It's YOUR baby! (Being a Parent)

Member Name: emz809

Product:	Being a Parent
Date:	11/11/08 (83 review reads)
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Having my baby boy, in June 2008, was the best thing i've ever done! I'm only 19 (18 when I had him) and I feel that i'm coping very well. So contrary to many peoples beliefs, age doesn't matter, not in all cases anyway!

The description to this 'thread' asks for 'sound practical advice about being a parent'. So my advice is... take other peoples advice but only if you want it! Also, don't compare your little one's to other peoples!

When you have a little one, it is quite overwhelming and the amount of do's and dont's and peoples opinions/advice is probably even more overwhelming!
I say only take the advice YOU (and/or your partner) feel is right for you!
Take breastfeeding for example, theres alot of pressure into breast feeding but for some people it just isn't convenient or just can't happen, therefore it can lead to alot of guilt and heart ache but I was once told 'a happy mummy = a happy baby'! If you're not happy about something but you still do it, your baby won't be happy about it either!
Another example is bedtime, I got told different opinions about this. Some people said babies should be cuddled/comforted to sleep and some said they should be put down and left to go to sleep on their own. There isn't really a right or wrong answer, its YOUR baby after all!
Listening to everyone's opinions can be useful but it can also cause confusion, guilt and even uneccessary heart ache. Really, the decisions you make are your own, yes use advice and facts etc but make sure YOU are happy with the choices you make!

Comparing your little one to other peoples is another bad thing. Of course you need to make sure they are reaching their development stages but if it takes your baby a few weeks longer than, lets say your friends' baby, don't worry! Every baby develops at different rates!
Obviously if your baby gets to say 6 month and hasn't had their first smile, get them checked out. However you hear people say oooh he should be sitting by now, so you start to worry but there isn't a point really, you end up getting frustrated trying to get your little one to sit up and when they won't do it, you get even more frustratedwhich isn't the ideal conditions for teaching your baby to do something.
There is guidelines as to when your baby should be doing certain things, but don't take them too exact. If you read somewhere your baby should be doing X and y between 6-9 months, don't think that on the day they turn 6 months they should be doing it! Every baby is different! Some take longer than others and some don't even do certain things, like crawling, some take a little longer but don't bother with crawling, they get up on their feet and pull themselves around.

Just enjoy your baby! They aren't babies for very long! Yes its great seeing them reach their goals but don't rush them into it or worry they aren't doing it because they are 'a week late'! People may comment about things you do or your child doesn't do but don't take the comments to heart too much, it's YOUR child after all!

A Happy Mummy= A Happy Baby!!!

Summary: A Happy Mummy= A Happy Baby!