will try to lie in it, facedown. It’s like she’s auditioning for some baby version of Jackass.
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Secure a pad and a pencil; get down on your hands and your knees; and crawl around your house, thinking of all the ways you could possibly hurt, yourself along the way and writing them down. Don’t be lazy. Crawl under tables and behind the drapes, or you could miss things like exposed nails, loose change, and latches that could close on your baby’s fingers.
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TV is bad for a baby’s eyes. There are no studies to prove this, and, as a matter of fact, some pediatricians have actually recommended television, and specifically sports, for the development of a baby’s eye muscles. Because sports broadcasts tend to use the camera to follow a moving object—a ball, a car, a person running—they can strengthen a baby’s ocular tracking muscles. (Next time your partner tells you to turn off the game, mention this fact.)
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SKILL BUILDERS 7-9 Months Three-Cup Monte This is a baby-friendly version of the old street scam. Start off with three large cups and a ball or small stuffed animal. You’re the “tosser” and the baby is your “mark.” Lift all of the cups so she can see where the object is, and then lower them all. If she chooses the right cup, she wins. And when she starts becoming consistent, slowly jockey the cups around. Builds visual memory, problem-solving skills, and helps develop the concept of object permanence—the fact that objects exist even though she can’t see them.
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On average, babies say their first words somewhere between 7 and 11 months. Your imp has probably started babbling, and may have even said “dada,” much to your partner’s chagrin. Don’t tell your partner this, but “dada” is one of the most common babbling syllable combos, and is just as likely to be directed at the family dog as your face. In order for it to be considered a true first word, it needs to be said in context three times. So unless she’s said “dada” three times while looking at you or your picture, it’s not official. And don’t be alarmed if she soon starts to refer to all men as “dada.” Babies learn in categories.
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Spark Dialogue When you hear your baby babbling, join in as if you knew what she was talking about. After she finishes a spurt of random syllables, say, “Yeeees, that’s true, but how will that affect the overseas markets?” And then wait for a response. Pretty soon she’ll start to figure out the back and forth nature of true conversation. Remember to always praise her utterances, no matter how economically unsound.
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Label Everything As an everyday ritual, walk around the house with the baby, naming everything as you go. You can use it as a passive-aggressive exercise. “See? This is a guitar, Guitar. Daddy used to play this guitar every day, before you came along. And these are Rollerblades. Rol-ler-blades. Daddy used to Rollerblade all over town, before you came along.” As long as you keep smiling, baby will be none the wiser. When labeling, try not to be too general or specific. A guitar is a guitar, not an instrument (too general) or a Fender Strat-o-Caster (too specific).
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EATING Like a Person When you started your baby on solids, did you stop and think about how unsolid those foods were? Everything is pretty much the same consistency—mush. Well, by 10-12 months many babies rebel against the mush and start craving finger foods more and more.
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Have patience. It will take time to figure out the culinary particulars of your squirt. Let him experiment with a wide variety of flavors and textures, and see which ones he gravitates toward. It may take up to ten exposures for him to decide if something gets the green light. Put it in piles. A good way to serve finger foods is to cut up the little pieces and put them in piles on his high chair tray. If each food is in its own individual pile, he can easily access the stuff he likes and ignore the rest. Babies need to eat less than you think. At this stage, a baby should be eating between 4 and 8 tablespoons of fruits and vegetables, 2-4 tablespoons of protein, and 8 tablespoons of rice, cereal, potatoes, or pasta (or half a slice of bread) per day. Of course, this is all supplemented by milk. Give milk after food. At least 50% of your baby’s nutrition is still coming from formula or breast milk. You’ll have much more success with finger foods if you hold off on the milk until after you give him the solid stuff.
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Veggie Booty is carried in select supermarkets and health food stores. You can also order it online at www.robscape.com. As a snack food, they are a much better choice than pork rinds.
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A List of Finger Foods for Your Baby to Eat and Throw Cottage cheese Ricotta cheese Soft, steamed carrots Cooked poultry Peaches Toasted whole wheat bread (without nuts) Bagel Cream cheese on crackers Avocado Bananas Boiled yolks (but no whites until after a year) Dry cereal Well-cooked pasta (spirals or shell shapes) Yogurt Pancakes Breadsticks French fries Graham crackers Pickles (cut extra small) Macaroni and cheese Ground beef Tofu Sweet potatoes Be sure to keep the pieces no bigger than a Cheerio. Eleven Foods You Should Never Give Your Baby The following foods have been known to cause allergic reactions or health problems, or are choking hazards, and should be avoided: Honey Cow’s milk Egg whites Citrus fruits and juice Peanut butter Whole grapes All seeds and nuts Blueberries Popcorn Raw vegetables Hot dogs Also, limit foods high in saturated fat, salt, or added sugar and foods that contain artificial sweeteners.
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Bring activities. Toys and books will help get him through the meal. If you forget toys, the resourceful dad can use whatever he has on hand.
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tactics to pacify him in transit: 1. Choose your seats wisely. When booking a flight, keep in mind the following: If you don’t want to buy a seat for your baby, you and your partner should reserve the window and aisle seats in the same row, leaving the middle seat open. Middles always fill up last, and even if someone has reserved it, as soon as they see the baby they’ll beg the flight attendant for reassignment.
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The only supplies you’ll need are electrical tape (easier to remove than duct tape) and pipe cleaners.
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Before you let the baby crawl around the room, sweep the floor for hazardous items like paper clips and loose change. Place the coffeemaker, hair dryer, and iron out of reach. Use electrical tape to cover up outlets and tape drawers shut, and secure the minibar. To protect your baby’s head from sharp corners, bring along extra baby socks, fold them in half, and tape them over all furniture corners that are at the baby’s height or below. Tape a big X across the sliding glass doors leading to the balcony to let the baby know that he can’t go straight through the doorway. And make sure those doors are locked. Use pipe cleaners to wrangle all drape and blind cords, and also to gather lamp cords. Secure closet doors by wrapping a pipe cleaner around both knobs and twisting. It’s a good idea to keep the bathroom door closed and off-limits at all times. If your baby has figured out how to open doors, put one of your socks over the bathroom doorknob. He will have a tough time getting enough traction to open it.
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The best solution is to bury the scat and then put the diaper in a small plastic bag before putting it into the double-layered bag. When burying scat, you must dig a hole at least 6 inches deep and at least 100 feet from a water source.
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