To be fed up with unwelcome comments about my baby

[mishola]

Our baby has just turned 3 months old. That's 3 months I've had of people giving 'advice'. I don't often ask for advice from people I'm not close with, but this doesn't seem to stop the comments and opinions.
The most irritating part is most of what they have to say is utter BS and they behave as if they know what's best for our baby..better than we do!
An recent example: We met up with a distant aunt so she could meet DS for the first time. He was asleep in his pushchair.. the first thing she did when she saw him was wake him up saying 'don't sleep during the day so you can sleep better at night!!!!'
I had to politely explain that he sleeps very well at night thank you very much.. and infact he needs proper naps to enable him to do so.
These instances usually happen with extended family or friends we are not particularly close with. So why do they feel entitled to do stuff like this?!
Who on earth goes around waking up other people's sleeping babies?!

I think this must strike a chord with a lot of parents. I don't think it will get easier until he is much older... any tips on how to cope/politely tell them to stfu??

Advice appreciated (this time!)

I've got a 9 month old and it is literally the only thing I hate about having a baby!
I don't mind my close family and friends advising because they have been there and genuinely do know stuff that I wouldn't think of and they just want to help but the parent police drive me crazy especially when they don't have their own children or when they just seem to be trying to say you do everything wrong... I'm just trying to learn to let it go over my head but it really upsets me at times

Oh my life aaaaall the time. I think if one more person tells me to give 4 month old DS cooled boiled water I think I'm gonna chuck a bucket of it over them! Most of the time I just smile and say something to placate them as it's not worth getting worked up over, but waking up baby is another level of rude. I'd defo say something about that! I think a lot of time people are too afraid to offend the "helpful advisor" but at the same time I think some times the unhelpful/rudeness warrants saying something. I'm sure some people would be horrified to learn they'd upset you and probably wouldn't do it again. Or at least try not to.

tappity "My baby is bigger than yours"? What a weird comment! Maybe she just means "Oh I remember when mine was that size" or something (duh yes, because it was just a few months ago!). Next time do point out how it makes you feel, though, as she probably doesnt have a clue especially if she makes such weird comments.

When my daughter was maybe 1.5 one baby club "friend" kept making comments about her "big" nose, like mine! My daughter had a normal tiny baby nose! And now has a normal woman's nose, not even a big one. People are weird. (And her baby's nostrils faced straight forward like a pig's, but I kept my mouth shut! )

Yes raven, he was a littly when born but has grown quite a bit - going from 'isn't he little' comments to 'he's going to be a tall boy'. We have a mutual friend whose lovely little DD is teensy but perfect and she doesn't make these comments to her! We've known each other for a long time and she is quite competitive with me generally. I don't get competing over babies though...particularly given it all seems to be based on her DD being older! Really don't understand competing because babies will do their stuff in their own sweet time and when they crawl/walk /talk is not a massive reflection on your parenting!

Raven, the amount of things I have thought in my head and not said like your nose comment

I find it very rude, and irritating. You wouldn't walk into someone's home and start saying things like "right well that wall paper doesn't go with these curtains, and this sofas no good, it's too big for this room" so why do people feel it's acceptable to do it with people's children? I will never know. My son is 14 months and I've found the constant stream of advice on how to parent overwhelming and difficult. I told my mums friend I didn't want my 8 week old son having cooled boiled water to treat his wind repeatedly and she still did it" I finally snapped and burst into tears with frustration because I had enough, yes it worked for you in your day and your kids are fine. But this isn't your day and these aren't your kids and I don't want to do it! People don't give up they just insist insist insist. I've learnt just to smile, and politely say "he's fine how he is thanks" and then as soon as there backs are turned I stick two fingers at them. Do things how you want to do them Hun x