https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 10 Apr 2026 21:16:18 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parenting-regrets#post-2038051 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 16:45:02 +0000 pinkcupcake 2038051@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. High Heels: @autumnlove: same here. I knew nothing about babies and listened to everyone else in the world, except my own intuition. I wish I wouldn't have cared so much about creating bad habits or doing everything "correctly". </p> <p>I regret sleep training so much. Everyone told me I should, so I did, even though I didn't want to. I wish I hadn't done that. She slept well alone, but around age 2, she started to protest bedtime so much. I finally listened my gut, brought her into bed with me, and feel so much happier now. </p> <p>I wish I would have done this 2 years ago. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parenting-regrets#post-2037998 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 16:17:37 +0000 miramira 2037998@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@loveisstrange: I definitely wish I hadn't taken other people's comments &amp; opinions to heart, too.</p> <p>I also wish I'd been quicker to trust my instincts and not what "everybody else does" or what some childless "expert" advises. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parenting-regrets#post-2037987 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 16:11:33 +0000 Mae 2037987@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really regret our breastfeeding journey, although I'm not entirely sure what I could have done different because I know I tried hard. I constantly wonder if I should have fought harder to not be induced. Maybe if I'd not been my milk would have come in sooner. I wonder if I should have pushed harder to find out about LO's tongue tie earlier, if that would have made a difference. I feel like most of our problems stemmed from low supply and I don't really know what I could have done to fix that but I hate hate hate that I had to give up breastfeeding her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parenting-regrets#post-2037913 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 15:29:05 +0000 loveisstrange 2037913@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@autumnlove: yes!!!!!!</p> <p>And caring too much about/putting too much stock in other people's opinions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parenting-regrets#post-2037899 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 15:22:40 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 2037899@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@autumnlove: Yes, this!</p> <p>I regret being so obsessed over her schedule and trying to do everything by the book, like worrying about "creating bad habits" and using sleep props. I wish I cuddled and rocked her as much as my heart desired. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parenting-regrets#post-2037881 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 15:14:02 +0000 sotofamilia 2037881@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@swurlygurl: same here! I was so worried about my LO not sleeping properly, that I didn't get barely any cuddles. I regret that a lot - I wish I could go back and tell myself not to worry about infant sleep, that it eventually all evens out.</p> <p>I also regret sleep training. Considering the way baby sleep goes (at least mine), there are periods of sleep and periods of not as much sleep, and that's ok. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parenting-regrets#post-2037851 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 14:57:18 +0000 autumnlove 2037851@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Caring too much about stupid stuff the first year of being a mom! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parenting-regrets#post-2037831 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 14:49:37 +0000 gingerbebe 2037831@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>1. Not supplementing sooner/enough. My milk took almost a week to come in, DS was admitted to NICU for jaundice, and he was losing weight. Turns out one boob doesn't produce very much (hereditary - my mom had the same problem!) and once we added ONE bottle of formula everything was fine.</p> <p>2. Paying too much attention to today's "right" way of childrearing (i.e. breast is best, feeding on demand, babywearing, cosleeping, don't sleep train early, no solids until 6 months, etc.) I have no issues with any of these things but my son was NOT thriving by EBF on demand, we EP/combo feed because he prefers bottles, he isn't crazy about babywearing, he does not like cosleeping or even the rock n' play, he hated swaddling and has always preferred his crib because - surprise! - he's not a cuddly baby. He THRIVES on a schedule and a set daily routine, is a million times happier after having sleep trained, is loving solids at 4.5 months, and just in general is a totally independent and stubborn individual who has strong preferences that did not jive with all these popular methods. Even though I was always a believer in mama's instincts, I always wondered if I was doing something wrong when yet another popular way of doing something didn't work for us. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parenting-regrets#post-2037815 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 14:41:02 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2037815@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I regret not reaching out and getting to know other moms sooner! I love being around people, but at the same time new people really intimidate me. The loneliness of being a SAHM has been really hard on me, and once I was pregnant it got even harder because there was so little I could go do without feeling sick. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parenting-regrets#post-2037599 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 13:10:16 +0000 MrsStormy 2037599@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I regret all the stress I had over my daughters poor sleep (mostly daytime), once I let it go and stop fighting her so hard for every nap, our life became much more peaceful and enjoyable, and her naps eventually got better. