I received product and compensation from Mead Johnson Nutrition to create this post written by me. All experiences and opinions expressed in this post are my own and not those of Mead Johnson Nutrition. Consult your pediatrician before making changes to your baby’s diet or if you have concerns related to your baby’s digestive health. Please see the product label/website for acceptable use and benefits. You can contact Mead Johnson Nutrition with product related questions or comments toll free at 1-800-BABY 123 or through the Contact Us link on . or Enfamil.com.

When I had my first child nearly 8 years ago, I was fairly naïve about babies. Believe it or not, I had never even held a baby under the age of 1 before I had my daughter. I learned so many things in those first few months of motherhood that I wish someone had warned me about. Today’s post, sponsored by Enfamil A.R.™, is an open letter to all the first time moms out there who might be in the dark like I was!

3 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me Before I Had My First Baby

Eight years and three babies into motherhood, I am here to tell all the unsuspecting pregnant moms out there a few things I wish someone had told me before giving birth!

1) Babies have explosive poops – This is one I was completely unprepared for. I knew I would have to change diapers. But I didn’t comprehend the amount or velocity of some of those poops! All of my babies would blast poop up the back of their outfits. Sometimes out the side of their diapers, but mostly up the back. So much so, that I kept a pile of clean onesies and a “poopie onesie pail” next to our changing table. I remember how this would distress me with our first child – as if I could do something to control it. Once I resigned myself to the fact that all babies blast off on a daily basis, I was able to take it in stride. You will be able to do that, too!

How to deal with it: I learned after a lot of trial and error that going up one size was a good way to deal with explosive poops. I thought fastening the diaper tighter around their tummy would help, but it didn’t seem to. A larger diaper went up higher on their backs and was able to contain most large loads. 🙂

2) Your neck will hurt from cradling a baby in your arms – I don’t know a single mom this hasn’t happened to. You go from being able to sit like a normal person to always holding your arm at an angle with a minimum of 5-8 pounds laying on it. As your baby grows, that weight doubles and possibly triples before you have a baby who needs less holding. It really takes a toll on your neck and upper back.

How to deal with it: I found that baths, stretching, and baby wearing helped my neck strain. Anything to relax your muscles or transition the baby from your arms to your front or back works wonders for your neck and shoulder muscles.

3) Some babies spit up A LOT – Sure, I knew that burp cloths were important and that babies spit up when you burped them; all babies spit up while their digestive system develops. What I didn’t know is that it would be a rare day when I wasn’t spit up on and had an irritable baby on my hands. One of my babies had a calm digestive tract. But two out of three were reflux prone for many months, especially as we were transitioning from all formula to a mixed diet of formula and pureed fruits & veggies.

How to deal with it: I learned that thickened feedings are a great go-to for babies with uncomplicated reflux. Back then I didn’t know about a thickened baby formula like I would add rice cereal to their bottles. Now I know that Enfamil A.R.™ could have helped, and it’s much simpler than worrying about having an extra container of rice cereal and mixing that in, especially on the go. The formula appears to be a normal thickness in the bottle, but thickens further inside your baby’s stomach, helping babies keep their formula down.

The good news is that once my babies were able to roll over on their own, they seemed more in control of their spit up situations, but some babies experience GER as long as 12-14 months old.

More Info about Enfamil A.R.™

is the #1 selling brand of formula for spit-up. It’s clinically proven to reduce spit up by over 50% in infants with frequent spit-up.

It can be a simple option for babies who have mild, or uncomplicated, reflux. Most parents assume a baby who is irritable and frequently spits up is experiencing acid reflux (known as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or GERD). I learned recently that about two-thirds of otherwise healthy infants have a less severe issue – uncomplicated reflux (called Gastroesophageal Reflux, or GER).

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends a conservative approach to treating uncomplicated reflex (GER), as it is not necessarily linked to excess stomach acid production.

If your baby has GER, or less severe spit up issues, burping more frequently and holding the baby upright after feeding in addition to thickened feedings is an excellent first-line approach.

The best thing about Enfamil A.R.™ is that it allows you to feed your baby thicker food while having balanced nutrition.

I wish someone had told me to look for this solution & told me how long to expect reflux issues to continue when I was smack dab in the middle of reflux city!

Before you pursue any potential options for your baby’s reflux, make sure to consult your pediatrician. Visit for more information.