Last week, while navigating the endless maze of a mall (thanks to the relentless snow!), I stumbled upon a Leapster Explorer marked down nearly 50%. My curiosity was piqued. Although my little one enjoys the colorful array of puzzles, blocks, and noisy plastic toys cluttering our living room, she’d rather lounge on the couch with her electronic gadgets all day.
Like many other parents, I strive to limit her screen time during the week, but when the situation calls for it—like during a chaotic grocery trip or a torturous diaper change—I’ve been known to pass her a device to keep the peace. And with a lengthy road trip on the horizon, that discount on the Leapster was more tempting than a warm cookie fresh out of the oven.
Before making the purchase, I wanted to ensure it was worth my investment. So, I turned to Google and found a lengthy essay by someone who thinks she’s the guru of parenting. I won’t bore you with her rants, but essentially, she claimed her children grew up without toys or TV and are now the epitome of well-adjusted adults. According to her, anyone who buys electronic toys is practically signing their kid’s doom. {Cue eye roll.}
With my Leapster in hand, I began reflecting on the heaps of bad parenting advice I’ve encountered over the past two years. Trust me, there’s been a lot:
- “Have a glass of wine at home.” This gem came from a technician during our five-month scan. She clearly didn’t know I’m more of a “go big or go home” type.
- “Cocoa butter has caffeine!” I heard this from a maternity store clerk as I turned down her stretch mark cream offer.
- “Only take her out if you’re wearing her in a carrier.” This unsolicited advice came from our pediatrician, which made me wait three and a half weeks to take my little one outside.
- “Bite back.” When I sought help for my baby’s biting during breastfeeding, my mom’s friend suggested I bite her arm. Apparently, that worked for her.
- “Sleep when the baby sleeps.” While practical, this has to be one of the most irritating pieces of advice for a new mom.
- “Put her in her crib, shut the door, and turn up the radio.” My grandma passed along this advice, claiming she never had to use it herself, which makes you wonder.
- “The more she’s awake during the day, the better she’ll sleep at night.” After 11 months of sleep struggles, I can’t even begin to address this one.
- “If that were my child, I’d put whiskey in a bottle.” This is why my Aunt has never been allowed to babysit.
- “Never let her cry.” While discussing sleep training at my grandfather’s funeral, my cousin’s wife rushed in to tell me I should hold my baby to sleep every night, just like she did. I was relieved when my cousin divorced her.
- “It gets better.” We’ve all said this one, especially when we see a mother with a colicky baby. The intent is good, but unless you attach a timeline, it may be better to offer her a supportive squeeze instead.
What terrible parenting advice have you encountered? If you’re looking for more insights, check out this post on Cervical Insemination. And for those considering at-home insemination, Make a Mom provides reputable syringe kits, while American Pregnancy is an excellent resource for pregnancy and donor insemination guidance.
In conclusion, parenting is filled with unsolicited advice, and not all of it is worth following. Trust your instincts and remember that every parenting journey is unique.
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