So while we were driving home from Mother's Day festivities yesterday somehow we got to a conversation about how it is bad to pet a dog and then hold a baby.
Ok, so there are germs there, but in this argument, MIL stated that the baby will give the dog a cold and the dog will give the baby it's sicknesses. I told her that is not true. Humans and dogs carry different sicknesses that neither can give to the other. Rodrigo even asked our vet when Zoe was sick the first time if Zoe could have gotten it from him. The vet laughed at him and said with a cold it isn't possible.
Of course I cannot be right because....I am not a mother and I have not raised kids.
So I have come to the conclusion that when I have children, I will then be blessed with losing all of the common sense knowledge that I have, but I will be as smart as her because I am a mother. Right?
While we are on the subject of babies, I will tell you some other stories that have happened since Ro's aunt had a baby in January.
1. The first time I went to see M. she was 3 weeks old. Her father told Rodrigo to tell me that she can't walk yet, so I can't set her down. Really? What the hell planet do you think I am from? Of course a 3 week old baby can't walk!
2. I was holding M. when she was 2 months old and I was holding her so she was in a standing position because it is good for babies. Everyone stared at me like I was crazy and told me I can't do that because it is very very bad for her. I gave in and just sat her in my lap.
3. Last week I was holding her again. She was reaching for her toes and leaning over. Again...this is very very bad for a baby. I gave in again.
4. I also overheard them talking. And apparently the baby can start eating food when it is 7 months old!! 7 MONTHS!!! To me that seems crazy because I am pretty sure you are supposed to feed a baby once it is 4 to 5 months old. And at 7 months you can start giving them chocolate milk and bread.
I can't wait to have a kid just so they can try and tell me what to do and I can say, "No, I am the mother so I am smarter than you."
7 comments:
Bahaha! *snort*
I haven't commented on here before and only recently came across your blog. I don't even remember which blog it was that linked to you but somehow I ended up here and like every other expat blogger you ended up in my reader :)
Don't be scared, really.
I have to leave a comment now though because you really made me snort and spill my drink with point 1. All I can say is OMG!
But seriously, as a mother of 3 I can totally relate. The way we gringas raise babies i.e. not wrapped in 50,000 frazadas in 41 degree (celcius) weather, is considered extremely neglectful. Trust me, it won't end when you have kids, you'll just get to hear over and over how irresponsible you are with your child and how you do everything wrong.
Unfortunately childcare is one of the areas that Chile needs to improve in a major way. Of course ask your MIL if it's OK for 5 year olds to still be having their last 'papa' from a baby bottle at night and she'll have no problem with it but please don't ever take your baby out in summer without shoes and socks because he/she WILL get pneumonia. And die.
Number 7 they have right though, or close to it (6 months is the ideal)... there's a first time for everything ;)
You are not crazy one and didn't do anything wrong at all :) Not sure which planet they are getting their information from. Probably the same one my grandmother did telling me I can't go up and down the stairs after giving birth.
Usually start feeding cereal at 4 months and then gradual introduce baby food (except for the chocolate milk- no cow milk until 1-doesn't meet nutritional needs although kids in Appalachia drink Mt Dew from a bottle even with rotted teeth still somehow survive :)
Here is what the Mayo Clinic has to say but the MIL and others are probably smarter ;)http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy-baby/PR00029
Lauren, I should have stated it in the blog, but they said start eating, I think they meant as in they will give them just milk until 7 months. Having children for me has turned from a dream and something I really looked forward to into complete fear of how everyone is going to judge me here because I do things differently.
I will be the one that everyone looks at in shock that the child is not completely covering all skin with clothing in the summertime. My girls won't have their ears pierced until they are old enough to decide to put permanent holes in their bodies.
Thanks for commenting!! I get excited when I have new people reading my blog!!! Thanks!!
C.C. No walking up the stairs?? If you live in a house with two stories how long do you have to live on the first floor??? heehee
I trust the MAYO clinic, and I will follow them and take their advice over what I hear down here!!
Well, now you know you have another stalker :)
In the US and Australia we seem to have the trend of starting on cereals around 4 or 5 months. I guess it's become a cultural thing although the official recommendation of the WHO is EXCLUSIVE breastfeeding until 6 months. I think it really depends on the child though. My son was a big boy and HUNGRY. He clearly needed more than my breastmilk and so I began solid food with him at 4.5 months. My daughter was entireluy different and I went 6 month exclusively breastfeeding and then introduced solids.
But, yeah... I wouldn't trust any advice in a country that gives 1 and 2 year olds Coke in a mamadera!
Yeaaaah, that's probably why I'm going to go ahead and raise my babies somewhere NOT in Chile.
I do live in a 2 story house but for some unspecified amount of time after giving birth you are not supposed to go up or down stairs ?!?!?! Needless to say I didn't listen. Your first child is a huge learning experience but two pieces of advice is (1) find a good doctor for giving birth and a good doctor for a pediatrician (ask around and get a lot of recommendations). (2)Remember to listen to your maternal instinct- you will know your baby better than anyone. Sounds like you’ll have to wear earplugs for a while too ;)
Aw I am a mother and we have three dogs... Evalie loves standing (with help of course) but if you don't put her in the position she likes she cries... Are they also against letting babies just lay on a blanket? or sitting in a boppy alone? I have seen couples who are out in capris and a t shirt but thier child is in a snowsuit bundled up in the stroller. A nurse told me if you are comfortable in a t shirt your baby will be fine in a long sleeve or in a t shirt too you don't need to cook them. Well Shanno when you do have babies i am pretty sure you'll know what's best for them, if not and you are in the u.s. mom will gladly give you a ton of advice like she has given me, none of which include giving your baby pop or not letting them stand. haha Speaking of which yesterday Ryan was carrying Evalie around like a lil airplane I am pretty sure MIL would flip if she saw that. Evalie was just smilin and starin happy as can be. talk to you soon! p.s. i updated check it out LOVE YOU!! <3
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