Recently, we had an awesome discussion on our Facebook page about the best parenting advice we ever got. Which led to some insightful, honest, and often hilarious contributions from our own community.
Here, a wonderful range of parenting advice from our very own readers. And hey, don’t be shy on jumping in on Cool Mom Picks Facebook discussions; you never know who you might be helping.
1. When people ask if your child sleeps through the night, just lie and say yes. It helps you avoid all that sleep advice. -Nancy
2. It’s okay to mourn your old life and think, “Dear God what have we done!” -Lindsey
3. Ask for help. Accept help when offered. -Mom the Pirate
4. Supermom doesn’t exist -Ducks in a Row
5. Ask yourself whether what you are upset about will be important in five years or even in five minutes. -Nancy
6. You’re not a bad mom if you don’t love every single stage of child-rearing. -Susan
7. Don’t try to accomplish too much in any given day. Aim for one thing: grocery shopping, unloading the dishwasher, a walk around the block. But not all three. -Mommy Gearest
8. Read your baby, not your baby book. You are enough. -Leah
9. You’ll never look back and wish you held your baby less. -Christine
10. It’s perfectly okay to abandon a shopping cart full of groceries if your baby gets fussy. -Rachel S
11. Buy a pair of nice cotton pajamas and wear them for two weeks after birth to remind your family that you’re still recovering. (And to remind your husband that you’re not back to your bouncy self!) -Sarah
12. Don’t compare your chaotic, sleepless life to other “edited” versions. -Rhiannon
13. Just when you think you’ve reached the best milestone with your baby, it keeps getting better. -Sheila
14. Beware of everyone who wants to tell you the right way to do things: breast feeding, foods, sleeping arrangements. They all want to sell you something. -Tess
15. It’s okay to cry. And it’s okay to be tired. Take a moment, recharge, and bury your face in your baby’s neck. Breathe him in and stop for a moment, counting to ten. And then suddenly, it’s all okay again. Repeat as necessary. – Mahta
16. Airline attendants tell the adult passengers to put their own oxygen masks on before helping small children. It’s okay to let a baby cry for two minutes if you need to pee or to make a sandwich. -Karen
17. You’re a good mom if you’re doing your best. Don’t let anyone tell you you’re not. – Sheila
18. If you breast feed, bite on a leather belt before you chip a tooth from the initial pain. -Tess
19. Walk. With the baby. Even it’s just to the corner. The fresh air will do you both good. -Pea to Pumpkin
20. The days are long but the years are short. -Rachel
21. This too shall pass. -Bree
Do you agree with these suggestions? What was your favorite parenting advice you ever got as a new parent?
I wish I has prepped a week forth of healthy meals and snacks ahead of time & stocked up my fridge. Especially if you are in secluded area, with no close family/friends. Nothing worst than being stuck at the supermarket with leaking breasts and screaming newborn & nowhere else to go in a cold December night.
If someone offers you to come cook dinner and/or drop off a few prepped meal – say yes ! so much better than fast food ! so much healthier ! you can send a thank you email with a cute pic baby. they will love it 🙂
Learn to eat one handed, and figure out what you can eat/prep one handed ahead of time. Wraps, sandwiches, cheese & crackers, already cut up veggies… Don’t forget to eat AND drink. Don’t feel the need to play your baby actual baby music. Babies do just fine on the Beatles, The Cure, Beastie Boys, Nine Inch Nails…
take time to appreciate your baby (not every second of every day but a few times a day) the first 4-6 months are the hardest and most stressful and they go by the quickest take some time to slow things down and stare and love that baby!
Some of the advice tips above are hilarious. I had a few giggling. I guess my tip would be “You are human” If you remember that then you will be able to accept your mess ups as a parent a lot easier.
Take what you need, leave the rest. Good life advice too. -Em
I loved this article! I used it as inspiration for my weekly blog post following a maternity session. I placed a link in my blog post for this article. Thank you for the wonderfully, humorous…yet true, advice for new parents.
This was so refreshing to read. At the end of the day, it’s just a phase of life and it does pass. Just enjoy the moment, savor every bit of it. That child you just held in your arms will soon be out of the house. Yes, time flies quickly. So, don’t compare yourself to any other mom. Be the best you can be. Do the best you can do. You’re on a unique path. Just follow it. Don’t feel guilty about taking care of yourself. It’s not selfish. It’s self-love and even the Bible talks about loving our neighbors as ourselves, not more than. So, get some ‘ME’ time. It’s essential to avoid burnout.
Wow! This was such a fantastic article and totally, totally relatable!
I think we all as new moms some or the other day do feel all of it stated above and why not? The whole parenting phase can be jittery, but with quirks, there are quirks as well. One more thing that gives my confidence a boost is, we’re not alone in this, and as someone wise once said, ”We are not afraid to die if we are together”