pads and nipple cream.

• If breastfeeding is not possible, the baby is bottle fed. The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding for at least six months.

• Bottles - 2 pcs. You don’t need to buy a lot of bottles at once (later you will need about eight bottles to be sure that there is always a clean one at hand). The recruit is demanding in this matter, and you can never tell in advance whether he will approve of your choice. Choosing a bottle or a pacifier is like walking through a minefield. For an overview of different types of bottles, see the Resources section of http://www.commandodad.com.

• Spare nipples. Once you understand which bottles a recruit prefers, organize a strategic supply of nipples. Torn or damaged nipples must be replaced immediately.

• Bottle brushes - 2 pcs.

• Sterilizer. (For an overview of sterilization equipment, see Chapter 2, Recruits Survive the First Day.)

• Thermal bag for bottles. Needed in cases where you are on the march and do not have access to the field kitchen to warm up the mixture for the recruit.

Water procedures

• Baby shower gel and shampoo. Choose products that do not sting when in contact with the eyes.

• Soft diapers and towels.

• If necessary, slide or hammock in the tub. I recommend using foam models.

• Baby bath.

Dream

• Cradle or crib with a new mattress. The mattress should fit snugly to the size of the crib, as gaps around the perimeter can pose a danger to the recruit. Do not use used mattresses - do not risk his health.

• Room thermometer.

• Baby monitor - if necessary.

Bed sheets

• 3 sheets (with an elastic band or large enough to be tucked under the mattress).

• 4 thin soft cotton duvets and 2 waffle duvets. By varying the number of layers of blankets, you can always be sure that the recruit will not get too cold or overheated.

First aid

• Electronic ear thermometer.

• Children's paracetamol (allowed from two months) and children's ibuprofen (allowed from three months). Check the label to make sure the drug is appropriate for your recruit's weight and age. For premature recruits, age should be counted from normal due date.

• Baby douche (to give medicine).

• Antiseptic or alcohol wipes for the treatment of the umbilical wound.

Subsequently, the first aid kit should be expanded with antiseptic ointment, plaster and sterile wipes. For details, see Chapter 8 “Doctor! Basic first aid techniques and actions for certain diseases.

Recruit transportation

Carefully consider the choice of vehicle before buying it. See chapter 10 “On the march. Transfer of troops.

• The car seat must meet safety standards and be securely and securely attached to your car seat. You can use a chair left over from grown up privates, or a used chair borrowed from friends and acquaintances, but only if it is not damaged and has not been in an accident. Please check this before using it. In addition, be sure to follow the manufacturer's recommendations regarding the life of the car seat: some models have a limited lifespan, and this should not be neglected. The consequences in this case can be too serious.

• Baby carriers - "kangaroo".

• Stroller. It will take some time.

Children's furniture

You can safely buy used furniture. If you decide to purchase new furniture, plan your purchase in such a way that it will be delivered to you at least a month before the recruit appears.

• Comfortable chair that you will need to feed and rock the recruit and play with him.

• Night light (for example, a small bedside lamp with a dim lamp). You should not turn on the overhead light at night - it will be unpleasant for both the recruit and the entire personnel.

• Blinds or blackout curtains.

• Changing table - optional. With my recruits and enlisted men, I preferred to use a changing board so that I could change diapers on any stable and safe surface (like the floor or a wide bed).

The use of a pacifier is a matter of choice, both yours and the recruit's. My first child categorically rejected it. You can try offering the recruit a pacifier to calm him down or help him sleep, but it's a good idea not to train him to suck on it all the time, as this will not only weaken the effectiveness of the pacifier as a sleep aid, but may also lead to the recruit becoming addicted. If you decide to use a pacifier, be aware that there are special orthodontic nipples designed to not interfere with the growth of children's teeth.

Make sure. That base camp is safe
• Check and, if necessary, change the batteries in the smoke detectors. The fire brigade will replace them free of charge, inspect your home and advise you on the best place to install them.

• Place an anti-slip underlay under carpets.

