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Home › Articles › Basic Care › Advice Avalanche

Advice Avalanche

Handling Unsolicited Opinions About Parenting

By Melinda Copp

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Almost everyone you know will offer up their two cents, but you shouldn't trust everyone's advice. Try to pinpoint whose advice you want, such as an experienced friend or parent. And then let everyone else's suggestions fall away. The same goes for choosing you baby's pediatrician. Take time to talk to a few different doctors, or get a referral from someone you trust.

"Interview a pediatrician and choose one that you trust," says Debbie Mandel, a stress management lecturer and author of Changing Habits: The Caregivers' Total Workout (Catholic Book Pub., 2005). "Most pediatricians give handouts with parenting advice, and many set aside time every day to take calls and answer questions."

Keep Stress Levels in Check
"New moms are scared, stressed, tired and alone," Mandel says. "After the first few weeks and initial visits, moms are often on their own." Especially during these first few weeks, you need to make sure you take time for yourself.

Here are some suggestions:

  • Ask for hands-on help so you can take a break.
  • Make sure you're eating a balanced, nutritious diet and getting enough sleep.
  • Call a positive, upbeat friend when you need a lift.
  • Take a walk with the baby to get some exercise.
  • Burn a lavender or citrus scented candle and listen to your favorite CD.
  • Just take a few minutes to focus on your breathing and visualize yourself in a peaceful, quiet place.
Just Le It Go

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