What I always tell people is pretty much what you’ve said… you can get advice and ideas from other moms, but if it doesn’t work for you, don’t do it! Try something else. Do whatever makes you and your babe the happiest.ReplyCancel

The best advice I have been given is this:

If you don’t agree with the unsolicited parenting advice that is being forced upon you, just “smile and nod, my friend, smile and nod” and then go about your day your OWN way. ;)

P.S. Co-sleeping wasn’t for us either…due to the fact that the prior owners of our house lost their infant to a co-sleeping accident in the very bedroom that DH and I use now (and YES, they were practicing safe co-sleeping!!). I, too, used bits from both Babywise and Baby Whisperer and my 2 yr old sleeps 12 hours too, LOVES her bed, and we EBFed for 16 months! So I encourage you to continue sharing what worked for you, because it sounds like we had similar routines with our babies and we both were successful! It might work for other mamas out there too! Thanks for sharing.ReplyCancel

My advice is to be aware that you are constantly learning and just as you figure something out…it changes. It still amazes me how often things change.ReplyCancel

Bring the baby tub into the shower with you so you can take a shower and still watch your baby. I recommend getting the shower warm and the water in the tub before you start to undress your baby! Even if they cry for a few minutes, you know they are alive and well and hopefully they’ll learn to love splashing around!ReplyCancel

Best new mommy advice? That YOU were created to be the perfect mother to your child. And YOUR child was created as the perfect child for you. We are perfectly matched! What a gift of confidence to know we are designed for one another…ReplyCancel

I will never forget when you came to the house to take Finn’s newborn pictures and you asked me as I looked at my watch if I was doing babywise. The reality was I had NO idea what you were talking about and remember thinking…what in the world is the lady saying. That night I got online and looked it up….I then realized that I was doing babywise in my own way. I made a decision from the start that my type A personality would not work if I could not get in a ROUTINE. I love how you pulled scheduling and Routine apart, they are two very different things. I needed the Routine I needed to know what was going to happen next…if it happened on time great if it didn’t that was ok but I needed to know what was happening next. With all that said the best advice I can give is listen to your gut, listen to people even if you think they are crazy, because you might need that advice later and just remember your not alone. Your not the only one who has pretended that it was not her baby screaming at the top of his lungs disturbing the whole store. (Finn’s favorite thing to do right now)ReplyCancel

As a new mommy to 10 week old twin girls I get tons of advice and opinions almost daily :) The best advice I can give to other new mommies is to be persistent and don’t let other people’s opinions and advice get you down. So many people laughed when I said I planned on breastfeeding and wanting to have the girls on a routine/schedule. I won’t lie, it hasn’t been exactly easy (one baby latched right away and the other took 6 weeks- I had to pump for her) and trying to get the girls to sleep at the same time has been fun, lol. But I wouldn’t change a thing and I’m not giving up on the routine/schedule just yet ;)ReplyCancel

The best new mommy advice I can offer is to enjoy each and every moment with that tiny little baby. Eventually you will sleep again, your breasts will go back to normal (somewhat), your constant flow of houseguests will dwindle, the 2 a.m. cries will be silenced by sleep, and that tiny little baby will grow up into a beautiful person. ENJOY this time!ReplyCancel

listen to others advice, but follow your own instinctsReplyCancel

To the mommies: You are a model. You now have the biggest and BEST responsibility you will ever have. Cherish it…and your babies will cherish you.ReplyCancel

I love this article and agree with many, if not all of your points. My best mommy advice was received during my breastfeeding class before my daughter was born. The advice was as a new (or experienced) mother, anyone and everyone will be telling you one thing or another to do or not do. Look at the person’s child(ren) and if you overall would like your child to be like theirs, soak it all in, but if not, just smile and nod :) Of course all children are different, but to me it made a lot of sense!ReplyCancel

I don’t have any great momma advice – because I’m expecting number 1 in May! But, I’m so excited to get my hands on your baby log – I’ve added it to my online registry already! I’m a definite notetaker and I love that you’ve shared this with us, saving all of us the time of trying to find a system that works!ReplyCancel

Loved your post. I too used Babywise much the way you describe with lots of flexibility. I’ve been afraid to admit it most of the time bc of the strong negative reactions I get from so many people.ReplyCancel

I would say that my best advice is to do what feels right for your family. Some people can’t imagine co-sleeping, but it is the only way I get sleep. Some are okay with letting the baby cry, I can’t do it. Some choose to stay home and others want/need to work. You have to do what works for you and your baby!ReplyCancel

My advice is also to trust your gut. Love your blog and your new business venture!ReplyCancel

AWESOME post – I’ve learned so much from watching you raise your beautiful daughter and look forward to all that is ahead with v2. These books are wonderful reads and just like you I was all about routine which led to a schedule in due time. My best advice would be to take time for your self; however that works for you. Having some mommy time is important be it an appointment at the salon or 1am creative time :)
What a wonderful quote – I know often I am too quick to judge – a good reminder that different is just that, different not wrong!ReplyCancel

My advice is to listen to your own instincts and enjoy it as much as possible. It goes too fast. You can’t spoil your baby or hold them too much.ReplyCancel

As a new mom myself, I would say my best advice would be to remember to take care of yourself too. If you don’t take good care of yourself,you can’t take the best care of your little one.ReplyCancel

