Tools

October 9th, 2009

I don’t know how people did it twenty years ago.  We’re so fortunate to live in an era of open information and access to tools for raising a child.  Here’s some of my picks for the curious or soon-to-be parent dad.

• The Internet & YouTube: Seriously…people had babies before the Internet?  How did they know that their kid had milk tongue, not thrush?  How did they figure out how to put on a cloth diaper?  How, how??? A an important side note, the geekily inclined can find lots of pregnancy and baby movie torrents.
• The Miracle Blanket.  Swaddling is a Very Important Tactic in keeping your sanity at night for many parents.  We’re big Karp believers, but trying to keep one of those tiny receiving blankets wrapped up tight on Piper was simply impossible once she was one hour old.  Miracle Blankets make you feel like your straightjacketing your kid, but man alive, do they work.
• DIODER lights at IKEA. I’m saddened that I can’t find the link for these at IKEA, because they’re one of the neatest things I’ve bought for baby.  It’s a 10 inch long strip of directionally focused LED’s, running on a few AAA batteries, that light up when you open the drawer.  They shut off 20 seconds later.  Every night when I slog into the nursery to change a diaper at 4 AM, I have no need to turn on the light and ruin our half asleep state.  I open the drawer, can see what I need, and move on.  Seriously….awesome.  DIODER is a line of products, it appears, so beware…you want this one.
• A nice drill.  I highly recommend DeWalt gear..it feels great, lasts forever, and the other dads will know you mean business.  Why a drill? Trust me, you’re going to start noticing things that need fixed.  It’s the male equivalent of nesting.  Not to mention all the furniture assembling you’ll be doing.  And things you will be attaching to the wall because your wife told you to that’s why. And oh, did you know that battery compartments on kids toys are secured with at least 48 tiny, recessed, Phillips screws? Cause they are.  And nothing sucks worse that a shitty drill. This is mine, and I do love it oh so much.
• An exercise ball.  These things are great for two reasons…babies love to bounce and your back is going to be screwed.  Bouncing is a soother…babies like to be reminded of the womb, and believe it or not, it was pretty bouncy in there.  Imagine floating in a pool, tethered to the top, while someone jostles the pool all day.  You get the picture.  Your back is going to be hurting due to all the dropped binkys, unrestful nights of sleep and baby carrying, not to mention the ten extra pounds you’ll gain. The ball builds core strength, and you’re gonna need it.
• Baby Bjorn carrier. I know she’ll outgrow this quickly, and I’m sure attachment parents everywhere will think less of me for not using some complicated, woven, organic hemp sling. But the fact is, this thing works well for small babies, looks OK on me, and is easy to use.  I love it, and she does too.
• Baby Bjorn Baby Sitter. My favorite thing about the Baby Sitter? No batteries.  She bounces herself in it a little, but it gets most of it’s motion from my big toe.  There are times when I can get her calm in this contraption and actually use two hands for stuff.  That is a victory in my book.  It also folds quite flat and travels well.
• Mam Paci’s. I don’t know why she likes these, but she does.  I like the fact that they have no handle, so I can hold her tight into my chest while she’s sucking.
• iPhone.  I can’t say enough about it.  I can’t imagine living without it, much less parenting. It’s a portable speaker, packed with Beatles, Jerry and Boards Of Canada for her.  It’s the answer to a question in a flash, where ever I am (See “The Internet”, above).  It’s the sound of grandma’s voice when she’s far away.  It’s entertainment for me when Tori has to nurse at a Macy’s. I timed contractions with it, post photos to Facebook, count wet/dirty diapers, take voice notes when I’m sleep deprived…the list goes on.  You should get one free if you have a child. But you don’t, so pony up those three Benjamins.

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