Dadvice!

Dadvice...things I've learned so far.

#1: There is no "right way" to raise a kid.

     Your cousin's/sister's/brother's/parents' suggestion that worked for him/her may or may not work for your kid or you. Furthermore, what worked for your first, second, etc. kid isn't guaranteed to work for your next kid.

#2: Create a tag team system

     If your wife is breast feeding, your contributions to the first weeks of life are more limited than if you are bottle feeding. (Not making a stance on which is the right way to do it. See No. 1) Since we bottle feed (and for a good reason: www.bikeridesandboobies.blogspot.com), we take turns and have a system for feeding. As the family's honorary Night Owl, I take the night feeds while Ms Wifey, as the Early Bird, does the morning service. The key is to sleep during the other person's shift because emergencies happen. Alway be ready to tag in/out when you're "stuck" soothing your kiddo.

#3: Never get mad at your kid. They haven't done anything wrong.

     They just need to: eat, sleep, poop, burp, or fart. Don't be mad at them because you can't figure it out. (See No. 2)

#4: Let your kiddo sleep how he's/she's comfortable.

     Ms Wifey is a speech therapist with a specialty on infant feeding. If you have the choice, marry one because they can get you through to the "fun age" quicker and with less pain. However, there are things that the kiddo will dictate to you and that no amount of training will prepare you for. Our kiddo can't sleep in a crib without spitting up. We've resorted to doing things "not recommended by Infant Safety Specialist" having Cooper sleep in a rock-n-play sleeper so he's on an incline.

     Plus, it's a sweet and a special time to have your kiddo take a nap on your chest. Chest to chest also has some medical benefits

#5: Don't stop at one burp. There's always more in there.

     Go for the double play, trifecta, a grand slam, or yahtzee. I haven't come up with a six yet…

#6: Dirty diapers - not as bad as I thought.

     Get through the meconium and all the rest isn't that bad. Plus, like anything else, the more you do, the better/faster you get.

#7: Laugh at yourself while you and he or she learns.

  
#8: Don't forget to stop and take pictures to remember or show him/her when the kiddo gets bigger.

And now:

Here's some entries from some Dads with more experience than me:

Andrew W:

Make sure your son pees in his own face and you'll never have to worry about him going while you change him again.

Parker F:

What works for your first kids doesn't always work for your second.

I've now become in the habit of closing every door quietly, even for no reason when my boys are awake. I even judge people for being "barbaric" if they close a door how you would normally.

Brian C:

Don't worry about "baby proofing" anything in your house because they can't do ANYTHING without you for like 9 months.

They don't smile for a few months, so no matter how much of a Dad Comedy production you run, this kid ain't buying it.

The tough part about diapers is that the stupid changing table is upstairs and you're legitimately doing anything that doesn't involve excrement right now.

Walker A:

Once she learned to crawl, I quit trying to carry her as much and let her crawl around.

Barry A:

Video everything you can because they won't do the same cute stuff for very long. You could forget about it if you can't sit down and go through old videos.

And now here's a cute moment with Cooper on international yoga day

Love, Alex