This is only for the new moms and the moms-to-be as I’m sure all the veterans have already perfected their own how-to handbooks. <wink> I’m not certain if these will work for everybody, but they sure worked for me!
1. Forget the fancy, lacy ensembles for your infant. They may look great but i’m sure your infant is itching and sweltering under those garments in our tropical weather. Cotton is comfy, and who doesn’t want comfy? Don’t dress up your tiny tots to look like fashionista you if it means satin, tulle, sequins or beads.
2. EQ “premium” diapers only work for newborns. It’s cheap, so don’t hesitate to change your newborn’s nappy every two hours. Beyond the first month, however, you will realize that EQ sucks and that you will need a more absorbent diaper. Get the ones with velcro fasteners instead of tape. Sometimes lotion or baby oil gets into the tape and they won’t stick anymore, ergo, you have to throw away the nappy. As a hands-down favorite–and i’m not getting paid for this endorsement–my baby uses Huggies Dry Comfort (the red one). It’s cheaper than the imported Huggies Ultra (white), but more value-for-money than the blue Huggies Dry. For your toddlers, I recommend Huggies (green) Pull-Ups or Mamy Poko (pink) Pull-Ups. When it comes to diapers, always consider the cost, since you don’t want to scrimp on changing nappies that are too expensive and subject your little precious to rashes. Diaper cost is about equivalent to the cost of milk.
3. Buy two strollers: a heavier, sturdier one for nearby cartrips to the mall, the park, or the beach; and a lightweight stroller for trips that require travel by air or getting in and out of a tourist bus. Both should allow folding and unfolding with only one hand and a click. Lugging around a heavy stroller can be like lugging around an extra baby. That’s not counting the essential baby bag yet!
4. If you’re a working mom like me and can’t afford to stay up as late as the baby wants, maintain a strict bedtime schedule and routine. Every 8 p.m., I call chelsea from her yaya. She can watch one barney or dora or lilo or animal planet, then we read a bedtime story. After that, we say our prayers, then the lights are turned off. No matter how she tries to engage me into more playtime or story-telling, I pretend to doze off. As for wade, i only get to tuck him in bed whenever chelsea’s away. The videoke channel and my singularly melodic voice, tried and tested on chelsea, have not lost their charm. (Sorry baby book authors, but classical music merely gives me a headache nowadays. Don’t use magic sing though, as the use of a mic may not be as soothing.) By 9 p.m., i’m free to do my thing.
5. If you’re going to use the car seat, bring lots of toys for the strapped kid. Otherwise, the only time she’s going to stay there is when she’s asleep. A single “multiactivity” toy will only be good for ten minutes. You have to hide the rest of the loot until she tires of each toy one by one.
I’d have more tips to share, but unfortunately, this little kid beside me wants to play hide-and-seek. Maybe next time, i’ll be able to write a full blog. 
