Posts Tagged ‘babies’

When your baby is growing, every day seems to hold new milestones and new adventures.  When she sees you and smiles; when she rolls over; when she reaches for objects; when she can hold a toy in her hand.  Surely no other parent ever had such an accomplished, amazing child as you do!

Continue reading “Starting Baby on Solid Foods” »

Teething can be one of the most stressful times for you and your baby, and no two babies are the same when it comes to teething which may leave you feeling quite frustrated when talking with your best friend who’s baby is finding teething a breeze. Teething usually starts to kick in around five or six months old and can go on for quite a long time, depending on how quickly your baby’s teeth develop. The first signs of teething are, any changes in their toilet habits, red cheeks, chewing on toys and fingers and experiencing a more irregular sleeping pattern. Once these symptoms are recognised, you are soon to discover that your baby has begun to teeth. Teething does not cause any medical problems, therefore there is no need to visit your GP when your baby is going through this growing period, unless in any unusual cases when you feel that your baby is going through more pain than they should be. Luckily, we have a few tips on how to help your baby through teething, making the time easier for both you and your baby to bare.

Continue reading “Teething Babies: How To Help Them” »

Myth #3: Competitive Parenting Will Help My Baby Succeed

I have always had the desire to over-analyze everything I do, and parenting is no exception to this. I love my baby so much that I want everything to be perfect for her and I want her to succeed at every step of her life. Because of this I feel a strong competition with other parents of babies the same age as mine. I feel the need to prove myself and make it known that my baby is better than yours. So, we have come to the question of the day- is competitive parenting good for anybody?

My Baby is Better Than Your Baby

I’m sure every parent feels this way at least some of the time. I like to think that my baby is the best at everything, the cutest baby ever born, and will always succeed in life. I suppose maybe there will be other babies better than her at certain things but I don’t like to dwell on that. It seems as though I may have contracted a case of the competitive mom-itis, but I am just so proud of her and excited about every milestone she reaches. My husband is actually worse than me and makes me wonder if dads can get this competitive attitude even more so than moms.

My Baby is the Cutest!

Competitive Parenting

A little competition is good, but I don’t want my baby to grow up believing that she has to succeed at everything to earn my love and approval. Also, having the “my baby is better than your baby” attitude can breed contempt along with a superiority complex as my baby grows older because she is seeing how I act around my peers. Babies are more receptive than we give them credit for and they can pick up on these nuances at an early age. At the same time, it is so much fun to brag on our babies as they reach each milestone, and I think that is wonderful.

Why Parents Compete

I love my baby and I love to show her off, because I think she is the most adorable person in the world. I am also very proud of her accomplishments over this first year of her life and have the urge to let everyone else know that my baby is the best. I suppose that is probably how all parents feel, especially us first time parents. Comparing parental strategies is also a way to make sure we are doing all of the right things as parents. Since there is no clear cut way to raise a child we like to defend our viewpoints and be reassured that we are doing well.

I think a little bragging is okay, as long as I don’t let my pride carry me away and turn mean-spirited. I think all parents should be careful how competitive they get around other parents and not let pride become ingrained in their child. As the Bible says in Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” I know this attitude is just wrong and I ought not raise my baby in an overbearing, overly competitive environment.

What is your parenting style?

Myth #1: Name Brand Products are Best for Baby…

As a new and inexperienced parent I have fallen victim to this line of thinking many times before researching products enough to really know what is best. It is instinctual for a parent to want what is best for their baby no matter the cost, and to sacrifice so we can give them everything we are told is best for them. But is it really best to buy the most expensive brands of baby products, or do these companies have us believing a materialistic lie?

I have done a little research on this due to my family’s financial hardship and the blatant fact that many baby care brands raise prices knowing consumers will pay extra money for their products. It is true, many top of the line baby companies willingly admit they raise prices or package less products for the same price because they know we, as caring and concerned parents, are going to sacrifice on other expenses to pay for those particular products. I was reading about this issue in the Wall Street Journal several weeks ago as they were discussing consumer spending cuts, and decided I would not be one of those suckers.

Baby Diapers

When I was a “newborn mom” I believed wholeheartedly in the superiority of name brand diapers (Huggies and Pampers) and I never thought I would bother trying the off brands because I wanted the best for my baby. This was especially true when I tried out the pack of Luvs diapers we had received as a gift, they were no where near as good as the Pampers. But, I was also given a pack of Kidgets diapers (Family Dollar store brand) which I began using after I ran out of all my other diapers. Honestly, I fell in love with this diaper brand (I know that sounds crazy but they are the least expensive yet best quality diapers that I have tried). I was so surprised that Family Dollar brand diapers would be better than Luvs so I decided on a whim to try Parent’s Choice diapers from Wal-Mart, and they were the worst! I now only buy Kidget brand diapers and it saves our family a lot of money.

Baby Food

Formula is ridiculously expensive and I am so glad I was able to nurse my baby instead of buying it, so I don’t know about brand comparisons in this area. But I did try out different baby food jars and cereals, and found that name brands or even baby brands in general are not necessarily best for baby or my pocketbook. Instead of buying expensive jars of baby food, I made my own and that helped our family to save a lot of money. Plus, my baby enjoyed the homemade baby food more than store bought. I bought rice cereal to feed her at first but found that buying quick oats and cream of wheat works well for a lower price, and my baby prefers homemade oatmeal anyway. So, I no longer shop for baby food in the baby food aisle because the prices are too high and I can give her better food that is not “baby specific.”

