Handling unsolicited parenting advice
Month 9, week 1
New parents often get parenting advice from grandparents, friends, and
even strangers.
These counselors are certainly well-intentioned. But if you're already
curious, it can be difficult to deal with.
What to do:
- Remember that no one knows your child as well as you. Trust your instincts.
- Respond politely to persistent advisers: “Thank you, we will think about it” or “We always consult with our pediatrician.”
- If they won't let you go, try saying "we did it" and then change the subject.
- Please note that times are changing. Research has shown that it's better to fall asleep again, and old hanging cribs aren't safe. Someone who was a parent two or three decades ago might not have known this.
- Keep an open mind. Sometimes a little understanding can be helpful. If you are interested, check with your pediatrician, especially for safety, developmental, and health issues.
Your baby's development this week
This is the age when your child starts problem solving. They will
continue to perform difficult tasks until they can handle them. And they
develop motor skills to do it!
You may notice that your baby:
- Practice stacking items in containers
- Remember how something worked last time, and try the same solution again.
- Show items they see
- Gets angry or upset if you take a toy from him
- Clap and wave
- Babble 'mama' and 'dada'
You may wonder about:
- Your child's fontanel is shrinking. Now the fontanel is probably much smaller.
- Growth charts. Don't worry if your child isn't right in the middle. There is no ideal growth model. The doctor may look for sudden changes or a child who is not growing at the same rate as he is gaining weight.
Month 9, Week 1 Tips
If your child weighs over 9 kg, please check the child seat
requirements.
- Keep your child's car seat facing backwards for 2 years. The old advice to return it after 1 year is outdated.
- Never install a rear-facing safety seat in the front seat of a vehicle equipped with a passenger side airbag.
- Make sure that the car seat belts are not twisted and that the chest clip is on the child's chest and not on the navel.
- Check the safety of your home. Make sure the crib mattress is down, outlets are plugged in, blind cords are not hanging down, and stairs are closed. Your hot water thermostat should not be set above 50 C.
- If you live in an old house, check it for lead. Lead poisoning poses a serious risk to a child's development.
- If you are switching from breast milk to formula, let someone other than the mother give the baby her first bottle of formula; they can expect to breastfeed when they smell like you.