What do you do with unwanted sleep advice?!

[tk1999]

So what do you do? Do you tell people you have tried that already or say no I won't try that because xxxx or do you just say thank you & ignore it?

Sometimes I ignore it - especially if it is totally useless advice (ie "just settle her" oh is it that easy is it... thanks I would never have thought of trying to settle her ) and then other times I take it on board, acknowledge that I have tried it or ask genuine further questions.

But if they start on with she who shall not be named then I do tend to ark up a bit... I ask them why they think those techniques work and then discuss the reasons and give my (I acknowledge somewhat limited) experience/knowledge of gentle parenting and why I won't try she who must not be named techniques.

I went to the Baby Show last weekend in Sydney and one of the stalls there had the book for she who shall not be named as well as some other products. I wanted to buy one of their products (a breastfeeding shawl) but when I went to pay and saw she who shall not be named on the desk I said I was no longer interested in purchasing from them as they supported her. They were a bit ataken back and went on to tell me how the techniques had 'saved their lives as well as their sleep' and I really should try it, I politely said that any person who supported those techniques was not someone that I wanted to transact with.

I know I am going to encounter many more of well meaning people as DD grows and I am worried I will become really sarcastic in my responses... especially to MIL who the other day suggested something that differed from my parenting style and would hear nothing as to why I didn't want to do that

Hope all goes well with the neuro

[Rouge]

T I bow down to your awesomeness! I wish I had been there to see that! BRAVO!

[tk1999]

Aw thanks Rouge

[{sarah}]

Awesome T, love your work I would never have been that brave!

[Inanna]

I too bow down to she who is awesome!!!! Well done for being a shopper who chooses where her money goes and what that money supports. I can't give you enough for that honey!!!

Did I mention that you are a legend???

[tk1999]

Aw now I am really

I did end up getting the shawl from another stall. She who shall not be named just really erks me. Some of 'those' methods were used on my generations growing up and I understand that for my parents that was the norm but I can see things in my life that may be a result of some of those techniques and I would hate for the children of today to be exposed to it. I mean humans have realised smoking when pregnant isn't the best, that lead paint is hazardous but her books are still sold... it astounds me.

[Trillian]

I would have loved to be a fly on the wall just to see the looks on their faces when you said that ROFL

[Jennifer13]

If I'm right about who 'she' is (I'm not always on the ball with these things ), then I will admit I have started taking Brontide and Lulu's lead as rebel-shoppers - I go into the book shop, find *those* books, have a quick look and accidentally place them back in a completely different section. *whistles*

Sarah, hun, never doubt yourself. I always look at people who offer unwanted advice (if they are in front of me) as though they have taken leave of their senses to even suggest it. Thankfully, since all of my friends and family know I'm a long-term bfing hippie, they generally believe all of my parenting philosophies are just as wacky and don't even bother offering in the first place.

I'd politely remind any would-be advisor that you are a moderator on a parenting forum, and that means you have actually come across a few parenting techniques in the five or so odd years since you joined.