I haven't had too much advice thrown at me yet thankfully but I've been around other babies and heard a lot recently. My least favorite is always "don't hold them all the time it spoils them". If I'm fortunate enough to have a child who likes to be cuddled and sleeps well when rocked in my arms I will eat up every moment of that. I don't see how you can spoil a newborn with touch like that.
Truth! My daughter was not and is not a cuddler. She hated being rocked to sleep and only snuggled long enough to breast feed lol. Midnight feedings I'd fall asleep sometimes and she'd make sure to wake me up to go back in her bed. All she wanted was to be left alone to do her own thing lol (not alone alone, just not constantly held lol). Anyway, hoping for a cuddler this go around so I can "spoil" her with cuddles.
People said that about my dog too. Yeah, she was jealous at first. To let me know she ate one sock from every pair of my daughter's socks. That was a fun vet bill. But she figured out that babies are always putting out weird smells which she loved. And she would always try and clean up the spit up. Super nasty but DD loved it and so did the dog. I guess they bonded over their mutual grossness lol. Now they're close as can be lol.
That's them a couple days ago lol. So don't listen to all the negative doggie advice givers lol
Every time I mention that I'm hoping to cloth diaper, people roll their eyes and comment on how that won't last long. It drives me crazy. I may hate it, but let me try and figure that out for myself!
I've also had 3 random women I don't know tell me to get an epidural. Why do they think I want them to tell me what to do with my body?
@Kiek that picture is absolutely adorable! And thanks! I try to let it go in one ear and out the other, and I feel like people need to trust me! (And my dogs!)
Also, "But she figured out that babies are always putting out weird smells which she loved" this made me literally laugh out loud! My dogs will be in heaven.
@Kiek that picture is absolutely adorable! And thanks! I try to let it go in one ear and out the other, and I feel like people need to trust me! (And my dogs!)
Also, "But she figured out that babies are always putting out weird smells which she loved" this made me literally laugh out loud! My dogs will be in heaven.
You know your dogs better than those people. Just ignore them. Obviously there will be an adjustment period but dogs and babies go together like pb&j
One of my favorites when dd was about 3-4 months old and refused to sleep at night "just put some cereal in her bottle before bed. She will sleep all night." How about no?
One of my favorites when dd was about 3-4 months old and refused to sleep at night "just put some cereal in her bottle before bed. She will sleep all night." How about no?
Uuughh! This! I was told to do that too and what did I know? So I tried it. Uh, thanks for the advice, now I have a baby with a terrible belly ache. Hard pass on that one ever again.
Anything backed by fake science. "Don't give vaccines! He'll get sick and have allergies!" "Don't let him CIO! He'll get brain damage."
In regards to never getting sleep again, DS has been sleeping 12 hours through the night since 5 months! He even plays in his crib for a bit until we come in and then he squeals with excitement. We'll see what happens with baby 2!
I live in a one bedroom apartment and I keep getting people telling me I need to move. No, not really. In fact if the baby is just going to sleep in my room it's first year of life (which is all the time we have left here) why does it matter? I'm not paying $400 more a month that could be spent on baby toys or food, I love food.
I don't think newborns need their own room.
** Wanted to add this disclaimer; I mean in my own situation I do not find it necessary to get a bigger place just for my newborn. If you want your newborn in their own room , you go for it. Every parent is right in their own lives! **
Yeah, more power to you for planning to share a room with your little the first year. I have a lot of friends that have done the same. I had my first in her room after a few weeks lol. Once she was only waking up 3 times a night I just needed my own space and time alone. Maybe this one will be totally different but I know back then, I probably would have lost my mind sharing for a whole year. Introvert problems lol. But like I said, I know lots of moms that share and they absolutely love it. I think you just do what you feel is best.
Thanks! I'm also a VERY lazy person, so I know if she's crying in another room I probably wouldn't get up, and that's really bad I know, because at some point she may actually NEED my attention. So now that she's going to be 10 feet from me, I don't see that as a problem either.
