Did you know almost every single toy and about every little baby item comes with a "manual?" My husband tends to keep these - but enough is enough! I just tossed one last week that came with some toy blocks. You know what can be very complicated and does NOT come with a how-to from A-Z manual? KIDS!!! I remember leaving the hospital after we had our boys, thinking -
OK, so I can just take these guys with me? You have been checking on these babies around the clock, but we are just good to go? About bathtime? And the belly button?
Good thing my mom stayed with us for the first week!
Over the past four years, I've learned a lot about children and being a mom, so I would like to share with you some of my resources for advice to tuck into the "mommy manual." *Please keep in mind, not everything you read on the Internet is true! When researching online, I try to find a consistent answer from a few different sources. Furthermore, every child is different - so what may work for one mom might not be the best for your child.
Blog Junky
Having my boys was the start of my blogging, and I quickly became a
blogaholic. My favorite types of blogs to read are of moms with children near the same age as mine. I've always enjoyed reading about other moms working to overcome the same struggles I'm experiencing, as well as seeing their children grow up. I've been inspired by other bloggers in so many ways: new foods to try, ways of organize toys, games to play or events to attend! I've even reached out to other bloggers for advice from time to time! (I learned how to feed two babies at one time using this method!)
Milestones
I loved the book, "What to Expect the First Year" and the Baby Center website/updates. I would always try to read the milestones for the upcoming months, so I could keep in mind what I needed to be working on and ensure we were hitting them. Both offer great information on what's normal, what's not, and when you should call your doctor. Baby Center sends you weekly email updates, and I swear the topics were always right on for the week, "baby not sleeping through the night anymore, first tooth poking through, your baby is refusing to eat vegetables." You name it, every week it seemed to be syncing with my life.
Baby Gear
I've learned and bought quite a few things recommended by bloggers, and I'm always polling my Facebook friends for recommendations. On Babie's R Us' website, you can click on the product, and parents provide a five star rating and user comments. This has been really helpful, especially with big ticket items like carseats and strollers.
iBreastfeed
When we had Olivia, we downloaded the iBreastfeed app. This was AWESOME! It tracked everything from what time you started to how long you nursed. It even tracks diaper changes!
Hope you find these resources helpful. Please share some of your favorite places for parenting advice!