Stupid questions from first time mom

[Vishenka69]

I'm going to try and work up the courage to do it tomorrow while she naps. Makes me feel better that I'm not the only one with a scratched up kid.

[alison]

Since we've pretty much always formula/bottle fed dd, it's the one time during the day that I let her watch tv.

[MrsK]

I file them when he's nursing.

[moonlight]

Just when I got the hang of it she scratched herself yesterday. I guess I'll put off her six month old pics until the scratch is gone.

GL!!!!

[Vishenka69]

I'm wondering if I should be freaking out or it's normal. DD wouldn't nap during the day all week (aside from 1-2 20-30 minute cat naps), but today she's sleeping beauty. She slept for 9 hours last night ( a first) and so far this morning only woke up once long enough to eat and then fell back asleep. She's eating and pooping well though and doesn't have a fever. I'm just a bit freaked over this unusual behavior.

Sometimes they sleep more when they go through a growth spurt. If she's eating, pooping and peeing well, no fever, it's probably that.

[Vishenka69]

While we got the nighttime routine/sleep down, I'm still struggling with daytime naps. On most days she refuses to nap during the day at all and there's no hint of any kind of schedule when she does decide to doze off. Do I need to worry about this? She still gets about 12 hours of sleep even without much napping. How do I go about trying set a nap schedule? At night she picked her own bedtime and sticks to it pretty well on daily basis.

Since I'm about to start introducing her to cereals, do I need to sterilize bowl/spoon after each use? I've read that while bottles can be handwashed after breastmilk, they need to be sterilized after formula. Does this mean that if I mix oatmeal with BM, I can just wash everything in the sink and if I mix it with formula, I should sterilize?

Also, can I give her cereal while she's laying down or does she need to be sitting up? I've tried giving her yogurt while she was laying in her gym (for ease of clean up) and she didn't have a problem swallowing it.

[HouseofWool]

As for the sterilizing? Skip it unless your DD is immuno-compromised. It won't hurt her if you hand wash or run things through the dishwasher. I've NEVER sterilized anything. NOT A THING and my kids are fine.

I would have her sitting up to eat. You can get high chairs (I've got one that straps into a regular chair) that recline for little ones. That is what you will expect of her later, may as well get in the habit.

Napping? That one is harder. What happens if you lay her down after nursing? (or put her in her carseat or swing or what ever she will sleep in?)

[DCJenn]

What she said. If you're worried about it- see if your dishwasher has a sterilize option, or a hot option- lots do these days.

Jenn

[alison]

I sterilize dd's bottles, nipples, and binkies once/week. For the first month, we were doing it once/day. I think you'll be ok. I don't put our things in the dishwasher, and do them all by hand, because I noticed a thin film (soap?) on the bottles and nipples. We have a Phillips bottle sterilizer, btw.

[Deebs]

We have two other kids and a dog who do things like put DD's pacifiers in their mouths. To sterilize, I fill a glass bowl partially with water, stick in the items that are contaminated, and micro for 5 minutes. Easy, easy, easy, and gives me peace of mind.

[Thirteen]

This may exist in a thread somewhere else, and if it does, feel free to direct me over there.
Question to the new/longstanding moms: What are infant items that, to you, are a "must have?" Additionally, what items seemed like a good idea at the time, but now are considered "not worth it?"

I'm doing some, uh... research. Yes, research.

[MrsK]

research? * ears perking up*

[scrub-jay]

research? * ears perking up*

ditto!!

[MrsK]

Regarding necessary items --- I know we have a million threads on this. I'd say the carseat w/ snap n' go, diaper bag, crib or pack n' play, boppy (if you are nursing), swing or bouncy chair (preferably borrowed), and baby bathtub. The rest is pretty hit or miss depending on your baby's temperment. . . . now, tell us more about that research. . .