Plus I just think it's weird that they don't understand, that's an extra $400 a month I can spend on the baby! I think she will appreciate a college fund much more than having her own room in a time of her life she won't remember. Also, one less room to clean!!!
SO and I are planning on cloth diapering and I had a girl at work tell me "one of my friends decided to cloth diaper; it's so nasty and weird. I can't imagine anyone wanting to do that". I'm very anti-confrontational so I just smiled and laughed.
We haven't fully decided and might be doing a combo until we know what we like, but that is just distasteful and ugly of her. It just bothers me so much when people put down someone else's decision!
I love the old, "You'll never get your body back," remark. That's entirely possible, but last I checked, you don't have a Delorian time machine that can take you to the future to confirm that. So how bout we not make me feel bad about something we have no way of knowing?
ETA: I guess that's not really advice, but I was thinking about how the same people who have told me to "eat for two" have told me this about my body. So they must totally know what they are talking about.
I love the old, "You'll never get your body back," remark. That's entirely possible, but last I checked, you don't have a Delorian time machine that can take you to the future to confirm that. So how bout we not make me feel bad about something we have no way of knowing?
ETA: I guess that's not really advice, but I was thinking about how the same people who have told me to "eat for two" have told me this about my body. So they must totally know what they are talking about.
The person who said that is a buffoon! After 3 kids my mom is now Smaller with a tighter stomach than she was before she ever had kids. She just has a pretty little c-section scar. (That's what she says, she calls it pretty because it represents her children) I honestly hardly notice it. My mom is almost 45 and looks better in a bikini than I do, that bit... Never mind.
@paytonpedro
People said that about my dog too. Yeah, she was jealous at first. To let me know she ate one sock from every pair of my daughter's socks. That was a fun vet bill. But she figured out that babies are always putting out weird smells which she loved. And she would always try and clean up the spit up. Super nasty but DD loved it and so did the dog. I guess they bonded over their mutual grossness lol. Now they're close as can be lol.
That's them a couple days ago lol. So don't listen to all the negative doggie advice givers lol
Everyone is like "the dog will be super jealous" or can "I hope she does well with the baby" I'm like she will be fine. I understand she will be jealous at first since she is the baby right now (my puppy is 11 months, will be a year in a few weeks) Dogs can adjust. It's just like things will be okay. If I get a new baby item I let her sniff it so she knows that it is around and does not bark at it. I actually can't wait to see what happens with them and most of the time the dog will ignore the baby while they are super young minus sniffing feet or kisses. My pup loves cheerios so she will love picking up the scraps I'm sure.
I love the old, "You'll never get your body back," remark. That's entirely possible, but last I checked, you don't have a Delorian time machine that can take you to the future to confirm that. So how bout we not make me feel bad about something we have no way of knowing?
ETA: I guess that's not really advice, but I was thinking about how the same people who have told me to "eat for two" have told me this about my body. So they must totally know what they are talking about.
This totally depends on the person! I didn't really get my body back, but it's not like it was in that great of a shape to begin with. I also ate more during nursing than pregnant. I was just constantly hungry while I nursed. But, two of my friends were back in their pre pregnancy jeans before their 6 weeks check up and look exactly the same as they did pre pregnancy. There is no way of knowing until after, so I agree that it is just a rude and discouraging thing to say! I plan to get my pre- pregnancy body back after this one!
One of my favorites when dd was about 3-4 months old and refused to sleep at night "just put some cereal in her bottle before bed. She will sleep all night." How about no?
Uuughh! This! I was told to do that too and what did I know? So I tried it. Uh, thanks for the advice, now I have a baby with a terrible belly ache. Hard pass on that one ever again.
Yep. I didn't put it in her bottle but I did give her a little before bed once when she was almost 4 months because I everyoneeee was recommending it and I was so sleep deprived I probably wasn't thinking straight... Yeah, she cried for 3 hours straight that night. Never ever again.
