Hi!
I have a LO who is 14 weeks. This is my partners mums 5th grandchild, however, she doesn't see the other very much (DP's brother lives hours away with his 3 LO's and his sister prefers her partners parents to watch her 18 month old). She works in various Surestart centres surrounded by mothers and babies. As a result, she is always giving me 'advice', which is really her telling me what I should and shouldn't do with my baby. She is always telling me I need to get this and I need to do that and to be quite honest its making me feel like an inadequate mum. I think because of the field she works in and she's had three kids herself, she thinks she knows best and I should follow her advice. Furthermore, my partner is the closest to her out of all of her kids and I think that because of this she feels she can do/say what she wants and have more of an input in my LO's life. I have told my partner but he doesn't want to say anything in case it upsets her, but i'm sick of feeling patronised, I know whats best for my baby, and if I do need advice I seek it from my own mother. She is always texting me the importance of things such as tummy time (which my LO HATES and screams, yet his neck muscles are strong and he can hold himself up for a few minutes, I refuse to force him to do anything if it really upsets him) and sending me links to advice websites. Every time I see her she hands me leaflets, if I say I've already got them, she tells me to keep them anyway just in case i need to look at them. By the time the visits over, i really start doubting myself as a mum, even though I know I shouldn't. LO is always smiling/babbling, is really content and comfortable around anyone and is gaining weight perfectly. Sorry for the rant! I just had to vent! I'm not sure whether to say anything to her myself or not, but I don't want to rock the boat and make things difficult for my partner.