parenting for our little people
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It's not just "old wives' tales" you have to be concerned about -- it's also YOUNG wives' tales! And even young HUSBANDS' tales!
We will help you learn how to sift through all the reams of advice you receive as a parent, and help you learn to trust your own instincts and those of your children. This website is about you and your child. It's about building relationships that will last a lifetime.
This page is still under construction. If you'd like to contribute to articles on any of the topics below, please email us at amy@babywhys.org
Birth:
Hospital Birth is safest, but out-of-hospital birth is inherently risky and dangerous VBACs are too risky to even consider Having a c-section is much safer than a vaginal birth Having a c-section saves mom's body and makes birth easier Most women need an episiotomy to have a vaginal birth Babies that are too big will get stuck and have to be born via c-section, so you should just induce early to avoid a big baby It's better to induce than to wait for labor to start naturally Whatever the doctor or hospital staff want you to do is what you have to do
Newborn days:
Newborns who can't latch on can't breastfeed Newborns who cry a lot just need to be fed formula Newborns need formula until the milk comes in Babies in the NICU will wind up on formula There is no such thing as nipple confusion or nipple preference
Sleep:
Babies need to sleep independently at a very early age Babies belong in a separate room with the door shut for sleep Babies need a pacifier at bedtime to prevent SIDS Children need to "cry it out" in order to learn to self-soothe If I bottle feed, I can get more sleep at night Feeding:
There is no difference between formula and breast milk Formula is as good as breast milk Babies older than 6 months don't need to breastfeed Babies older than 12 months don't need to breastfeed If a 5-year-old is still breastfeeding then he can't go to school Mom's milk can dry up with no notice Babies should be fed on a schedule A breastfed baby doesn't need to eat more often than every 3 hours Once a baby is 6 months old, solids become their primary food Infants need to take vitamins Baby cereal is a good first food You need to get the baby to take a bottle as soon as possible so others can help take care of him Dads need to bottle feed the baby to bond Bottle feeding is the safest way to feed a baby There are no risks to bottle feeding if it's done in a sanitary way (see braces) If I want to drink alcohol or coffee or eat a normal diet or eat chocolate then I should just give my baby formula
See a related page: Common Breastfeeding Myths Also see: Why Formula is a risky feeding choice And: Why nurse past 6 or 12 months?
Discipline:
Children should be seen and not heard Spanking is sometimes necessary Your child should not be your friend Yelling at your child is a good way to discipline them If I give my child proper discipline they will not get ADHD Mom's body:
If I have small breasts then I can't breastfeed If I have inverted nipples then I can't breastfeed If I have breast cancer then I can't breastfeed Breastfeeding makes your boobs sag Breastfeeding Causes PPD If you have PPD you shouldn't breastfeed because you need to take drugs Pregnancy: You should limit your weight gain to 25-35 pounds You should have sonograms to check on the baby's development Sonograms are safe If you have Group B Strep you will need IV antibiotics during labor (see: preventing Group B Strep) You should avoid chiropractors if you're pregnant Health Topics: Cosleeping increases the risk of SIDS If your child has a lot of ear infections they will need tubes You should give medicine to your child every time he is sick I have to vaccinate my child because state law requires it I have to vaccinate my child because schools require it Vaccines are relatively safe and effective Vaccines build strong immune systems Circumcision reduces future infections and prevents HIV transmission Circumcision is completely safe and has no drawbacks Food companies provide adequate nutrition to my child in the form of their jarred or boxed foods There is no way to reduce my risk of breast cancer
Separation: It's good for the parents to get away at least once a week for a date night away from the baby as soon as possible It makes no difference to my child if I leave them with a sitter, nursery, or day care worker Anyone can hug my child and wipe their nose so I should not feel guilty if I leave my child even though I have the option not to Babies can't understand the difference between mom, dad and another caregiver Growth and development:
If your baby doesn't gain enough weight then he needs formula If your baby doesn't meet certain milestones "on time" then he needs intervention from a specialist If your baby isn't crawling yet it's because you held him too much If your baby isn't walking yet it's because you held him too much If your baby isn't talking yet it's because you responded too quickly to his needs A baby in daycare will learn to talk and become independent sooner than a baby at home with mom or dad A baby older than one year needs cow's milk to sustain him; breast milk will only starve him
Contact us: amy@babywhys.org
