Any tips for buying new items for the baby of expecting mother? I want to look at buying stuff for the wife and child at an affordable price, but I don't want to buy something that is not safe or to Australian /international standards. My wife is about 11 weeks pregnant. Any tips?
Happy to hear general tips for new expecting parents. We are based in Darwin, Northern Territory so happy to order items online.
Thank you.
It sounds hectic for you, but I don’t believe there is any prenatal screening for autism.
run
Don't buy things new
Learn to use voice command to shutdown TV and blame the battery is dead and nothing you can do. I have been doing this even now when my kids is 6 and 8, not once have I heard crying, begging and tantrum over TV. They just accept nothing can be done and gracefully go to bed. You welcome
Don't buy big toys not even when 5+. I find kids love small toys that they can hold with one hand.
Buy less toy, many of the toys my kids play is only for 1 day.
Don't overwork and stress because time is precious. Enjoy the baby time because they grow up so fast.
Sleep with them a lot, it strengthens the relationship. I have a spare bed in my kids room I can use.
Don't discard the owners manual!
I hope Op is still around. The single most important thing a husband/father can do in early years is to look after your wife more than anything or anyone. Not choosing the best pram or knowing some cool parenting hacks. Give her 20 mins so she can take shower. take the baby out in the pram for 1 hour so she can get nap. Make sure she is fed and hydrated. The first 1-2 years of motherhood is so brutal physically and mentally to the point that many women choose not to have any more after that. and most women dont tell you this because mothers are the most judged occupation in the world.
When I came home from shift work, I'd tell my wife to go to sleep and be a dad, I wouldn't ask. If I asked, she'd feel the need to stay awake and do things despite being sleep deprived.
Every says just enjoy the baby time because they grow up fast but don't feel bad if you don't particularly enjoy the baby phase…
Congratulations. We were living in a small 3 bedroom house when our first child arrived. We immediately realised that the house was too small. Something to think about. Good luck, sleep well.
Get a second hand pram.
Get private insurance for your kid when they are born and don't be afraid of trying a private Sleep school (something like this - https://www.mitchamprivate.com.au/Our-Services/Early-Parenti…) . It will absolutely save your sanity if your kid is an average sleeper and it's covered completely under private hospital insurance.
We did it with both of our kids and it is a game changer. Don't bother with snoo or any other sleeping gadgets. You want to teach our kid to sleep in a cot so they will sleep anywhere.
Congratulations! I think if you stick to the big name stores, they'd have to be selling items that are to Aus standards. Don't go overboard, you never know what you'll like and end up using. Have the basics and you'll find that through baby showers and the birth you'll be gifted so much stuff. Have clothes in assorted sizes, even if it's just one or two items. Our first born was much too small for any of the clothes we bought, so a last minute late night run to the supermarket had him dressed and good to go. I'd also suggest having a hospital bag packed and left in the car or near the front door just in case, from about 30 weeks. I had complications, went to emergency at 32 weeks, and came home 5 weeks later with a baby. That was not in the birth plan!
Take some time off work when the baby is born if you can. Not only is it great bonding time, your partner will need help. Expect absolute chaos and those first weeks and months to be a blur. Go in with your eyes open and as a partnership. Don't sweat the small stuff, and if in doubt, always err on the side of caution.
Good luck and enjoy the ride.
Wife Is Pregnant
The fun part is over… haha
Why? She can't get any more pregnant than she is already…
Oven is cooking, cant open the door
Placenta encapsulation is 100% the best thing you can do for your wife
Lol
A snoo will change your life!
Your birthing hospital will offer birthing classes to answer all your questions.
Don’t get caught up with everyone’s advice about what to get because they all have their own nuances.
Congratulations!!!
If you can't even raise a Tamagochi you have zero chance in bringing up a healthy child.
Buy a snoo if you can afford it. Unless you don’t like sleeping.
2nd hand everything.
Washable nappies. Compostable nappies.
Glass baby bottles (they come with plastic external bottle protectors nowadays).
Trial lactose free formula when the time comes. If it's highly likely you have the genes for intolerance, probably go lactose free anyway. (*I personally have had genetic testing and I have zero lactase enzyme production in my colon).
From several months of age, start giving small amounts of peanut butter, scrambled egg, minced up shellfish flesh etc. This is based on publically available medical advisory in Australia.