One of my favorites when dd was about 3-4 months old and refused to sleep at night "just put some cereal in her bottle before bed. She will sleep all night." How about no?
Uuughh! This! I was told to do that too and what did I know? So I tried it. Uh, thanks for the advice, now I have a baby with a terrible belly ache. Hard pass on that one ever again.
Yep. I didn't put it in her bottle but I did give her a little before bed once when she was almost 4 months because I everyoneeee was recommending it and I was so sleep deprived I probably wasn't thinking straight... Yeah, she cried for 3 hours straight that night. Never ever again.
my mom keeps telling me the secret to a full night sleep in infancy is introducing baby cereal at 6 weeks before bed. Not sure that one is pediatrician approved anymore...
I love the old, "You'll never get your body back," remark. That's entirely possible, but last I checked, you don't have a Delorian time machine that can take you to the future to confirm that. So how bout we not make me feel bad about something we have no way of knowing?
ETA: I guess that's not really advice, but I was thinking about how the same people who have told me to "eat for two" have told me this about my body. So they must totally know what they are talking about.
This totally depends on the person! I didn't really get my body back, but it's not like it was in that great of a shape to begin with. I also ate more during nursing than pregnant. I was just constantly hungry while I nursed. But, two of my friends were back in their pre pregnancy jeans before their 6 weeks check up and look exactly the same as they did pre pregnancy. There is no way of knowing until after, so I agree that it is just a rude and discouraging thing to say! I plan to get my pre- pregnancy body back after this one!
I hate when people say that! like, yeah duh, did you see how much my belly stretched!? I actuallu got in the best shape of my life after DD was born because I felt like such a bad ass after giving birth lol. I felt awesome, HOWEVER, I did not have my body back so to speak lol. Definitely could tell I had been pregnant. My belly and boobs took a beating lol. But I had taken up running and felt great. I think that's what really matters is how you feel and everyone needs to spot putting so much emphasis on what our bodies look like after we grow humans.
We live in Ireland (I'm American) and my mother-in-law is pretty old-school. When my son was born, she was deeply confused by my decisions to breastfeed, babywear and cosleep, but was HORRIFIED that we didn't use a pacifier. When I told her we'd offered him one a few times but he didn't like it, she said to dip it in honey!
One of my favorites when dd was about 3-4 months old and refused to sleep at night "just put some cereal in her bottle before bed. She will sleep all night." How about no?
Uuughh! This! I was told to do that too and what did I know? So I tried it. Uh, thanks for the advice, now I have a baby with a terrible belly ache. Hard pass on that one ever again.
Yep. I didn't put it in her bottle but I did give her a little before bed once when she was almost 4 months because I everyoneeee was recommending it and I was so sleep deprived I probably wasn't thinking straight... Yeah, she cried for 3 hours straight that night. Never ever again.
my mom keeps telling me the secret to a full night sleep in infancy is introducing baby cereal at 6 weeks before bed. Not sure that one is pediatrician approved anymore...
I remember those nonsense advice on how to get your baby to sleep through the night!!! my MIL and FIL tried to tell me to give my less than a month old baby cereal or crackers. She swore that my husband and his brother slept through the night from day 1 because they ate cereal and crackers when they came home from the hospital. No. Just no. your babies probably slept through the night because they were both born 11lbs + and were able to hold more formula in their tummies than smaller/ regular size babies.
Then when we introduced solids at around 4+ months, my FIL tried to give him a popsicle, claimed it's ok because it's a fruit popsicle. When I told him that I do not want him eating processed food or sugar yet, he told me I am depriving my child.
@Monkeybutt80 I think the foods are always an area people LOVE to give "advice" on. Our pediatrician gave us the okay at 6-8mo to pretty much try anything except honey. My mom could not get over the fact I was giving her strawberries and not honey. But the biggest one we got was the "formula in the bottle at night".
