Parenting in 2010

Times have changed since I was a baby 32 years ago. My parents and I have joked more than once recently that all they needed to do when they went down the road was throw me in a clothes basket and they were set. In fact, The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding (a book from La Leche League that my mom recently unearthed in her collection) says:

Baby Furniture
There are so many kinds of special furniture and gadgets for baby that you can indulge your inclinations just as far as your own pocketbook and the generosity of the cheering section permit. There are four* items, though, that we'd like to recommend. Bear in mind that these are nice, though not absolutely necessary.

Third, a car bed that can be put on the floor behind the front seat (the safest spot). This could double as the baby-toter for indoors, too, if you like.

(*The other items: 1. comfortable rocking chair, 2. basket, cradle, buggy, 4. canvas sling for toting baby)

That's right, folks. Just throw the rug-rats behind your seat and you'll on your way. Not for our little guys. They roll in car seats with 5-point harnesses that have been put through rigorous crash-testing and if a recent state law passes, they'll have to sit in a car seat until they're in college.

My goal for today's post is to record some of the items and gadgets which today's parents use.

Smart Phone

Jeani found a great app to use with our Verizon Droid phones for keeping track of what the babies are up to. It's called Baby ESP (eat, sleep, poop.. ha, ha) I mainly use it for keeping track of when I last nursed and for how long, but it can also be used for keeping track of bottles, naps, diapers, medicine, and baths. Plus, it can be customized to add anything else you want to keep track of. Well worth the $2.99. Especially at two in the morning!

Computer, Digital Camera, and Camcorder

Thirty years ago, parents bought film, took only the best pictures that were worthy of being on the roll of 24, dropped the film off at the store, and finally a week later had photos in hand. A movie camera may be shared by four different members of an extended family and rotated from family to family throughout the year.
Today, parents may take hundreds of digital pictures in a single day. The favorites are uploaded to the Internet in seconds to share with friends and family via email, text messages, blogs, and Facebook.

Video Monitor
One of our most used items. We received two monitors with the thought that we would put one above each boy's crib. Since the boys are still sleeping in the living room, we have one camera sitting on the counter above their pack n play. The two monitors are in the living room and in our bedroom. It's perfect for being able to check on what the little guys are up to.

For example, today we put them down for a nap...
"Aiden, can you believe Mommy and Daddy think we're going to take a nap?"
"I know, Reid. Nuts to that!"

Little did they know, we were watching.
At first the boys flailed their arms and legs about all herky-jerky.

Then they worked on their secret hand shake which apparently includes a fist bump.

Eventually... they did catch a little shut-eye.

_________
Past, present, or future, one thing that will never change...
babies eat, sleep, and poop.