One of the most frustrating things about becoming a first-time parent is that you have a lot of questions to which there seem to be no good answers. Sometimes, you will find too many good answers which is almost as bad considering that you are not looking for a hundred good answers. You are looking for the one, correct answer. That’s life. This might not be what you wanted to hear. But it is the truth, and the first answer to one of your frequently asked questions. Is there a single best answer for all your parenting questions? No! Sorry.
While that might not be what you want to hear, it is not bad news, either. You don’t want to be paralyzed by the tyranny of the best. It is a wise person who understands that the best is the enemy of the good. It is common sports wisdom. Don’t worry about getting the high score. Just take the win. As a new parent, there is no best stroller or the best formula or the best app. In the same way, there is no single best piece of advice. With that in mind, here are a few good answers to some frequently asked questions that will allow you to get the win, and could very well surprise you:
Should I worry About My Child’s Nail Biting?
Yes. The most immediate concern is that your child bites off a tasty piece of fingernail and swallows it. I bet you never thought about fingernails and toenails — yes, I said toenails, as a choking hazard. There is also the danger of biting down to the quick. Ouch! Also, dangerous. Even if neither of those things happen, their career as a hand model will be over before it starts.
Many have found success with Mavala Stop nail biting polish. It has proven to be an effective anti-nail biting solution for many parents like yourself when used as directed. It is not intended to eliminate thumb sucking. But they have other products to help your child break that nasty little habit and reduce the risk of oral deformities.
Some bad habits like nail biting and thumb sucking are perfectly natural. But that doesn’t mean they are healthy or good. Become familiar with the norms for when these habits should end. You don’t need to panic the first time you see signs of bad habits. Just be aware that you are not alone. And there are great and accessible tools that will help you in time to save their future hand modeling career.
Will My Child Be Permanently Damaged If My Marriage Ends in Divorce?
Don’t be ashamed of the question. Marriages often fail for any number of reasons. What is important is the safety of all parties involved. Everything else is secondary. And it is not even a close second. Any expert in family law can answer your detailed questions about child custody. Just recognize that if everyone is safe and the only question is which great parent will be able to spend more time loving and caring for the child, you are already ahead of the game. Take the win. Your child will be fine. But a little family therapy would also be a good idea.
Should I be Worried If My Baby Looks Fat?
Don’t worry. You are not the first person to get a little carried away over baby fat. You should probably be more concerned if your baby didn’t look a little pudgy. That said, it can be the sign of a problem as early as 3 months and is definitely a problem by age 2. There is an epidemic of child obesity in the US. That is a serious health crisis. Your pediatrician can help. So if you are asking the question, you are already ahead of the game. Your pediatrician can determine if intervention is necessary, as well as the path forward for you and your child.
Your first child marks the greatest human adventure you will have. And it is glorious! Perhaps you will be the first parent to come up with the absolute best answers to all the questions that plague new parents. Barring that, just know that there are effective tools to stop habits like nail biting and thumb sucking. Your baby is not doomed to a lifetime of neurosis in the event of split custody. And your baby will look chubby coming home from the hospital. There is plenty of time to make sure it doesn’t become a problem.
