give me your collective wisdom!

Well it's been seven and a half years since my last one so I'm a bit rusty but here goes: 1) All babies/kids are different, so what works for one won't work for another. My eldest was the easiest baby ever. Fed well, slept well (even down the pub!) but the next was almost the exact opposite. We had real trouble geting the second to sleep through the night, then we moved him to his own room and he did it first night. Think the missus' snoring had been disturbing his sleep! 2) Whatever people have told you about the birth you still won't be prepared. My missus is a midwife so I knew a lot more about what might happen than other expectant fathers, but it was still a shock. And so on to point… 3) Your wife shouldn't eat too close to the final throes of labour. Believe me, she and you (and the midwives) will thank me for it. 4) If your wife/partner is overdue don't try any of the supposed methods for getting it started (especially castor oil), except for sex. It's unlikely to work but it may be the last you'll get for some time. 5) Don't go in for too much routine. Routines can be good but don't let them rule your life, you still need to be able to go out and have fun. My brother and his missus had such strict routines that they'd hardly ever go out in the summer as they always had to be home for meals at specific times. It's given them real headaches ever since and the youngest is now six! We kept things loose and now have pretty easy going kids. 6) Calpol is a lifesaver. Oh and a lesser known one is Ashton & Parsons teething powders.