Comments on: 10 Things All New Parents Should Know

By: B

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:51:22 +0000

Tracy you are so right about “parenting instinct”. We bought the usual baby things like the buggy, and the baby cot with matching sheets and mobile. Decorated the baby room. We didn’t read anything about parenting before we had our first child and it ended up that we found ourselves following these 10 things and more by our own instincts. The buggy went unused for months and then only used sporadically as we carried our son everywhere in the sling. The baby cot was used only as a safe holding place for the baby while I showered! Our room was the baby’s room! We had people telling us that we were spoiling the baby and we need to put him in his own room to sleep and let him cry it out. We attempted it, and instantly realized that is was wrong for us. Our son reacted much better when we attended to his needs immediately. Babies are not sophisticated enough to “manipulate” their caregivers. Babies need food, comfort, security, love, and mental stimulation when they feel they need it, not only when it is convenient for the caregivers to give those things.

By: Cathy

Cathy — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 13:31:25 +0000

What a wonderful post! I love this…my boys are 11 and 15 now, but I am so pleased to say that I followed much of this advice all those years ago, but I am glad to share your post with lots of others! I know many people who could benefit from reading such a great list!

By: Things to write home about 1/18/09 | Feels Like Home

Things to write home about 1/18/09 | Feels Like Home — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 21:51:49 +0000

[...] PhD in Parenting posted the 10 things all parents should know [...]

By: kat

kat — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 08:21:06 +0000

Nice post. I would especially like to say that there should really be more “web material” about breastfeeding not being “all or nothing”. The fact is, some mothers and babies have a VERY hard time with this. After a pain medication free delivery I was shocked at the trouble we had with breastfeeding, and I cried and cried when we came to the point where I couldn’t do it exclusively. I’m okay with how it turned out now, but it would be nice to feel more support and help than preaching and pressure on this issue.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:42:06 +0000

I agree. With every point.

In fact, I think all new parents should read this post.

I might add, “Baby gear is overrated. Do your best to steer clear of the commercial trap (start by throwing away those “must-have” registry lists).”

By: phdinparenting

phdinparenting — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 03:03:21 +0000

Thanks Julie. I love your comment and agree completely about that last part especially. Confidence is key.

By: Julie Cole

Julie Cole — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 02:50:29 +0000

Great post! I always say, that mama is the expert on her baby, and you have to commit to not caring about what other people think.

By: Sarcastica » Blog Archive » Things I Love: Part 3

Sarcastica » Blog Archive » Things I Love: Part 3 — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 07:03:38 +0000

[...] in Parenting’s 10 things every new parent should know list – seriously pass this on to new parents, I wish I read it MONTHS [...]

By: To spank or not to spank? Study says early spankings make for aggressive toddlers | Crunchy Domestic Goddess

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 13:32:03 +0000

[...] at PhDinParenting notes that one of the 10 things all new parents should know is “Discipline means teach.” New parents worry that they need to [...]

By: Johanne

Johanne — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 17:01:11 +0000

Very true – it may not be obvious at 4 am after 3 hours of rocking a screaming ball of energy, but they can be blessings in disguise, for both them and us.