Before we had baby, we decorated his crib with the most beautiful bedding set.
After we had baby, we were told that crib bumper pads were a suffocation hazard, and removed them immediately.
We swaddled baby tightly to keep him warm and comfortable.
When he developed heat rash, we never swaddled him again.
We hovered over baby when he sneezed one winter morning.
When the sneeze turned into a cold, we rushed him to the doctor.
When the cold sprouted a high fever, we rushed him to the hospital.
We read books about What to Expect while baby grew and developed.
We learned to expect the unexpected and threw the books away.
Before we had baby, we thought we’d be the coolest parents on the block.
After we had baby, we became the most neurotic.
We turned to Dr. Google when baby was sleeping.
When we couldn’t find an answer, we continued to Google while we should have been sleeping.
We bought the #1 Pediatrician recommended products without hesitation.
When we were told those products contained dangerous chemicals, we threw them all out.
We then spent a small fortune on certified organic everything.
Before we had baby, we thought we had it all figured out.
After we had baby, we figured we were wrong. Very wrong.
Of course, the above all pertained to our first baby. Yes, we were worrywarts. We were extreme. We were first time parents. We were OVERprotective.
Our second? I’m pretty sure he raised himself. And yet somehow, they both turned out right as rain.
Were you OVERprotective with your first? Do you remember some of the crazy lengths you went to?
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OMG, is that Ryder? So adorable. I remember those days. I use to chart everything for my first: length of nap, how many poops and wet diapers, etc and compare to the list of norms. I think I overreacted several times and called Telehealth Ontario for simple things. Overprotective? That was me then the second one came along…..
It is Ryder, indeed. And I’m pretty sure I had Telehealth on speed dial…
Great post, going to share it with my friend who is expecting.
Thanks Judy :)
Talk about a beauty of a baby! Those eyes!
Yes, I was a little overprotective at times. You don’t realize how parenthood is going to affect you until you really go through it!
Thank you Anne. Ryder has always had the most beautiful mermaid eyes! And I completely agree with you about parenthood – definitely trial and error!
No – as I was practically a kid still myself, being a first time mom, at 19. I had everyone giving me advice and I just muddled through it. She turned out just fine though! Now the second was a different story!
Wow, a mom at 19. I know it’s not terribly young, but still, I can imagine you had some growing up to do just the same. Thanks for sharing!
I think everyone should have their 3rd baby first. :) We were way more relaxed, and even though every baby is different, it’s easy to deal with the changes. It’s funny to look back and think about how much work our first baby was.
Completely agree! If I could do it all over again – wow.
I think as a “Nana” I am more over-protective of my grandchildren than I was of my daughter LOL ! Funny how things work out :o)
Ha! I think my mom is the same way! She worries about things and I’m like – uh, I don’t remember you ever having those concerns with me, LOL.
Remembering being overprotected on the first. The second totally relaxed.
Sounds like me!
My first boy i was very overprotective too,hardly sleep since I was always worried.But my second,I was much better at coping and relaxed more too.
I think it’s first born anxiety, and it happens to the best of us!
I was extremely overprotective, I went to the doctors so many times with my girls that I actually had to sign a form saying I was going that much because they thought the doctor was putting in false appointments yikes. my girls are 23 and 20 and I still am overprotective.
HA! OMG your story made my day! Sorry to hear you were so overprotective – but you are obviously a very caring mother!
Lol, that all sounds about right! I’m still super cautious – I don’t think that will go away. But it’s all out of love!
Agreed, we do a lot of crazy things, but it comes from a good place!
Before we had baby, we thought we had it all figured out.
After we had baby, we figured we were wrong. Very wrong. So true!
We were not over protective but things I assumed would be true, just were not. I thought we would be taking baby everywhere and anywhere, not true when they are fussy monsters, not true when they are little boys that have way to much energy and can not settle for 5 minutes! Thanks for sharing.
Hahaha I can totally relate!
OMG,just look how adorable Ryder is,over protective can be a danger sometimes i was so stressed with my first till i got everything ironed out with the help of my MOM !