My biggest parent pet peeve

I'm a new parent and there is one phrase that will never come out of my mouth...

"You won't understand because you don't have kids"

And any variations of that, including but not limited to 

"You don't understand because you don't have a child the same age", "babysitting doesn't count" 

"Just wait til you have your own"

This list could go on an on, but i think you get the picture. These phrases really irk me because i had baby sat for years and really learned a great deal. I do understand some aspects are different since i didn't have the child 24/7 but you can def get a feel for what parents do and what works or doesn't work. Don't be so judgmental to "non-parents" advice too because you never know what kind of experience they have with kids, could be friends kids, godchildren, nieces, nephews, babysitting, teaching, ect. 

I nearly lost my lid having a discussion with a friend because I wouldn't understand because i don't have kids... Well i call bullshit because you're trying to tell me that because (at the time) i don't have any offspring that i can't feel empathy as a mom would or i don't know what in talking about because though i babysat regularly i don't have children of my own... So what youre trying to say is that those psychos out there killing their children, throwing them in dumpsters, leaving them out to die, abuse them, or driving their minivan into the ocean would know better than me just because they have children? Pffft... If i lived a sheltered life where i grew up an only child and was home schooled and never met another child my entite life, then yes i can understand someone saying "you've never been around children so you might not undersrand" but seriously, experience is more important than physically having a child on whether or not advice can be given. 

And it's all a matter of opinion anyway! What worked for me and the kids i babysit may not work for "jane doe" and her kids but maybe it might help jane figure out a plan of attack and adapt what worked and didn't work for baby doe into something that WILL work for baby doe. 

Now I'm not saying that everyone and their brother should dole out advice, wait until it's more of someone asking. And if they complain more than a few times about a situaltion with their kid, that is more so along the line they are hinting for advice... Thats just my oppinion so love it or hate it... Or adapt it to what best works for you!  (Did ya see what i did there??! Lol) 

An ointment for everything

So my poor kid has gone through the ringer with her skin head to toe. Horrible cradle cap that went down her face and in her ears and a red itchy rash from her face down! After a few doctor appointments, and a ton of other creams, lotions (rx amd otc), soaps, body wash, shampoos the doctor suggested aquaphor ointment. It seemed to help with her rash but moreso with her cradle cap. The on her four month check up they suggested she may have a milk allergy.  Winner winner chicken dinner! We switched her formula to Nutramigen by enfamil and within 2 days her skin mostly cleared up (still a couple stubborn spots on her legs that she keeps scratching (thank goodness for mittens!)). Down side, she got the worst diaper rash i have ever seen! And mind you, she never had diaper rash until the formula switch. I tried desitin (a few strengths) but that seemed to make it worse. I tried nystatin and that seemed to help just a little. Frustrated i said "eff it, why not" and put the aquaphor ointment on her bum, i mean she was getting it everywhere else why not the hinny too?! Let me tell you, we went from crying at every diaper change with bright red all over and sore weeping/bleeding spots to just red/pink with one weepy spot and no bleeding in just 24 hours! Now it's back to fun diaper changes with a happy smiling girl playing with her feet. Moral of the story? Aquaphor ointment is a baby necessity thats good for just about everything!