AFAIK, I am still on Legion's Ignore List but what the heck....

I've thoroughly experimented with just about every psychedelic drug you can name, and played bass in several rock bands. The most mind-blowing experience of my life and the loudest noise I ever heard was the first whimper from my daughter's mouth in the delivery room. I've had some great fun and great toys in my life, but none compares to my daughters and now my grandchild. Only parents know what it's like to look upon the face of your child. It's like looking into the Sun.

It's impossible to spoil a child under about three years old. Discipline comes later. For the first two years, just LOVE THEM. That's all.

Don't catch up on work while they nap. When they sleep, YOU sleep.

This is the most fun you will ever have.

Rocking bassinette with vibrator and foot rocker....

Congrats on your first. It will be like nothing you've ever experienced.

Off the top of my head...


1. Most, if not all, parenting books are bunk. However,buy this book and feel free to thank me later when your child will (literally) sleep on demand.

2. Don't be a cliche and avoid diaper work. Offer to change as many as you can (especially in the wee hours of the morning). This will make your wife's life so much easier and give her something to brag about to her friends since none of their husbands do that.

3. Tidy up around the house as much as you can. Second sentence of #2 applies here as well

4. Support her 1000% on whether she wants to go nursing or formula. If she's insistent on nursing and is having difficulty making it work encourage and support her through it.

5. Get up with her in those wee hours to help out. Even if your just by her side she will appreciate the support. Even if she insists on letting you sleep through it all, still get up occasionally. Eventually it will become second nature.

6. Yes, you need 20 different tote bags and at least 5 different diaper bags. They will all function the same but somehow your wife is certain the next one will be the right one. Go with it.

7. Never feel bad about not being able to "keep up with the joneses" in relation to the developmental progress of your little one. It's not a race, but if there's a finish line, it's how they turn out as an adult, not that they can speak Swahili by 6 months. The other parents are most likely embellishing a bit anyway.

8. An obvious point, but reduce "guy time" or "my time" significantly. It's now family time. Guy time will return but can still be peppered in occasionally. Insist that your wife gets her girl/my time instead. "My time" is now your commute to/from work. And the long way to the grocery store.

9. You can watch the child. By yourself. For an extended period of time.

8. Have fun. Its a hell of a ride.

9. Don't blink.

10. Learn to love espresso.

also:

Take an unrushed hour to figure out how to fit the %#&$*% baby seat in your cars. Seems like it ought to be simple, but it often isn't. On both of my cars, it was a tremendous PITA that took finicky clips and bits and adjustments. I *just* came in from mounting the rear-facing seat for #2, and it took me a solid hour before I could get it in snug and secure.

You do NOT want to be screwing with those things when you are in a rush.

Baby seats have been installed for at least a month. We took our time to figure out how to do it correctly.

Thank you everyone for the advice. I'm sure we'll be fine in the long run, but have several "incidents" along the way.

We stopped by the hospital today to take a tour of the new baby wing that opens on Monday. I love living in a town that is small enough that it has a laid-back atmosphere, but big enough that we have two hospitals that compete for business. The other hospital opens its new baby wing in six months. Both have all private rooms w/ state of the art equipment.

My twins were born around 2 am....there was a Terminator flic on the cable.....got to watch the finish and play catcher later.

-Start toothbrushing early and often...make it a habit for them
-buy everything used
-buy non-essentials (toys...crap in general) a week or more after you think about or see them...you'll thank everyone later and your child may save a fortune if he/she learns this from you.

also (not that it matters even a little but...) your wife is 10 months (40 weeks) pregnant...you may have only known of her state for 9.

Good luck and if anyone tries to talk you into a spawning (tub birth), ask them how many climb back out and ask for an epidural. As always, YMMV.

yeah, about the epidural. Even if you're not sure if you will be taking that route, ask what forms etc you will need to fill out, and get them out of the way early on. Also, they may require to have a nurse with you at all times once she's received the epidural, so ask if they have enough staff onhand. That turned into an issue for us, and my wife almost wasn't able to get an epidural because they were a bit short-staffed.

Congrats Legion!

There is a lot of good advice here especially references to so many people having raised kids with no prior experience and done a damn good job-

My first was born on the 11th of this month, a beautiful baby girl. I cannot tell a lie it is all consuming and life changing but in such a positive and profound way it cannot be put into words. My wife went all natural no drugs via Midwife at the hospital. The midwife grabbed my hands before the head was all the way out and told me to catch my daughter so I cradled her head then shoulders and the midwife got her legs. I have had the opportunity to see and experience some mind blowing things in my life but nothing can describe the intensity of this experience. It shatters you and builds you up again in a split second.

I walked out of that delivery room a different man- there are few things that rival seeing a new life that you helped create come into the world-

1. buy used/ talk to people at work and within your circle of friends as support and
hand me downs are plentiful. Rich or poor its a bad investment to buy everything new especially when so much of it gets used for such a short amount of time.
2. as others have said sleep when you can
3. this will be the most difficult demanding job you will ever take on. you will make mistakes due to the huge learning curve but don't be too hard on yourself.
4. Its also the most rewarding experience you will ever have with the biggest payoff.

Welcome to fatherhood and congratulations!

I will never forget when my little guy gushed into our world.
When we arrived at the hospital and were taken to a birthing room I remember my wife being in some pretty extreme discomfort. Ya, discomfort. That's it.
Anyway when she asked the nurse that was in control of the room for some pain relief, the old girl said "what are you going to do when the going gets tough?"
Then the doc came in and had a peek. The look on his face when he said to his team "We are having a baby, NOW!" surely motivated his people and scared the hell out of me!
I have rarely seen a bunch of people work together so efficiently.
When the doc said "Congrats, it's a boy" I remember saying "No way!"......
It was 45 minutes from the time we arrived to the time the little guy was born.
I hope you have the same speedy experience!

Hey Chris, Congrats!!!

don't try to get an infant on a routine. let them sleep when they want to sleep, eat when they want to eat, let them eat as much or as little as they want.
remember that sleep is over rated ;)
breast feeding is not innate, your wife may not be very good at it at first and may get really stressed. there are folks who teach breast feeding techniques. find one and let your wife learn.

Train the baby, don't let the baby train you.

Wyatt Christopher
9 lbs. 14 oz.
21 inches
Born at 8:34 this morning.

Mom and baby are sleeping after an exhausting 24 hours.

This thread is worthless without pictures....

Sleep train your child. Look it up if you do not know what I am talking about. I believe this is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your child.

Set a schedule and stick to it. This includes meal times, bedtimes, etc. Anything that happens daily/regularly. Your kids and you will function much better in this environment.

A word of warning, the highs are much higher than you could imagine. The lows are much worse than you think possible, but remember...This too shall pass.

Raising children is not for the weak. It is the hardest job you will ever do. It is worth it.

Congrats!
Good strong name.

Welcome to the club....

All too true. I'd like to add a warning. They grow into teenagers, you know.

Congrats! The 4th trimester is the hardest... but in the middle of the 5th send your wife off to a day spa and you take care of the kid all day ...

congrats!!