Sorta spinoff...how many of us have cared for an infant on a regular, consistent basis before?

I helped my mom with all of my younger siblings, but I was almost the exclusive caregiver for a time to my baby sister when she was born.

my mom suffered from PPD, and my dad was not always around. I fed her, bathed her, changed her, woke up with her at night...all while still being in high school.

I LOVE her and I love kids, but that experience is one of the reasons I waited so long to have children. it definitely shaped me, especially at a young age.

but, I also feel it makes me slightly more "ok" with what is in store....I may not know what will happen to ME personally, after the baby. but I am adequately confident in my ability to care of my little Newton, crumbs and all!

Re: Sorta spinoff...how many of us have cared for an infant on a regular, consistent basis before?

my sister and brother are both much older than i am, so i had seven nieces and nephews by the time i was in college.

while i definitely helped to take care of them when they were infants, i can't say i had ANY clue about what to do with my own baby!! boy, was that a rude awakening!

Re: Sorta spinoff...how many of us have cared for an infant on a regular, consistent basis before?

not me, I had ZERO baby experience

the 1st time I changed a diaper was in the hospital the day after dd was born, NO JOKE

I am learning as I go

Re: Sorta spinoff...how many of us have cared for an infant on a regular, consistent basis before?

never! the last diaper I changed was 18 years ago!

Re: Sorta spinoff...how many of us have cared for an infant on a regular, consistent basis before?

When i was younger, my sister had her 1st son and lived at home with my mom and me until me nephew was 9. So i use to help my sister out as much as i could, but i honestly to me i was just playing house.


then last year my sister had her 2nd child and i take her every sunday for 3 hours to give my sister a break and she sleeps over 1 friday a month

Re: Sorta spinoff...how many of us have cared for an infant on a regular, consistent basis before?

I was a mother's helper at 16 , but that was the last time I took care of an infant

Re: Sorta spinoff...how many of us have cared for an infant on a regular, consistent basis before?

I babysat throughout middle school and high school, also was a mother's helper and cared for infants. I also come from a large family, though I am the youngest, I have 7 nieces and nephews... So yes, I have cared for them before but I'm sure it will be completely different when I can't give them back to their mommy!

Re: Sorta spinoff...how many of us have cared for an infant on a regular, consistent basis before?

I am teacher, but know nothing about infants However, a lot of my friends already have babies, so while I don't know much about infant care, I have seen a lot of "parenting" around me, both good and bad.

Re: Sorta spinoff...how many of us have cared for an infant on a regular, consistent basis before?

I was a part time nanny for a couple of years when in college.

I say nanny, because I stayed with the family pretty much every Thurs-Sun. The weekends the parents spent running errands and house-hunting. I stayed home with the kids. I was more than just a baby-sitter. I had to take care of many diaper-explosions and put screaming babies to bed countless times. I went with them to Florida and Chicago too.

It gave me a small taste of what it's like to do this full time, which is why I was in no rush to start a family until I was really ready.

Don't get me wrong, it was a beautiful "taste" but very over-whelming at times.

But if I could do it at 20 years old and clueless, I think I could handle it well now too.

Re: Sorta spinoff...how many of us have cared for an infant on a regular, consistent basis before?

I worked in daycare for 4 years, but I was the head teacher for 12-24 month olds. Once in awhile I helped out in the infant room, but rarely. I feel more ready to have a toddler than an infant!

Re: Sorta spinoff...how many of us have cared for an infant on a regular, consistent basis before?

last time i changed a diaper must have been 15 years ago when i helped my mom babysit my little cousins.
i will learn as i go - mothers intuition should get me far

Re: Sorta spinoff...how many of us have cared for an infant on a regular, consistent basis before?

I was a Nanny when i was a teenager for the same family for 5 years, i am also a pediatric ICU nurse.I also helped take care of my little cousins from the time there were infants, and i babysat them.

Message edited 4/15/2009 3:22:33 PM.

Re: Sorta spinoff...how many of us have cared for an infant on a regular, consistent basis before?

None! I'm an only child.

Re: Sorta spinoff...how many of us have cared for an infant on a regular, consistent basis before?

pretty much none. I used to babysit alot but more for toddlers and older children. I have pretty much zero newborn experience besides just holding friends and relatives babies.

Re: Sorta spinoff...how many of us have cared for an infant on a regular, consistent basis before?

Nope. I am very close with my nieces and they visit us and stay over but not on a regular basis and they are out of diapers.

Re: Sorta spinoff...how many of us have cared for an infant on a regular, consistent basis before?

I was and au pair in Paris for 4 months for a baby.

Felix's parents routinely went away for the weekend so I had lots of 1:1 time with him over and above my normal duties.

Message edited 4/15/2009 4:45:04 PM.

Re: Sorta spinoff...how many of us have cared for an infant on a regular, consistent basis before?

NOT ME. Ive never even changed a diaper in my whole life

Re: Sorta spinoff...how many of us have cared for an infant on a regular, consistent basis before?

I have two half brothers who are 7 and 10 years younger. I lived with my dad and step mom and was basically the built in babysitter through my tween/teen years. I actually really resent that so much of raising them was laid on my shoulders, and I had zero desire for kids all through my 20s as a result.

BUT, the good part is that I'm not worried about diapers and stuff....

Re: Sorta spinoff...how many of us have cared for an infant on a regular, consistent basis before?

When I was in high school I had alot of babysitting experience, but since then nada....it's been about 12yrs since I've had to change a diaper.

My bf had a baby boy a few months ago, she's agreed to let me practice on him

Re: Sorta spinoff...how many of us have cared for an infant on a regular, consistent basis before?

I have experience with infants, I used to work at Tutor Time and watched my niece when she was an infant. I can't wait to watch my own little

Re: Sorta spinoff...how many of us have cared for an infant on a regular, consistent basis before?

I had the same sort of situation as you...although it was so long ago at this point, I'm not sure how I'll do...

Re: Sorta spinoff...how many of us have cared for an infant on a regular, consistent basis before?

Hardly any experience with newborns.

Re: Sorta spinoff...how many of us have cared for an infant on a regular, consistent basis before?

i have 14 cousins....5 currently being the youngest (my sister & I being the oldes) So I've definitely had my share of babysitting for them all.

My sister also brought my amazing little nephew into my life last year besides it being one of the best moments in my life ...it was/is eye opening. I was TERRIFIED to change his diaper when he was like probably like a week old, I was shaking b/c I thought I was going to hurt the little guy taking his onsie off (my sister just laughed at me)...but I clearly got over it and have of course been a huge part of his life (for those that know me...already know my obsession )

So while I'm no expert, my sister is a wonderful mommy and I've learned a lot from her and will continue to do so but I think I'll be ok

Re: Sorta spinoff...how many of us have cared for an infant on a regular, consistent basis before?

Before I had DS #1, I had helped care for my sister's 2 girls when they were born up until they were about 2 and 6. My sister also suffered from severe PPD and I basically moved in with her and helped her as much as I could.

Re: Sorta spinoff...how many of us have cared for an infant on a regular, consistent basis before?

i have years of experience working as a nurse in the pediatric and neonatal icu's in addition to being a pediatric nurse practitioner..