You know all the advice they give about how to raise your children....well it changes daily. When I was a baby I slept in my tummy, when I was old enough to babysit those babies slept on their side, now my babies sleep on their back. Then there are rules for feeding, changing, toys, even holding.
When I was pregnant with my son I read everything I could about feeding, sleeping, milestones, everything. Shortly after he was born they considered him failure to thrive and I was told to supplement (another story-rolling your eyes is fine) let him nurse then feed him formula every 2 hours. Wait, you are not suppose to wake a sleeping baby, but it is ok to wake them when they "need" to eat. I was naughty because I co slept most of the time. I started food at 3 months because he was nursing constantly.
Along comes baby number 2, and co sleeping is ok (that is funny because a year and a half ago it was not). No solids until she is at least 4 months better to wait to 6. Just let the baby sleep do not wake her up......wait what?!
Fast forward through some frustration and a couple of years along comes baby number 3. Ready for all the philosophies now......me neither. I had 3 children in 3 and 1/2 years and things changed so much in that time my head was spinning, so I thew it all away.
I made my own philosophies:
I co-sleep. That's what I am comfortable with and it allows me to nurse her easily through out bedtime and nap time which leads to my next point.
I feed baby when she cries. I know some people schedule babies, but that does not work for me. It does not allow for growth spurts and it helps my milk supply when I respond to baby rather than a schedule.
I do not give solids until they have their first tooth. I know this is a strange one, but hear me out. I have been reading some articles (yes I still read some on growth and development) that discuss how the digestive tract is still developing after a child is born for about 6 months. Children under 1 year old really do not need any more nutrition than mommy's milk (or formula). There is not nutritional need to give a baby cereal. The longer you wait the easier it will veto introduce solids.
I baby wear. I try to wear her when I go places, as often as I can. I do have some back problems and I also allow her some stroller and daddy carrying time, but she and I both enjoy our closeness.
I pick her up when she cries. I hate it when my babies cry! My husband cannot stand to hear a baby fussing. I am not a cry it out mommy in any way. I figure if they cry they need something, even if it is just to be held.
The medical world of information changes almost everyday, and one thing I am finding is that some of the old folk remedies are still true. They are discovering that what they were doing for the first few thousand years maybe was not that bad after all. I am not say modern medicine, science, and technology are bad. I thank God for the great minds who have worked so hard and are still working to cure diseases.
What I am saying is I do what my mothers intuition has told me and it seems to be working because Cathy Belle is the happiest baby I have ever seen! Trust yourself mommies know there babies.