Bless your family. Enjoy
I recommend the babysense 7 breathing sensor. Keep an eye on fb marketplace they are $30-50 near me. When we got home we had trouble sleeping, she either sounded like she was choking, drowning or made no sound at all, so we got no sleep for checking on her. You need a bassinet where you can the sensor between the hard board and the mattress, it alarms if it does not detect breathing for 20s. Never had a problem where we needed the sensor, but it just is a comfort for us and helps us sleep.
When choosing a pram, consider the space in your car and how much the mother can carry postpartum. After my partner had a C-section, she struggled to lift anything over 10 kg for the first few months. We’re expecting our second child in December and have decided on a Yoyo2 with a newborn pack for ease of getting in and out of the car. Although we lose some storage space under the pram, it’s incredibly light and easy to pack. Your back will thank you in the long run.
Also, keep in mind that some kids don’t like prams, like our first child. Starting with a travel pram can help you test it out and might save you some money. Plus, you’ll need it when you travel.
You won’t get much sleep for the next 15 years, so rest up now. When your child starts childcare, both of you will often get sick, but it's great for their immune system. I was sick for three months straight. You will also argue with your partner about everything. Respect each other and avoid picking fights that could harm your relationship. Communication is key; be open about everything.
Buy necessities in bulk when they’re on special. Use Woolies Mobile for an extra 10% off up to $50 per month.
Baby groups are great for social bonding for your kids, but they can be toxic environments due to competitive parenting advice. Take all advice, including mine, with a grain of salt and process it yourself. Enjoy
Create a Gmail account for the child. Every time you take a great photo of the child or there's a funny story/incident, email it to the gmail account. Give them the account's password on their 18th birthday.
Nah, I would not trust Google on this one. They might close down unused accounts at some points.
They can't even keep Google Shortener for URLs alive.
Lots of people go and but a wizz bang expensive pram.
Both of you need to test it. Number one thing your looking at how easy is it to fold up? As my wife was primary carer i got her to fold up several sorts in the store and actually lift up as if putting in car.
We ended up choosing a $290 (15 years ago) one with medium sized wheels and very easy to fold up worked out great. Sister in law went and got a expensive one with big wheels heavy hard to fold ended up hated it she never properly tested it.
When your wife finds one she likes she needs to fold up and unfold several times as it can be stressful say in a carpark or packing up in the rain.
Small to medium pram with medium size wheels for the car. A bigger pram are better for going for a walk from home.
Absolute top tip: buy used where possible especially clothing, better yet free 2nd hand clothing from friends and families.
Kid grows up fast you will be surprised by some of the 0000 clothing looks brand new because the baby outgrew it before wearing it.
Absolute top tip: buy used where possible especially clothing, better yet free 2nd hand clothing from friends and families.
Kid grows up fast you will be surprised by some of the 0000 clothing looks brand new because the baby outgrew it before wearing it.
1000% this!
All of our baby’s 0000 clothes were hand me downs from my sister. He stayed in 0000 for 3 months and I think we wore maybe a quarter of what was in the drawer we’d been given. We were doing washing every second day and you find the suits you like and stick to them rather than dealing with the complicated ones in the middle of the night when you’re changing a nappy.
White noise machine.
Facebook marketplace for quality second hand furniture (market in Darwin might be limited)
Buy nappies and baby wipes in bulk, on sale
A2 formula - both kids did better on this. Never on sale, but worth the premium.
2nd hand clothes if you can.
you only basic stuff you most baby stuff second hand if you have Donot need 3,000 pram it a scam if really want one look near new one. if plan on have 3 kids or more by new you get lots of used out of them
if want pro tip sleep enjoy it well you have it after baby you be like what this thing you call sleep if like coffee good learn make it at home
Enjoy the ride. It's amazing and filled with beautiful and challenging moments but you'll not want it any other way.
Congratulations, by the way!
Any tips? You've gone beyond the tip buddy.
On a more serious note, take everything you hear and read with a pinch of salt. Everybody goes by anecdotal evidence and they might not be applicable to your circumstances. Big example I can draw is: advice at the time was not to let babies sleep on their tummies, but both of mine LOVED sleeping on them and slept for much longer overnight too. Use advice as a guide and figure out what works for you and your partner.
GOOD LUCK!
Not a tip for now but a tip for later…
Look into toy libraries within your local library/community hub/council premises.
New toys in the house every week/fortnight and cost us maybe $20 a year for the membership? Saved us hundreds if not thousands.
Sling them a donation from time to time if your kid gets given something they're not interested in, helps grease the wheels when you inevitably lose a piece or 2 of something you have on loan.