@Monkeybutt80 I think the foods are always an area people LOVE to give "advice" on. Our pediatrician gave us the okay at 6-8mo to pretty much try anything except honey. My mom could not get over the fact I was giving her strawberries and not honey. But the biggest one we got was the "formula in the bottle at night".
I agree. I remember getting food advice from everyone! We also avoided honey until he was about a year old, I think. Hopefully with the second one, people wont be so "generous" with their advice!
Me and husband have a large Siberian husky that is the sweetest thing in the world to us. My parents came over the other day and my mother decided to tell me that we need to get rid of him before the baby gets here because that big of a dog will just eat the baby. We both started laughing because we thought she was joking, but then my dad got serious and they both agreed that our dog will in fact get hungry and take a bite out of baby.
) ) I politely asked them if they had been smoking meth before they came over (they are the furthest from drug users), needless to say they didn't like that too well. lol. And they are no longer allowed around our dog...
@Monkeybutt80 I think the foods are always an area people LOVE to give "advice" on. Our pediatrician gave us the okay at 6-8mo to pretty much try anything except honey. My mom could not get over the fact I was giving her strawberries and not honey. But the biggest one we got was the "formula in the bottle at night".
I started with strawberries too, although I found out later that it's a common allergy! Lucky for us there was no reaction!
Me and husband have a large Siberian husky that is the sweetest thing in the world to us. My parents came over the other day and my mother decided to tell me that we need to get rid of him before the baby gets here because that big of a dog will just eat the baby. We both started laughing because we thought she was joking, but then my dad got serious and they both agreed that our dog will in fact get hungry and take a bite out of baby.
) ) I politely asked them if they had been smoking meth before they came over (they are the furthest from drug users), needless to say they didn't like that too well. lol. And they are no longer allowed around our dog...
@Monkeybutt80 I think the foods are always an area people LOVE to give "advice" on. Our pediatrician gave us the okay at 6-8mo to pretty much try anything except honey. My mom could not get over the fact I was giving her strawberries and not honey. But the biggest one we got was the "formula in the bottle at night".
I started with strawberries too, although I found out later that it's a common allergy! Lucky for us there was no reaction!
I guess (per my DD's pediatrician) there are new findings that the earlier they are exposed the less likely they are to develop allergies. That's all I know on the topic though so I can't say much else lol. We don't have many food allergies in our family and I am SO thankful that our daughter doesn't have any (that we know of) either.
My dad has tried to give me a few tips which have sounded more like preemptive criticism of DH and my parenting style (which we don't even have yet since this is our first). He tried to lecture me on what to feed the baby, and I told him that I will be feeding her healthy food and didn't need his input in this area. His response was that he's raised two daughters and thinks he did a pretty good job, "even though one of them has a smart mouth." Despite being really pissed about the fact that he was telling me off in a way that was more appropriate for a 9 year old than a 30 year old, I calmly told him that unsolicited parenting advice is equally unwelcome from all people, including one's own parents. It shut him up for about a day.
Oh! My mom is a vegan nutratarian. So that's fun lol. Thankfully she doesn't give her advice in front of my very country mountain man husband lol. Probably wouldn't go over too well lol.
Oh! My mom is a vegan nutratarian. So that's fun lol. Thankfully she doesn't give her advice in front of my very country mountain man husband lol. Probably wouldn't go over too well lol.
Oh! My mom is a vegan nutratarian. So that's fun lol. Thankfully she doesn't give her advice in front of my very country mountain man husband lol. Probably wouldn't go over too well lol.
I can't even pronounce your mom's occupation.
Lol pretty much means she exclusively eats plants and plant based foods
I hated when people would feed my daughter things without asking and make me sound like a total snob when I'd ask them not to give her certain things.
I agree. My brother once tried to feed my 18mo daughter my very well known, most hated food item ever, mayo, just to mess with me. I yanked it out of his hand so fast. I was super annoyed. I think I got the message across though not to do that again lol.
I just remembered a few more. Someone told me to put my 3 year old son in a ice cold bath after he peed or pooped to teach him not to do that. (We're starting to potty train him.) Um no, I don't feel like traumatizing him.
