Any of you ladies have ZERO baby experience?

I've never babysat, never fed or changed a diaper. I've held a baby once in my life for about 30 seconds.

Everyone in my life keeps commenting on how they can't picture me taking care of a child. They are just trying to be funny but I feel sensitive about this - probably because I feel the same way about me.

Re: Any of you ladies have ZERO baby experience?

I'm an only child and the baby of my family...so never really had babies to be around, but LOOOOOVE babies ever since I can remember..I did baby sit, but never very young babies..but any time there are babies, I'm the one literally ignoring the adults and with the baby...I'm nervouse with a newborn, but I think thats a given with anyone, but I think everythign will come naturally...don't worry!!!!

Re: Any of you ladies have ZERO baby experience?

don't worry about it! that was me 3 weeks ago. I never changed a diaper or fed a baby in my life. I could barely hold one properly! DH was the same.

just watch a couple basic baby care dvds... the rest will come while you're in the hospital. you'll be amazed how instinctual it all is...

Re: Any of you ladies have ZERO baby experience?

me, it's the 1st grandbaby on both sides of our family plus we are among the 1st of our friends to have a baby as well. Don't worry, your motherly instincts will kick right in once your baby is here and you will learn as you go. That's how I feel about it. I'm not worried at all. Plus it's different with your own baby. As far as the comments that people are making, ignore them! I'd be offended if something was said to me like that being pregnant and about to become a 1st time mom.

Re: Any of you ladies have ZERO baby experience?

First of all - Who gives a sh*t whether or not someone can 'picture' you as a mother ???

Do you know how many times I've heard this ?? "God Marisa, I can't believe you're going to have a baby, it's just so not --- YOU ! - I can't see you changing diapers and being up all night and not killing this kid" - Well, gee, thanks for the vote of confidence. So b/c I'm not the Donna Reed type, I'm not going to be a good mother?

It does NOT matter what kind of experience you have w/ other people's kids - THIS is YOUR kid !! It is totally and completely different and I am 100% with you about being hypersensitive about this - b/c sometimes I doubt myself, I don't need anyone else making me feel worse and confirming my own dobuts - KWIM?

Soooo, b/c i'm not warm and fuzzy and I don't cry and get overly emotional at the drop of a hat that means I'm incapable of caring for and loving a child?

Because I don't get all mushy and weepy and crazed when I see a baby I'm incapable? B/c I don't insist on holding and cuddling and kissing everyone else's kids, that means I won't hold and cuddle and hug and love my own?

B/c I've never been one to get on the floor and play with other people's kids, or say "I can't WAIT to have a baby" or because I'm a type A personality and somewhat of a control freak - that means I'm automatically going to be a bad mother ??

People are idiots -


Maybe you have that immediate maternal instinct (which I think is a bunch of bull -) I think your instinct is to want to care for and nurture that baby - But you can not instinctively and immediately know HOW to do that ! -

You don't have to work for NASA to learn to feed or comfort a baby or change a diaper - And having 'experience' with someone else's kids does NOT automatically make you an expert on being a mother - The only people who KNOW how to be mothers - are mothers !! -

Youa are going to be fine !!

And so am I ........

Re: Any of you ladies have ZERO baby experience?

The first time I changed a diaper was in the hospital the morning after my dd was born

Re: Any of you ladies have ZERO baby experience?

ME and this worries me

Re: Any of you ladies have ZERO baby experience?

I hardly had any baby experience. When I had my baby and realized that nothing is as difficult as people say, I was actually mad at the people who tried to scare me. The truth is, it is not rocket science. It is just common sense. For example, when changing a diaper, you wipe the butt until it is clean.

Re: Any of you ladies have ZERO baby experience?

The last time I changed a diaper was when I was 16. I fed a baby a few times about 3 years ago. I haven't had much baby experience. I'm definitely nervous that I'll screw things up or won't know what to do, but I'm sure I'll figure it out.

Re: Any of you ladies have ZERO baby experience?

I had zero baby experience before I had DS. In fact, I wasn't even sure that I liked kids LOL Once he arrived my maternal instincts kicked in and I just knew what to do. And if I didn't, I winged it.

I am PG with #2 and am now terrified of how to handle an infant and a toddler but I keep telling myself that people do it all the time and it will be fine.

You'll be surprised what you are capable of - I'm sure you'll do great!

Re: Any of you ladies have ZERO baby experience?

Posted by Kerie-is-so-very

I hardly had any baby experience. When I had my baby and realized that nothing is as difficult as people say, I was actually mad at the people who tried to scare me. The truth is, it is not rocket science. It is just common sense. For example, when changing a diaper, you wipe the butt until it is clean.

Re: Any of you ladies have ZERO baby experience?

I worry about this sometimes. I've never been the type to want to be around the kids at family parties, and I don't have any experience with babies. I also was never one of the people that always longed for children. I always feel like before I do anything that I know nothing about, I read something to put my mind at ease. I just finished reading The Happiest Baby on the Block and I felt like I learned a lot. I'm going to read the Baby Whisperer next.

I know that I obviously need to live it to learn it, but the reading has put my mind at ease.

Re: Any of you ladies have ZERO baby experience?

I was like this I held none of my friends newborns not even my Godchildren....I have to say it comes naturakky when your baby is born motjherly instincts kick right in you start telling people how to care for your baby.

Re: Any of you ladies have ZERO baby experience?

Pretty much none. I have a niece and a nephew, but they live in Colorado. I have held babies-- but, I have never changed a diaper. I have also never been left alone with a baby.

Should be an interesting ride.

Re: Any of you ladies have ZERO baby experience?

before I had my dd I had never changed a diaper. Anytime that I visited friends with newborns or babies and they asked if I wanted to hold them I politely told them no b/c I was scard.... it all just came to me. My own mother tells me all the time that she was worried about me and now she thinks I am the best mom. Trust me you will be fine!