• Install a fire extinguisher in the kitchen.

• Tie up any hanging cords (for example, from curtains or light switches).

• Move all items on tables and other surfaces out of the recruit's reach.

Protective gear at the base camp
It is not particularly necessary to equip your base camp with a "child protection" system just before the arrival of a recruit, but it does not hurt to conduct a reconnaissance. If there are parapets or an obstacle course in the base camp, they need to be dismantled - in the first few weeks you will sleep little and wander a lot at night.

Do some scouting to determine which danger zones need to be addressed first. Purchase essential protective gear. Including:

• plugs for sockets;

• protective overlays for sharp corners of furniture - for example, on a coffee table.

It should be remembered that the most effective protection in the world for children is to keep them in sight.

EXPERIENCED ADVICE

Not install gates on stairs too early (unless you need to keep pets out of recruits) - for the first few weeks, gates serve no useful purpose other than being a nuisance to personnel.

Preparation of provisions and equipment
• Assembly, assembly and assembly again. Arm yourself with a screwdriver and boldly attack children's furniture and new toys. Bring to automatism the skills of assembling and disassembling strollers and installing a car seat in the car.

• Stock up on batteries and accumulators. Nightlights, baby loungers and toys all require batteries.

• Cook and freeze. Some time before the expected date, start harvesting on an industrial scale a strategic stock of individual rations. The first time after the appearance of a recruit, you will not have time to cook, and if the personnel switches to fast food, this threatens to reduce health indicators and loss of combat effectiveness. For more details, see Chapter 5 “Food provision. The main thing is that the soldier was fed.

• Enter in the memory of a mobile phone or write down in a notebook lying next to a home phone the numbers of a midwife, pediatrician, health visitor, etc.

The layout of the base camp with the allocation of zones for the deployment of the recruit and his equipment
For the appearance of a recruit in the base camp, it is necessary to prepare his barracks.

• Decide where the recruit will sleep. Pediatricians and child psychologists recommend that recruits sleep in their parents' bedroom for the first six months. For information on how to properly prepare a bed for a recruit, see Chapter 2, Recruits. Survive the first day.

• Make sure the base camp is safe.

• Get rid of drafts from windows and doors. It is important to maintain a constant temperature at the place of deployment of the recruit. It should not be lower than 16 °C and not higher than 20 °C. The ideal temperature in the bedroom is 18°C. Use a room thermometer. Not устанавливайте кроватку непосредственно рядом с обогревателем, батареей или под прямыми солнечными лучами.

• Set up a diaper changing station. Make sure you have everything you need on hand, from warm water and cotton balls to bags to neutralize used diapers. I set up a mobile station out of a small bathroom shelving unit, as my recruits were quite mobile. It is desirable to organize the process in such a way that it is always clear which types of equipment are coming to an end. Restock frequently.

• Set up a feeding station where it is most convenient for the recruit's mother. For example, put a comfortable chair, put a U-shaped pillow for feeding, equip a small table where you can put a mug and so on. Think about what equipment you might need for feeding. If it is convenient for mom to feed a recruit in different rooms, equip a mobile station.

• Consider in which sector of the base camp to set up a warehouse for storing bulky items of equipment such as packs of diapers, car seats and strollers.

Equipment needed to transfer a recruit to base camp
Cloth

Preference should be given to soft clothing without frills and buttons, providing easy access to the diaper. The ideal option is cotton clothing. The arms and legs of a fighter must be covered, because the limbs get cold the fastest. Remember the basic rule - a recruit's clothing should always contain one layer more than an adult's clothing. Except when it's too hot outside.

• Bodysuit, slip, cap, socks and scratches.

• If the weather is cold, then a baby blanket (aka “discharge envelope”) or two.

• If it is very cold outside, dress the recruit in winter overalls, but keep in mind that you should be able to put him in a car seat in a safe way.

Mobile diaper changing station

• Duffel bag with a bottle of warm water and cotton balls for hygiene procedures. Wet wipes are not recommended for the