Best/Worst/Funniest parenting advice you've gotten.

FirstBabyDoyle

Let's hear it ladies..

FirstBabyDoyle

So this is our last day of school and my students figured out I'm expecting. This morning I let them write me letters of advice.
My two favs:

Kristy774

Best advice- When I was pregnant with my 1st I was complaining about not sleeping at night after the baby was born and someone said , "oh sweetie, you will never sleep the same again" and she was right!

sweetbabyrahe

*Funniest: Don't have 3 children, either have 2 or 4, you need an even number for roller coaster seating.- really, really, roller coaster seating

* Best: Find something special that daddy can do with baby each day that is their special time. (Since I breasfed DS)- Bath time each night was daddy/son time...it gave me a short break and allowed for DH to feel involved and helped with bonding

*Worst: After my son had 6 ear infecitons in 3 months and we were getting ET tubes placed (hopefully this doesn't get me flamed-I'm just a western medicine conservative mom) "He doesn't need tubes, take him to a chiropractor...it will fix everything"

Shonanny

Best advice - my sister told me that I should always make the best choice for the people in my house. Whatever feeding, sleeping and misc. arrangement works Regardless of what anyone else thinks.

sweetbabyrahe

Yeah @Ninergirl52 We have never regretted our decision. He was a miserable poorly sleeping kid from 6mo to 9mo. After we had the tubes placed, he has hand only 1 ear infection in the 2 years since. It was much easier to treat with the tubes also because it just took a few days of ear drops.

Bethyboo26

It's our first, but our siblings have a total of 14 kids. We keep getting told that our lives will be over when baby comes so we better sleep, eat, workout, and enjoy life now. Super encouraging

Maelara

Bethyboo26 said:

It's our first, but our siblings have a total of 14 kids. We keep getting told that our lives will be over when baby comes so we better sleep, eat, workout, and enjoy life now. Super encouraging

Wow, they sound happy 0.o your life isn't over, it just changes. For the better in my opinion.

I once got advice from a random guy in a restaurant that was absolutely terrible. He told me to let my 1 month old (DD was small, she looked 1 month but was 4 months) CIO. Um no. She has needs right now that need to be met. Plus, I got lucky and she only woke up at night when she was hungry. He also told me to give her water from the get go to fix colic. Not only is this dangerous but she didnt have colic.

brichar31

Best - A woman I work with wrote on my baby shower card " Everyone is going to be giving you advice (including me) and my advice is not to take any of it.  Do what works for your family."

Worst - Bf'ing was rough and the only advice from my MIL and my own mother was "That baby needs a bottle! He's starving"

uncharted01

A woman I work with told me that to prepare for breastfeeding, I should be extremely rough with my boobs and nipples. She told me to rub a brillo pad all over my boobs and pinch my nipples as hard as I could. It was a super uncomfortable conversation!

nonoemily

The most hilarious, bizarre advice I got last time came from all the grandmas in my life. My own grandmother told me to drink all the Guinness. DHs grandma told me they used to give babies a piece of bacon fat tied to a string to chew on while teething. The string was so you could keep them from swallowing it.

Lots of annoying suggestions to give my baby water in a bottle while we were EBF. To get rid of my cats. That whole rice in the bottle thing. Just smile and nod.

Oh, the worst was other peoples opinions about clothing. My son is a very hot bodied person, like myself. He gets overheated quickly, and hate swearing socks and shoes. Old people were always bitching at me to cover his feet or make him wear a sweater.

We went against the grain in our social circle and did CIO with DS when he was six months old. It took two nights, and he never cried for more than 20 minutes. It just was the right thing to do for us at that point, but in a group setting I got a lot of shit for it. Of course, when I was in a one-on-one conversation with another mom, that was always the first thing they asked me about. Hypocrites!

wildflower75

I think at least 10 people, some co-workers, some friends, some total strangers told us to go to the movies as much as we can before the baby came because after that it would be difficult! Boy were they right!!

lisalynnmama

Best Advice:  Trust your gut.  Do what feels right for you and your baby regardless of what anyone has says.

Worst Advice:  Sleep now because you will never sleep again!  It isn't bad advice to get sleep, but it is not like you can bank sleep and take some out of an account when you need a re-charge.  I wish it were possible, but it surely is not.  

Funniest Advice:  Eat whatever you want now, but be ready to pay for it after delivery.  HA!  Totally hilarious and totally true!

AnnieRoo13

uncharted01 said:

A woman I work with told me that to prepare for breastfeeding, I should be extremely rough with my boobs and nipples. She told me to rub a brillo pad all over my boobs and pinch my nipples as hard as I could. It was a super uncomfortable conversation!

