We’re lucky in that we have lots of friends that have had babies and we’re getting loads of advice from them too. We’re trying not to buy anything if we can help it, although we do want to get a new pram/stroller thingy and carseat. We’re looking at a “pramette” which is essentially just a stroller but with the ability to lie the baby flat. Should last us a couple of years.

Baby Rutt is due in September. Preparing for our world to be turned upside down – in a very, very good way :)

I was thinking of Vic when I wrote the post, but I’m wary of discussing friends in public even when I don’t identify them.

I’m slapping my forehead here, as I realise that in fact I didn’t quite, and so I missed another category of mothers who can’t breastfeed: the ones who have post-natal complications which either put them into hospital away from their baby or put them onto drugs which turn their milk dangerous or both. Daisy wouldn’t breastfeed anyway, but that was only an issue for the first week. After that, Vic was on Warfarin for about a year, and breastfeeding would have caused Daisy serious harm. Apparently, blood clots aren’t particularly uncommon after birth, especially caesarians, so there must be a lot of new mums on Warfarin. For whose babies, again, formula is literally a life-saver.

> There’s loads of stuff that you think you need but probably don’t. Unfortunately prams don’t fall into that category.

I keep meaning to write a big post about what’s useful and what isn’t. Now’s as good a time as any. I’ll let you know when it’s up.

If there’s any advice I can offer, please yell, DM on twitter or whatever. I’m no expert but I’ve made (and hopefully learned from) lots and lots and lots of mistakes :)

When’s the wee one due?

My wife has some good friends with three kids and she’s almost been a second mother to them. Lots of practice with babies, so she’s well prepared.

Me, on the other hand….

We’ve been shopping for prams. The system we like (in Mamas and Papas) including the carseat costs more than I sold my previous car for on eBay. Prams > Fiat Bravo apparently :(

> So often (and I’m guilty of this as much as anyone) we can all get upset about something because we misinterpret the facts.

Oh, absolutely. The problem (to me at least) is that facts can be elusive, especially when it comes to health, and if I hear the words “precautionary principle” one more time I’m going to get myself a gun and go postal :)

One of the worst things about being a parent IMO, other than the sleep deprivation, is that every single person in the world believes you’re doing it wrong and will tell you.

I’m sure I meant to ask this before. Are you and Mrs Rutty expecting your first, or do you have kids already?