Baby Care Basics

Last night Josh and I attended our first baby class, Baby Care Basics. I've been around babies and kids all of my life, but obviously have never had one of my own. So I wasn't sure what they would teach me, but I also had a few questions about some things that I wasn't confident about. Boy was I glad we went to that class. There were SOOO many things that I didn't know. I don't think I have ever taken so many notes. It was like I was preparing for the largest test of my life. Which it may still be, I don't know.

The class was from 6:30pm to 9pm. Needless to say, I was pooped afterward. We covered so much material. From changing diapers, to bathing the baby, to what it might look like after delivery.There was information about breastfeeding, bottle feeding, soothing a crying baby, looking for signs of Colic, dealing with a colic baby. I feel like I should have taken a recorder. Then, for Josh's favorite part, a portion of the presentation was done while a recording of a baby crying was playing. I thought he was going to lose it! He said he wished he had brought his ear plugs! HAHA. It was so sweet to see all the dads in there participating and soaking up every ounce of information that was given to them! Josh included.

This was our baby. We actually had a happy baby. Some had grumpy babies, or baby's with questionable expressions. There was even one baby doll that was older and yellowed, just from the wear and tear I'm sure these dolls get, and the instructor used that baby as an example of a baby with Jaundice. Jaundice is in no way a laughing matter, I know, but it was funny that we had an example there in the class. Along with our baby, we had a stack of laundry. A hooded towel, a blanket, two wash cloths, a diaper and a folder with a ton of reading material, that also included a magnet, stickers, key chain, and 'credit card' type card to put in your wallet with information for poison control and such. I was a lot of information. So much that I think I will have to go home tonight and actually read up on some things.

This is Josh with his very first swaddled baby. Not only did he swaddle the baby, he told me that I swaddled the baby wrong, so he re-swaddled the baby when I was done.

*Note to self.. Josh can be the swaddler in the family*

He posed for this photo op when he was done. He was so proud. Don't let that look on his face tell you any differently.

Josh's very FIRST diaper change!! I let him do all of this since he has never changed a diaper EVER and I've probably changed a gazillion from my brothers, being a nanny, etc. Diapers don't scare me. I've got this. He made sure that, that baby girl was all cleaned up. When placing the diaper back on the baby, I tried to help him because had it been a real baby, and pooped, we might have lost some out of the back. He swatted at me and said that he would fix it. He then proceeded to make sure and fold down the from of the diaper, away from the baby so that the outside of the diaper did not scratch the baby or rub the skin, and close the tabs. That way, the diaper was not rubbing on the baby's umbilical cord. How thoughtful of him. And what a happy baby!






We watched a video for the majority of the program, and the instructor would pause it, and that's when we would do our 'tasks' and she would elaborate a bit more on things that were covered in that chapter of the video. One of the things that stood out to me the most, and I don't know why, is when you are unable to console your baby; You've done EVERYTHING you know to do, and gone down your 'check list' to make sure that baby is OK, and sometimes you just can't console the baby. So this man on this video, walks into his babies room, puts the baby in her crib, walks out of the room, and SHUTS THE DOOR!! My heart shattered. I had tears in my eyes because this man shut the door on his crying baby. I understand that you sometimes have to just 'walk away' and cool off or you could lose your patience. But really, do we have to shut the door? I don't know why this hurt my feelings so much, but it did break my heart.

Other things in this video, stood out to Josh. He was uncomfortable watching these mothers breastfeed. He said he felt like it wasn't OK for him to watch, so he'd look away, only to find that everyone else in the room, was completely fixated on the video! HA! I told him it was OK, it's just part of it. Poor guy. Needless to say, he won't be attending my breastfeeding 101 class with me. I think that the umbilical cord kind of got to him as well. There were a few people in there that would squirm in their seats at the sight of the umbilical cord. Somehow, nothing about this entire process, seemed to bother me. From birth, to breastfeeding, to the approximate amount of dirty diapers, to the umbilical cord, and spit up... just that man putting the baby in the bed and closing the door. Needless to say, I don't think baby Keown is going to have to worry about me shutting the door on him/her. HAHA

So, last night was eventful, tiresome, educational, and made the fact that we are having a baby, a little more real. Josh told me on the way home last night, that he can't wait for baby Keown to get here. That just warms my heart so much. What a great man that I married.