Care to share mad baby-raising theories? "If your baby is a good sleeper, it's because you are ignoring it" [hmm]

[JaneS]

Courtesy of my dad. Apparently, babies are naturally awake and interested in learning. All. The. Time. If they sleep a lot, it is because you are ignoring them or (worse!) giving them dummies, and you are A. Neglectful. Mother.

Now, I have no babies (yet ... we'd like to), and dad is speaking re. my very pregnant SIL. Dad was not a stay-home dad, and consequently saw his own babies from around 6pm-8am and at weekends. However, were I SIL, my blood pressure would be none too healthy.

So, I just had to share because he drives me up the wall with the judginess and bizarre theories. He also came out with the gem 'Don't worry, I'm sure [SIL's name] will be fine, she's a bright girl - we won't need to correct her much'.

Come on then, share the mad or unspeakably irritating theories you've had flung at you before you had babies/when you were expecting, please!

Thanks everyone for all the replies.

I've just had an email from poor SIL, who wants me to talk to my parents as they've sent her a lovely long ten-page list of things they've thought of to 'help' her when she has her baby in the next few weeks. Apparently they have gone into great detail about how to fasten a baby seat in a car - when DB and SIL don't own a car and presumably wouldn't be using the 30-year-old model dad got down from the loft anyway ...

There's more, but I am feeling increasingly sorry for my SIL and increasingly very, VERY glad she and my brother are having the first grandchild, not me and DH!

Wow! 10 pages - that's really intrusive impressive!

Have you pointed your SIL to this thread, LRD? Or are you worried that she will know it's you and then stalk you? YOu could just C&P the whole thing into word and remove your comments, I guess (and mine now I've ID'd you!)

thumb - tba I'd rather that if we're both on MN we're ships passing in the night, tba! I don't think she uses it as her first language isn't English anyway.

I have tried to let SIL and DB know that my other brother and I think our parents are utterly mad - luckily I think they will cope as both are quite good at saying no kindly but firmly (and wow, will they get a lot of practice).

In a way it is lovely as my parents obviously do want to be really hands-on grandparents and want to help out, and I know how lucky that makes all of us. But you know, occasionally you need to take a step back and have a good laugh at the madness, and this thread is just perfect for that!

10 pages - WTH??? Poor SIL.

Apparently it included details like 'and you will find that the straps for the car seat are very stiff so we found it was better to sort of push with your thumb at them' .... ridiculously detailed, it's obviously not occurred to my parents that the designs might have changed and moved on in 30 years!

I'm hoping by the time DH and I get to it all they'll have calmed down a bit.