Baby inventory

We finally started trying to get an inventory of what we have and what we need over the weekend. I went through and opened all the packages of onesies and bibs and towels and socks and a good number of things that I just didn't know what they were (we decided the one that looked like a big pot holder for the baby was probably another burping cloth).
We were once again amazed about the size of things ... the four "newborn" size socks look like little finger puppets, but they wouldn't even fit to the bottoms of my fingers.

Then we started talking about what the baby will wear when we bring him home from the hospital. Amanda's mother knitted him a sweater that seems like a bet, but we'll need something very warm for the hospital-to-cold-car trip in late January.
It's hard to believe we're actually talking about what he'll be wearing in just a few more weeks. Pretty soon, we'll get into major "how to handle a baby" classes, as well. We're going to a pain management class this week, followed by a full-day baby class Saturday and another big one next Saturday. If I wasn't scared before ...

But then, whenever things seem overwhelming, I always enjoy a quick read of The Care and Feeding of Children. For those who haven't seen my earlier references to this book, I'm working with the 1915 edition of the classic. I figure that if babies were treated this way and survived back then, how bad could I do?

What can be done for older children who take cold upon the slightest provocation? They should be kept in cool room, especially when asleep. They should not wear such heavy clothing that they are in perspiration much of the time. Every morning the body, particularly the neck, chest, shoulders and back should be sponged with cold water (50 to 60 degrees F).

How should the cold sponge bath be given? The child should stand in a tub containing a little warm water, and a large bath sponge filled with cold water should be squeezed two or three times over chest and shoulders. For best effects, this sponge bath should be very cold and very short. It should be followed by a vigorous rubbing with a towel until the skin is quite red. This may be begun at three years, and often at two years. For infants, a little higher temperature (65 to 70 degrees) may be used.