Goodluck, your life is about to change completely… Not gonna lie the first few weeks/months can be very rough
-Make sure you have familly support and make sure people make time for it (e.g. take time off work). Be prepared to get an overload of advice/direction, some of which you'll like others you won't. Even if you dont like advice, if you want to retain help you'll need to be respectful.
essentials, nappies, dummies, milk bottles, formula cans (even if you intend to breastfeed, prepare for plan B, things dont always work out). I still use baby products from the mustella brand e.g. moisturisers
everyone finds different products useful, for me: Useful products: block out blinds, a white noise machine, dummys, a nursing chair, car seat, basinet, baby bathtub/stand. Wireless in ear bluetooth headphones (entertainment for those sleepless nights helping baby get back to sleep, without making any external noise at all).
what i cheaped out on/got away with: valco baby products were nice (nursing chair, foldable change table), a cheaper stroller (~$200, they grew out of it fast).
what i didnt find useful: a cot, cute/expensive things from baby bunting marketed more to parents than children (be practical), e.g. disney sleep/hug blankets (never even liked/used), pretty much anything cute.
That's really harsh, insensitive and uncalled for. I'm sure OP is aware of this possibility but it doesn't address his question and certainly is out of place here.
based on context, I'm going to assume there was a typo, and you meant "If the worst happens, you aren't sucky parents"
What a strange dude
Were you dropped on your head as a baby?
Ask the nurses at the hospital for free stuff. All the stuff they put in your room(nappies and wipes are the big ones here) they throw out when you are done. Most of them are happy if you aren't an arsehole to them.
If you go the formula route keep an eye out on FB marketplace for a Tommee Tippee formula machine(we have the perfect prep). They go for far cheaper than a shop and are a lifesaver when you are up at 3AM for a feed and can barely shuffle to the kitchen. We prep the bottles the night before so it's even easier.
Keep your phone away. I am very guilty of being on my phone when my child is doing stuff and doomscrolling should never come before then.
When people offer help, tell them what you want them to do. Having people come over and watch you feed/change/etc your baby is great but getting them to do that is actually helpful. Washing dishes and vacuuming are great but having someone bring a cooked meal over is an absolute treat.
Someone else said but online groups can be absolute trash and your wife may take the things she reads to heart so watch out for that.
We use cheap nappies(Woolies) during the day and at night get the Huggies out. Cheaper ones are great for all the piss/shit during the day but they don't hold up at night I have found. Huggies are more expensive but you will be happy when you aren't washing a cot mattress protector, fitted sheet and sleeping bag every night.
While it’s good to have a 1st baby on the way and planning for them - don’t forget to maximise your ‘romp’ time with the wife.
Once the baby comes, there may be less of it - since both you and your wife may be exhausted, or have less time - since the baby may likely be taking most of your time.
If you use social media, be prepared for your algorithm to change. You will inundated with products you don't need and videos that will question your parenting.
This one is boring, but have you and your partner reviewed your life and disability insurance policies? Not wishing anything bad upon you, but if anything were to happen to you and/or your partner, at least the financial burden would be lessened.
Also, I realise this is a bargain site, and you're probably looking for tips in terms of products and savings but do spend some time mentally preparing yourself for this. Remember, much of what you see is what peoples' lives have carefully curated to be shown in public—you often don't see what ends up on the cutting room floor. This was true before you became a parent and it will be even more pertinent after your little one arrives. Don't let yourself get caught up in the "perfect" lives of others—it's ok to not be happy 100% of the time!
Get both you and the wife mental health checked regularly after birth. My wife has post partum and it a shocker.
This is excellent advice.
Our Maternal & Child Health Nurse was so on the ball with this and flagged the signs super-early so that were aware and monitoring.
I hope you're both doing ok.
I’m doing okay but my wife is recognising the detrimental effect of her anger on our relationship. We have two kids. So I get to experience anger gymnastics two times.
The thing about baby stuff is they grow out of it quickly so people are always selling second hand gear. Steralisers, cots, clothes, toys and everything else you can think of.
As for general stuff, your lives will be turned upside down, but in a good way. Its tiring, stressful and bloody hard work but so worth it.
My one tip as a parent of older kids is enjoy every second of them being little and hanging on your every word. There will come a time when they stop doing that and retreat into a world of teenage privacy and you'll miss it like hell at times. Savour it all, even the exhausting parts!
i think the only thing we brought new were nappies/creams and a cubo cam - everything else market place, friends
Hello,
Nice to see a fellow Darwinite on here.