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parenting-regrets#post-2037573 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 12:46:21 +0000 hilsy85 2037573@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@raintreebee: @cascademom: thanks ladies. hoping it happens before the age gaps gets really big! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parenting-regrets#post-2037537 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 12:25:33 +0000 cascademom 2037537@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@raintreebee: With my upcoming maternity leave, I'm so looking forward to catching up on tv shows. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parenting-regrets#post-2037525 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 12:14:43 +0000 raintreebee 2037525@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I thought of a couple more:</p> <p>1. Not watching enough tv on maternity leave. For real, lol. I was afraid to expose him to the screen. I'm pretty sure it wouldn't have affected him, and now I never have time to watch tv. I guess I just wish I relaxed more on leave!</p> <p>2. Worrying about his short naps from 3-5 months old. I know now that this is just a developmental thing and nothing can change it. I used to cry over it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parenting-regrets#post-2037520 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 12:11:11 +0000 Mrs.Someone 2037520@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I put him down too much as a newborn. I really wanted him to learn to nap well, and I needed a break, but I think it affected breastfeeding. He clearly loves me to pieces (and we may finally be in a good place breastfeeding), but I think it could've been easier if I had chilled out a bit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parenting-regrets#post-2037511 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 12:08:07 +0000 mediagirl 2037511@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I regret our 2nd daycare choice. Had we thought properly about it, we wouldn't have moved her there. It was stupid of us and it's making the transition to her current daycare really, really difficult. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parenting-regrets#post-2037501 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 12:04:14 +0000 rachiecakes 2037501@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@cascademom: YES! Just like all adult humans want to be respected as individuals, even tiny ones :)<br /> I never had to 'train' J to eat solids. I went for weeks with him pounding his fists, eating his hands, screaming when I ate in front of him (he was about 5 months). And I just read and heard from the LCs that 'breast is best' and he was caught up on his weight and we weren't giving formula anymore. - I finally broke down and gave him a bite of mashed sweet potato and he "chewed" swallowed, and looked up smiling for more. He was SO ready. No tongue pushing it out, making a mess, etc. I felt so bad, like he was trying to tell me that for a month and I wasn't listening. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parenting-regrets#post-2037446 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 11:46:28 +0000 swurlygurl 2037446@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have some big feeding regrets, but a lot of it is just misinformation and needing to learn my own body, not something I would have been able to really change.</p> <p>My biggest regret is not getting the baby cuddles I wanted from L. I was SO worried about *ruining* her that I rarely let her sleep on me and made sure she was good at sleeping in her crib. The result was an extremely uncuddly baby who refused to ever lay or cuddle with me :(<br /> I planned on not making that mistake with K, but being my second child I just didn't have time to lay around the house cuddling with her (since I had a very active toddler), so I missed out on baby cuddles again. :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parenting-regrets#post-2037444 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 11:45:49 +0000 cascademom 2037444@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@rachiecakes: I have a friend whose a new mom. She had to come to terms with formula feeding her LO. Once she did, she's happy. I made sure to tell her as long as the baby is fed, gaining weight, and is happy, that's all that counts. It's become my new go to advice for new parents. My other piece of advice is every kid and family is different. Figure out what works for you regardless of the greater public. Your kid and family are the only ones who matter, who cares what everyone thinks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parenting-regrets#post-2037442 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 11:45:45 +0000 sarac 2037442@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littleblessings: Absolutely no bashing about your circumcision regret - but I wonder, do you share your story? I'd love to know that people with regret are sharing their stories to counteract the notion of 'it's always fine and great!'</p> <p>I don't do parental regret too much, but I do feel bad sometimes that I don't have the energy to interact with my daughter as much as she wants. I'm an introvert, and she's an inquisitive, chatty person, who literally always wants to be questioning me about the whys of the world. I love that about her, but it exhausts me, especially now that I'm pregnant. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parenting-regrets#post-2037425 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 11:39:06 +0000 rachiecakes 2037425@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I regret not trusting my instincts from the start. I was so worried about my baby not gaining weight, hating the swaddles, crying whenever he saw us eating.