One of the biggest issues I face when talking with other parents is the constant influx of information that is thrown at parents on how to be a good parent. There are books by pediatricians, books by therapists, books by other parents, books by people that don’t even have kids. There are articles, apps, and everything under the sun that seem to think that there is one way to raise a child and one way only.

To spank or not to spank.

Ferberize or co-sleep.

Breastfeed, bottle feed, or both.

The list goes on and on.

Here’s the thing……

You know your child best. Let me say that louder for the people in the back: YOU KNOW YOUR CHILD BEST. You know the difference between his needs and his wants. You know the difference between his tired ugliness and his angry ugliness. You know the difference between his “I’m fine” but he’s really not and his “I’m fine” when he really is fine. You’ve known him for the longest, you are around him the most, and you know him. Period.

You know what works for your family. You know what your schedules are and how you react to things. You know what things stress you more and what looks like it will work better long-term. You know your life experiences and how you would feel about something if you chose that route. You know this. You don’t need an expert to tell you.

I always tell women at baby showers that the best advice I can give them is to take advice with a grain of salt. What works for one mom doesn’t always work for another. What works for one child doesn’t always work for another (this even applies in the same family). We are all unique; therefore, our reactions are all unique. Life is not always as simple as cookie-cutter books would lead you to believe.

In the end, the best thing you can do is draw from what you know and use your best judgment. If it’s the wrong decision, you change it. If it’s the wrong route, you go a different way. It’s okay to make mistakes as long as you learn from them. Just know that in the end…you know them best.

You’ve got this!