I am also from Darwin. We did a mixture of buying stuff online and locally depending on the shipping cost. For instance we went to Little rompers (despite the mixed reviews) to get our pram from there. We figured that the cost of getting it shipped up from down south was basically the same as getting it locally and we could walk out with it that day. We also bought a few other bulky items from there like the change table that attracted a large shipping cost from down south. There was a shop at Coolalinga that was ok as well but I'm not sure if they are still there or not. For smaller things we get from baby bunting, amazon, etc.
We bought everything new - looking back now we could have probably saved a lot buying a lot of things second hand as we now tend to buy the larger things second hand (depending on condition).
For nappies, wipes, etc we always wait for sales at Colesworth, Chemist Warehouse or Amazon and then we stock up.
Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions about anything else relating to the Darwin experience haha.
Wife Is Pregnant and We Are Expecting Our First Child - Any Tips?
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As others have mentioned, get a snoo. Buy secondhand on marketplace. Worth every penny and hold there value so you should be able to sell it for the same/similar price you bought it for.
Plan and budget everything.. gonna b expensive, and tiring and it will test your relationship when both of you are worn out with a newborn.
Look for hand-down toys, clothes etc, fb marketplace, set budgets for baby expenses, buy nappies, and baby wipes, formula, vitamins, and meds on Catch, amazon, or Chemist Warehouse. Always Google for deals. BUY BULK..
look out for community baby programs and start securing daycare waitlist as many as possible
Don't buy everything, get the essentials - a baby cot or newborn bassinet. compact prams with bassinet for easy dock in the car and on the pram.
foldable changing table, Tommy Tippe nappy bins, sudo cream, QV cream and bath stuff, Avant phillip bottles, steriliser,, bottle warmer..
check out baby expo for deals
categorise the baby clothes into 0-3mths, 6-12, and so on, take out when the baby reaches each milestone and remove the smaller clothes to sell on market place or donate.
if parents living in the same city, ask for help in the first few months, so you two can get a small break from the endless routines.
look for a community nurse, or GP who bulk bills kids under 10 or something.. connect with your local parent/mum's group.
Enjoy!
Tell your friends not to buy useless presents - you'll get more stuffed toys than your kid can deal with.
Tell them to get together and organise a fortnightly house cleaner for you for 3 months (or more).
Your house is going to become a bomb site.
It'll be the toughest thing you've ever done… especially the first 6 months.
The sleep deprivation and stress is off the charts. Plus you have absolutely zero clue on what to do when you first come home from the hospital.
But at the same time, it's the best thing as well :).
Make sure in those early months, when you're felling really stressed and bubs is going off tap crying, its ok to put the little one down in the cot and just go outside for 10 minutes.
And as hard as it is, don't cocoon yourself inside. Put bubs in a pram and go for a walk around the block. Or again, if you're feeling really stressed YOU go for walk and leave bubs at home with a friend or loved one.
Take help when its offered to you, even if its them taking bubs out for a 1 hour car ride while you sleep/shower/clean whatever.
Just get through that first 6 months any way you can. Before you know it it'll be at the point where the little terrorist will actually grow on you and start interacting with you as a little human- instead of a little shit :).
Then you'll get baby amnesia and have another one… and wonder what all the stress and fuss and worry was about first time around as a 'professional with experience' :).
Your first time you'll still be learning the different cries and techniques that'll work (and don't work).
And remember this word, "ROUTINE".
Babies love routine. The exact same steps every time when you put them down. And white noise (look it up). Put on the white noise, darken the room, quiet voices… those sleep cues will have bubs half asleep by the time you put them down.
Good luck and congrats…. you'll be fine.
Wife used to own a store that sold baby stuff so we got to use everything under the sun for our newborn.
Top tier for me
- Baby Shusher (https://babyshusher.com/) This thing was a life saver!!!
- Close bibs (https://closeparent.com/collections/feeding). Our son had a food protein condition and one of its side affects was an enormous amount of dribble. We must have tried close to 100 types of bibs before we found these ones. He would normally go through 10-20 bibs a day just soaking through them (and the plastic water proof ones were awful). one of these would last him the day with no soak through and they are nice to touch too.
- Baby Dam (https://babydam.com/product/babydam-bathwater-barrier/). for bath time in the big bath, it allows you to make it smaller so you aren't filling up the entire bath.
There were heaps more but these ones were awesome!
