*tap tap tap* Is this thing on? EXCUSE ME, SLEEP DEPRIVED PARENT! SLEEP DEPRIVED PARENT! HELLO??? STEP AWAY FROM THE SEARCH ENGINE… I REPEAT … STEP AWAY FROM THE SEARCH ENGINE, AND GO BACK TO BED! It’s so tempting, isn’t it? The second we see some dry scaly spots on our baby’s forehead, or little miss isn’t acting the way she usually does, we jump right on yahoo or google and type in the key phrases that will yield us our instant response. Answers will range from “It’s simple baby acne…” to “It could just be lymph node but my friend’s sister’s baby ended up having a tumor.” Well, there goes tonight’s chance of sleep… One situation that seems to repeat itself with parents is the incessant googling. It’s unavoidable, and hey, our babies are precious…we don’t blame you at all! However, we have started to see the pattern that often this little extracurricular activity can do more harm than good, and can even at times become addicting! Today we want to discuss the BEST alternatives to google or yahoo when it comes to your baby. 1. Your Doula Your postpartum doulas are trained to know all of the latest research and safety guidelines about raising babies. They also are trained to recognize normal situations versus abnormal situations in both you and your baby. If you are ever in doubt, and are worried that maybe asking someone else may be a little uncomfortable, ask your nonjudgmental, professional doula! If we can’t give a definite answer, we can at least give a great referral for a provider that may be able to help, and a side of support and encouragement! 2. Your Family and Friends Sometimes, it feels good to go to someone we are comfortable with. Maybe this person is experienced and inspirational –what you strive to be as a parent! Ask your questions to them and get that warm, well known support. Our only caveat is to be sure the person isn’t someone who may make you even more uneasy, as some people in this circle can do! 3. Your Provider Here’s our bottom line. Your provider will always be the most reliable source. If you are truly concerned and worried about your child’s well being, a call to the doctor is the best way to go. If you are feeling extremely nervous about a particular issue, we suggest this option, as it decreases the chain of people you will have to talk to and gets you right to the source. Get that number up on your fridge and wash those worries away! In the early postpartum days, sometimes we just want simple, and often google seems to be that way. For some parents, this option works great. However, if using search engines is causing more harm than good, find a good circle of support to have on speed dial (or text!) …we know those thoughts love to creep in during the 3am feedings! It is important to remember that anyone can put anything on the internet, and that your individual journey is what is most worthy of assessment!
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Ahhhhhh grandparents! There is nothing more beautiful than watching your child become a parent, we are told. And who are we to rob them of that wonderful experience? A blessing and a curse, grandparents can be so helpful in the journey of having a baby, but occasionally the generations may clash. This is of no fault to either side, we were simply brought up differently. If only, there was a way to show the grandparents that they are understood and valued while also explaining the differences in generations and how times have changed. Enter, the Modern Grandparenting Class! That's right, here at New York Baby Co. we believe that grandparents are an important part of the journey and we want to help them be as confident and fierce in their role as you are. Think of us as the liaisons between the two generations. It is never your job as parents to explain anything to the new grandparents, however, we can't blame them for having the well meaning desire to do what is best for their grand baby. Let us take care of the explaining so you can focus your energy on your baby and your journey.
In the grandparents class, we will discuss how babies were raised back in the day and give grandparents the safe space to talk about their individual journeys. We will hear and nurture them, much like we do for you in your new parenting journey. Giving them the space to do this with us can, many times, minimize the chance that they will be doing this with you when you have enough going on in your head. Sometimes, our parents just want to feel validated that they did a great job with us, and we are here to give that to them! After talking about their side of the story, we will fill them in on generational differences. For example, they are likely not to understand that your generation may be much more likely to show off the baby bump. By showing them all these differences, they may not understand completely, but they will be aware, and in turn, build a respect for the differences. We will display many of the ways regulations have changed, such as not putting baby on his/her belly to sleep anymore and why these changes are now in place. This way, we can have all the conversations with them so you won't have to do so in the heat of an exhausted morning after being up all night with your little one. As always, our main goal is nonjudgmental support and you can rest assured that we will not take sides with either generation! We will merely serve to show ways for each generation to understand each other better. No approach or method is silly in our minds. However, we believe that all parents deserve to run their family confidently and in peace, and we want to do everything we can to help make this a reality in your household, while still giving the grandparents the golden moment they deserve. Want to hear more about this fantastic class? Visit our education page here or give us a call at 518-712-9767. |