Whats the best piece of advice?

[daisiesinaline]

Whats the best piece of advice someone has ever given you with regard to coping with babies and/or bringing up children?

My HV said to me when I had DS1 (he was a particularly difficult baby)

"If you are having a really bad day and feel like you are going to lose it, put him down in his cot and walk away. Go downstairs, make yourself a cup of tea/have something to eat. He will come to no harm and by the time you are ready to go back to him he would have either have stopped crying or you will feel calmer to deal with him"

I would like to thank my HV for that advice. It still sees me through with baby no 3. Thank you.

HC, I didn't want it to come out like this, but...I am your mum!

ah now that explains a lot

lockets!!!!

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"don't compare your baby's progress with someone else's. They all do things in their own time and it will just stress you out"

Your baby is an individual, don't compare yours to anyone elses, because they won't be the same.

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Babies need feeding very often. Really, really, extraordinarily often. If they are crying, even if you have just fed them, they probably need feeding again. And again.

Introduce a bed time routine from fairly early on (this has worked so well for both DD and DS -it means that no matter where you are they know the cues that mean sleep).

Also, never cut the silky labels off toys, blankets etc -babies love stroking and playing with them and often are more interested in the label than the toy .

This too shall pass

Never forget that he is YOUR baby and you must do what YOU think best (from a fantastic HV!)

Neither the good bits or the bad days will last forever, so make sure you enjoy the good bits and don't worry about the bad days.

they won't starve themselves - my mother said that.

i have come to a few of my own

ask yourself - who is going to die if you dont....

polish
hoover
catch the dust cobwebs
put the washing in
onyl have beans and bread int he cupboard

other useful catchphrase of mine
f*ck 'em
that applies to almost everyone who has an opinion on my parenting skills

don't pander
insist on good manners and respect

if they hit you first hit them back

if they call you names tell the teacher

by aged 10 they are perfectly capable of ironing a uniform and working out how a washing machine works

for gods sake - they can work a play station, gameboy, dvd, cd, and pc with their eyes closed - they know howto turn the dial to number 3.

best of all

when you die - you leave them with only memories. make some.

paint a mirror
dance in the front room
paint the bathroom in fishes with the kids

jump in a puddle
have a water fight

and if anyone looks at you funny remember that catchphrase

thats a great one custy - "when you die you leave them with memories - so make some"

Makes me smile and is something I am going to remember

Not forgetting - Kanga's advice on here that sterilising is not necessary and that washing with hot soap and water then trying on kitchen roll is enough.
what a bloody revelation and a liberation THAT'S been

A child needs your love most when he deserves it least

Someone gave us a funny book about childcare with the best advice. It was a picture of a heavily pregnant lady and next to it it says: "Unpacking note: Take care when removing the protective packaging from your new baby. Do not discard, as it may come in handy later." I don't know why, but that often comes back to me as good parenting advice!

My parenting mantra is: the most important thing is that the baby is happy, and it is a happy mummy that makes a happy baby.

Like that one, noddy.

Urine is sterile.

This is fantastic. I love this thread. Am picking up LOADS of really good stuff.

But the all-time best piece of advice is:

Don't sweat the petty stuff...and don't pet the sweaty stuff

It really does gets easier every month and your toddlers cuddles and laughs will repay you millions of time over for the first year of sleep deprivation.