This was my MIL's advice too. Don't do it, you don't need to be causing unnecessary trauma to your nipples!

PineApple85

wildflower75 said:

I think at least 10 people, some co-workers, some friends, some total strangers told us to go to the movies as much as we can before the baby came because after that it would be difficult! Boy were they right!!

This.  I'm pretty sure The Hobbit comes out in November and I'm trying to figure out if I'll be able to see it while it's still in theaters.  I plan to bf again and at that point with DS he was nursing about every hour to 2 hours for 30+ minutes, which meant I was never more than an hour or so from ending on session to starting another.  First world problems.

ETA: I don't have any funny/bad advice stories.  One woman did tell me that having sons make your hips wider and they never go back.  Not true, but even if it were what the hell good does that do to tell me?!  Seriously.

Maelara

nonoemily said:

The most hilarious, bizarre advice I got last time came from all the grandmas in my life. My own grandmother told me to drink all the Guinness. DHs grandma told me they used to give babies a piece of bacon fat tied to a string to chew on while teething. The string was so you could keep them from swallowing it. Lots of annoying suggestions to give my baby water in a bottle while we were EBF. To get rid of my cats. That whole rice in the bottle thing. Just smile and nod. Oh, the worst was other peoples opinions about clothing. My son is a very hot bodied person, like myself. He gets overheated quickly, and hate swearing socks and shoes. Old people were always bitching at me to cover his feet or make him wear a sweater. We went against the grain in our social circle and did CIO with DS when he was six months old. It took two nights, and he never cried for more than 20 minutes. It just was the right thing to do for us at that point, but in a group setting I got a lot of shit for it. Of course, when I was in a one-on-one conversation with another mom, that was always the first thing they asked me about. Hypocrites!

I'm the one that did CIO in my circle too. At first I got lots of nasty looks but now none of their children are sleeping and they keep asking me for advice. DD has slept through the night since she was 8 months old. She did it on her own, I was absolutely still feeding her at night until she she stopped that on her own. I will absolutely do it again. I believe every baby is ready at different points, so I'll wait until then. Any time after 6 months.

Nfranco973

My mom told me when I was pregnant with DD to not complain about being tired and sleeping too much while preg because when baby comes I'm going to wish I could sleep as good. She wasn't lying. I was sleepless for months with the DD.

Nfranco973

NinerGirl52 said:

@sweetbabyrahe

"Worst: After my son had 6 ear infecitons in 3 months and we were getting ET tubes placed (hopefully this doesn't get me flamed-I'm just a western medicine conservative mom) "He doesn't need tubes, take him to a chiropractor...it will fix everything"

Ummm ... YIKES!!! I had 2 ear surgeries when I was a kid and they were the best things ever. 

Take a dropper with kids (mom said not adults?) first morning urine and drop it into ear. Let it sit for a few and then tip your head to the side & let it drain out. Laugh at me if you want but as a kid I got the worst ear infections and it was the only thing thAt worked. Don't know how it works but it just does lol
Edited: to clarify process

MrsDL

We were on vacation in Cape Cod with my H's family when DS was about 1, he was going through the biting phase, he rarely did it but he happened to bite me while we were out eating. I told him that was naughty and that's about it.

A woman walked over to me and said "bite him back, really hard just once, that's all it takes, I did it with my 3 kids and they never bit anyone again." Not my style but it was a random thing for a stranger to say imo.  She walked away and I was like "thanks random stranger, I can't wait to bite my baby really hard!" We all had a good laugh over it.

meeshybee

I don't have any advice stories, but people do say ridiculous things to pregnant women. Gender predictions and baby names are the worst, imo.

Close to the end of my last pregnancy, I stopped at a convenience store and the cashier swore up and down that I was having a boy. When I told her it was a surprise, she said, "Well, you'll have to come back and tell me if I was right. I'm always right." Sure, random stranger. I'm sure you're invested enough in me and my child for me to come back and show baby pictures to you a month from now! She was wrong, btw.

When I worked in pharmacy during my 2nd pregnancy, I had a regular ask if we had picked a name for our daughter yet. When I told her we hadn't, she suggested Sheridan (her name). Thankfully I had the excuse that we already have a Sheri (my sister) and a Sherry (my MIL) in our family and didn't have to say I didn't like "Sheridan" in the least.

The funniest one we had was when DS was a few months old. It was the first time Dh and I had been out to eat since he was born and we went to a relatively nice steak place. DS started to fuss. Not even cry, just fuss a bit. An elderly man was seated near us and began complaining loudly to his tablemates about people bringing babies out in public. I changed DS in the ladies' room and he was perfectly happy and quiet the rest of the time, although the man continued to complain. The aisles were narrow, so when it was time to go I held DS and Dh carried the carseat sideways. The man saw me with the baby and Dh with the carseat and practically yelled, "They have TWO?" I wonder what he'd think now if I waddled in with my preggo belly and three kids.

