The Evils Of Baby Books

I would like to recommend that anyone having their first baby, NOT read any of the books or websites that tell you what your baby should be doing by a certain age. I have pretty much given myself an ulcer over this and am currently preparing for a book burning. :)

I read one book and it is clear that the Little Bean is gifted and should be going to Harvard right now, then I pick up another book, and discover that the little girl is so far behind her peers that she will be attending college in a bouncy chair.

This also goes for the recommendations on how to feed babies of different ages. One book says she should be eating steak and potatoes by now, another book clearly states that if she is not exclusively breastfed until six months, that she will be allergic to every food in the world and will surely choke to death on the first spoonful of rice cereal that touches her lips.

Who the heck knows what one is supposed to do, or not do. The child refuses to roll over, but can sit up by herself, she refuses to say more than one or two "ba's" or "ga's" but never shuts up with the other vowel sounds; sounds that she makes constantly and very loudly. When put on her tummy she just lays there and cries rather than rolling over or inching around, but she is already making the sign for milk when she wants a bottle. If she can not easily reach a toy, she finds a new one to play with rather than expending any energy to get it but she already plays peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake.

I just don't get it. Oh well. Below are a couple of pictures of the Little Bean. She was very tired in the picture and was getting ready to go to bed.