All material goods aside, the most important thing that made our parenthood much easier was to learn baby language. Babies cry in similar fashion, and if you learn that code, it'll save you, as a young parent, a lot of stress and worries. Once we discovered it, it helped us to understand, and I'm not exaggerating, at least 80% of cases why our baby cried - and take relevant actions. All thanks to Priscilla Dunstan - check out this video, it really works:
Buy. Second. Hand.
Thank you everyone that contributed and wrote a comment, I did not expect this many response. I will have to find time to read and check out all the links.
Say goodbye to your life.
Get a dog instead
Don’t stock up on too many sleeping bags/swaddle suits, if you’re going to use them instead of swaddling with a muslin wrap - our baby is a Houdini and manages to get out of any wrap, so these were essential for us. The major two brands are Love to Dream (arms up design) and Ergopouch (arms down, cocoon style). We were given a whole heap of the Love to Dream ones and luckily our baby loved his arms up, but families in our mothers group had shelled out major $$$ on one style, taken the tags off, washed them all, only to discover that their newborn preferred the other…
My other tips are:
Wash and sort all the hand me downs/second hand purchases before the baby arrives, I only did the newborn stuff and had major regret trying to go through the 000 stuff in the tiny moments you get where they may have a nap in between feeding, burping, changing, comforting etc.
Look into baby carriers and baby wearing - I could never figure out how to get our long baby comfortable in a wrap so we went with a more structured carrier (specifically a Tula Free to Grow). There’s often some great bargains on marketplace as people buy everything before baby only to discover that that style doesn’t suit their body or their baby. The Tula Coast or something like the Ergobaby cool air mesh may be more suitable for the humidity in Darwin (we’re in Melbourne and my main issue is keeping baby warm in the carrier), but ask around other parents and see what they prefer.
Enjoy the cuddles and don't worry about any routines until 12-16 week mark.
Huggies make the best new born nappies, but after that, use Aldi/Coles/Woolworths brand.
Keep an eye out for PND. Both for you and your wife. Speak to your doctor asap, and get help. There is nothing to be ashamed about if you get it.
I highly recommend considering a feeding chair. It was one of the best investments we made. After our child became a toddler, it turned into a storage space for clothes, but it was a lifesaver during the first 7-8 months.
P.S. Congrats!
Congratulations! For buying:
- Marketplace, marketplace, marketplace
- You don't have to get the most expensive pram, but get a good one. Second-hand is great, and my biggest regret was not spending a couple of hundred extra bucks on a model with decent suspension.
- Don't get too invested in one type of thing (swaddles, sleep bags, bottles etc) until baby has tried them out. They all have preferences and you can't predict what will work.
- You need more cloths. Once you've got more, get more again.
- Indulge in every baby security gadget and heart monitor to whatever extent you feel the need to, but get them all from marketplace. New baby is terrifying and an app that tells you they're not dead can be so nice for the first few weeks. Once you're done, pack them up and sell for what you paid.
- Bonds zippies. No buttons, easy on and easy off.
- I found a sit-up bath like a shnuggle really handy because you don't need to bend over the whole time.
Mostly just get stuck in and learn how it all works. I found the project of research and testing very useful during the pregnancy when dads can't really do anything very good.
Congraz, as most said, dont buy expensive pram. Look for one that can use from newborn to at least 4-5 year old. I personally would not spend over 1k for pram.
Here's the most important part, you will have much much less time to do your own stuff, look after your wife and assist her as much as possible, prepare to stay up multiple time a night during first couple months. Take turns to get rest, especially for the wife doing breast feed, she need plenty of rest if possible. No need to be over stress, can get an ipad and watch shows together or read a book. After settle in go to park and get some fresh air. Mental health is important too.
Sleep as much as you can, go out, eat out, play the games you want.. won't be able to do that anymore once bub comes.
Also, buy onesies that have a double zip, nothing worse than changing an agitated bub and trying to do up a onesie that has those standard buttons (the ones that go into the slits). Wait till bub arrives for the big ticket items (eg bouncer, pram..etc..) - we found out bub absolutely hated the Babybjorn bouncer we got him and the small pram.
Despite all the tantrums, poopy nappies, sleepless nights and the debilitating tenosynovitis - seeing his face light up whenever I walk into the room, makes it all worth while.
There is one advice I can give - there's going to be days where you'll be tested but remember, they're only that age once. When that moment passes, it's gone. Enjoy everything and take it all in
You need to prepare the breast for producing milk. A lot of stress at the beginning is to produce milk for baby. This is really important and no one tells you.
"Several weeks before your baby arrives, begin pumping your breasts with a breast pump. This encourages your body to release prolactin, which produces milk."
