Approved by the What’s Up Moms Medical Advisory Board
Baby hasn’t developed language yet in terms of actual words, but she does have her “cry” language: the I’m wet cry, the I’m hungry cry, and, of course, the I’m overstimulated cry. By now, sometimes you even know the difference. And because you respond to baby’s cues, she is beginning to trust you.
Be sure to trust yourself, too.
The internet is an incredibly rich resource, but we all know what it’s like to take an accidental trip to crazytown by sliding down the Google rabbit hole. You know – when you go to research one tiny little thing and then you close your laptop three hours later, bleary-eyed, much more alarmed than when you started and/or with an entirely new anxiety altogether? Yeah.
Parenting instincts strengthen with time. But even brand new moms have instincts already, so listen to them! Especially when it comes to comparing your baby to other babies. Keep in mind that there is a wide spectrum of “normal,” and each baby develops at her own pace. Is your little one just not nailing it in the tummy time department the way your friend’s baby is? Fine. Maybe your baby will develop language earlier. Developmental milestones are individual, and there’s no prize for finishing first.
Take it with a grain of salt, that ol’ world wide web. Use it as a source of support, but resist the tumble into the panic spiral. If something is a true concern, call the pediatrician. Most offices have docs on call round the clock, and their job is to take crazy questions from new parents. So you are in good company. And your question will — undoubtedly — be one they’ve heard before. However cray it is.
Some great sites for new moms:
AAP
Mayo Clinic
WebMD
Kellymom (breastfeeding)
