1. Co-sleeping - I love it. Little Lady has been in our room since day 1. At first in her pack-n-play, than solely in our bed, now she starts in her crib and moves to our bed when she wakes up for some night time booby. I wouldn't have it any other way and she will learn to stay in her bed when she is good and ready for it and no, I won't have an 18 year old in bed with me.
2. Breastfeeding - I realize not everyone chooses to do it. I did and it has been something that I am very proud of and I feel something that I have become very knowledgeable in. I am going back to school to become a nurse and many people have told me that I should become a lactation consultant. So who knows, maybe this passion of mine will pan into a career to help others be as successful as I have been. And, yes, Little Lady will be a year old and I will begin the weaning process but I am giving myself a good 6 month time frame to get her completely weaned and no I don't have any issue with nursing my daughter at 18 months.
3. I don't leave my daughter with anyone other than my husband or my parents. Right now, it's just not an option for us. I will put off doing something if Little Lady cannot be watched by a parent or grandparent. I feel this is a time in her life when she not only wants us but she needs us. And on the same note, Big A and I made a decision to never have Sissy babysit. People always say that we have a built in babysitter with their age difference but that is never a responsibility we want Sissy to bear. Anything can happen in the blink of an eye, and Lord forbid something happen to her when she is in the care of her sister. Not a responsibility we feel a sibling should have to deal with.
4. No CIO at this house. We whole heatedly do not believe in crying it out as a method of sleep training. If it has worked for you, great, but it is something I am NOT interested in doing. I will nurse, rock, lay with her, etc. for as long as she needs. She will learn how to fall asleep on her own but I feel that I am teaching her in a way that shows her night is not a time to be afraid of and that she is not alone. Mom and Dad will be right there if she is scared and needs us. There are many studies that show that CIO in infants leads to failure to thrive and in toddlers leads to abandonment issues. The stories may be few and far between but nothing that I am willing to chance.
5. Extended Rear Facing Car Seats - Rear facing is better. If your toddler never turns around to forward facing they don't know what they are missing. I know State Troopers in my state encourage rear facing till 18 months and my pediatrician encourages rear facing till 2. It has been proven that rear facing till 2 and beyond is much safer and will in fact save lives if there is an accident. I know that we will be rear facing till 2, we will go longer who knows? Depends on her weight, height, etc. at 2.
OK, Little Lady is calling and I will get off my soap box. Have a lovely Thursday everyone!
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