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While pregnant I read a book on breastfeeding, that's basically it. After my first son was born I read Dr. Sears' Baby Book and The Happiest Baby on the Block. I always found I could research most issues that arose online and prefer to follow my instincts with most parenting style decisions.
As for preparing, we had our finances and life insurance in order. We simplified our lifestyle in case we wanted to go down to one income (which we did end up doing when I decided to stay home with our son.)
We bought all kinds of gear, much of it really wasn't necessary. Really all you need are: diapers, cotton PJs, a swaddle (I like the Miracle Blanket), a car seat, a carrier (like the Ergo), and a safe place for the baby to sleep.
You can't really prepare for parenthood. It's just something you need to experience.
It's so easy to say I will do this or I won't do this when I have kids until you find yourself there and you do the exact opposite of what you said you would or wouldn't do.
I had been taking care of children since I was a kid. I had cared for my first newborn when I was 14. And nannied for special needs kids for several years. I had worked helping with newborns so mom could get some sleep as jobs came in for years. I had also raised two kids from preschool age (step sons). I didn't have trouble with the basics. Diapering and feeding and all that was easy. But man, making decisions and worrying just ate me alive. I didn't expect that.
While pregnant I read a book on breastfeeding, that's basically it. After my first son was born I read Dr. Sears' Baby Book and The Happiest Baby on the Block. I always found I could research most issues that arose online and prefer to follow my instincts with most parenting style decisions.
As for preparing, we had our finances and life insurance in order. We simplified our lifestyle in case we wanted to go down to one income (which we did end up doing when I decided to stay home with our son.)
We bought all kinds of gear, much of it really wasn't necessary. Really all you need are: diapers, cotton PJs, a swaddle (I like the Miracle Blanket), a car seat, a carrier (like the Ergo), and a safe place for the baby to sleep.
I would have died without a bouncer seat. But I didn't use a car seat outside the car so maybe they could double for one.
Big picture. Do you want to be a micro-manager, permissive, or somewhere in between? Talk with parents of children of all ages to see what the challenges are (I could write a dissertation on preteen girls right now). Don't focus on the baby years to the exclusion of everything else. Plan what you'll do about childcare, what you'll do when a child gets sick in the middle of the day, how you'll pay for everything, who will be the "kid chaffeur" for practices, etc..., how you'll deal with disobedience and defiance at all ages.
Don't lose the forest for the trees. The baby stuff seems monumental, but that's like 1/9 of the childhood/adolescence years. Have a plan and a vision!
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