Mar 20th, 2007
The Best Baby Advice I Ever Received
Have you ever heard someone say “There aren’t any manuals for babies!”? I have, and I totally disagree with that statement. With the multitude of books (Girlfriend’s Guide, The Baby Whisperer, What To Expect…), Web sites (babycenter.com), and live classes available, how can anyone say there aren’t manuals for babies? When we got pregnant, our insurance company even sent us a book to help guide us through the first year! I was eager to read every word of every book out there. Even after all those hours of reading and being absolutely positive my husband and I would be the most prepared new parents ever, the best baby advice I ever received came from my sister-in-law.
About a month before our due date, she said “The only unsolicited advice I’ll ever give you about babies is to establish that bedtime routine from day one.” I cannot even begin to tell you how much that advice saved my life! I am a person who needs her sleep - without a good night’s sleep, I’m not so pleasant to be around. Of course signing up for motherhood certainly wasn’t going to help me in that department! But, I took my sister-in-law’s advice and from our very first night home from the hospital, we established a bedtime routine. 6 1/2 years later, we STILL go through the same routine every night with both of our kids.
What’s the best baby advice you’ve ever received?
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My best advise came from my mother; go with your gut instinct. It took me 3 and 1/2 years to get this down, but I finally have learned to go with my gut when I think my kids are sick, hungry, tired or just ready for a change. I’ve stopped reading every book and asking every mom for advice; I guess I’ve done the growing up.
Well , your website is going to be my outlet tonight - I feel like there is someone out there listening - and that will help at this point!
Last weekend my 21 month old decided that the crib just wasn’t keeping her in anymore.
So my husband and I debated the decision between a twin bed, bunk beds (investment right?) and a toddler bed. When all was said and done the toddler bed prevailed, mostly because I didn’t have sheets yet for a twin bed and didn’t feel like buying them.
So we discussed all day that “big girl bed” We were all ready!! And I was thrilled that we had a week of practice before my lovely husband was planning to be gone for a weekend. She did wonderful! In fact I think she was so excited about the bed that she wanted to go to bed!
Fast Forward: At 7:00 tonight (5 days later) I found myself bragging about how easy the transition was. My daughter never missed a beat. Our bedtime routine didn’t change, the only difference was that she crawled into bed alone. I was beaming with pride!
9:29PM - 1 and 1/2 hours past bedtime (same night)- I am just about tapped out on patience. My wonderful husband is out partying with the guys on his way to a volleyball tournament and I am searching for encouraging words from supernanny on the web. My 21 month old is pounding on her bedroom door. I am on round 15 of walking in, gently placing her on her bed, no exchange of words and walking out. (all after more milk, changed diaper, simple consoling, etc) My only savior right now is that she can’t work the door knob yet so at least she isn’t running down the hallway.
God help me keep my patience with my daughter (and my husband)! And thank you for reminding me that no matter how proud I am, my children may still have the last word.
I’m a big fan of the Sears books, especially attachment parenting. I think the whole idea of keeping your child with you, baby wearing, etc., is so intutive. If we still lived in caves that’s what we would be doing. So now I just think about what is the most loving, natural response and do that and it’s amazing how my instincts work well when I trust them even when they contradict the advice of “experts.”
Good luck, Jenn, sounds like a tough week or two ahead.
An update on the toddler bed challenges. My daughter is doing very well with this bed, as much as I am afraid to admit it again. Last night she wanted to sit in the rocking chair in her room and fall asleep in my arms. As much as I love that idea I know how smart my daughter is and I know that if I do this that it will be a battle to break the “new routine” from here on out. After all in the morning we spent 30 minutes cuddling on the couch before breakfast. We gets plenty of snuggle time… She didn’t argue much. We did spend 30 minutes talking and reading books after our picnic snack and milk. I explained that it was bed time and she needed to now lay down in her big girl bed. She repeatedly reminded me that she thought sitting in the chair was a much better plan. I helped her into bed and covered her up. I kissed her good night and walked out. After a few minutes of crying, things were quiet and I was surprised that we had no tantrums at the door. (This behavior has been hit and miss since we started the new bed). Thirty minutes or so later I visited my daughter to make sure all was well. I did not find her in her bed. Nope. She was curled up, in the rocking chair with her blanket and a book. As my husband and I stood in her doorway and smiled I thought to myself, I am the luckiest woman in the world to have such an independent daughter.
Yes you are lucky! There’s nothing wrong with an independent child. It’s a little more challenging for us parents, but isn’t that what makes them so much fun? Keira is about as independent as they come, and for every time she makes me furious with her challenges, she makes me laugh and giggle with her confindence and sense of humor
They certainly do know how to play us parents, don’t they 
[...] to the best baby advice I ever received, my husband and I have enjoyed uninterrupted sleeping since our kids were very small . . . Jason [...]