You also need to learn about burping the baby so release the gas after having milk.
Learn these 2 things to save a lot of stress.
When you have a baby shower, on the invitation, ask your guests to buy a baby book and write a message to the baby on the first page instead of buying a card. They last longer, cost around the same and you get to revisit all your well wishes each time you read them a bedtime story and trust me, you want a lot of bedtime book options.
Have a kid probably due in the next few weeks and I know I’m going to shove football into him so hard that he will hate it. And I hate football
Don't buy too much stuff! Get hand me downs from friends and relatives. People will also buy you gifts if its the first one.
You only really need a baby capsule, thats the lowest ROI, they outgrow it within a few months, if you know someone who has one, borrow it for a few months. may also affect your initial pram decision (you might having one specifically for the capsule or one with adapters). Capsules are great at the start as you dont want to disturb them if they are sleeping, might be abit heavy for baby mum within a few months with baby weight in it.
If you are intending to to have more kids, you might want to consider buying a pram with the accessories like extensions etc, as sometimes by the time you need it, it gets phased out (extra seats etc etc), if not sure just get one that will fit in your boot.
Sleep training is nonsense IMO, between birth to about 2.5 years they are growing so fast and are constantly changing, also when going through growth spurts any sense of long sleep is mythical. babys should naturally fall asleep when its dark/night anyway, once they are fed.
Invest in a baby monitor, they will eventually sleep in another part of the house, if security concerns get one that doesn't go over the internet.
Collect let down if your wife is breast feeding, you should get enough to feed baby while baby mum gets to sleep through 1 feed.
learn to bulk cook, good to have quick to heat meals ready to go, sometimes baby mum just wants to eat and go back to sleep.
Sorry no tips,
But a big congratulations!
My girl and I have been trying for a couple of years with no success…. (We are a bit over 40 though)
So yeah, wow, good on you, imho, not knowing you.
It's really sad when you just cannot seem too… But not your problem thankfully :)
Sending all good thoughts to you and your partner. It's a tough road. Wishing you all the best.
UV steriliser. Soooooo much more convenient than having things on a rolling boil for 5 mins over a stove. Wish I had mine from day 1.
That said, it is really easy to get wrapped up in "better buy this, better buy one of those", the entire industry preys on nervous new parents and exploiting your anxiety.
Also, your baby will look beautiful in anything - you dont need fancy clothes. And swaddles may be more useful than putting clothes on your newborn anyway.
Good luck.
You're going to get offered a lot of advice, most will be useless. The easiest thing to do is nod and smile and file it accordingly.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help when the baby is here.
Don’t bother buying too many things new. They will outgrow them quick. The things I would get new are:
Good extended rear facing car seat; pram. These are things you’ll be using for a while. You can get plenty of good and free things from your local FTAGH Facebook groups.
Sleep deprivation is real and can lead to post natal depression and anxiety. So, when the baby is here, and even though your wife might be on maternity leave, share the load, especially the mental load.
Congratulations..dont get panic easily, while to expect tantrums /sleepless nights. But you will know how to handle with time.
Congratulations!
Once you have your pram, practice how to fold it before you put baby in it… My mothers' group had a couple of stories of people having to wander around shops looking for people with similar models to ask for help. I may or may not have considered towing my pram home after an unexpected outing when I could not work out how to fold it.
I make my own baby wipes. Paper towel, baby soap, coconut oil and boiled water. I use a 2 L bucket. Put the roll of wipes in, mix together the wet ingredients and pour over the roll of towel. Leave sit and once everything is saturated, remove the cardboard centre. I then tear off the sheets and jam them in to other containers as needed. You know what's in them, they're cheap and can be used for many more things than bub's bottom! Friends really appreciate them too.
Come on, having Downs Syndrome or Autism Level 3 in life isn't a negative? I was a born with shit eyes and glasses easily compensate, but having shit eyes is most definitely a birth defect I'd rather not have.
Autism: "neurodevelopmental disorder marked by deficits in reciprocal social communication and the presence of restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior."
Down's Syndrome: "usually associated with developmental delays, mild to moderate intellectual disability"
They are both definitely a negative to have, though it doesn't mean they need to be terminated before birth, or they their lives are worthless. They are however problems that the people having them will need to deal with for the rest of their lives and it does present the parents with additional challenges.
Being positive towards people with disabilities doesn't mean you have to bury your head in the sand, just look up people with severe Autism and come back and tell us that isn't a negative. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jrqpn60d4A