<br /> I should have gone with my gut and just given him the damn formula, told myself that not ALL newborns need to be swaddled and to just give him a taste of solids because not that he couldn't survive on breastmilk alone at 5 months old, but he clearly didn't want to.<br /> I agonized, cried hot tears, lost sleep, over so many little things. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parenting-regrets#post-2037385 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 11:16:47 +0000 raintreebee 2037385@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: Hugs. Let me know if you ever want to talk. We are about to start TTC for #2, and given my history it won't be easy.</p> <p>I regret not feeding him formula in the hospital while my milk came in--he was slightly growth restricted and jaundiced. I then overcompensated until about 8 weeks by supplementing with pumped breastmilk. He looks unnaturally large in those days. I also regret not co-sleeping. I was always too nervous to do it, but it seems like such a sweet way to bond. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parenting-regrets#post-2037381 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 11:15:10 +0000 Pirouette 2037381@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@twodoghouse: i have no idea where LO's baby book is! bad mommy! :bummed: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parenting-regrets#post-2037379 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 11:13:27 +0000 LuLu Mom 2037379@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My only regret is the fact breastfeeding didn't work, however my child is healthy and happy and super smart, so it wasn't meant to be. I plan on trying harder with this one, but will not allow my child to lose weight/get skinny (we dealt with that for DD1 for other issues later on) just to "make it work." So I guess it's a 1/2 regret. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parenting-regrets#post-2037377 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 11:12:51 +0000 littleblessings 2037377@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@twodoghouse: same with my boy. So much tissue it literally looks uncirced<br /> @Mrs. Sunshine: that's rough mama. Good job on getting through it and getting your baby healthy again.<br /> @hilsy85: I hope it happens for you soon. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parenting-regrets#post-2037369 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 11:09:27 +0000 cascademom 2037369@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: Hugs. I'm thinking big baby thoughts for you. We waited longer than I initially waited. At times right now, I'm not sure I'm ready for the guy currently kicking me to eat something. I'm hoping that our age gap works for them. With our toddler have a bit of tough transition from one daycare to a center (daycare/preschool), I keep thinking we're nuts to be pregnant right now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parenting-regrets#post-2037367 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 11:08:21 +0000 Pirouette 2037367@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>- not getting her in the habit of being worn so she'd be used to it earlier.</p> <p>- not introducing formula earlier so that she'd a) gain more weight and b) adjust to the taste of it so she wouldn't reject it later on.</p> <p>I'm not sure if i buy either of these responses though, she's a strong-willed girl who probably would have rejected baby-wearing and formula regardless of her age, so i'll add: </p> <p>-Having such a strong willed baby! :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parenting-regrets#post-2037366 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 11:08:15 +0000 littleblessings 2037366@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@nana87: the drs office I was at with DD was not supportive.<br /> @cascademom: good idea<br /> @mediagirl: they can re-circ him but I put him in pain once. Not doing it again. </p> <p>On a positive note DS first birthday is today. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parenting-regrets#post-2037365 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 11:06:51 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 2037365@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We cloth diapered for her first year...I ended up switching detergents to get rid of some smell and LO had a horrifying chemical reaction. The poor baby screamed and screamed all night long and since I didn't smell or feel poop I never turned the light on to find out why so my perfect baby was in a diaper that was chemically burning her akin for 11 hours! DH even said to check her diaper and I told him there was no poop. The next morning revealed a horrible bleeding rash that made me sob and sob and sob. she has scars and every time I think about it I want to vomit. I should have turned on the damn light and looked in her diaper. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parenting-regrets#post-2037361 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 11:05:41 +0000 twodoghouse 2037361@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel like I starved my kids for months. We were supplementing, but I don't think it was enough. I also regret not keeping track of their milestones or doing their baby books as we go along. I don't think I'll ever be able to catch up!</p> <p>@littleblessings: I regret circumcising my son too, as it wasn't done well and he has a lot of redundant tissue. He basically has the appearance of an uncirced boy and we do just fine cleaning it and everything so now I don't know why we put him through it to begin with! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/parenting-regrets#post-2037360 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 11:05:22 +0000 hilsy85 2037360@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At this point, my main regret is not starting to try earlier for lo#2. I did not think it would take this long and it upsets me so much that Lo and his future sibling will be further apart in age than I wanted :( </p>