My profession involves working with kids every day. I have lots and lots of cousins, and in my personal life I have been around many kids. So, I feel pretty confident being around little ones. However, once I had Alivia I realized that there are things that I will NEVER EVER do out of respect for other parents, and I feel guilty for having done any of them. What is it about babies that makes people either lose their minds, think that anything goes, or that they have the right to interfere with a parent's decision? So, here are some things that I vow to (or not) do with other little ones:
1. PLEASE wash your hands before touching a baby. (Yes, adults and children)
2. Ask the parent before giving their child any type of food. There could be allergies, intolerances, and it's just plain rude to assume it's ok.
3. Don't take someone's baby to another room, building, or anywhere without asking the parents. It's just not your place.
4. Don't give a child toys to play with unless checking to see if it's okay with the parents. Who knows what germs may be lurking in the crevices, or if the child is developmentally ready for that yet.
5. Respect a parent's decision without trying to change their mind or suggest something else (a hundred times).
6. Offer suggestions when they are welcomed.
7. STOP asking if a baby is "sleeping through the night." It's NORMAL for babies to wake up several times a night, and it's normal for them to want to be comforted.
8. Refer to yourself and the baby by your real names or what the baby will call you. For example, I know Alivia is your great, great-granddaughter. You don't have to ask me how your great, great-granddaughter is. Just use her real name. That's why we gave it to her.
9. Touch someone else's child only if you know the family and you know it's ok. Hands off of a stranger's kids. It's hard to believe that this happens as often as it does.
10. Don't encourage kids to achieve milestones when the parents aren't around, just so you can say you saw it first.
11. If you do experience a milestone with someone's child for the first time, keep it to yourself and act surprised when you hear that it happened.
12. Allow parents to introduce their little bundle of joy to new people, if possible.
13. Give kids praise for unconventional things so they know that there are real expectations in life (I like how you hung up your coat and put your shoes away right when you walked in the door.)
14. Let NO mean NO. Never try to change the parent's mind in front of the child.
15. NEVER, EVER, EVER pressure someone to have more kids, a baby of the other gender, etc.
16. Don't assume that the rules, procedures, traditions, and religious beliefs that you have are the same that the parents will encourage. Also, don't force rules, procedures, traditions, and religious beliefs unless you know that they are welcomed by the parents.
17. Follow the golden rule of parenthood: If it would be 9or would've been) annoying to you as a parent, it will probably annoy someone else.
18. Don't take a child out of their parents hands unless it's welcomed.
19. Accept that some information, activities, and family happenings will remain private.
20. If in doubt, just ask. It goes a long, long way!
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