How do you take it when other people give you advice on how to feed your child?

We saw DH's family yesterday and 2 people made comments about how small DD#2 is. My DD is almost 5 months and she is petite and tall. My DD#1 weighed more at her age but every child is different. So a couple of people were saying that I should feed more often, give her pastina, start her on meats, etc.Do you take their advice into consideration or do you think they should mind their own business? Just curious because me and DH's cousin, who is also a mom, think differently!

Message edited 7/5/2012 12:58:30 PM.

How do you take it when other people give you advice on how to feed your child?

I ignore it all. I theory is my kid and I will raise as I see fit (with advice from Ped on issues)

Re: How do you take it when other people give you advice on how to feed your child?

I always consider other peoples opinions (within reason of course!) I'm not an expert and do take others "advice" sometimes. Even if it annoys me, if I think it would help, I try it.

Personally at 5 months I would try more oatmeal or puréed pastina w veggies if you want.

How do you take it when other people give you advice on how to feed your child?

There are 1 or 2 people i seek and accept parenting advice from. None of those people being family. Other than that, I ignore it and will walk away. I will raise my kids my way.

Re: How do you take it when other people give you advice on how to feed your child?

It depends on who's giving the advice really

some people may have good advice, but their method of delivery totally puts me off

I do try and take what most people say into consideration and then make my own decisions from there (and consult my ped if its something i'm not sure about)

Sometimes people just like to give unwanted 'advice' though, especially when it comes to kids!

I think people can have a tendency to think that their way is the only way, and feel the need to tell others what they think they should do - but in reality every kid is different and what applied for their kid may not apply to yours!

Re: How do you take it when other people give you advice on how to feed your child?

If someone told me to feed my 5mo meat and pastina, I'd flip out. If you do your research, its not even recommended to start solids prior to 6 months. However, many peds recommend starting at 4 mos. Including mine.
My point is, if your or your ped isn't worried about her thriving, then I would tell everyone else off. Everyone has to have something to say! I bet of she wasn't petite they'd be calling her fat and asking what you are feeding her- this is what I get!

How do you take it when other people give you advice on how to feed your child?

Honestly, people are always going to have something to say. If it isn't about feeding it will be about how you dress your DC or how they are sleeping, etc. I just nod and say something along the lines of "oh yea. I'll have to think about that." and then I either do think about it, or I just ignore it. I don't see the point in getting worked up over it, you know you're doing your best and that is just how your child is. No one knows your child like you do.

Re: How do you take it when other people give you advice on how to feed your child?

if i listened to what other people said about feeding my DS, we would've been giving him rice cereal at 2 months old!

everyone has an opinion, but if you listen to them all you'll go nuts. sometimes i think i must be crazy, thinking that the things people do or say to me are rude or inappropriate. so lately i ask myself, "is this something i would do or say to someone else?" if the answer is no, then take their advice in one ear and let it slip right out the other.

Re: How do you take it when other people give you advice on how to feed your child?

Ignore what they say and keep doing what you are doing.

My twins were born tiny (4lbs12oz and 6lbs). I'll never forget when they were around 8 weeks I brought them with me to get a quick haircut. And one of the hairdressers said to me they looked underweight. I said "No, I am breastfeeding and they are eating really well". She told me I wasn't feeding them enough and she was surprised the ped hadn't claimed "failure to thrive". I told her my ped was very happy and impressed with how well they are growing and that she should mind her own business.

Some babies are just petite. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Re: How do you take it when other people give you advice on how to feed your child?

You're the mom, talk to your ped, do your research and make your own decision. I didn't even start solids till 6 months, and I heard the opposite. DS is a big boy, and I kept hearing maybe I'm overfeeding him. He's EBF and hadn't even started solids. If you and your ped are not concerned, no reason others need to be.
ETA: There are other decisions I've made regarding eating and sleeping that I don't even bother sharing with people.

Message edited 7/6/2012 10:36:18 AM.