i agree with the other ladies - we're so often told what a baby should be doing at a certain age, what we should be doing with/for them. so much comparison, so much "advice" from people that may not have had a child in their care for many years (if ever).

i have been lucky - i have books i could read - but i've chosen not to as i trust my baby to tell me what she needs. the only book i've read is the wonder weeks - and that is for interest and to help others more than anything. i have a fantastic MCHN (the regular one) - she doesnt' say that a bubba should be doing x y and z - she asks if you have concerns and can she help you. i grew up in a house where kids were looked after all the time (FDC) and i observed different developmental rates in the kidlets.

i think as a society we need to encourage people to embrace instinct again. it's frowned upon in so many aspects of our lives and we tend to feel that most on our parenting journey. even sites like BB, as supportive as it is - it can make you doubt yourself - when you hear that your baby buddies are sleeping through, they've started solids, are crawling well before your bubba - it can do your head in! i guess it comes down to how you take it all in. i have tried (and sometimes failed i'll admit) to think of DD as an individual in her own right. if someone is stressing and i can use my experience to help them, i share - but i tend to preface everything with "every child is different" (or every pregnancy/experience etc).