MrsAdventure

meeshybee said:

I don't have any advice stories, but people do say ridiculous things to pregnant women. Gender predictions and baby names are the worst, imo.

Close to the end of my last pregnancy, I stopped at a convenience store and the cashier swore up and down that I was having a boy. When I told her it was a surprise, she said, "Well, you'll have to come back and tell me if I was right. I'm always right." Sure, random stranger. I'm sure you're invested enough in me and my child for me to come back and show baby pictures to you a month from now! She was wrong, btw.

When I worked in pharmacy during my 2nd pregnancy, I had a regular ask if we had picked a name for our daughter yet. When I told her we hadn't, she suggested Sheridan (her name). Thankfully I had the excuse that we already have a Sheri (my sister) and a Sherry (my MIL) in our family and didn't have to say I didn't like "Sheridan" in the least.

The funniest one we had was when DS was a few months old. It was the first time Dh and I had been out to eat since he was born and we went to a relatively nice steak place. DS started to fuss. Not even cry, just fuss a bit. An elderly man was seated near us and began complaining loudly to his tablemates about people bringing babies out in public. I changed DS in the ladies' room and he was perfectly happy and quiet the rest of the time, although the man continued to complain. The aisles were narrow, so when it was time to go I held DS and Dh carried the carseat sideways. The man saw me with the baby and Dh with the carseat and practically yelled, "They have TWO?" I wonder what he'd think now if I waddled in with my preggo belly and three kids.

I do don't have any yet, but I am fairly certain the man in the steak house was my FIL. He is that big of an asshole, and has that little self awareness. I have been with him when he was such a jerk to a family at a restaurant that he made a little girl cry. I wanted to cry too.

Maelara

MrsAdventure said:

meeshybee said:

I don't have any advice stories, but people do say ridiculous things to pregnant women. Gender predictions and baby names are the worst, imo.

Close to the end of my last pregnancy, I stopped at a convenience store and the cashier swore up and down that I was having a boy. When I told her it was a surprise, she said, "Well, you'll have to come back and tell me if I was right. I'm always right." Sure, random stranger. I'm sure you're invested enough in me and my child for me to come back and show baby pictures to you a month from now! She was wrong, btw.

When I worked in pharmacy during my 2nd pregnancy, I had a regular ask if we had picked a name for our daughter yet. When I told her we hadn't, she suggested Sheridan (her name). Thankfully I had the excuse that we already have a Sheri (my sister) and a Sherry (my MIL) in our family and didn't have to say I didn't like "Sheridan" in the least.

The funniest one we had was when DS was a few months old. It was the first time Dh and I had been out to eat since he was born and we went to a relatively nice steak place. DS started to fuss. Not even cry, just fuss a bit. An elderly man was seated near us and began complaining loudly to his tablemates about people bringing babies out in public. I changed DS in the ladies' room and he was perfectly happy and quiet the rest of the time, although the man continued to complain. The aisles were narrow, so when it was time to go I held DS and Dh carried the carseat sideways. The man saw me with the baby and Dh with the carseat and practically yelled, "They have TWO?" I wonder what he'd think now if I waddled in with my preggo belly and three kids.

I do don't have any yet, but I am fairly certain the man in the steak house was my FIL. He is that big of an asshole, and has that little self awareness. I have been with him when he was such a jerk to a family at a restaurant that he made a little girl cry. I wanted to cry too.

My grandma is the female version of this man. She goes nuclear if a person dares to bring their child on an airplane. I've tried explaining to her that baby's can't pop their ears and if they are crying it's because they are in pain or that the long flights she takes (to England) the kids are bound to get bored. Hell, I would. She just makes rude comments and huffs. I hate being in public with her.

VanillaTwilight13

Advice given to my friend from her MIL "Don't take hot showers because it will spoil your milk (for breastfeeding)." One night while I was visiting (her baby was just a couple months old) he started fussing just a little bit. Her DH started freaking out and blaming her for taking hot showers and now the baby's belly was upset!! 

DS was born in February and my mom told me to be sure and bundle him up so he didn't get cold when we were leaving the hospital. She said, "Because that's how baby's get colic, ya know?"

My MIL kept trying to get us to spoon feed DS rice cereal (even as young as 2 months!) before bed so he would sleep longer. In fact, she was always trying to get us to do things that he wasn't ready for... once he was started on solids (like purees) she would try to give him whole orange slices. When he was eating VERY small pieces of solid food, she tried feeding him apple slices. Her defense was that HER kids never choked to death... gee thanks, but I think I would rather not take the risk!