One simple parenting trick, That THEY dont want you to know...

It helps kids develope a much stronger immune system - Don't get me wrong, we still sterilized, but we weren't overly obsessed about it.

Travess

 

I'm not sure if the UK or US have it as well, but here we have a disinfectant called "Sagrotan"; commercials always tell you how it kills off like 99% of bacteria, viruses and such, and therefore families absolutely have to have it and yadda yadda yadda.

I think it does more bad than good, when used all the time (as they want you to; after all it's their product) with kids around; without having proof I'm absolutely sure that kids that get raised like this, will develop more allergies and unnecessary sicknesses, just because their immune system doesn't have enough reason to actually work at times.

I mean - sure, you don't have to feed your kid dirt and never have it wash their hand, but sterilizing everything, every day , what they might(!) touch (touch! Not putting in the mouth)... Well, it wouldn't be my way to raise a kid.

But than again: The world is probably a better place anyway, if I don't have kids

 

From what I've read, there's a lot of variables, but newborns need everything as clean as possible, once they get there vaccinations, have more immune function, are bigger/more resilient etc, then some dirt / getting colds / playing in the mud etc is absolutely normal and desirable.

By far a bigger problem then too much antiseptic, is people who don't vacinate their kids, what sort of selfish and stupid person does this, it's crazy how widespread it is.

 

I should have pointed out, that I'm talking about "older" kids; 3 or 4 plus.
And preventing them from just everything, that might give their immune system a reason to work.

Newborns are an entirely different chapter, I'm sure.
But nearly everything I know about them is the following: They cry, eat, drink, let it out again, stink.
So... yeah, not a baby person myself
I prefer them being a little older When they can actually do something.


On the vaccination I totally agree!
My Mom probably wasn't the best Mom in the world, but she made sure I was vaccinated and took health-wise awesome care of me.

The little daughter of someone I know would have gotten whooping cough for sure, if she wouldn't have been vaccinated; I got it from her Dad and it was living hell - and I was old enough to understand what was happening!
Didn't make the next five months any better, but at least I knew why.

Or these measles-parties... Don't let me start on idiocy like this...

 

I guess you could use the weight lifting analogy.
Everyone is different so it can vary, but you usually start with an empty bar and work up the weight slowly. Certainly some can handle heavy to start but empty bar is safest start for everyone
Chucking loads of heavy plates on too quickly is a bad recipe.

/Analogyend

TL: DR
Don't make babies lift weights

 

Congrats and wishing you well.

Tips? (take it from me, with 5 kids)

No means no - be firm.
Give what he needs and not what he wants.
When all else fails, call your spouse/partner for help. It's two against one now. lol

 

Sound advice. Thank you!

I'm literally re-evaluating every interaction with my parents, and realising how wrong I was, moment by moment.

Isn't hindsight wonderful!