Babies Tale

What’s more difficult than raising a child? Raising your Mom! Beginning soon after the big news has been broken, parents-to-be find they may have a struggle on their hands. Well-meaning moms, looking forward to grandparenting, have wonderful ideas they are bursting to share. Ideas on how to eat during pregnancy, how much weight the pregnant mom should gain, why mom should bottle feed or breast feed or give new baby bottles of water when she’s fussy and solid food at two months.

Some of these ideas are well worth hearing, but others have Mom and Dad wondering if they will be able to reprogram Grandma before her first babysitting session!

What are new parents to do? Simple. Read up and be educated in the latest concerning child rearing, listen to the older generations offerings, and be ready to stand firm when information and opinions collide!

For example:

Grandmom: How much weight have you gained? Is your doctor happy with that? I only gained 18 pounds with you. I gained 25 with your brother, and my doctor put me on a diet. Did your doctor put you on a diet?

Mom-to-Be: No, Mom. My doctor did not put me on a diet. He is very happy with my weight gain and says I’m right on target. Nowadays, medical studies show a healthy weight gain is between 25 and 30 pounds, and I am within that range. I feel great and I’m eating healthy, and my doctor says the baby is thriving, so I am happy!

Or

Grandmom: Why do you make him sleep on his back? He will be much more comfortable on his tummy. You slept on your tummy.

Mom: True. I did sleep on my stomach, but the most recent research links stomach sleeping to SIDS. They are not exactly sure why, but I feel safer having Junior sleep on his back. Please make sure he is always on his back if you put him down.

Or

Grandmom: Where are baby’s cotton swabs? I’ll clean her ears for you.

Mom: Thanks, Mom, but I don’t use cotton swabs. The doctor says there is more danger of clogging her ears up by using them than not. They say ‘never put anything smaller than an elbow in the baby’s ear.’ You can use a washcloth to wash around it if you like.

The conversations may need repeating several (million) times before Grandma gets it straight, but the battle will be easier won by acknowledging her choices and backing up your own.

Get ready to stage similar mini battles on the following subjects:

Washing hands before handling baby Putting blankets on baby (”What is a sleep sack?” she will ask.) Breast vs. Bottle (especially if you yourself were a bottle baby) Fencing areas – Grandma’s swear by them! Sunning Baby Baby’s sleep schedule

Despite the many disagreements new parents will find they have with Grandma’s way of raising a baby, credit must be given. Mom did something right, or you wouldn’t be where you are today, right?

Where is Grandpa in all of this? He is happily cuddling baby and making cute cooing noises, that is, as long as the little one doesn’t cry. Grandpa isn’t worried about his two cents. He is happy to follow anyone’s suggestions, as long as he doesn’t have to change diapers.

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