Hellobee Boards Topic: Are you a go-with-the-flow parent or a follow-the-book parent?

Hellobee Boards Topic: Are you a go-with-the-flow parent or a follow-the-book parent? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 13 Apr 2026 23:27:10 +0000 lemondrop on "Are you a go-with-the-flow parent or a follow-the-book parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-a-go-with-the-flow-parent-or-a-follow-the-book-parent#post-72769 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:35:02 +0000 lemondrop 72769@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We are definitely go with the flow, the nurses were telling us that we were from the start. We both are very easy going and have relaxed personalities. Its helped quite a bit since the beginning- being flexible and open minded has saved us a lot of headaches when our little one was in the NICU. When he was born, I was very breastmilk only, no pacifiers, no bottles- but when he needed formula and bottles along with breastfeeding, we went with it and things have worked out fine. I decided that worrying about nipple confusion was wasting energy, and we'd cross that bridge later if we needed to, the most important thing was nutrition. I've read some of the books, but mostly have them around to look things up when a question comes up. We really don't go by a schedule right now, we started out on a very regimented schedule, but it was driving us crazy- for now when he's hungry we feed him, when he's tired we put him to bed. I'm sure we'll make adjustments as he gets older, but that's just going with the flow. Maysprout on "Are you a go-with-the-flow parent or a follow-the-book parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-a-go-with-the-flow-parent-or-a-follow-the-book-parent#post-72733 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:25:18 +0000 Maysprout 72733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I research everything - read, read, read. But I usually don't just follow just one school of thought, or if I do it's just because we happen to have the same philosophy about life. I always have to reach conclusions on my own though, I like reading others thoughts and opinions but I can't just go by the book. heffalump on "Are you a go-with-the-flow parent or a follow-the-book parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-a-go-with-the-flow-parent-or-a-follow-the-book-parent#post-72721 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:58:01 +0000 heffalump 72721@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I like to read books so I know all of my options. But in the end I do what I think is best for LO. Plus, all the books say something different so you never know which is right anyway. Lozza on "Are you a go-with-the-flow parent or a follow-the-book parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-a-go-with-the-flow-parent-or-a-follow-the-book-parent#post-72583 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:27:15 +0000 Lozza 72583@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I think I'd be more inclined to be by-the-book if I had any idea in advance which chapter I needed to read. (like if I could get magical notice that "tomorrow, your DS will start biting, so you should read up on strategies to deal with that!" that would be cool) banana on "Are you a go-with-the-flow parent or a follow-the-book parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-a-go-with-the-flow-parent-or-a-follow-the-book-parent#post-72544 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:50:11 +0000 banana 72544@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Oh good point. I'm by the book when it comes to sleeping and feeding too. I couldn't do the go-with-the-flow thing with sleep. That would be too chaotic for me. Andrea on "Are you a go-with-the-flow parent or a follow-the-book parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-a-go-with-the-flow-parent-or-a-follow-the-book-parent#post-72543 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:50:06 +0000 Andrea 72543@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Mrs. Bee: i tried, very briefly, to be go with the flow but it drove me nuts not knowing exactly when she was going to sleep! hehe. Mrs. Bee on "Are you a go-with-the-flow parent or a follow-the-book parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-a-go-with-the-flow-parent-or-a-follow-the-book-parent#post-72540 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:49:09 +0000 Mrs. Bee 72540@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @Andrea: same here. when it comes to schedule and sleep i am by the book. it just brings much more order, stability, and predictability to our busy lives. i wish i could be more go with the flow, and it works great for some parents, but mr. bee and i juggle a lot of different things and we need to be able to rely on a schedule. Andrea on "Are you a go-with-the-flow parent or a follow-the-book parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-a-go-with-the-flow-parent-or-a-follow-the-book-parent#post-72534 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:46:10 +0000 Andrea 72534@https://boards.hellobee.com/ In terms of her schedule, I am by the book. For example, her bedtime is 6:30 every single night except for special occasions like the last one was Xmas dinner. But for everything else I am go with the flow. No books. Mrs. Bee on "Are you a go-with-the-flow parent or a follow-the-book parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-a-go-with-the-flow-parent-or-a-follow-the-book-parent#post-72531 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:45:13 +0000 Mrs. Bee 72531@https://boards.hellobee.com/ a combination. i'm a pretty laid back person, but i love reading about parenting to 1) become a better parent, and 2) as research for hellobee. i take what ideas i like and try to apply them to my life, but by no means am i a by the book person. i'm a rebel haha! chopsuey on "Are you a go-with-the-flow parent or a follow-the-book parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-a-go-with-the-flow-parent-or-a-follow-the-book-parent#post-72524 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:42:42 +0000 chopsuey 72524@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I go with the flow! Haven't read any parenting books. yoursilverlining on "Are you a go-with-the-flow parent or a follow-the-book parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-a-go-with-the-flow-parent-or-a-follow-the-book-parent#post-72521 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:40:38 +0000 yoursilverlining 72521@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I hope to be a go-with-the-flow type parent (who obviously reads and researches as necessary!). There are very, very few hard and fast rules in pregnancy or life – and I would imagine it’s the same way in parenting. banana on "Are you a go-with-the-flow parent or a follow-the-book parent?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-a-go-with-the-flow-parent-or-a-follow-the-book-parent#post-72494 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:21:16 +0000 banana 72494@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I love reading books & magazine articles to gain perspective and different viewpoints on childrearing. And in some ways it probably makes a subconcious impact on how I raise my kids. But I think for the most part, I'm a pretty go-with-the-flow type of mom. If a book says to never let your kid do this or that, I just kind of go with my instincts and follow my own judgements. But I know plenty of other moms who are very "by the book" and feel much more comfortable going with what the experts say. They'll read something somewhere and then try to change their ways to fit what they just read. In regards to health, I'm much more by the book. But in terms of discipline or development, I just kind of go with the flow. There's nothing wrong with either style. It's your own personal choice. I'm just curious to hear from other moms on this. What kind of parenting style do you have?