When the time comes for baby 2, there are definitely things that Tim and I plan on doing differently, and almost all of  the tips on babies we would now share have to do with calming down about different matters.

For example, for baby 2 I will not be as quick to conclude that we have to run her to the pediatrician when s/he has a cold (not that there’s anything at all wrong with what my mother-in-law calls a “peace of mind” visit). But now we know a little bit more about the kinds of crud that babies just pick up (especially daycare babies) and we know that a virus simply has to run its course. There’s really nothing a doctor can do for you, except charge you for his/her time!

We’ll also take advantage of the young infant stage of life and go out to eat together more, instead of being petrified that someone might breathe on our child and staying in. There’s a precious period of time (and it ends right around 4 months) when babies are remarkably easy to take out and about. I wish we had worried less about germs and gone out more while we had the chance! Live and learn, right?

I recently had the opportunity to read a great book, How to Have Your Second Child First, by Kerry Colburn and Rob Sorensen. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and found myself nodding along with much of their advice! If you are currently expecting your first, or if you have a newborn at home, this might be a really good read for you. I don’t agree with every single thing they say, but that’s because typically no two parents do everything the same way, anyway. But she did bring up a lot of issues that I have dealt with as a new parent, and that I had to learn from experience not to be so uptight about.

One of the points that gets made in the book is that, unless your baby has super sensitive skin (and admittedly, some do), using a special detergent like Dreft is completely unnecessary. I think I washed Darah’s clothes separately for about a week, and then I realized that it was driving me crazy. We are fortunate that she has not shown any sensitivity to detergents so far. I try to keep a gentle detergent on hand and I just wash everyone’s laundry with that. It works great for us and is easy.

All has put out a Free & Clear detergent (containing no dyes, perfumes or preservatives), and a coupon for the product is included with the book. Rockin’! I also had the opportunity to try out the detergent, and I’m finding that it works just as effectively as my other detergents. No complaints here! If your baby has sensitive skin but you are struggling with doing special loads for him/her, give All Free Clear a try and just throw everyone else’s laundry in with the load!

Win it!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader is going to get a little help in the way of 2 coupons for free All Free Clear Detergent as well as a copy of  How to Have Your Second Child First, filled with baby advice for new moms and dads. The contest will run until July 16th at 7:59pm CST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to their email notification before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. One entrant per household, please. Open to residents of the United States.

Mandatory entry: You must subscribe to my blog via email, Reader or Google Friend Connect (only one is required, just let me know which you chose!).

Additional entries:
1. Tell me one thing you will do differently (or that you did differently) with baby #2
2. “Like” All on Facebook
3. “Like” Stuff Parents Need on Facebook
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5. Tweet about this giveaway (one tweet/day allowed)
6. If you are a blogger (your blog needs to have posts that have been written in the past 3 months, please) add my button to your blog and leave a url where I can see it!

Be sure to enter my other current giveaways, which can be found on the sidebar of my main page.

Disclosure: I received complimentary products from MomSelect and All in order to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.Affiliate links may be included at no cost to you.