coming home ideas

• Messages sorted by: [ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]
• Next message: Lynda Seehusen: "preemie car seats"
• Previous message: Gary & Tammy Bangs: "sleeping thru"

Congradulations Denise!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maybe this is a good time for all of us to share some of the tricks we 
learned after we brought our amazing kids home.

Feeding:  Taylor did not breastfeed, and required several meds.  So, I 
pumped.  I made a full day's worth of bottles at night befor bed.  Each 
bottle had a diff med in it.  So on the caps of the bottles, I wrote the time 
that each bottle was to be given, and then stored all in the fridge.  That 
way, at 2:00 am I didn't have to worry if I was awake enough to measure out 
the meds.  Plus Gary didn't have to ask what med went in each bottle, he 
could just grab the apropriate bottle at the time of the feed, and warm it 
up.

Fitting into the carseat, swing etc.:  The traditional newborn inserts and 
head supports for carseats were still too big.  And rolling towels only made 
Taylor sweat. So I made my own out of an egg create mattress pad. And covered 
it with a cloth diaper.  I used separate pieces for the back, sides and head 
supports.  The back was shaped just like the back of the carseat with slits 
for the straps.  For a head support, I cut a half circle just a bit larger 
than T's head.  I put it under his neck , horseshoe style.  This helped to 
keep his head tipped back a bit, to help keep the airway open. THe sides were 
long strips, just to keep him from sliding sideways.  I also put a support 
under his butt, this one was slightly thicker towards the leggs to keep him 
from sliding forward.  The egg create design helped air to circulate, keeping 
him from sweating.

I usually covered the infant carrier with a receiving blanket whenever I had 
to go out in public.  People still would try to see him though.  I had to be 
rude on several occations.  I was amazed at the audacity of some people.  One 
lady (while I was at the grocery store and T was in the shopping cart) walked 
up and lifted the blanket and tried to touch him, all without saying a word 
to me. Most people, especially elderly ladies, have a thing about touching a 
baby's hands, I guess they don't think about the fact that baby's hands often 
are in baby's mouth.  I was very adamnemt about not letting anyone touch or 
get their faces close to Taylor.  ESPECIALLY OTHER KIDS!!!!
No one was allowed to touch T unless they had washed.
I also wore a painters mask whenever I had even the hint of a cold ( on the 
advice of Taylor's pulmonologist).  


These are just a few that I can remember.  If you have any questions or need 
advice about a situation or prob, just ask, I sure someone on the list has 
already dealt with it.

Tammy, mom to Taylor and angel Alex, and to Travis, wife to 'home for now' 
Gary.

• Next message: Lynda Seehusen: "preemie car seats"
• Previous message: Gary & Tammy Bangs: "sleeping thru"