It probably started before you even walked into the house with your brand new bundle of joy. “Put a hat on that baby.” “That baby is going to get overheated wearing that sweater.” “In my day, we fed babies cereal in their bottles . . . and they slept through the night.” Everyone, including, but not limited to, your mother, mother-in-law and sister-in-law, has an opinion on how “that baby” should be dressed, held and fed.

Now, that’s not to say that they’re wrong. But when you get so much advice, it can be confusing and overwhelming. Recent research has also added more “shoulds” and “shouldn’ts” to the list.

You know your baby better than anyone. You’re the best person to make decisions about her well being. Listen to all the advice. Read the new information. Talk to your pediatrician. Listen to your baby. She’ll tell you most of what you need to know.

When in doubt, there are many resources to help you make the best decision.

Listen to what your intuition tells you. I call this “listening to the whisper.” Make the choice that seems right for you, your baby and your family based upon what you learn, not what someone else did “in their day.”

Back to Sleep

No matter what anyone says, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the National Institute of Child Health & Human Development advise that babies be put to sleep, even for naps, on their backs to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Make sure everyone who cares for your baby knows this.

Remove soft, fluffy, loose bedding and stuffed animals from your baby’s sleep area, even if your mother did pay a fortune for those cute bumpers.

Make sure your baby’s face and head are uncovered and that she doesn’t get too warm during sleep. She will not catch a cold.

For more information visit, www.nichd.nih.gov/sids or call 800-505-2742.