TMI?

I've been thinking that there may be too much information out there in the world-wide-intra-web-net...

As a result of a tricky growth spurt phase, E and I have been making use of a number of resources related to newborns.  We are very fortunate to have our caregivers following up for 6 weeks postpartum, access to a Public Health Breast Feeding Buddy and their Babytalk line, friends who have recently had kids and of course Family.  We're also reading various books and websites.  Trouble is, sometimes (well a lot of the time) I've been getting confused from one source to the next.  What is normal, what to expect (it seems the unexpected is what you should expect), what we "should" be doing... 

As a scientist at heart I'm trying to get to the bottom of this newborn raising lark.  I'm starting to realise that that won't happen.  There isn't a set answer or way of doing things.  We can go by our instincts or by what a book says but there is nothing like talking to someone and hearing that everything is fine and normal.  So far we've realised that we are falling into a few "Accidental Parenting" traps (as one book labels them) and it is best to deal with these earlier rather than later. 

For example, we needed a few closet door handles to match what we already have (I've mentioned we're kind of perfectionists haven't I?).  The nearest place that stocked them was 45 mins away so off we went with JJ in tow one Saturday afternoon.  He let us know by the time we got home that he didn't really care if the handles on his closet matched the ones in the rest of the house!

We're trying out a few things and seem to be getting results.  We like the approach a particular book uses, its logical to us and sets up some basics that we can use daily - wash, rinse and repeat if you will.  It is appealing to the science/critical thinking side of our nature and we'll see how we go.

Of course at 3am when JJ won't settle after a long feed and I can't remember what I should be doing and where I read it I get a bit frustrated.  Too much information!  Then you remember he is only this little thing that doesn't realise that the arm he just bopped himself on the nose with is actually attached to him, he just has no control over it.  He really has pretty simple needs and simple things will help him.

Whatever E and I are doing, JJ is thriving physically.  As he reaches 4 weeks/1 month of age (already!) he is now tipping the scales (and peeing on them at our last visit to the midwives) at 10 lbs, 12 oz!  He's outgrowing clothes, getting longer and stronger.

For now, we'll keep reading and asking our questions.  Everyday seems a little bit easier and we have a little more confidence.  Maybe we are being too hard on ourselves to be perfect parents.  In the end, we'll find out what works best for the three of us. 

After all, humans have been successfully having kids for a while now and the internet wasn't that good pre-1995!  I understand people used "books" from a "library" or spoke to people "in person" or just went with their intuition.  Imagine...