When he was 7 months old, my grandma gave me crap for giving him certain puréed foods during thanksgiving. She asked what in the heck I was feeding that kid and told me I should feed him "real" food. We were still introducing solids to him so I refused.
People said that about my dog too. Yeah, she was jealous at first. To let me know she ate one sock from every pair of my daughter's socks. That was a fun vet bill. But she figured out that babies are always putting out weird smells which she loved. And she would always try and clean up the spit up. Super nasty but DD loved it and so did the dog. I guess they bonded over their mutual grossness lol. Now they're close as can be lol.
That's them a couple days ago lol. So don't listen to all the negative doggie advice givers lol
I just wanted to post a pic of my 2 girls. My dog has always been great wit
@Monkeybutt80 I think the foods are always an area people LOVE to give "advice" on. Our pediatrician gave us the okay at 6-8mo to pretty much try anything except honey. My mom could not get over the fact I was giving her strawberries and not honey. But the biggest one we got was the "formula in the bottle at night".
I agree. I remember getting food advice from everyone! We also avoided honey until he was about a year old, I think. Hopefully with the second one, people wont be so "generous" with their advice!
I think they get ruder with the second. At least while I'm pregnant with my second. Everyone seems to be the expert in how DD will react, how much harder it'll be, and the spacing of kids. DD was literally a perfect baby, slept great, eats great, wasn't fussy, ect. So I don't expect the next to be the same. And since we're going to have one of each my mom is like you're done now and DHs fam is the complete opposite and I'm like it's not your decision @Shatzegirl I'm currently in the middle of potty training and everyone has their opinion. DHs grandfather actually told us she needed to be perfectly trained at 2 and we need to get on that. He acted like you just stick them on the toilet and Bam it's done. I finally said "you didn't potty train any of your kids so how are you an expert"
I got a lot of "cry it out" advice since my baby was a terrible sleeper. Although I was very opposed to that method. (ended up doing it in the end because i got the flu and was throwing up too much to go to him.)
I got the outdated advice of giving cereal in a bottle at 4 months old as the first intro to food. we tried it once because someone said it would help him sleep at night. It didn't. And I regret doing it. I don't think cereal is a good first food, looking back on it.
Oh and I was told by my cat-hating FIL that I should get rid of my cat because it will try to kill the baby. The cat and my son get along fine. The cat never even tried to jump in the crib. The baby made noises that scared him, so he kept his distance.
Oh and I was told by my cat-hating FIL that I should get rid of my cat because it will try to kill the baby. The cat and my son get along fine. The cat never even tried to jump in the crib. The baby made noises that scared him, so he kept his distance.
Omg my FIL said something like that too. That the cat would go and sit on my son's face to smother him. Give me a break! My cats always kept their distance from him and when they were near him, they were sweet & gentle.
I've gotten the advice about getting rid of cats every time. So many people say that the cats love milk, even though they aren't suppose to drink it, and they will "suck" the life out of the baby trying to get milk from their mouth. I pretty much rolled my eyes. I've also had the advice of giving my child whole milk the second I'm finished breastfeeding because it's healthier than formula. Uh, no its not and it gives the baby horrible gas pains causing horrible tummy aches.
On the dog haters front.... I have two pit bulls and I will trust them around my kid more than actual humans.
My favorite of all my clients is a dog named Daisy, she's a pitbull. So vicious. Look at how much harm she brought to this random little for she met! (I knew the girl, dog didn't)
One time someone's kid fell while we were on our walk and Daisy dragged me behind her As she SPRINTED to the kid to make sure she was okay. Pits are the most highly recommended family and children dogs. My first dog was a pit bull and I still cry over not having him from time to time. He is ALL I can remember about childhood.
