Of Bow Hunting and Bibs

One of the things you need to come to terms with pretty quickly when dealing with an infant, is that you cannot rush their feeding. They will eat at their own pace, no matter what. Furthermore, do not be alarmed if they zone out and stare off at some unknown point in space while you are anxiously trying to feed them the next spoonful of pureed fruit melange. While your attention may be fixated on that little spoon and the possibility of getting its contents into your child's mouth sometime this century, their awareness is still taking shape. When they unglue themselves from whatever caught their momentary fancy, you need to be ready with a loaded spoon for the instant they remember they are hungry and open their little mouth. So, there you must sit, calculatingly waiting for the next opportunity to fill their little maw. Bloomp! It’s kind of like waiting for quarry when bow hunting; you need to be ready to let that arrow fly true at the first opportunity. Cultivate the hunter's instinct...

Now, you also need to be prepared for the mess that inevitably accompanies baby feeding time. Some babies are messier than others, but all of them are messy. They cannot help it; they’re still learning how to eat. You need to make sure you have a few things on hand, like a moistened cloth, a good bib, and a roll of paper towels. The first and last are self-explanatory, but the bib requires a little more examination.

I recommend a specific style of bib, and here are my reasons:

1. “Waterproof” is a key word when looking for bibs. Waterproof bibs are easy to clean, you simply rinse them off in the sink, and they dry quickly too. The really cool part is that such bibs may even keep your child’s clothing from becoming wet or soiled with baby food. It’s 50-50, but when you compare them to cloth bibs, the waterproof variety wins every time.
2. A flap catch-pocket along the bottom of the bib will help to mitigate messes from spillage and crumbs that may fall directly onto your infant.
3. The bib must be of a size big enough to cover your baby’s front completely. Need I say more?
4. The (preferably) Velcro fastener needs to be offset to one side as opposed to directly behind baby’s neck. Reason being, it’s a lot easier to fasten the bib in place when baby is reluctant to wear it and keeps bucking their head straight backwards. Also, for the same reason, it’s easier to unfasten and remove this style of bib when feeding is done.

More to come, when I get a break between feeding, walking, and changing baby. :)

The Hardest Part

Probably the most gut-wrenching thing to witness at this stage is the transition from momma's boobie to daddy's bottle. The relationship between a nursing mother and her offspring is really something outside the experience or ken of men. I can only shrug and bear the heartfelt cries as Ilias pines for my wife, Sophia a.k.a. the Human Milk Jug.

I do my best to get some formula into him with the bottle, though we definitely fare better with pumped breast milk; but that in no way replaces the comfort of a warm boobie and a mother's arms. It is almost like watching an addict in the throes of withdrawal from their pharmacon of choice. But with an added element of innocence that is downright heart-breaking to witness. Almost makes me want to grow boobies... almost. ;)

In some ways I'm jealous of my son, especially when it comes to breast-feeding. Few people of my generation in North America were breast-fed. My generation was the test-bed for mass produced baby formulas. Perhaps this explains some of our idiosyncracies and proclivities. Perhaps. Suffice it to say, I was not breast fed. My mother opted for the convenience of a powder mix. So, like many others of my era, I have a thing for engorged breasts. I blame it all on Nestle.

A Few Tips

Children's music is a good idea at feeding times; the louder the better. The cheerful melodies help one to act histrionically when necessary to coax the child into opening their mouth for just one more mouthful. Trust me, it helps.

Another IMPORTANT tip relates to diaper changing. Make sure to use a waterproof change pad. Babies do occasionally pee just when you are changing them. Don't be caught unprepared. In addition, it is a good idea to prepare for the change by opening and placing the fresh diaper under the baby's butt before removing the soiled diaper. In this fashion, you'll be ready to cover them up quick should the little one decide to wee... :)

Finally, patience is your friend. If you hope to raise your child into a loving, considerate individual, you cannot show him/her enough patience. Your child should not be a chore. Rather, a child is like a clean waxen slate upon which you can impress both your best and/or worst characteristics. Patience, then, is definitely a virtue when it comes to setting an example for your child and others. Here is a short video which underscores the point:

Paternity Leave, Day 1

My wife, Sophia, returned to work today as her maternity leave expired last week. Thankfully, I am able to assume the role of principal caregiver for our son, Ilias, for the next several months. This is our first child, so I am navigating uncharted waters. However, I have every confidence that I will be able to successfully fulfil the role & responsibility I have now assumed. At least, I hope so!

I decided to publish this blog detailing my experiences as a stay-at-home parent as I believe my successes and mistakes can provide helpful insights for other parents in similar situations. Time will tell whether or not this is true. So, let us see where this new life adventure takes us!

Sophia typed up a schedule for me detailing Ilias' feeding times and food portions, his snack times and preferences, his nap hour, and the all-important diaper check periods. So far, this morning has been largely uneventful as I stuck to the schedule as if my life depended on it. I fed the little guy his breakfast cereal, changed him, put him on his play mat for some exercise, and am now about to take him for a walk so he can get some fresh air and (hopefully) get tired enough for a nap.

So far, so good. Will keep you posted as we go...