My best new mommy advce is that YOU are the expert on your child… Not your parents, your friends or even your doctor! God created YOU to be the mother of that child for a reason.ReplyCancel

no two pregnancies or babies are a like, even withing a family. I think you parent for each child, and of course based on your beliefs. My first is 19months old and very one talks about how sweet and wonderful she is…but is is not a sleeper, doesn’t want to miss anything! and has been that way from the moment she arrived. She is in our bed a lot, cause that is what works for her. We never thought we would have a baby in bed, but that is what she needs. I am due very soon with our 2nd and I tease that this one will come out swaddled and sleeping in a crib not wanting us around when he sleeps and sleeping all night, lol. Whatever it is we know that we will know what is best for him, not a stranger that has just met my child on the street. My fav. was a lady who came up to us in target in a baby voice (hate the baby voice, should have seen my little ones face, lol) and said her feet just had to be cold cause she had no socks on and what was her mama thinking and on and on…my Child figured out how to take socks and blankets off at a very early age and I am convinced will always be that way, so why fight it chase her down and put them on if she is safe and warm. I never offer advice to the random mom who is struggling at the store, I have been there…maybe instead help her with her bags or buy her a coffee, lol.ReplyCancel

This is actually why I started reading your blog. Well that and the beautiful photos. LOL! I loved Babywise and it was refreshing to see someone talk about it intelligently without bashing it. I look at it this way, I created the routine in my house early on with Babywise so she started sleeping thru the night on her own. I find it funny, the people that bash Babywise are the ones that eventually wind up Febering their kids to get them to sleep. Which is much worse having to hear your child scream for hours. My baby slept great and we never had to cry it out. We will be having #2 and I love your organizer idea. I wrote all of the same info down with #1, but on a sheet of paper. Yours is way prettier. Good job mama, it looks beautiful!ReplyCancel

before your first child arrives determine whether you are going to breastfeed or not and stick with it. If you are not sure you want to breastfeed, then you are likely better off to just begin with formula. There is a lot of pressure out there to breastfeed.ReplyCancel

The best advice I could offer is to research everything and then decide what is and what is not for you. There is not a “one size fits all” parenting style, so you do what you feel most comfortable with. If you decide to breastfeed, keep the number to your lactation consultant or the La Leche League nearby because you will need support. Also, don’t let other people tell you that you “need to supplement” or “6 months is long enough”. Don’t judge other moms for doing things differently than you do, every mom and every baby are different and it’s amazing what you can learn from other moms.ReplyCancel

At this point, I don’t have much advice to give–my sweet little boy is 3 weeks old!! The one thing I remember most that someone told me was: enjoy each moment. They are only little once. Hold them and snuggle with them as much as you and they want. And that is exactly what I am doing!! I LOVE the newborn age–3am feedings included and I am just trying to soak up every moment. I don’t ever want to forget–the funny faces, the newborn smell, the cuddles, the sweet noises, and all that he does!! I just wish I could freeze time for a while!!ReplyCancel

The best piece of advice – have so far (our first baby is 9 weeks) is to talk and connect with others mammas. This has been my sanity! Even those who are completely and entirely different from you – hearing both the different ways to parent and the similarities in our struggles has been comforting and a joy I did not expect to experience.ReplyCancel

In reading everyone else’s “best mommy advice,” I’ll leave something that doesn’t have to do with BabyWise. :) You will obviously be so tired in those first few months and not always up to cooking something for meals besides the super easy. Starting several months before, double all your recipes and stock your freezer with things you can thaw in the morning and have dinner ready to go that night! You will be so glad you did! :)ReplyCancel

Oh wow, I hope I win! I am just looking into BabyWise, I’m a little late (she’s 7 weeks old) but I’m hoping it works!Oops! Blame it on the lack of sleep! Best mommy advice, don’t follow anyones plans for you and your baby, sure your baby loved whatever but that doesn’t mean yours will and also NEVER say never.ReplyCancel

Don’t forget about your husband and spend as much time with the little bundle of joy as you can!ReplyCancel

Make sure you AND your partner agree on how to raise the baby. As much as we as moms want complete control all the time, it’s important to stay united as a team. Nothing is worse then sticking up for your views and choices related to be, to find your teammate is playing for another team!ReplyCancel

My best peice of advice is to make other new mommy friends! Most of my friends are single and childless, so the best thing I did was have weekly outings to spend time with new mommies I met at work or la leche league meetings. Having someone to vent about breastfeeding, not getting sleep, and all the other new mommy hurdles is priceless!ReplyCancel

We have the exact same babywise story, Avery is even currently on the same schedule!:) we loved it! having a 2nd has definitely been way more difficult even with following a routine but were doing our best…I’m not sure how it’s going to work when myla needs 2 naps because then well be stuck at home all day for kids napping!!! I unfortunately don’t have advice because myla is only 2.5 weeks old and I’m still learning, looking forward to finding out what you’re having and good luck with the rest of the pregnancy!ReplyCancel

Hi Shawna! Needing some Babywise advise :) Our lil’ guy Emmett Cade was the classic Babywise baby from day one until he was a little over 5 months old(now he is 6m). Around 5 months we stopped swaddling, because he was flipping over onto his stomach to sleep. Thought it might not be so good if he couldn’t use his hands if he got in a jam(face down n such)… Ever since, he will wake up during his naps after 20-30 minutes(not the 45 min Babywise intruder…totally different) and scream past our/his 20 minute scream limit. We have no routine and he is constantly cranky, except after he wakes from his night sleep(8pm-7am) which of course then he is his normal happy self…

Do you have any thoughts that would help this new mom(me), who knows no other mom’s using the Babywise method…all alone in this Babywise land that once worked so very well :)ReplyCancel