Re: Parenting Advice 101
People said that about my dog too. Yeah, she was jealous at first. To let me know she ate one sock from every pair of my daughter's socks. That was a fun vet bill. But she figured out that babies are always putting out weird smells which she loved. And she would always try and clean up the spit up. Super nasty but DD loved it and so did the dog. I guess they bonded over their mutual grossness lol. Now they're close as can be lol.
That's them a couple days ago lol. So don't listen to all the negative doggie advice givers lol
I've also had 3 random women I don't know tell me to get an epidural. Why do they think I want them to tell me what to do with my body?
Also, "But she figured out that babies are always putting out weird smells which she loved" this made me literally laugh out loud! My dogs will be in heaven.
In regards to never getting sleep again, DS has been sleeping 12 hours through the night since 5 months! He even plays in his crib for a bit until we come in and then he squeals with excitement. We'll see what happens with baby 2!
Plus I just think it's weird that they don't understand, that's an extra $400 a month I can spend on the baby! I think she will appreciate a college fund much more than having her own room in a time of her life she won't remember.
Also, one less room to clean!!!
ETA: I guess that's not really advice, but I was thinking about how the same people who have told me to "eat for two" have told me this about my body. So they must totally know what they are talking about.
*Kate*
February 2016
I hate when people say that! like, yeah duh, did you see how much my belly stretched!? I actuallu got in the best shape of my life after DD was born because I felt like such a bad ass after giving birth lol. I felt awesome, HOWEVER, I did not have my body back so to speak lol. Definitely could tell I had been pregnant. My belly and boobs took a beating lol. But I had taken up running and felt great. I think that's what really matters is how you feel and everyone needs to spot putting so much emphasis on what our bodies look like after we grow humans.
Me and husband have a large Siberian husky that is the sweetest thing in the world to us. My parents came over the other day and my mother decided to tell me that we need to get rid of him before the baby gets here because that big of a dog will just eat the baby. We both started laughing because we thought she was joking, but then my dad got serious and they both agreed that our dog will in fact get hungry and take a bite out of baby.
I guess (per my DD's pediatrician) there are new findings that the earlier they are exposed the less likely they are to develop allergies. That's all I know on the topic though so I can't say much else lol. We don't have many food allergies in our family and I am SO thankful that our daughter doesn't have any (that we know of) either.
Lol pretty much means she exclusively eats plants and plant based foods
When he was 7 months old, my grandma gave me crap for giving him certain puréed foods during thanksgiving. She asked what in the heck I was feeding that kid and told me I should feed him "real" food. We were still introducing solids to him so I refused.
I think they get ruder with the second. At least while I'm pregnant with my second. Everyone seems to be the expert in how DD will react, how much harder it'll be, and the spacing of kids. DD was literally a perfect baby, slept great, eats great, wasn't fussy, ect. So I don't expect the next to be the same. And since we're going to have one of each my mom is like you're done now and DHs fam is the complete opposite and I'm like it's not your decision
@Shatzegirl I'm currently in the middle of potty training and everyone has their opinion. DHs grandfather actually told us she needed to be perfectly trained at 2 and we need to get on that. He acted like you just stick them on the toilet and Bam it's done. I finally said "you didn't potty train any of your kids so how are you an expert"
I got the outdated advice of giving cereal in a bottle at 4 months old as the first intro to food. we tried it once because someone said it would help him sleep at night. It didn't. And I regret doing it. I don't think cereal is a good first food, looking back on it.
The cat and my son get along fine. The cat never even tried to jump in the crib. The baby made noises that scared him, so he kept his distance.
I've also had the advice of giving my child whole milk the second I'm finished breastfeeding because it's healthier than formula. Uh, no its not and it gives the baby horrible gas pains causing horrible tummy aches.
Edited because words are horrible
(I knew the girl, dog didn't)
One time someone's kid fell while we were on our walk and Daisy dragged me behind her As she SPRINTED to the kid to make sure she was okay.
Pits are the most highly recommended family and children dogs. My first dog was a pit bull and I still cry over not having him from time to time. He is ALL I can remember about childhood.