its like stupidity is contagious...

Angel5218

This ties into a post I saw last night about getting unsolicited advise about bf and sttn.

I just got a email from DH's aunt who had seen a post on my FB about how DS was regressing in his sleep and that he was waking up every hour and a half/ two hours. I am chalking it up to either a growth spurt or that maybe he is just flip flopping his routine...babies do that. I wasn't complaining about it on FB, just saying that since he was waking more often the last few days that I was going to have to sleep in the guest room with him so that DH could sleep (he is in the military and he has to work a very long shift today and had to be up really early so I wanted to cut him a break and let him sleep)

She sends me a email asking me if I was mixing rice cereal in his bm and how by two months she was giving her kids formula mixed with rice cereal to help them stay full longer and sttn.

I had a list of things I wanted to tell her/send her on how you don't start them on solids till at least around 6 months and how at 2 months you don't give them anything else besides formula or bm. I chose to ignore her all together. I am really getting sick of people suggesting this to me. It is perfectly normal for babies to change up their routines this young..heck they really don't have a set routine anyway. I just got lucky and DS was sleeping anywhere from 5-6 hours a stretch at night (usually 10pm to around 4am) and then he would sleep 2-3 hours after he nursed and would stay up at around 7/8am. 

Why is it people keep telling me that I should be giving him cereal so that he can sleep longer. Why do they think its ok to give their babies something they are not yet ready to digest? What....so I can get a few hours more of uninterrupted sleep?? I will enjoy that when DS is ready to STTN on his own thank you.

Sorry just wasn't something I wanted to read this morning...especially from her. 

Vent over...

jenna3016

Coworkers at my husband's job say the same thing.  Hubby and I agree he's too young for cereal.

 

dee1369

So many people do this and feel like it's a normal thing to do. I remember mixing some cereal into the bottles I would make for the girls I used to babysit when they were quite young and I thought nothing of it at the time. Thankfully no one has seriously suggested it to me yet but I'm sure it will happen!

amyWI

Ok, technically I'm giving you advice by writing this...lol but I totally understand your need to vent.  Here's my advice...DON'T TAKE THEIR ADVICE!  Every new mom, and I mean EVERY one of them at some point will receive this so-called "advice" from usually well-meaning individuals-family and strangers alike.  The best thing I've done is politely listen (or pretend to) and do what I feel is best for MY baby.  You are the mother and therefore know your baby better than anyone else.  It's extrememly frustrating when others try to push or pressure you into doing something but please don't worry about it. 

As far as feeding cereal-I strongly suggest NOT doing it!  There will be conflicting advice but I don't believe that adding cereal or solid food too early will help with sleep issues.  In fact, it can hinder sleep.  Baby digestive systems are just getting used to being outside the womb and can't handle too much too fast. 

I thank people for their advice and do what I feel is best for my baby. 

 

 

KelleyBelly11

Most people know that a happy mama = a happy baby and I think your Aunt was just "looking out" for you. I think it was lost in translation. Reading just a FB post never gives the full story of what else is going on in your head or even what you are feeling. Take a few relaxing breathes Mama! (just trying to help you not be frustrated)

AND as far as the cereal thing goes.... I'm sorry but cramming their little bellies with cereal at such a young age for extra sleep seems so wrong. They should learn to sleep through the night naturally not by stuffing them. There are other things you can do that promote STTN... They take more work on the parents part but they are natural.  

People bother me when I hear the same advice over and over but I can usually brush it off knowing that... IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! Haha!

 

KissyFishyLips

I get this advice a lot too - repeatedly, from some people, lol.  It seems like in the past, docs used to tell parents to give cereal at 2 months instead of waiting till 4 months.  Back then, moms were told to sleep babies on their tummies, to let babies CIO at a younger age, etc.... just thank people for their suggestions and do what *your* pedi advises and what you're comfortable with.

There's no harm in getting unsolicited advice, and the person doesn't have to know if you followed through or not. Or you could get snarky and pissy with them if you don't mind causing drama, lol.

Mama_SAS

People say this because it used to be the norm. Either ignore it or say that current research suggests that we shouldn't do that. They aren't trying to harm your baby or be mean; they are giving advice based on what worked for them and what they were told years ago. It's meant to be helpful, not malicious. Every new mom hears this from the older generation, probably numerous times.

My unsolicited advice it to let it roll off your back because they don't know any better and don't mean any harm.

bethandjoe09

Mama_SAS:

People say this because it used to be the norm. Either ignore it or say that current research suggests that we shouldn't do that. They aren't trying to harm your baby or be mean; they are giving advice based on what worked for them and what they were told years ago. It's meant to be helpful, not malicious. Every new mom hears this from the older generation, probably numerous times.

My unsolicited advice it to let it roll off your back because they don't know any better and don't mean any harm.

This, though I totally understand getting irritated about it.  At least it was over email and not in person, so you can just ignore it instead of having to smile and play nice.