T-Minus, Like, 45 Minutes...
OK - four weeks.
I'm stopping folks on the street to ask about their stroller satisfaction, I've re-organized the baby's dresser 3 times, and I'm making grand (read: stupid) plans for my generous paternity leave (thanks again to Adaptive Path for being, as always, awesome.)
My question is:
How do you know when you're ready?
32 Comments:
You'll never know if you're ready or not. : )
The first few weeks are like baby boot camp. There aren't words to explain the new parent experience. You have to live it to understand.
That's why my best description is, "Baby Boot Camp."
You're never ready! But you will be SO happy. Best of luck for a peaceful delivery!
Never
I think perhaps there is no such thing as 'ready'. Nothing can prepare you for whatever twists and turns show up on the day of... or the days after. It does become more real when they leave you and your wife with the child and no instruction manual. Then you will be prepared, but perhaps not ready.
Also, MacLaren strollers rule. Do it up!
when you've stocked the freezer and the pantry and every cupboard. and when you've cleaned EVERYTHING in your house at least 3 times. (sounds like you're the one doing the 'nesting'. :) )
I am in the same situation here...
I just think: "ready or not here I go"
However, a level of 'readiness' can be achieved if you are done with the to-do things prior to labor and going to the hospital... you know... give her a hug... ready your bag with clothes, her bag with clothes... no let her do that one... another hugh... have the car seat ready, have the house ready... I don't know... Camera ready? email addresses of everyone you want to communicate right away...
And then maybe another hug. =)
We still need to buy a mattress... we have the crib, but not the mattress... since he'll be sleeping in the bassinet for a while anyway.
4 weeks to go!!!!
Oh... and don't contradict her. =)
We'll get even later. hehehe.
When I was pregnant with my daughter - my husband and I always wondered when we would feel ready. You will once the baby arrives! Everything will fall in to place, promise.
Can I make a rec? The Zooper stroller is AWESOME! We bought the ZStreet and it was the best stroller. We had a Peg Perego and that beast was so annoying to use but when we bought it we thought it was a "must have" item. Check out the Zooper line and you will never look back!
Best of luck in these final weeks!
As for the stroller, I've been testing the Graco MetroLite, as it allows the Graco SnugRide Car Seat to fit... Consumer Reports recommended it for about a week up until today's events. While I expect them to add more 'approved' car seats to their list... I doubt (and hope not) that they will 'downgrade' the carseat.
Bryan, you're ready, count on it. You will do fabulously well. One tip: if people offer to help, take them up on it and let them do small chores around the house. Have them vacuum the house or fold a load of laundry or do some dishes or something, anything drudgery, because those are the things that will bring you down if they don't get done. For them it's only fifteen minutes, for you and Maggie it's sanity. Trust me on this, I'm a mom.
And good luck! You'll do great!
You can never be ready so don't worry about it. I very much second the Maclaren stroller. I also live in SF and it is the supreme city stroller.
when you don't pass out at the first site of the placenta.
This will be the longest month of your life and possibly the longest six weeks. Here's three tips from a a relatively recent new dad:
1. If you're driving home from the hospital, have you practiced strapping up the car seat a thousand times?
2. Music for the delivery suite? I spent hours on that one. An iTunes folder for every mood.
3. This sounds silly but you'll thank me after. Stock up on cakes,biscuits and milk. A million people will drop by with cards. You need to give them something with coffee and you'll be too tired to think about shopping for extras. Managing the flow of friends and family is your job by the way.
I'll feel the need at this point to say everything is going to be fine.
Thinking of you both and I loved the book.
MacLaren strollers, definitely... but a snap & go (with carseat) will work best with a new baby
that being said (and I hate to admit it... hence the second comment) some friends loaned us a bogaboo after J had outgrown his snap & go... and, honestly, even though it's HUGE it has proved super comfy for him and great for pushing uphill... primarily, though, that the handle can be adjusted to push the child either facing the parent or away from the parent rules... especially on sunny or windy days.
but i wouldn't purchase one new.
You don't. That's the fun part.
You guys are going to be just great. :-)
Good question! I have a 6 year old and I'm still not sure I'm ready. :-) All kidding aside....things will fall into place sooner than later.
After the highly-medicalized end of pregnancy, labor, and the post-partum period, I remember being shocked and dismayed when we took the baby in for his one-week checkup. I was expecting to schedule the next appointment for, like, a week later, so they could make sure we weren't starving the baby or not keeping it warm enough or whatever. But no. "We'll see you in 3 months", they said. And I was like, what are you doing? I'm not qualified for this. This is a BABY. He's fragile. I need to be monitored."
So, no, even after he came, I did not feel ready.
He's 3 now and I still wouldn't say that I'm ready to handle this. In the meantime, I'm just sort of faking it.
B-May, You have no way to prepare for this no matter how much stuff you buy, how many books you read or how much sleep you get now. In short - you are already ready.
When the baby actually comes out and you get to hold it. That, in my opinion, is when you think "okay, I can do this."
Good luck with your new adventure!
You are never totally ready! Although I recommend being more ready than we were. I delivered at 37 weeks and we had nothing ready: car seat wasn't installed, crib wasn't set up, even my hospital bag wasn't packed! I highly recommend doing those things NOW, not after labour has started.
my daughter just turned a year and every day i ask myself that same question and there times i feel like a pro and have been doing it forever and the next day i call my mom and beg her to take aurora for friday night because i just can't handle this new persona at the moment
When you and Maggie are first at home with the baby and you look at each other and the baby with a teeny bit of anxiety. That's when you're ready - 'cause you have to be.
I agree with Amy and Nancy: You will never be ready. But you can get as prepared as possible, and then wing it (which is pretty much what you'll do for your entire parenting experience anyhow, so you might as well start early).
Four weeks? How is that even possible?
I think you know you're ready when the baby comes and you realize you aren't ready. And you do it anyway.
How do you know you're ready? When you can talk about it and not pass out. :)
I don't think you ever feel ready. That's kind of the beauty of it.
By the way, I'm 28 weeks pregnant. 12 weeks to go. And it's terrifying for me!
I'm sure you're going to make a great father.
There is no "ready," but you'll make it work. That's just what happens. And I'll second the Zooper recommendation. We had one,* and we loved it.
*Ours was destroyed by baggage handlers. I'd also recommend a stroller case if you're planning to do much traveling.
you don't know when, but it sounds like you have a wonderful foundation, to build on.
Ready or nor, you guys will be awesome. I have no words of advice or wisdom, but you can always ring me up for something of a casserole nature.
Right about the same time they move out, I think.
I have two kids and I'm still waiting to be ready :-) Enjoy!
never! I like fake it 'til you make it....best luck (you won't need it!)
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