Skip to main content

Don't google it.

My #1 advice to new mommy's - as if I'm in the position to give it, ha - is to not google it.  Just don't.  Not only because you'll find totally contradictory advice out there on topics such as:
  • Crying it out (CIO)
  • Where/when/how to nap
  • When to feed
  • How to feed
  • What to feed
  • Starting solids and baby led weaning (BLW)
  • Sleeping through the night (STTN)
  • Cribs vs. bassinets vs. baby sharing vs. rock n play (RNP)
  • Exclusively breastfeeding (EBF)
[note - anything with an acronym is exceptionally well documented on the internet, so much so these acroynms are ubiquitous.  Did I forget anything mommies and daddies?]

But also because it is not helpful.  Notice I didn't even begin to put medical maladies on here - these are simply procedural day-to-day items that get our knickers twisted.  You'll find something to justify whatever you are doing, eventually (even if it takes hours of searching).  But you'll also be convinced that whatever you are doing is wrong, that you need to buy something else to solve the problem, and that there is a better option than whatever is working for you at the moment.

This will drive you crazy.  It's driving me crazy.  See  - rock n play to crib transition for almost six month olds.  I'm trying to get you to avoid my mistakes.

I got three solid pieces of advice on troubleshooting in the first six months of my child's life:

I've succeeded if they stop doing [insert whatever bad habit/practice] by prom.
Do what works for you, now - the baby will grow up regardless.
Are they happy?  Healthy?  Smiling?  Then its working.

While I'm still learning to accept that not everything is in my control, I'm googling (and worrying!) less.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Coronavirus Isolation, week 1/2

I am triggered. My battle with postpartum anxiety occurred exactly a year ago and it took me 5 months to get to a new normal.  It started with the two month quarantining of the baby (and as a result myself) to prevent us catching flu before he got vaccines.  My world shrunk to the size of my living room for the second time in my life. I sought to control what I couldn't by obsessing over the baby's sleep. My husband and I were no longer allowed to say the word "overtired", because it implied we waited too long to put him to sleep, and therefore him not sleeping was our fault (and therefore controllable).  Grapefruit, instead of overtired then. Fast forward a year. I'm telling my students, I don't think we will be here to take our unit test on (irony) state & local government next week.  I think to myself, if we don't take it that's ok, at least we reviewed.  I met with a coworker and we discussed what we would have students do for work if we mi...
Post a Comment
Read more

a letter to my newborn mommy self.

Dear Momma coming home from hospital, You got this.  That percoset fueled glaze from your C-Section and 18 hour labor will soon be replaced with a lack of sleep.  You'll savor getting four hours of sleep in a row like someone without kids enjoys sleeping in.  Keep chocolate around.  It'll be a great reward for getting up in the middle of the night to try and breastfeed.  Have everyone who is not related to you over at once.  This is why god created sip and sees.  You do not want people visiting unless they will do chores while you breastfeed from the comfort of your couch (thanks family!). I know feeding the baby was tough in the hospital.  Impossible actually.  But breastfeeding will get easier.  And if it doesn't, formula is your friend!  Remember how the baby wouldn't eat right away, so you spent every two hours shoving a breast in her mouth begging her to at least try?  So many tears, so much pain!  And when all el...
Post a Comment
Read more

Maternity, part deux

I started this blog when I was at home with my first LO - THREE YEARS AGO!  And I'm resurrecting it for my sanity, to give myself something to do at nap times other than watch office re-runs and eat cookies. The blog has been a sanity saver on this, day one of maternity leave on my own.  Today I cried hearing my husband's voice on the phone from his office, wishing we had a paternity policy in this country that would at least give me a partner in crime until my 6 week wellness check up at the OB.  Because being at home is lonely for an extrovert.  My second baby (so far) is the sweetest thing - a far cry from the devil baby I had three years ago - and he is an entirely wanted gift from god.  But to say he's not enough makes me a bad mom, right? But I haven't gotten the timing down for taking a walk, and he sleeps so well and frequently inside that I've been tethered to the couch all day.  If not nursing, then non-nutritive nursing (and this kid does not...
Post a Comment
Read more