Baby Medicine and Ointments

This is something else that I thought I would never go cheap on for my baby but found from other people giving me these “off brand” products that there is not much difference. I thought that the expensive gripe water was best for my baby but I tried store brand gas drops and she seemed to react just as well to both. I still believe that the natural gripe water is probably better for her, but I don’t think getting the cheaper product is detrimental either.

I have also tried many types of diaper rash cream and I have to say that Boudreax’s Butt Paste is better than the others, but they all work pretty well for me. So, if you are very tight on money don’t let your electricity get shut off because you spent that money on specialty butt paste. But these name brand products are worth the money if you have it.

Conclusion

Don’t fall for the hype that the baby brands try to feed us consumer parents. You are not a bad parent if you have to cut down baby expenses and go for the cheap brands. Many parents have survived quite well without all of the frivolous things we feel we must now have for our babies to be healthy. I now do my research before I will dedicate money towards a specific brand, and I keep my eye out for any deals too. How about you?

Sometimes the never ending duties of motherhood can become so exhausting that you begin to feel discouraged about life. It can be very reassuring to know that you are not the only mother in the world who feels overwhelmed with life and constantly has a pile of laundry overflowing the laundry basket. I have found this list of quotes to be very uplifting and inspirational to me whenever I am feeling this way, so I am sharing it with you if you ever need a “pick-me-up” also.

Heart of Motherhood Quotes

1. A mother’s love- it is amazing and wonderful.

Before you were conceived I wanted you, Before you were born I loved you, Before you were here an hour I would die for you. This is the miracle of life.
-Maureen Hawkins

2. Thinking about how much love I feel for my baby automatically resolves any momentary anger I may have with her.

The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness.
-Honoré de Balzac

3. This is a minor example of how willingly a mother will sacrifice out of love for her family.

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.
-Tenneva Jordan

4. I feel like this now that my baby is learning to walk and every possible face plant makes my heart jump into my throat.

Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.
-Elizabeth Stone

5. Just so you know how important a mother’s love for her child is…

Mother love is the fuel that enables a normal human being to do the impossible.
-Marion C. Garretty

Motherly Endurance

6. All mothers seem to find an amazing ability to endure much more than would seem possible, and that is part of what makes motherhood so inspiring.

A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.
-Washington Irving

7. This endurance also produces a special bond all mothers have with each other- we know what other mothers have been through and we understand.

Working mothers are guinea pigs in a scientific experiment to show that sleep is not necessary to human life.
-Anonymous

8. I have learned that raising a baby is a continuous lesson on how much a mother can endure.

You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance.
-Franklin P. Jones

9. Multitasking is essential to motherhood- hopefully I will master it one of these days.

Any mother could perform the jobs of several air traffic controllers with ease.-Lisa Alther

10. A mother’s love will endure anything- it is unconditional.

A mother’s love is patient and forgiving when all others are forsaking, it never fails or falters, even though the heart is breaking.
-Helen Rice

Power of Motherhood Quotes

11. If you stop to think about childbirth, you can almost feel sorry for men because they can’t understand how empowering it is.

Women’s Liberation is just a lot of foolishness.  It’s the men who are discriminated against.  They can’t bear children.  And no one’s likely to do anything about that.
-Golda Meir

12. The influence of a mother can be a very powerful weapon, and that is something all mothers should keep in mind. Click here to read the entire poem from which this quote is taken.

…For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world…
-William Ross Wallace

13. To think of our greatest president had that much respect for his mother is a very powerful thing, she helped make this nation great.

My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her.
-George Washington

14. Here’s a reality check for you if you ever feel like being a full time mom is not a very important job.

Parents have the glorious opportunity of being the most powerful influence, above and beyond any other, on the new lives that bless their homes.
-L. Tom Perry

15. It was amazing to feel that unbreakable bond between mother and baby when I first held my precious newborn.

The tie which links mother and child is of such pure and immaculate strength as to be never violated.
-Washington Irving

Funny Motherhood Quotes

16. Last of all here are some laughs to cheer you up, because motherhood is funny too.

The quickest way for a parent to get a child’s attention is to sit down and look comfortable.
-Lane Olinghouse

17. I have been here before, and I’ve only been trying this whole parenting gig for about 9 months now.

No matter how calmly you try to referee, parenting will eventually produce bizarre behavior, and I’m not talking about the kids.
-Bill Cosby

18. After having worked in a daycare, I can completely understand this sentiment.

When my kids become wild and unruly, I use a nice, safe playpen. When they’re finished, I climb out.
-Erma Bombeck

19.The general concept of motherhood doesn’t seem very logical, but it really does have it’s own rewards and blessings.

It would seem that something which means poverty, disorder and violence every single day should be avoided entirely, but the desire to beget children is a natural urge.
-Phyllis Diller

20. Sometimes I wonder about this myself- we always seem to have way too many undesired leftovers in my house.

The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served the family nothing but leftovers. The original meal has never been found.
-Calvin Trillin

21. For those times when you feel unimportant just remember what Mark Twain said.

What would men be without women? Scarce, sir, mighty scarce.
-Mark Twain

Bonding with My Baby