The New Mom's Guide to Finding Your Own Mothering Style

You want to do this mom thing right.

Nothing draws more advice than a woman with a new baby. Parents, in-laws, friends, and complete strangers all like to offer their two cents when it comes to the way you raise your child. Add all the books about parenting strategies and you’ve got a recipe for guilt, competitiveness, and hurt feelings.

The New Mom’s Guide to Finding Your Own Mothering Style isn’t a book of feeding plans and sleep schedules. It encourages you to discover your own approach to raising your unique child. From graciously disagreeing with grandparents to starting a new mom support structure to preserving your own identity, the sage advice in this book is sure to bolster your confidence and brighten your day.

You can do this!

Excerpt from The New Mom's Guide to Finding Your Own Mothering Style:

Feeling Comfortable in Your New Role:

My first son never liked to lie flat on his back. Even when he was already asleep, the second I put him down on his back, he’d squirm and fuss and fuss and fuss. But he slept like a rock in the car.

So one night, during those overwhelming first weeks home, in that dark-of-the night desperation, we brought the car seat to the cradle. Propped up and strapped in as though he were shuttling to the moon, he conked out.

For five months, his bedtime routine was our secret. I was too anxious and embarrassed to mention it to the pediatrician. I knew it wasn’t hurting him, but surely I was doing something wrong.

The bathroom fan was another magic sleep aid. The gentle roar soothed my little boy in seconds and protected his sleep — in the car seat, or course — from our barking dog and ringing phone. Sometimes it would hit me, as I thought of my child sleeping in the bathroom: my baby sleeps in a place where people pee!

Many months later, a good friend mentioned that if her baby fell asleep while they were out for a walk, she rolled her jogger stroller right into the house and into the bathroom, and she flipped on the fan to prolong the nap.

I’m not crazy. I’m not alone. Hearing her strategy was like getting a verbal hug.

It takes time to find your parenting groove, to gain confidence in what you know about your child — and feel okay asking when you haven’t a clue. You do it all over again with each newborn. But your first child sends you through uncharted waters as you contend with the opinions, interest, and expectations of parents, in-laws, and old friends. Advice pours in from all corners.