New Mom Realities

During your pregnancy you probably made yourself some promises about the kind of mom you'd be. You probably also swore there were some things you'd never let your baby do. Laura Kalehoff from American Baby lets you know about the promises that are ok for new mom's to break.

If you promised yourself you won't rush to her every time she cries it's ok to do so for the first few months. It's true that kids eventually need to learn to calm themselves, but infants have only one way to call you and that's crying. For now, it's a good idea to respond before she starts wailing. Once she really gets going she will swallow air, which will lead to gas, which means it will take her longer to calm down. After around 6-9 months, she will learn to cry to get what she wants. That's when you might sometimes let her cry and not immediately respond. This will help her learn that she won't always get what she wants by crying.

If you're the mom that vowed not to use a swing just so you can get stuff done, the swing won't only help you but your baby too. Some people pass judgment on swings as being an easy way to occupy the child while parents can take care of other things, but they serve an amazing purpose. Swings are great soothers for fussy babies. The rocking and vibration help re-create the movement of the womb. You don't want to leave your baby in a swing all day but there is no reason to feel guilty for letting your baby enjoy the swing for short stretches.

You said you will never offer your baby a binky, but they are called pacifiers for a reason. Babies interact with the world primarily through their mouths, and sucking is one of the most soothing sensations for your tot. The American Academy of Pediatrics actually endorses pacifier use at nap time and bedtime because recent studies show that sucking on one while falling asleep can significantly decrease the risk of SIDS. Check on your baby's needs before reflexively popping in a pacifier when he's fussy. If his diaper is wet, he needs a change, not a pacifier. You want to wean your child off the binky by age one, after that the habit is hard to break.

Many moms swear off of alcohol as long as they're breast feeding, but moms can safely enjoy a moderate amount of alcohol. Although it's best to avoid drinking while breastfeeding, recent research suggests that nursing mothers can safely consume an alcoholic beverage once or twice a week if they time it right. Feed your baby and then have a drink afterward. Three hours later, the alcohol should be gone from your blood, and it will be safe to breast feed. You should also pump prior to imbibing, so you'll have milk if the baby gets hungry before you can nurse him.

For more information on being a new mom and other parenting tips, click here.